With summer upon us and temperatures soaring rapidly, it’s more important than ever to keep cool for both comfort and safety, and a great air conditioner is an excellent way to do so. If you want to ensure that you beat the heat without breaking the bank, a Frigidaire air conditioner will help you do so handily.
Enjoy comfortable days and nights with an air conditioner like this top choice, the Frigidaire 10,000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Compact Air Conditioner, to keep you and your loved ones comfortable.
What to know before you buy a Frigidaire air conditioner
BTU capabilities
For those who are unfamiliar, BTU is an acronym for British Thermal Unit, or the amount of energy required to increase the temperature of a pound of water by one degree of Fahrenheit. While commonly used to express how well a heater will perform, when it comes to purchasing an air conditioner, this measurement is critical to understanding how well a particular unit will be at removing unwanted heat from your home. A higher BTU rating means that an air conditioner will be more powerful and efficient than other models of similar pricing, while a lower BTU means the opposite.
Energy efficiency and power costs
Given that summer temperatures can be crushingly oppressive, the natural inclination to leave the air conditioner running at all hours is extremely tempting. Unfortunately, doing so with a unit that is not certified by an organization such as Energy Star for low power cost and efficiency, is to risk not only financial peril but also wasted effort. While buying a massive air conditioning unit might seem tempting, it is important to consider the needs of the room that the unit is intended for and not over or underestimate. Of the 33 models of air conditioner offered by Frigidaire, 18 units come with Energy Star certification to give you peace of mind that your air conditioner won’t cause a massive increase to your power bill.
Room size and square footage
Since air conditioners both lower the temperature of a room as well as remove any excess moisture, it is very important that a unit should be appropriately sized for its environment. If a unit is too large or powerful for a given room, the air will be cooled very quickly without removing the moisture, which leads to a chill yet muggy atmosphere.
On the other hand, if a unit is too small and lacks the required BTU, you have essentially wasted your money and increased your power bill. Unless you happen to enjoy spending the majority of your time in what feels like a perpetual fog cloud or a regular room with a pricey paperweight, you should calculate the square footage of the intended room before purchasing an air conditioning unit. Frigidaire’s air conditioners can effectively cool areas between 250 and 1,400 square feet, making them an excellent option for rooms and homes of varying sizes.
Best Frigidaire air conditioner features
Variable speed technology
The compressor in a typical air conditioner either operates at full blast once the thermostat detects a high temperature and completely shuts down after the given temperature setting has been reached. Units with variable speed compressors can adjust how fast the internal compressor motor operates, which allows the air conditioner to constantly make temperature adjustments. Not only does Frigidaire’s variable speed technology save users an impressive amount of energy, but it also greatly lowers the noise produced during its use.
Adjustable fan speeds
As mentioned previously, basic air conditioners only have two modes of operation — namely full-blast or nothing. One very desirable feature of Frigidaire air conditioners is adjustable fan speeds, which allow the user to determine how quickly the room is being cooled.
Remote control
Let’s face it — who really wants to walk across the room to turn on the air conditioner when it feels like you’ve been stuck to your seat? Air conditioners with remote controls might not be a necessity, but having the option and the convenience can be well worth it.
Thermostat
Whether you have a particular temperature that makes you most comfortable or want to know for certain that it’s as cold as possible, a thermostat is ideal. Air conditioners with digital thermostats allow you to set specific operational parameters, keeping your room cool as a cucumber.
Air filters
With concern over the quality of the air in our homes at an all-time high, it only makes sense that a device that cools and exchanges air should be equipped with appropriate filtration. When considering which air conditioner to buy, make sure to get one with a decent filter that is easy to remove, wash and replace.
Best Frigidaire air conditioner cost
Depending on features like BTU and other options, a Frigidaire air conditioner costs between $200-$500, and sometimes more than $500.
Best Frigidaire air conditioner FAQ
How do you calculate my square footage?
A. Square and rectangular rooms should multiply length by width. Triangular rooms should multiply length by width and divide by two. Unusual rooms should be divided into rectangles, squares and triangles and calculated appropriately.
How do you calculate how many BTUs you need?
A. According to Consumer Reports, an air conditioner requires 20 BTUs per square foot. For example, if you have a room that is 250 square feet, or 250 x 20, you would need 5,000 BTUs to effectively cool it.
Which best Frigidaire air conditioner should you get?
Best of the best Frigidaire air conditioner
Frigidaire 10,000 BTU 115V Window-Mounted Compact Air Conditioner: available at Staples and Wayfair
Our take: A top-of-the-line unit for larger rooms with an excellent dehumidifier function.
What we like: This unit is capable of cooling a 450 square foot room and removing three pints of water per hour with Effortless Restart after a power outage.
What we dislike: The unit is heavy to haul up multiple floors and is not inexpensive.
Best bang for your buck Frigidaire air conditioner
Frigidaire 6000 BTU Window Mounted Room Air Conditioner: available at Amazon, Staples and Wayfair
Our take: A great budget-conscious pick with three fan speeds and a built-in 24-hour timer.
What we like: Operations can be set up in half-hour increments, including Sleep Mode, which start off cool, then raises the temperature to save money.
What we dislike: Not great for large rooms and noise issues have been reported.
Honorable mention Frigidaire air conditioner
Frigidaire Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control: available at Staples and Wayfair
Our take: A powerful portable unit capable of 13,000 BTU capable of being moved from room to room.
What we like: This unit has an onboard thermostat with Effortless Restart after a power outage and customizable timer, as well as a remote control.
What we dislike: Issues with fan noise and performance have been reported.
Daniel Martin is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
