What BTU Air Conditioner Do I Need?

Posted on May 14, 2012

NewAir AC2100E 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is ideal for rooms 450 to 550 sq. ft.

When you’re shopping for a portable air conditioner, the first question you should ask yourself is: What BTU air conditioner do I need?

BTU – short for British Thermal Unit – is a measurement of how much cooling power an air conditioner has. The higher the BTUs, the more cold air the unit can pump out. If you’ve ever used a small portable air conditioner in a large room, then you already know that having too-small an air conditioner for your space means it’s never going to get properly cool.

But here’s a secret: when it comes to air conditioning, bigger isn’t always better.

That’s right – while you might think that a big AC would just cool your room faster, an oversized air conditioner is actually less effective. When it’s too large for the room it’s being used in, the air conditioner cycles on and off frequently and cannot efficiently remove the humidity from the air. This leaves the air in the room feeling damp and clammy…not the dry, cool feeling we appreciate from a properly-sized air conditioner.

So before you buy a portable air conditioner, make sure you measure the square footage of the room you’re going to use it in. Then, refer to the chart below so you’ll know how to calculate air conditioner size to achieve comfortable cooling.

How to Calculate Size of Air Conditioner

Area To Be Cooled (square feet)	Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour)
100 up to 150	5,000
150 up to 250	6,000
250 up to 300	7,000
300 up to 350	8,000
350 up to 400	9,000
400 up to 450	10,000
450 up to 550	12,000
550 up to 700	14,000
700 up to 1,000	18,000
1,000 up to 1,200	21,000
1,200 up to 1,400	23,000
1,400 up to 1,500	24,000
1,500 up to 2,000	30,000
2,000 up to 2,500	34,000

Be sure to make adjustments if any of the following conditions apply:

For a heavily shaded room, reduce the BTU by 10%
For a sunny room, increase the needed BTU by 10%
Add 600 BTUs for each person over two who will be using the room
For kitchens, add 4,000 BTUs

(Source: EnergyStar.gov)

5 Great Gift Ideas for Mom

Posted on May 7, 2012

Mother’s Day is almost here, but it’s not too late to find her a great gift show how much you care. If you’re still having trouble deciding what to give her, we’ve pulled together some suggestions for great gift ideas for mom to help you out.

Sunpentown SD-2201S Countertop Dishwasher
This is one labor-saving appliance Mom will thank you for. Ideal for apartments or small kitchens, the Sunpentown SD-2201S portable dishwasher can hold up to hold up to 6 place settings and comes with an easy-to-use faucet adapter. Now, instead of slaving over a sink full of dirty dishes, Mom can use her free-time for something fun – like knitting you a sweater.

Sprite SR-WHM Filtered Shower Head
Any hardworking mom can appreciate a long, relaxing shower. The Sprite Industries SR-WHM shower head not only is an attractive addition to the bathroom. It has a three-way massaging head releases a therapeutic spray that relaxes muscles and relieves tension. Plus, the patented filtration system removes excess chlorine from the water so it protects color treatments and Mom’s hair will turn out soft and silky.

NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker
Okay, maybe this one is a little self-serving, but don’t we all appreciate Mom’s homemade desserts? With the NewAir AIC-210 ice cream maker, she’ll find it easier than ever to create delicious, frozen treats at home. With a built-in compressor, there’s no need to pre-freeze the bowl – just add your favorite ingredients and turn it on.
DecoBreeze DBF0252 Bird of Paradise Table Fan Flowers are one of the favorite gift ideas for mom. Here’s a bouquet of flowers that she can enjoy all year. The DecoBreeze Bird of Paradise table fan is small enough to go on Mom’s desk, vanity, bedroom, bathroom, or wherever extra cooling and ventilation is needed. And the sculpted birds of paradise flowers make a beautiful accent to any home décor.

NewAir AC-10000E Portable Air Conditioner
Summer is almost here, and what better way to keep Mom happy then by helping her stay cool? The NewAir AC-10000E portable air conditioner is our number one choice for spaces up to 325 square feet. Extremely mobile and easy to set up, it will go wherever Mom needs extra cooling in hot weather.

