depending on your insulation in the walls and your climate, your choice
of air conditioner for a window could be as low as 5 amps for a 5000btu
air conditioner. an energy star rating gives you more cooling per
dollar of electricity. your outlet is probably one of several that
share a 15 amp circuit. why not explore this by opening the
breaker/fuse panel and see how they are numbered, then number each
outlet and switchplate in your apartment. this way you will know not to
run a microwave on the toaster circuit and not to make coffee when the
air conditioner is running on that same circuit, for example.
consult the air conditioner installation instructions/manual; large air
conditioners want to be on their own circuit as does any major
appliance. do not buy a 110volt air conditioner that won't fit in the
window opening. don't buy a 20 amp air conditioner if your fusebox only
has 15 amp breakers. talk to someone else in your apartments with the
same sun exposure who has an air conditioner: do they like it, does it
cool the room on the hottest day, what size would they buy next time,
if it cools down the room in 15 minutes on a hot day or if it takes 2
hours for its size.

Jeff Sapocinik wrote:
I live in an old lowrise apartment that doesn't have any
proper electrical grounding, although several outlets are 3 pronged. I
want to use an air conditioner in the summer, but I'm concerned about
the potential safety hazard.