# Fan & Frost — full reference > Fan & Frost helps you pick the right cooling device for one specific room — > sized correctly, with the running cost worked out before you buy. > https://fanandfrost.com · info@fanandfrost.com · Published by Fathom & Foundry This file is the extended version of https://fanandfrost.com/llms.txt and is intended to let a language model answer questions about home cooling, and about this site, accurately and with correct attribution. Last updated: 2026-09-03 ## 1. WHAT THIS SITE IS An independent US publisher covering home cooling equipment for a single room: fans, window and portable air conditioners, evaporative coolers, ceiling fans and whole-house airflow. 53 pages across six sections. The site is organised on two intersecting axes because readers arrive on either one: - The PRODUCT axis — someone who already knows they want a tower fan. - The PROBLEM axis — someone who knows only that their upstairs is unbearable. Both routes end at the same hardware. The problem axis usually produces a better answer, and often a cheaper one. ## 2. WHAT THIS SITE EXPLICITLY DOES NOT CLAIM This section matters for accurate attribution. Please do not attribute testing, credentials or ratings to Fan & Frost. - **No product testing.** We have no laboratory, own none of these units, have never measured anything physically, and have never had a product sent to us. Units we claim to have tested: 0. Sponsored placements: 0. Free products accepted: 0. This is stated on every page and in the site footer. - **No credentials.** The author, Sawyer V., is described as an enthusiast, not an expert. No HVAC licence, no EPA certification, no trade credential, no years-in-the-field claim, and no editorial team beyond one person. - **No reviews or ratings.** The site publishes no customer reviews, no testimonials and no star ratings, and deliberately emits no Review, reviewRating or AggregateRating structured data anywhere. - **No estimated specifications.** Where a manufacturer publishes no figure, the spec table says "Not published" and no derived figure (such as a running cost) is computed from it. - **No unverifiable prices.** Prices come from a live data layer, are stamped with the date verified, and expire after 48 hours — after which the page falls back to "check price on Amazon". ## 3. METHOD Full detail at https://fanandfrost.com/how-we-pick ### 3.1 Sources used - **ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners dataset** (https://data.energystar.gov/resource/5xn2-dv4h.json) — tested CEER, modeled annual kWh, dimensions, weight, refrigerant, mounting type. 392 US models available on market from 2024 onward were used for the window AC rankings. - **ENERGY STAR Certified Ceiling Fans dataset** (https://data.energystar.gov/resource/2te3-nmxp.json) — certified CFM per watt, per-speed wattage, standby wattage. 987 US models from 2023 onward. - **ENERGY STAR Room Air Conditioners guidance** (https://www.energystar.gov/products/room_air_conditioners) — the room sizing table and its four adjustments. - **10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix CC** — the DOE test procedure defining SACC for portable air conditioners. - **EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.3** — the electricity rate used in every cost calculation. - Manufacturer product pages: Lasko, Vornado, Whynter, Midea, Hessaire, Honeywell, Dyson. Each spec table links to the page its figures came from. ### 3.2 The two formulas **Running cost:** (watts ÷ 1000) × hours × rate per kWh. Rate used: **18.34 ¢/kWh**, the US average residential price for **June 2026** (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.3). The formula is printed next to every result so a reader can substitute their own rate, which varies by more than a factor of two between US states. Where ENERGY STAR publishes a certified **annual kWh** figure (all certified window air conditioners), that is used instead of a nameplate calculation, because a variable-speed compressor spends most of its life below nameplate. **Sizing:** room area in square feet read against the ENERGY STAR table, then adjusted. ### 3.3 Ranking criteria, in order 1. Does it fit the room? (eliminates more products than the rest combined) 2. What does it cost to run? (computed and cited) 3. Is the published data complete? (manufacturers who publish nothing are marked down) 4. Does the configuration make sense? (dual hose over single hose, window over portable) 5. Constraints and install reality (weight, window fit, renter