Best AC Units for Large Rooms (400 sq. ft.)

Whether it's a boat, mobile, or studio living, majority of Americans are downsizing their dwelling.  This in light of the recent recession mixed with a rising awareness to cultivate positive eco-friendly living solutions, has left the market saturated with a number of alternatives to conventional living.

In browsing the net, stories popped up left and right about single Americans who are now looking to live cheaper and more simply.  Initially doing it for environmental or fiscal reasons, all of them have attested to finding that a simpler home has somehow translated into a simpler lifestyle - and a simple lifestyle is a happy lifestyle. 

But is this happiness without its lingering black cloud? Perhaps not.

There are a couple of creeping problems with smaller living lifestyles.  Whether it's a room or a whole living space/studio, the obvious issue is space. The easiest way to tackle this problem is through bookshelves.  However, in a smaller space, it's crucial to make use of wall and above-cabinet space.  Some clever homes even had bookshelves trailing down each side of the main steps leading from the entrance to the loft.  Other clever ideas including using bedroom dividers and utilizing lighting to highlight different room areas.

Despite best intentions, and even some amazingly gosh darn cute homes, there are some problems that keep cropping up with smaller domiciles.  As we saw with the articles on living spaces of 250 square feet and 350 square feet, it is possible to live functionally in such a small space. Compared to that 400 square feet seems rather large, but even a room or a studio type home of 400 square feet can have the same heat-rising microwave-effect that exists with even smaller spaces.

Unless your small space has great ventilation and accompanies a cool breeze, chances are you'll be stuck in what will inevitably feel like a pressure cooker.  And if you're on the second floor, that dark little cloud is going to start inching closer and closer.  With the well-known fact that heat rises, you'll have the added heat headed up your way. 

If this miserable existence sounds like your situation, but perhaps not your cup of tea, then your best bet is to get a portable cooler.  Portable air conditioners are mobile cooling devices that, unlike central air conditioners, offer spot cooling at a far more cost-friendly rate. And unlike window ac's, they can be moved from room to room, or area to area, depending on your needs.  For a 400 square foot room, you'd need a cooler with a BTU (British Thermal Unit) of 9000 - in which case the Soleus Portable AC should suit you just fine. 

If you're living in a smaller space, then you might want to consider a portable AC unit with multiple features, such as a fan and dehumidifier. This way, u can still use your unit even in the off season. 

However, if you're going to be stuck in hot dry desert-like temperatures and climate zones, then you should strongly consider investing in an evaporative cooler (also commonly referred to as a swamp cooler).  Swamp coolers have a similar effect as a fan blowing air through a wet t-shirt; they inject a level of moisture back into the air that is needed in dryer climates.  If you're in a desert area such as Nevada, Arizona, or New Mexico, consider getting the Convair Evaporative Cooler to get you through the summer without a sweat.

Regardless of which unit you decide is right for you, they all tend to be of a compact design that can be discreetly tucked away when not in use.  When they are in use, they'll seamlessly blend into your decor as the trend for most small living quarters tends to be lighter colors with classic lines. 

In addition to salvaging what's left of your sanity come summer, you'll have the added benefit of clean purified air, a simple, energy efficient, easy to operate cooling device, mobility and spot cooling, as well as adaptability. 

These days, most ACs don't just cool, but can also function as heaters, fans, and dehumidifiers. Dehumidifying mobile ACs lower room temperatures through a refrigeration cycle, which results in reduced humidity in the air.  This in turn offers relatively lowered humidity levels. This is particularly appealing if you live in a humid climate and want the benefits of both a dehumidifier and an air conditioner.  If a multi-purpose AC is what you're looking for, be certain to pay close attention to the listed features for each AC to make sure it suits your needs. 

If a multi-purpose unit is exactly what you need, consider the ACP-1400H New Air Portable Air Conditioner, which boasts heating, cooling and dehumidifying/auto-evaporative technology.