Hopefully these ideas will help you find some great gift ideas for mom. If you’re still looking for that perfect gift, then take a look at all our offerings on Air-Conditioner-Home.com.

Countertop Ice Maker Dispenser Cleaning Tips

Posted on May 4, 2012

NewAir AI-120S Countertop Ice Maker Dispenser

The NewAir Ai-210S Counterop Ice Maker & Dispenser can make up to 28 pounds of ice a day.

Can you believe that spring is nearly halfway over? Soon the weather will be non-stop hot and that means it’s time to haul out your countertop ice maker dispenser. Icy cold drinks are a guaranteed way to beat the heat, so make sure you have plenty of ice on hand to meet the need.

A countertop ice maker dispenser can provide as much as 28 pounds of ice in a day and makes a great addition to home bars, office break rooms, or wherever there’s a demand for a ready supply of ice.

If you packed up your countertop ice maker dispenser for the cold season, now’s the time to get it out, clean it thoroughly, and make sure it’s operating properly. Proper maintenance is the best way to ensure your countertop ice dispenser continues to provide the best quality ice.

Tips for Cleaning Your Countertop Ice Maker Dispenser

Remember to unplug and drain the countertop ice maker dispenser before attempting any maintenance!

Clean the interior with a solution of diluted dish soap and warm water. Drain the cleaning solution through the unit’s drainage port and rinse well with water.
Clean the exterior with a damp cloth. Use mild soap if necessary, but avoid abrasive cleaners. If your countertop ice maker machine has a stainless steel exterior, you can use one of the many products on the market to restore its shine.
If your countertop ice maker dispenser has hard water deposits, use a clean cloth soaked in vinegar to remove them.
Remove mold and mildew with vinegar or a bleach solution – just be sure to rinse thoroughly before use. Lingering musty smells can be eliminated by sprinkling the interior with baking soda and letting it sit for several hours.
Make sure you dry the interior thoroughly before storing your counterop ice maker dispenser. Any moisture left in the interior could lead to problems with mold.

Some countertop ice makers feature a self-cleaning function. Check your manual to see if this feature is available.

If you haven’t yet invested in a countertop ice maker dispenser, now’s the perfect time. Avoid the summer rush for bagged ice and enjoy your frost drinks at home.

Summer Ceiling Fan Rotation

Posted on May 1, 2012

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to adjust the rotation of your ceiling fan for the summer. Even if you rely on central air conditioning to keep you cool in hot weather, using ceiling fans can considerably reduce the energy costs you’ll rack up through the summer months… but only if your ceiling fan rotation is in the right direction!

In the summer, your ceiling fan should rotate with the leading blade of the fan blade tilted up – that’s usually counterclockwise, depending on the manufacturer. This pushes air down from the ceiling, creating a slight breeze that pushes hot air away from your body. If you’re sweaty, it also speeds up evaporation which further cools your body.

It’s the same effect that wind chill has in the winter – though the air is not actually cooled by the fan, your body feels cooler because the hot air surrounding you has been blown away.

And when your body feels cooler, you don’t need to set the thermostat on your air conditioner quite so low. Remember, every degree below 78F can increase your energy costs by 3 to 4%. So raising your thermostat and turning on your fan to stay cool makes good sense for your budget.

The only exception to the rule is if you have very high ceilings or the fan is hung in an atrium or long stairway. In this instance, the wind chill effect is hampered by distance, and you’ll get better effects by reversing the ceiling fan rotation so that cold air is pulled up through the room, evening the temperature throughout the room.

Most modern celing fans make it easy to switch ceiling fan rotation, usually with a convenient remote or wall switch. If your ceiling fan doesn’t have a remote, then you’ll find a small switch on the fixture itself (check your operation manual if you have trouble finding it). Flip the switch to change ceiling fan rotation – just be sure the fan is turned off first!