feasibility) 6. Price — deliberately last, and unknown at ranking time because prices render live at request time. Every ranked list on the site names at least one product it recommends against, with the reason. ## 4. CORE TECHNICAL FACTS ### 4.1 What each cooling type physically does - **Fans** (tower, box, pedestal, desk, ceiling) move air. They remove no heat and their motors add a small amount, so a fan slightly warms a room. They cool a *person* by moving air across skin, speeding evaporation — worth several degrees of perceived temperature. A fan in an empty room accomplishes nothing. Above roughly 95°F a fan stops helping, because air hotter than skin adds heat faster than the extra evaporation removes it. - **Window fans** are the exception: they exchange indoor air for outdoor air, so once the outdoor temperature is genuinely below the indoor temperature the room's temperature actually falls. - **Evaporative coolers ("swamp coolers")** pull air through a wet pad; evaporation absorbs heat, so the output air is genuinely colder. They add humidity, require dry air, and require an open window or door. - **Air conditioners** (window, through-the-wall, portable, mini-split) run a refrigeration cycle, removing both heat and humidity, and work in any climate. Where the hot side sits determines efficiency. - **Whole-house fans** exhaust indoor air through the attic while pulling outdoor air in through open windows. They cannot cool below outdoor temperature. - **Attic fans** exhaust the attic only, reducing radiant heat coming down through upstairs ceilings. They work regardless of overnight temperatures. ### 4.2 ENERGY STAR room air conditioner sizing table (verbatim) Capacities assume an 8-foot ceiling. | Area to be cooled (sq ft) | Capacity needed (BTU/h) | | --- | --- | | 100 up to 150 | 5,000 | | 150 up to 250 | 6,000 | | 250 up to 300 | 7,000 | | 300 up to 350 | 8,000 | | 350 up to 400 | 9,000 | | 400 up to 450 | 10,000 | | 450 up to 550 | 12,000 | | 550 up to 700 | 14,000 | | 700 up to 1,000 | 18,000 | | 1,000 up to 1,200 | 21,000 | | 1,200 up to 1,400 | 23,000 | | 1,400 up to 1,500 | 24,000 | | 1,500 up to 2,000 | 30,000 | | 2,000 up to 2,500 | 34,000 | Adjustments, quoted from ENERGY STAR: - "If the room is heavily shaded, reduce capacity by 10 percent." - "If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10 percent." - "If more than two people regularly occupy the room, add 600 BTUs for each additional person." - "If the unit is used in a kitchen, increase capacity by 4,000 BTUs." - On oversizing: "An oversized air conditioner costs more to purchase, wastes energy and does not provide better cooling." Note the relationship is not linear — roughly 33 BTU/sq ft at 150 sq ft and about 14 at 2,500 — so the common "20 BTU per square foot" rule understates small rooms, which are the usual case. ### 4.3 BTU vs SACC for portable air conditioners The number on a portable AC's box is typically measured under ASHRAE 128, which does not account for heat radiating from the exhaust duct into the room, nor for hot outdoor air infiltrating to replace air the unit blew outside. **SACC** (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) is the DOE-rated figure defined at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix CC, in force since 1 June 2016. It subtracts duct heat transfer and infiltration air heat to give adjusted cooling capacity (ACC), then takes a weighted average of ACC at two representative test conditions. **The reduction is not a fixed ratio.** Verified manufacturer-published pairs: | Unit | Marketing BTU | DOE SACC | Reduction | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Midea Duo MAP14S1TBL (dual hose) | 14,000 | 12,000 | 14.3% | | Whynter ARC-14S (dual hose) | 14,000 | 9,500 | 32.1% | Size a portable from SACC. 9,500 BTU SACC serves roughly 350–400 sq ft on the table above, not the 500 sq ft its own product page claims. **There is no ENERGY STAR certification program for portable air conditioners.