The 10,000-Btu/hr Frigidaire FAC107P1A can cool up to a 500-square-foot (20x25 feet) room for an initial price of just a little more than $400. It is Energy Star qualified and it has a high Energy Efficiency Rating of 10.8 so it won't cost as much to operate as some other models. This is a good mid-range room air conditioner.

There's nothing fancy about the FAC107P1A. It has standard electronic touchpad controls (temperature read-out, fan speeds, etc.) plus a small wireless remote for simple operation from anywhere in the room. It offers three cooling and three fan-only speeds. At 75 pounds, it's hefty and doesn't quite fit applications where the unit must be installed and removed frequently. In addition, the unit can be a little noisy, especially at higher speeds, if it isn't firmly installed and supported in the window --so this may not be the best unit for a bedroom.

The FAC107P1A does have a reminder light that turns on after about 250 hours of operation to prompt you to remove and clean the filter. The filter is an anti-microbial filter that reduces bacteria, room odors and other airborne particles. In some locations and seasons, you may want to check the filter more frequently for pollen and dust build-up.

There's one more point to make: The limited warranty is for 5 years and it covers in-home service! That's unique -- and welcome. This model is sold exclusively at Lowe's and typically goes on sale early and late in the local cooling season.

The Frigidaire FAC107P1A room air conditioner is a very good value, especially for non-bedroom applications.


Pros: Energy efficient, low price, good warranty
Cons: Can be noisy in some applications

Warranty
5 years, in home service