How Much Electricity Does A Window Ac Unit Use

How Many Watts Does A Window Ac Utilise?

If you're shopping for a window air conditioner, there's an official standard for efficiency you should understand: the combined energy efficiency ratio, or CEER, which represents the number of BTUs of heat per hour an air conditioner removes for every watt of electricity it consumes. The Section of Energy "Energy Star" rating is given to window air conditioners that rate meliorate than eleven. That works out to the following figures for popular sizes:

For a small chamber, a v,000 BTU window unit of measurement should only use 450 watts
A mid-size eight,000 BTU Air conditioning should utilise fewer than 715 watts
A big 14,000 BTU air conditioner should just employ 1,250 watts

Even the to the lowest degree-expensive units we researched for our review of the best window air conditioners got a score of 11, and all of our picks were rated 12 or 12.1.

When nosotros tested 8,000 BTU window air conditioners, we also tested the power draw on every cooling and fan setting with an electricity usage monitor. As you can meet, there is some departure, but it's non very big.

Setting	Frigidaire	Friedrich	LG	Average
Idle (Watts)	i	0.6	1.5	1
Fan - Low (Watts)	88.8	64.four	116	90
Fan - How-do-you-do (Watts)	114	75.2	129	106
AC - Low (Watts)	573	520	530	541
AC - Hi (Watts)	574	538	543	552
Efficiency Ratio (CEER)	12.ane	12.2	12.1	12.1

The latest and about efficient variable-speed window units similar this bigger model from LG or the make-new Midea U-shaped unit of measurement rate as high every bit 14.7 and 15, but you'll pay extra up-front to squeeze out that extra efficiency.

Window vs portable air conditioner efficiency

Compared to portable air conditioners, window units are technology marvels: Near portable designs can't even hit an efficiency rating of ameliorate than 7 or 8 in existent-earth conditions, and so a rating is rarely listed. You'll employ about 50% more electricity to get the same amount of cooling, and that'due south assuming only moderate outdoor heat — on the hottest days, even the all-time portable air conditioners can't go along up.

Window AC watts vs. central systems

Comparing window units to primal ac is trickier, though, since the efficiency rating organisation about often advertised is different.

Window unit of measurement CEER is based on the BTUs per hour removed when it's 95 degrees outside, as defined by the Ac, Heating, and Refrigeration Constitute standard 210/240. That same standard defines another calculation called the "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio" (SEER) to average out efficiency over an entire year, including a standardized number of days out of the twelvemonth an air conditioner is not running.

That ways the SEER rating for a central air conditioner is always higher than the CEER of a window unit of measurement, even sometimes if the central system is actually less efficient. If you lot can find a non-"seasonal" EER rating for a key system, that is a number y'all can more closely compare with the CEER of a window unit.

Energy Star lists the virtually-efficient primal air conditioning systems, among which nosotros plant a Lennox unit that striking a class-leading EER of 16 (SEER of 26) for a small 24000-BTU central system. It'll use about 1400 watts to absurd near 1200 square anxiety of a house in average summertime conditions, and even less if you only need a little bit of cooling. A less-efficient Mr. Cool model from Dwelling house Depot with the aforementioned capacity but a SEER of 14.v volition use about one,000 watts more, and only runs at i speed.

Recollect, though, that even if the efficiencies are comparable the manner yous utilise a fundamental air conditioner is different from a cardinal organization. Yous're spending less on electricity considering yous're only cooling off one room when you're in it, simply you have to settle for more than noise and an obstructed window.

Watts vs amps

If yous already own an air conditioner (or other electrical appliance) it will accept a label that tells you how many amperes ("amps") of electric current they can depict. You lot may non have a listing for watts at all.

The rating for maximum amps is the most important number to know for electric appliances, since it's this factor that moves you lot closer to the limit of your excursion breaker.

To figure out your elevation power draw in watts, you can just multiply amps by the voltage of your electrical organisation. If you're using this number for informal calculations and comparisons, you can assume 120 volts for standard wall-mountain outlets in North American homes, but a 5% modify college or lower isn't unusual.

Newer homes should have xx-amp breakers defended to each room, and hopefully more than one in a room you'd put an air conditioner in. Sadly, many of us are stuck with older homes or apartments that have 15-amp breakers shared between multiple rooms.

If you lot're putting in an appliance that will run constantly like an air conditioner, it's well worth finding out which outlets and lights are on which breakers to avoid overloading a circuit. Every bit a rule of pollex, anything with an electric heater in information technology — a hair dryer, a kettle, or even a keurig — tin draw enough amps to trip a billow if you lot've already got some other pocket-size apparatus running.

How many BTUs do you lot need?

If you're not sure what size of air conditioner yous should look for, nosotros've taken the size recommendations from the Section of Free energy and made a calculator to help y'all notice the BTU capacity you need.

What is the size of the room you lot demand cooled in square feet?

Is your room heavily shaded?

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Does your room get direct sunlight?

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How many people regularly occupy the room?

Is the unit of measurement used in a kitchen?

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Daniel Jackson, Author

Daniel is a Canadian farm male child who grew upward to be a nerd with a literature degree and as well many hobbies to count. He emigrated from Canada to California in 2013, and at present writes for Your Best Digs full-time. Daniel remains unapologetic about Canadian spelling, serial commas, and the destruction of expensive travel mugs.