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Step 1
Determine what size air conditioner you will need according to the size of the room. A 5,000 BTU window air conditioner will cool a room size of approximately 150 square feet. A room that doesn't get a lot of sun during the day also means the room doesn't get too hot. So take that into consideration, and reduce the BTU's needed to cool the room by approximately 10 percent. On the other hand, if the room gets very bright and sunny during the day, then that room receives above average heat. So increase the BTU's needed by 10 percent.
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Step 2
Pack the top part of the window with foam rubber strips that are specifically used for window air conditioners, if you're installing the air conditioner in a double hung window. Sealing that upper part of the window will greatly reduce the cool air escaping outside and also let the heat in from outside.
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Step 3
Decide how many people are normally in the room during the day. If it's two or more people, increase the BTU's needed by 600.
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Step 4
Add another 4,000 BTUs if the air conditioner is going to be in the kitchen to allow for the heat of the oven.
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Step 5
Take the air conditioner out of the window during the cold months to avoid heated air escaping to the outside. This also will reduce how often your furnace kicks in. If you decided to install the air conditioner in a wall or somewhere it cannot be removed, purchase an air conditioner cover to seal the air conditioner from the outside.
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Step 6
Run your air conditioner most of the time. In addition to keeping the room at a cool comfortable level, air conditioners also take out the humidity. If you let the air conditioner turn on and off, you'll be left with a cool damp feeling in the room when the compressor is not running.