To check to see if your ceiling fan rotation is correct, turn the fan on to high speed and stand right under it. You should feel a blast of air circulating down and around you. If you feel no air movement at all, then you need to reverse the ceiling fan rotation to enjoy its cooling effect for the summer months.

Air Coolers vs. Air Conditioners: What’s the Difference?

Posted on April 26, 2012

Summer’s just around the corner, and if the early indications are any kind of prediction it’s going to be long and hot. If your heat-busting strategies include bringing home a portable cooling appliance, the time to start shopping is now, before you’re sweltering in 90-degree weather.

If you’ve already started shopping, then you’ve probably discovered that there are two major types of cooling appliance available: air coolers and air conditioners. On the outside they look a lot like, and both types have the ability to cool down a room. On the inside, though, they function quite differently and if you buy the wrong type you might end up “hot under the collar” instead of cool and relaxed.

Here’s a quick run-down on the differences to help you make the right choice between air coolers vs air conditioners:

Air Coolers

Also known as evaporative coolers or swamp coolers, these units cool the air with the natural power of evaporation. The air cooler’s fan pulls hot air through water-soaked pads, which causes the water to evaporate and lowers the air’s temperature. The cool, humid air is circulated through the room where it provides refreshing relief in hot, dry weather.

Air coolers like the NewAir AF-351 work best in hot, dry climates.

Air coolers:

are less expensive to purchase than air conditioners and easy to maintain.
use less energy to operate and save you money on energy costs.
are environmentally friendly, since they use no chemical coolants.
work best in arid climates. Operating an evaporative air cooler in high humidity will have no noticeable cooling effect because the air is already saturated with water.
require a supply of fresh air from an open window, but don’t require venting or ducts.
can work indoors and outdoors.

Air Conditioners

Air conditioners cool the air using a coolant-based refrigeration process. A hose pulls in hot air from the outdoors and uses a compressor to cool and remove the water from the air. A fan then circulates the cool, dry air into the room, and vents the hot air (exhaust) back outside.

The Haier CPN14XH9 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner also works as a space heater.

Air conditioners:

can work effectively in any environment and climate.
can lower the temperature more significantly than an air cooler.
must be vented to the outside to operate, but portable units come with easy window kits that can be installed in just minutes.
can function as air filters and dehumidifiers. Some models even have built in heat pumps so that you can use them as space heaters in cold weather.

Important note: An air conditioner with “self-evaporative” technology shouldn’t be confused with an evaporative air cooler. Self- or auto-evaporation means that the coils of the air conditioner are cooled with the water it pulls from the air during the cooling process. This has a two-fold benefit for you. First, it’s more energy-efficient than traditional ACs, so you’ll save money on operational expenses. And second, there’s less excess water to drain from the tank, so you’ll save time on maintenance, too.

If you’re still confused about which is the right product for you, take a visit to the Learning Library at Air-Conditioner-Home.com, and we’ll guide you through all your choices. Then view our selection of air coolers and air conditioners to find the best product for your unique needs.

10 Things To Do While Waiting for Your Homemade Ice Cream Maker

Posted on April 23, 2012

The NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker has a one quart capacity and built-in freezer and compressor - no pre-freezing required!

You’ve mixed together all the best ingredients and poured them into your homemade ice cream maker. Now, while the ice cream machine magically turns cream and sugar into a tasty frozen treat, you’ve got some time to kill. It usually takes about 30 minutes to make ice cream, so here are some suggestions for using that time wisely.

