Air conditioners cool comfort.(Product/service evaluation)

Readers tell us that nothing seems to sell out faster than a top-rated air conditioner on a hot day. So in addition to nine Quick Picks, we've included reviews of six popular brands.

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All 37 air conditioners in our Ratings do an excellent job at cooling. They also have convenient features such as digital displays, built-in timers, and remote controls. Some units have touchpad controls, and a few change the direction of the airflow automatically to better disperse cool air throughout the room. But some models are noisy and others don't work as well during brownouts, when utilities reduce voltage to compensate for demand.

Here's what else we've learned:

Haier raises the bar. Unlike the other tested models, the top-rated $240 Haier uses R-410A, a new refrigerant that the Environmental Protection Agency says doesn't deplete the ozone layer. R-410A might also help boost Haier's Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) to 12.0. But it is too soon to predict its long-term performance.

Beginning in 2010, new air conditioners will have to use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants. If you're replacing your air conditioner, call your local sanitation department to learn how to properly dispose of the old unit.

Brownouts overwhelm some A/Cs. If your area is prone to brownouts, buy a model that scored very good or higher for brownout in our Ratings. Those air conditioners' compressors didn't shut off when we lowered the voltage.