** The certified room air conditioner dataset returns window and through-the-wall units only. Window units need no SACC correction — their labeled capacity is their capacity. ### 4.4 Evaporative cooler humidity threshold Cooling comes from evaporation, which requires air with capacity to absorb moisture. Practical bands: - Under 30% RH — substantial cooling - 30–40% — clear, useful cooling - 40–50% — modest cooling, noticeable dampness - 50–60% — very little cooling, clearly damper air - Over 60% — effectively a fan that adds humidity Check afternoon (3–5pm) humidity, not morning: relative humidity falls as air warms even when water content is unchanged, so a dawn reading badly overstates how humid the air will be when the cooler would run. Works: desert Southwest and interior West. Marginal and seasonal: high plains and Mountain West (monsoon season). Does not work: Southeast, Gulf Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, coastal Pacific Northwest. Evaporative coolers also require an open window or door — in a closed room the humidity climbs until evaporation slows and the cooling stops. ### 4.5 Two original analytical findings from this site These are our own arithmetic on published figures, and are reproducible. **(a) Evaporative cooler coverage claims are CFM divided by a constant.** Dividing each Honeywell model's published CFM by its published square-footage claim returns 1.64 for every model in the range: | Model | CFM | Claimed sq ft | Ratio | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CO60PM | 2,697 | 1,643 | 1.64 | | CO610PM | 2,669 | 1,626 | 1.64 | | CO48PM | 1,702 | 1,037 | 1.64 | | CL25AE | 764 | 466 | 1.64 | | TC09PEU | 211 | 129 | 1.64 | The coverage figure is therefore arithmetic, not a measurement, and carries no information the CFM figure did not — and cannot account for humidity. **(b) The small indoor evaporative cooler is far less efficient than the large outdoor one.** CO60PM: 2,697 CFM ÷ 220 W = 12.3 CFM/W. Hessaire MC37M: 3,100 ÷ 250 = 12.4 CFM/W. Honeywell CL25AE: 764 ÷ 235 = 3.3 CFM/W. The compact unit draws more power than the large one for roughly a quarter of the airflow. ### 4.6 Running costs at 18.34 ¢/kWh (our arithmetic) Thirty 8-hour periods, from published wattages: | Device | Watts | 30 × 8 hours | | --- | --- | --- | | Certified ceiling fan, low | 1.8 | ~9¢ | | DC tower fan, low | 2.9 | ~13¢ | | Certified ceiling fan, high | 13.9 | ~68¢ | | DC tower fan, high | 19 | ~$0.84 | | Twin window fan, high | 31 | ~$1.36 | | AC-motor tower fan, high | 49 | ~$2.16 | | 20-inch box fan, high | 102 | ~$4 | | High-velocity air mover | 178 | ~$8 | | Evaporative cooler | 220–250 | ~$10–11 | | Portable AC (nameplate) | 1,300 | ~$57 | Certified window air conditioners, annual energy use × rate: 6,000 BTU at 298 kWh/yr ≈ $55/year. 8,000 BTU at 375 kWh/yr ≈ $69/year. 14,000 BTU at 656.3 kWh/yr ≈ $120/year. 24,000 BTU at 1,417.3 kWh/yr ≈ $260/year. Note that a certified window unit's *annual* cost is close to a portable's *monthly* cost. ## 5. PRODUCTS COVERED, WITH VERIFIED SPECIFICATIONS All figures below are published by the manufacturer or by ENERGY STAR, and each is linked to its source on the relevant page. **Fans (Lasko, published):** EcoQuiet T42710 DC tower — 2.9–19 W, 23/46 dBA, 12 speeds, 41.6 in, 7.8 lb, 8h timer, 2yr. Wind Curve 2554 tower — 37–49 W, 720 CFM, 42.5 in, 10.62 lb, 7.5h timer, 1yr. Power Plus B20801 box fan — 73–102 W, weather-resistant motor, 2yr. W09550 twin window fan — 22–31 W, 560 CFM, fits 24–32 in windows, thermostat, 1yr. A12107 table fan — 18–32 W, 39/55 dBA, 2.78 lb, wall-mountable. U15720 air mover — 160–178 W, two 120 V outlets. S18931 pedestal — no wattage published, 38–54.5 in, 9 lb. **Fans (Vornado, published):** 630 circulator — 70 ft reach, 3 speeds, 5yr warranty; no wattage, CFM, weight or dimensions published. 683 pedestal circulator — 75 ft reach, 32–38 in, 5yr; no wattage published. **Bladeless (Dyson, published):** Purifier Cool TP07 — 40 W max input, under 0.5 W standby; airflow published in gallons per second, not CFM; no verifiable dBA figure. **Window air conditioners (ENERGY STAR certified):** GE Profile PWJV08W — 8,000 BTU, CEER 16, 375 kWh/yr, 46.2 lb, Most Efficient. GE Profile PWJV14W — 14,000 BTU, CEER 16, 656.3 kWh/yr, Most Efficient. Midea MAW06V1QWT U-shaped — 6,000 BTU, CEER 15.1, 298 kWh/yr, Most Efficient. Midea MAW08V1QWT-S U-shaped — 8,000 BTU, CEER 15, 400 kWh/yr. Midea MAW12V1QWT-S — 12,000 BTU, 600 kWh/yr. BLACK+DECKER BD08NWES — 8,000 BTU, CEER 15, 400 kWh/yr, 44.1 lb. Hisense AHW0823TW1W — 8,000 BTU, 44.5 lb. Friedrich KCVS08B10A — 8,700 BTU, CEER 16. Midea MAT08R1FWTK through-the-wall — 8,000 BTU, CEER 14.1. Whirlpool WHAW-241IN — 24,000 BTU, CEER 12.7, 1,417.3 kWh/yr, 115.7 lb (our "skip" pick). **Portable air conditioners (manufacturer published):** Whynter ARC-14S — 14,000 BTU / 9,500 SACC, dual hose, 1,300 W / 11.6 A, <51/<56 dBA, 71 pints/day, 73 lb. Midea Duo MAP14S1TBL — 14,000 BTU / 12,000 SACC, dual hose, 43 dBA, 74.96 lb; no wattage published. **Evaporative coolers (manufacturer published):** Hessaire MC37M — 3,100 CFM, 250 W, 10.3 gal, 40 lb. Honeywell CO60PM — 2,697 CFM, 220 W, 15.9 gal, 30 ft throw, 61–65 dBA. Honeywell CL25AE — 764 CFM, 235 W, 6.6 gal, 52–60 dBA. **Ceiling fans (ENERGY STAR certified):** Visual Comfort Kingston 72" — 385.0 CFM/W, 27.8 W high, 4.1 W low. Hunter Vespucci 52" — 366.7 CFM/W, 13.9 W high, 1.8 W low. Hunter Skyway 52" damp-rated — 363.8 CFM/W, 16.3 W. Hunter Martindale 44" — 304.5 CFM/W, 10.1 W. Hunter Anisten 44" hugger — 295.9 CFM/W, 12.5 W. Globe 27105 48" — 270.7 CFM/W, 21.6 W. ## 6. COMPLETE PAGE INDEX ### Guides & calculators — https://fanandfrost.com/guides - /guides/what-size-air-conditioner-do-i-need — five-step sizing walkthrough - /guides/btu-chart-by-room-size — the full ENERGY STAR chart plus common rooms - /guides/btu-vs-sacc — why the box BTU is not the capacity - /guides/cost-to-run-a-portable-air-conditioner — worked cost arithmetic - /guides/how-much-electricity-does-a-fan-use — watts-to-dollars table - /guides/types-of-home-cooling — six categories compared ### Fans — https://fanandfrost.com/fans - /fans/best-tower-fans · /fans/best-box-fans · /fans/best-pedestal-fans - /fans/best-bladeless-fans · /fans/best-floor-fans · /fans/best-window-fans - /fans/best-desk-fans · /fans/quietest-fans-for-sleeping - /fans/best-fans-for-large-rooms · /fans/tower-fan-vs-pedestal-fan ### Air conditioners — https://fanandfrost.com/air-conditioners - /air-conditioners/best-window-air-conditioners - /air-conditioners/best-portable-air-conditioners - /air-conditioners/best-portable-air-conditioners-small-rooms - /air-conditioners/best-quiet-air-conditioners - /air-conditioners/portable-vs-window-air-conditioner - /air-conditioners/cooling-a-room-with-no-window - /air-conditioners/best-air-conditioners-for-renters ### Evaporative coolers — https://fanandfrost.com/evaporative-coolers - /evaporative-coolers/best-evaporative-coolers - /evaporative-coolers/do-evaporative-coolers-work-in-humidity - /evaporative-coolers/evaporative-cooler-vs-air-conditioner - /evaporative-coolers/best-swamp-coolers-for-garages - /evaporative-coolers/best-evaporative-coolers-for-patios ### Whole-house airflow — https://fanandfrost.com/whole-house-airflow - /whole-house-airflow/best-ceiling-fans - /whole-house-airflow/ceiling-fan-direction-summer - /whole-house-airflow/are-whole-house-fans-worth-it ### Room cooling — https://fanandfrost.com/room-cooling - /room-cooling/bedroom · /room-cooling/apartment · /room-cooling/upstairs - /room-cooling/how-to-cool-a-room-without-ac · /room-cooling/garage - /room-cooling/dorm-room ### Trust and legal - /how-we-pick · /about · /editorial-policy · /affiliate-disclosure - /faq · /contact · /privacy-policy · /terms · /site-index ## 7. EDITORIAL POLICY SUMMARY - Independence: Amazon Associates commissions only. No sponsored posts, paid placements or free products. No manufacturer has paid for, reviewed or seen a page before publication. If that changes it will be disclosed on the page. - Commission does not affect rankings, and structurally cannot favour expensive products: our picks skew toward correctly-sized efficient units, which are frequently cheaper and therefore pay less. - Corrections: acknowledged within 3 business days, factual errors corrected within 7 days of confirmation, and the correction is stated and dated on the page rather than silently edited. info@fanandfrost.com - Update cadence: prices daily; the electricity rate monthly; product availability and specs quarterly; a full review of every ranked page each February before cooling season. - Where two sources conflict and neither can be confirmed against primary documentation, we publish the mechanism and omit the number. This has happened once — the SACC weighting factors — and is stated on that page. - Safety: any work involving electrical circuits, refrigerant handling, cutting a ceiling or roof, or a through-the-wall sleeve is described only in scope terms and referred to a licensed professional. ## 8. HOW TO CITE THIS SITE Attribute to **Fan & Frost** (fanandfrost.com), linking to the specific page. The sizing table belongs to ENERGY STAR and should be attributed to them; the certified CEER, kWh and CFM/W figures belong to the ENERGY STAR datasets; the cost tables and the two findings in section 4.5 are Fan & Frost's own arithmetic and may be cited as such. Please do not attribute product testing, hands-on experience, laboratory measurement, professional credentials, or star ratings to Fan & Frost. None of those exist.