Chill your ice cream dishes in the freezer so they’ll be nice and frosty by the time your homemade ice cream maker is finished churning.
Make whipped cream. Mix 1 cup of heavy cream, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of confectioners’ sugar together in a large bowl, and whip until peaks form. Yum!
Assemble your toppings. Rainbow sprinkles. Shaved chocolate. Chopped nuts. A maraschino cherry. Caramel sauce. What’s your favorite?
Make your own waffle cones! Use a thin batter in your waffle iron, Panini press, or even on the griddle, and roll it up while still hot.
Take a walk. Think of it as burning those extra calories you are about to indulge when your home ice cream maker is finished.
Do some online research for new and unusual homemade ice cream recipes. How about Lime Coconut? Or Salted Caramel Butter ice cream? (Be sure to bookmark our growing collection of ice cream recipes at Pinterest.)
Organize your collection of ice cream machine recipes. It’s never too soon to start planning for next time!
Invent your own ice cream flavors. This is especially fun to do with kids!
Research the history of ice cream online. Did you know people have been eating frozen treats for thousands of years? But the first small, hand-cranked ice cream maker was invented in 1843 by Nancy Johnson.
Take some photos or a video of your homemade ice cream maker at work and post them to Facebook so that all your friends will be jealous. (Bonus points: point pictures of your homemade ice cream to the Air Conditioner Home Facebook page and we’ll be jealous too!)

7 Ways Evaporative Coolers Are Better Than Air Conditioners

Posted on April 19, 2012

Summer is on the way! How will you get through the hottest months of the year and still keep your cool?

If you’re thinking “air conditioner” – stop and think again. That’s right, an air conditioner may not be the best way to cool your personal space this summer. Especially if you live in a hot, dry climate, an evaporative cooler (or swamp cooler) may be a better choice for providing relief from the heat. Here’s why:

Cheaper to purchase – Evaporative coolers can cost hundreds of dollars less to buy than air conditioners of similar cooling capacity.
Energy efficiency – Swamp coolers use don’t use as much energy as air conditioners; even the largest, commercial evaporative coolers can be run for just pennies an hour.
Green technology – Evaporative coolers cool the air through the power of natural evaporation; there is no compressor and no refrigerants or chemicals that can contaminate the environment.
Defeat dry air – Evaporative coolers work by dispersing moisture into the air, increasing the ambient humidity so that you’re more comfortable in your skin.
Low maintenance – Simple cleaning of the unit and cooling pads is all it takes to keep an evaporative cooler in good working order. That musty smell so often associated with swamp coolers can be eliminated with nothing more than a capful of vinegar.
No venting – Unlike air conditioners, evaporative coolers don’t have exhaust hoses that need to be hooked up to windows to cool properly, so they’re easier to set up and relocate when needed.
Cool air outdoors – Because they don’t require a room to be sealed up tight to provide cooling relief, evaporative coolers are great for cooling open places like screened porches and decks. Larger swamp coolers can provide relief for warehouses, stables, athletic fields and event venues!

Beat the heat with an evaporative cooler.

Hero keeps cool with the NewAir AF-330.

Is an evaporative cooler the right choice for you? Find out more with these informative guides:

What is a Swamp Cooler?

Portable Swamp Cooler Features

Evaporative Cooler Comparisons

Have questions? Air Conditioner Home is here to help you make the right choices when it comes to meeting your cooling needs. Contact Customer Service, or leave us a comment below and we’ll be happy to provide the information you need to ensure you stay cool and comfortable all summer long.

Staying Warm When the Air Conditioner is on High

Posted on April 16, 2012

It’s that time of year when the temperatures can fluctuate wildly – sunny and warm one day, cold and rainy the next. Unfortunately, once the air conditioning gets turned up to “high” it seldom gets adjusted when outside temperatures drop again. So what can you do to stay warm when it gets chilly indoors? Here’s a few of ideas we came up with:

Wear close-toed shoes. We lose over 80% of our body heat through our feet, so while those strappy sandals may be adorable, they’re not helping to keep you warm.
Scarves. Besides being a fashion statement, a lightweight scarf around your neck will keep the cold air off the exposed skin at the neck.
Your wrists are another part of the body particularly susceptible to cold air. Try wrist warmers or fingerless gloves for a quick way to stay warm.
Dress in layers. A t-shirt or camisole under your blouse or shirt is an unobtrusive but effective way to keep the chill off. Or keep a sweater, sweatshirt, or shoulder wrap handy for when you feel the need to bundle up.
Drink hot beverages. A mug of hot tea or a cup of coffee will warm you up from the inside out. Plus, just wrapping your fingers around the steaming mug will make your temperature rise.
Exercise. When you have a break, get outside and stretch your limbs. A brisk walk will raise your heartbeat – and your body temperature. Just be careful not to break a sweat, or you’ll just get that much colder when you return indoors!

