The best air conditioners for summer, according to experts and reviews

The weather is blazing hot.

If you’re tired of panting and sweating profusely, then investing in an air conditioner is beyond urgent.

Air conditioners are a simple way to cool down your home, purify the air and improve your health.

Plus, top brands, like GE, Black & Decker and Frigidaire guarantee great products and results.

Whether you’re looking for trendy high-tech options, tall towers or portable devices, you’re sure to find something that is perfect for your home.

And there are options that work with every budget with pricing starting at just $159.

We know how hard it is to find quality appliances. So, we spoke to a few experts to help us find the best air conditioners around.


What makes an air conditioner great?

“Where do I start? Our bodies typically don’t like humidity.  One of the primary functions of your home’s AC is dehumidification,” Nancy Esposito, Chief Operating Operator of Brothers Supply Corporation, told the Post.” Our bodies sleep better in lower temperatures.  Keeping your [home] cool, but comfortable is one way to maintain a safe sleep environment.”

How long do most air conditioners last?

“An air conditioner will be at its optimum between 8 to 10 seasons. Proper preventative maintenance could ensure a life expectancy of more than a decade,” Esposito says. “To maintain quality air filtration we always recommend to our clients to clean their filters in the Spring and Fall to make sure all of its coils are cleaned.”

Young woman relaxing on the couch while air humidifier or purifier working on the foreground. Controlling it with a smartphone remotely
Alamy Stock Photo

What is better? Portable or window units?

“Window units seem to be the preferred choice as the condensate that forms with air conditioning drains out of the unit to the outside,” J. Scott Needham, President of Princeton Air Conditioning, explains. “A portable unit usually has a tank to capture condensate and when full it shuts off and someone needs to empty it.”

What is the best air conditioner to buy overall?

Esposito says: “What’s great about serving New York City for more than 50 years is that there is an AC out there for everyone’s needs.  When it comes to through-the-wall ACs, we always recommend Ice-Air.  For window units, we like Friedrich’s sound and quality.  More important than your brand of an air conditioner is who you’re buying it from.  Be sure to choose a company that stands by its product, offers fair warranties of both the parts in the AC and the entire unit itself.  This is how my family has run our business to help make New Yorkers happy and keep their cool.”


Best Overall

Midea U Inverter Window Air Conditioner, price: $359.00

Midea U Inverter Window Air Conditioner
Amazon

When it comes to air conditioners, this Midea window unit is one of the best. It has everything that makes an air conditioner great. It features energy-saving technology, a super-quiet cooling system and its U-shaped design is the flexible option your home needs. You’ll even be able to enjoy a ton of smart features with this WiFi-enabled unit. You can control it with your smartphone and make demands with Alexa or Google Assistant. And with more than 4,500 five-star ratings, you can be sure that this Amazon best-seller is a top choice.


Best for Budget

Frigidaire 5,000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner, price: $159.00

FRIGIDAIRE 5,000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner
Amazon

Want to cool down your home without breaking your budget? This Frigidaire unit is super affordable and can reach up to 150 square feet in your space. And don’t let its affordability fool you. This 5,000 BTU air conditioner features mechanical rotary controls and 2-way direction control that will cool down your space. And it has a low-power startup feature that saves tons of energy. So, you can stay cool, save money and benefit from the top-tier air conditioning brand.


Best for Efficiency

Whynter ARC-14S Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner, price: $526.38

Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
Wayfair

Save energy with this top-notch Whynter air conditioner. The portable unit can cool large rooms easily with its quality features. Made with an eco-friendly CFC-free refrigerant, you can use it without taking up too much energy. And its auto-drain technology recycles moisture to produce an efficient cooling system. It also comes with multiple filters and works as a dehumidifier to improve overall air quality in your space. Lauded for being Good Housekeeping’s 2020 Best Overall Air Conditioner, it’s a great choice for your home.


Best Portable Conditioner

Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner, price: $398.77

BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
Wayfair

This unit is an Amazon’s Choice air conditioner for a reason. With more than 5,500 five-star ratings, it’s easy to see why this portable unit is a customer fave. The 5,000 BTU device is quiet but powerful. Featuring a high-tech 3-in-1 functionality, you’ll be able to cool, fan and dehumidify your home effortlessly. And its trendy remote control and 24-hour timer make it easy to escape the sizzling heat.


Smartest

LG LW1019IVSM Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner, price: $417.98

LG LW1019IVSM Energy Star 9,500 BTU 115V Dual Inverter Window Air Conditione
Amazon

If you’re looking for a super-smart unit with tons of high-tech features, this LG dual inverter is the one to buy. You can control this trendy AC effortlessly thanks to its LG ThinQ technology. With the help of Alexa or Google Assistant, you’ll be able to cool down up to 450 square feet of your home hands-free. And the unit has up to 4 different fan speeds and an Auto Cool feature that caters to your personal AC needs. Plus, its Dual Inverter technology makes it as quiet as it is powerful.


Quietest

Haier ESAQ406T 22″ Window Air Conditioner, price: $319.95

Haier ESAQ406T 22 Window Air Conditioner
Amazon

Are you tired of your noisy window unit? Well, now is the time to upgrade your space with this super-quiet Haier Window Air Conditioner. The 6,000 BTU window unit comes with a compressor that reduces noise effortlessly. Plus, it comes with multiple modes that work to save energy, dehumidify and auto cool your home. And its full-function remote means you can control it without leaving your couch, bed or office chair.

source: nypost.com