A wall unit air conditioner is very similar to an air conditioner that is set in a window. The main difference between the two is that a wall unit does not need to be removed during the winter and it does not block any view that can be seen through a window. Determining the size of a room will help when selecting what size air conditioner will be required to keep the room cool and comfortable for anyone in the room.
In order to know how many square feet a room is, all that needs to be done is multiply the length of the room by the width. If a room is ten feet wide and fifteen feet long then it has a square footage of 150 square feet. An air conditioner capable of 5,000 BTUs should be able to sufficiently cool the room. The letters BTU stand for British Thermal Units.
Other things to consider when selecting a wall unit air conditioner are whether the room is shaded by trees or is it exposed to a lot of sun. These two factors can help to determine the amount of BTUs that will be required. The BTUs can be reduced by ten per cent if there is a lot of shade for the room or increased by ten per cent if it is exposed to a lot of sun. If there will be more than two people in the room on a regular bases the BTUs should be at least 600 more.
The next thing to consider is if the unit is going to be used in a kitchen. If it is used in a kitchen the unit should be increased by 4,000 BTUs per hour because of the amount of heat that is created when the kitchen is being used. To install a wall unit air conditioner, first decide what room it will be used in. Figure out what the square footage of the room is and select an air conditioner with the necessary BTUs to cool the room.
Use a stud finder to locate the exterior wall studs. Measure the wall unit air conditioner for height and width then mark those measurements on the wall and use a reciprocating saw to cut the hole in the wall. After the hole has been cut through the wall the unit can be inserted according to the manufacturer's directions. Fill any open spaces with insulation and refinish the wall with whatever was there before the installation of the unit.
Author: Jason Griffiths
For more information on wallunit air conditioners click here.
