Portable Air Conditioner

In the hot, humid summer months, nothing is more enjoyable than escaping to a room that has air conditioning. In the past, many people were confined to a certain room in the house that had the air conditioner since the AC was in a fixed location. Now, you can purchase a portable air conditioner which can be easily moved from location to location. If you want to cook in the kitchen, just take your portable air conditioner with you. If you want to watch TV in the living room, you can easily bring it there. Sleeping at night has never been so restful since you’re not overheating now that your portable air conditioner is by your side.

Even though a portable air conditioner still has an exhaust tube that must be vented out, they truly are mobile since that they don’t require permanent installation. A portable air conditioner should come with what is called a window venting kit. This venting kit easily slides into a window allowing a perfect fit for the exhaust hose.

Portable air conditioners contain caster wheels allowing for portability and easy movement from room to room. There a “box” that holds both the hot and cold side of your portable air conditioner in one and they use their exhaust hose to expel heat.

Portable Air Conditioner Maintenance

A Portable air conditioner requires very little upkeep. Most portable air conditioners collect water which is condensed from the air.  The water must be removed and  there are several ways to get rid of this water depending on the model you choose. Many portable air conditioners collect this water in an internal drain bucket. Other portable air conditioners will exhaust the water through their drain hose. Some portable air conditioners contain pumps that will pump the condensate water out through a tube in their drain hose. Most models that collect condensate water in an internal bucket can also be modified for direct drain off. There are a few manufacturers who have recently come up with a portable air conditioner model that doesn’t collect any condensed water.

Some portable air conditioners double as a heater. Many people like the versatility that a dual portable air conditioner and heater plays.  You may have one room in your home that is colder than another during the winter months and would like to heat that room instead of turning on your central heat to heat the entire home. A dual action portable air conditioner and heater would allow you the flexibility to either cool a specific room or heat one up as you see fit.

Portable Air Conditioner Features

Portable Air Conditioners offer different features that may be of interest to you.

Size: Determine how big you want your portable air conditioner to be. Look at the space in your home and make sure that you have a place for the portable air conditioner to sit.  The size of the portable air conditioner that you choose also plays a part in how well it cools the space. If you have a very large room with vaulted ceilings, a small portable air conditioner will not cool the room as well as a larger portable air conditioning unit.

• 8,000 BTU: Up to 225 sq. ft.
• 12,000 BTU: Up to 425 sq. ft.
• 14,000 BTU: Up to 525 sq. ft.

The size of the portable air conditioner is also very important since operating them can be expensive. If you choose a too powerful portable air conditioner for a too small room, you could be overdoing it and spending more money than you need to.

Drip: Decide if you would prefer a drip vs. no drip portable air conditioner. Drip models are cheaper but will need to be emptied every 24-48 hours since the condensed water is collected in the trays. These models generally cost more.

Exhaust: Dual exhaust portable air conditioning units offer the advantage of circulating cleaner air in the area you are trying to cool. Cooling time is faster with a dual exhaust unit. Single exhaust units will take longer to cool a room and aren’t as effective at circulating air.

Multi-Functional Portable air conditioners: Some portable air conditioners also do double duty as a heater and dehumidifier. If you have a need for a multi-functional portable air conditioner, you will spend more money for these. Before buying a portable air conditioner make sure you read all the reviews on this website and take advantage of the discount prices.