Air Conditioners

Before you buy

Which tonnage for your room?

Tonnage is about room volume, not budget. An oversized unit cools fast, then switches off before it has pulled the humidity out — the room ends up cold and clammy, and the compressor wears from short-cycling. Undersized, it never stops running. Match the room and both problems go away.

• Add half a ton if the room takes direct afternoon sun, sits under an exposed roof, or has more than two large windows.
• Inverter models cost more upfront and less to run. They pay back within two to three summers of daily use — and not at all in a guest room used twice a year.
• A higher star rating only saves money on the hours you actually run it. For a bedroom used all night, 5 star is worth it; for an office used two hours a day, 3 star usually is not.

A guide, not a rule. Tell us the room and how you use it and we will give you a straight answer — including when the cheaper model is the right one.