How to choose an air-conditioner

Typically, a study is a room used for computer work or reading. It is usually employed by the head of the household, but is open to the rest of the family. Some study rooms may even double as an office or SOHO (small office home office). A study will usually contain a desk, chair, computer with LCD monitor, shelves for folders and books, and even a multifunction printer.

The space you have

Getting an air conditioner for your study room falls along the same guidelines as the bedroom or living room. The type of unit depends on what you want for your study room. Can it do with a portable air conditioner unit? Do you want a common split system with the other rooms? Or would you prefer a single unit for the study room? To get the most out of your system, you'll need to measure the size of your study room and note the appliances that are in it as these put a heavy heat load on the air conditioner. You also need to understand the following two key technical specifications.

Your cooling requirements

Know your capacity:
Once you've decided on the type of air conditioner to get, there are two technical specifications to heed.

BTU: Every air conditioner has a cooling capacity number in BTU or British thermal units per hour. The higher the value, the stronger the air conditioner is. Of course, the more the BTU, the costlier. So in short, bigger isn't always necessarily better. It would be good to get as close to the correct BTU as possible as too small a unit could leave you sweltering despite the air conditioning, while too big a unit could cost you more to cool your room. You will also need to factor in other aspects like the number of windows, whether your bedroom faces the sun, how insulated it is, if there are electronic devices operating in the room, and how many people share the room.

EER: EER or Energy Efficiency Ratio is another good indicator for measuring how energy efficient an air conditioner is at turning electricity into cooling. With utility costs on the rise, your monthly bill could be quite brutal if you plan to run your unit for long hours. So check the EER number. Generally, the higher the number, the more efficient the unit, the less it will cost to run.

Air-conditioner types:
Here's a quick look at some of the more popular air conditioner types for your study room.

Window unit:
Typically a self-contained single unit, as its name implies, sits within a window encasement with the cooler facing the room and the coils outside the window. Window units extract heat and moisture from the room, blows them outside, and returns cooled air to the room. There are three main types: Double-hung windows, sliding windows and casement windows.

Wall unit:
Similar to window units, this fits through a hole in the wall instead and are generally used to cool a single room. You will need a sleeve in your wall to support the weight.

Ductless, split system:
These are more popular in homes to cool multiple rooms or open areas. Typically more expensive than the wall or window units, this needs professional help to install as the compressor sits outside, while one or more indoor air conditioner outlets need to be mounted either on the walls or in the ceilings of the rooms.

Portable system:
As the name implies, these are portable upright units usually with wheels at the base. Hot air is vented through a hose attached to the unit, while condensation is recycled through the air or collected in a bucket or tray which will need to be emptied regularly. Portable units can be plugged into any normal mains and can cool a small room.

Your budget

Now that you have a better understanding of BTU and EER, and the types of air conditioners available for your study room, it's always good to go to a store with the measurements of your room and a list of electronic products being used in it, and to seek expert advice. Don't just depend on one shop. Go around to various outlets to get a feel of the brand, type of air conditioner, size and capacity of the system that will best suit your study room and your lifestyle needs. As you go along, you'll also probably want to look out for features that may add to your comfort level, from adjustable and oscillating louvers to health-friendly options that kill both germs and fungus, deodorize smells and remove dust. You can find a checklist of these features here. Whatever your decision or budget, remember to check if the purchase price includes installation and delivery. If not, find out how much this may add to your total cost.