Lee Wallender is a home improvement writer of nearly 20 years and specializes in home remodeling, repair and maintenance. Cassidy was an updates editor whose main responsibility is to write and edit ...

Q: I am renting a small, old home without central air conditioning. I have a window air conditioner, and the past few years I’ve awkwardly filled in the space around it with a large piece of plywood.

We got our hands on multiple units and looked for models that are quiet, energy-efficient, and easy to install.

These compact air conditioners provide quick relief from the heat without making you break a sweat to get them installed.

Portable ACs can work with casement windows but need a special adapter to seal the vent properly. Casement windows' swing and lack of flat windowsill make them incompatible with most window unit ACs.

Buying a new AC can be confusing, especially when deciding between a split AC and a window AC. Both are designed to cool a room, but they are different in terms of cost, installation and power ...