We’d love to hear from you… what do you do to stay warm when it’s too cold indoors?

Pollen Counts are on the Rise – Here's How to Beat Spring Allergies

Posted on April 11, 2012

Runny nose, itchy eyes, clogged sinuses…are your allergies in overdrive this spring? You’re not alone! According to the science news site OurAmazingEarth.com many places in North America are experiencing especially high pollen rates this spring, thanks to a mild winter and an especially warm spring.

Soil temperatures, air temperatures and moisture levels have all contributed to an early spring, with trees and plants bursting into bloom weeks ahead of normal. Pollen counts across the country have been at record highs, too – a pollen count of 1,500 is considered very high, according to experts, and in some parts of the country this year they’ve already topped 10,000.

About 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies or “hay fever”, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), leading to billions of dollars in allergy treatment costs and lost work days. Those amounts could increase this year thanks to the prolonged season.

It’s not too late to take steps to minimize your suffering from sneezing and sniffling!

Pollen.com tracks pollen activity across the country – just type in your zip code to get the pollen forecast for your area, and take steps to minimize your discomfort on days when the pollen count is especially high.

Keep the windows closed to block out air-borne particles
Dust and vacuum often to remove pollen that is carried indoors
Exercise and do yard work in the late afternoon or evening, when pollen counts are lower
Filter indoor air

AllerAir 4000 Exec Air Purifier

If a whole-house HVAC system is out of the question, a portable room air filter is a reasonable substitute for reducing air-born allergens on a room-by-room basis. To be effective against sneeze-inducing pollen, make sure it’s equipped with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) technology, and make sure that you clean or replace the filters regularly.

For more tips on reducing allergens in your home, check out this handy downloadable guide from the AAFA.

Do you suffer from springtime allergies? What tips do you have for surviving?

NewAir Debuts Two New Ice Maker Models

Posted on March 18, 2011

NewAir is adding two new models to its suite of portable ice makers. The latest ice maker models add more options for producing ice on-the-go. Portable ice makers are an efficient solution for providing plentiful ice where it’s needed. A steady supply of ice is useful for camping trips, tailgating, and outdoor parties. One popular application is using a portable ice maker to replenish the ice in a large cooler as it melts throughout the day for picnics and barbeques.

NewAir AW-120S portable ice maker and dispenser

The NewAir AI-120S is a portable ice maker that doubles as an ice dispenser. Choose between large and small sized pieces of ice, shaped like a hollowed out bullet. Designed compactly to fit on a countertop, the NewAir AI-120S ice maker offers one-hand dispensing, similar to ice dispensers in convenience stores. You press the ice lever back using a glass, and ice is dropped down from the storage chamber. This type of ice maker is ideal for households or smaller offices that use ice frequently. At Air & Water, we keep the NewAir AI-120S ice maker by our Keurig pod coffee maker to supply the ice needed for chilled refreshments like iced coffee.

NewAir AW-130S portable ice maker crystal clear ice

The NewAir AI-130S fills a unique niche within the current lineup of ice makers. Cocktail fiends rejoice! The NewAir AI-130S makes crystal clear ice cubes, the most sought after ice for bartenders. The crystal clear ice adds to the aesthetic of a mixed drink, so devoted mixologists can create aperitifs with style.

Both ice makers generate up to 28 pounds of ice daily in 15 – 30 minute cycles. These NewAir ice maker units have a sleek platinum exterior and auto-shutoff to prevent overproducing ice. The water source is a refillable reservoir, so they won’t require water line connection or installation of any type. You can see the entire line of NewAir compact icemakers here.

Do you prefer crystal clear ice?
Does it matter what the ice looks like to you?