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Best AC

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AC reviews indicate that frugal consumers are generally satisfied with the AC cooling performance of cheap models, regardless of size (i.e., BTU). From smaller models such as the Frigidaire FRA054XT7 and Kenmore 70051 to larger models such as the LG LW1012ER and Frigidaire LRA107BU1, our best AC picks are frequently praised in AC reviews for their ability to cool a room quickly and keep the air nicely chilled.

But such assessments are not universal, and some users pan models others recommend.

Even models extolled by most users as the best AC get dinged by a few dissatisfied purchasers who assert that the units don't sufficiently cool the square footage they claim to be able to handle. For instance, in AC reviews at Home Depot, one user raves that the 8,000 BTU LG LW8011ER -- last year's version of the LW8012ER -- cools a 750-square-foot great room when the outside temperature is in the mid-90s, while another reports that the AC can't keep the temperature down in a 200-square-foot room on an 80-degree day.

Consumers hoping to get more bang for their buck have found ways to maximize the AC cooling power of inexpensive units. A user posting an air conditioner review of the Frigidaire LRA074AT7 at Lowe's placed a fan in the doorway and another one in the hall to cool other areas of the house with the 6,500 BTU model. Several consumers say in AC reviews that they use single-room ACs in their bedrooms so they don't have to run the central air at night.

AC Warranty and Durability.

The life expectancy of an air conditioner is about 10 years, according to the National Association of Home Builders (PDF). The most common AC warranty for room air conditioners is one year for parts and labor and five years for the sealed system. The Frigidaire LRA074AT7 sold at Lowe's comes with a five-year warranty. From the sound of it, though, you may not even need that AC warranty: One user reports in a review at Lowe's that the Frigidaire LRA074AT7 fell out a third-floor window and still works fine.

Durability issues come up mainly in reviews of the cheapest models with the lowest capacities. In a review on Amazon, a user says the Frigidaire FRA054XT7 stopped working after five months and Frigidaire didn't provide service in the local area. Another consumer says in a review on Amazon that the control panel wouldn't work after installation, so the unit could be operated only by remote control. In a review of the Kenmore 70051 at Sears, a user reports that the air conditioner worked fine for a year but then began failing to cool effectively or even turn on some days. We found by far the most complaints in best AC reviews of the Haier ESAD4066. Consumers posting reviews on Amazon and Buzzillions tell of difficulty getting a response, much less any help, from customer service, even for units under warranty. As one user points out in a review on Amazon, having to throw out the unit sort of negates any eco-friendliness.

by Kara Reinhardt (Google+ Profile)

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Frigidaire FRA052XT7 Review
Haier ESAD4066 Review
Friedrich CP08F10 Review
Frigidaire FRA054XT7 Review
Frigidaire FRA086AT7 Review
LG LW1012ER Review
Kenmore 70051 Review
Frigidaire LRA074AT7 Review
LG LW8012ER Review
Frigidaire LRA107BU1 Review

Haier HWR12XCA (12,000 BTU)
Frigidaire FAX054P7A (5000 BTU)
Haier HWR05XC7 (5200 BTU)
Haier HWR08XC7 (8,000 BTU)

 

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