Portable air conditioners are a terrific method to stay cool when the summer heat increases if you live in a house with small to medium-sized rooms and no central air conditioning system. Here’s the best guide on How To Choose Best Portable Air Conditioner.
They are inexpensive, efficient, and simple to operate. The same unit that is used to cool a living room during the day may also be wheeled or moved into a bedroom at night because they are portable.
In locations where central air is not an option, portable AC units can deliver dependable cooling and are reasonably priced and simple to install. They are a desirable substitute for big air conditioners that use a lot of energy and raise electricity bills for many houses. It might be difficult to choose among the different models and features available to know which is best for you.
If this seems like what you’re looking for, there are a number of factors to take into account when deciding which portable air conditioner to use to make your home’s air more comfortable. We’ve gathered all the knowledge you require right here to help you pick the best portable air conditioner for your house.
You may choose the best unit for your needs and budget by taking into account variables like size, power output, energy efficiency rating, noise level, and more.
Why Would A Portable AC Unit Be A Good Option For Your Home?
If you need additional cooling in your home, whether you have central air that just isn’t cutting it or don’t have central AC installed, portable AC units are a great option. Portable air conditioners are reasonably priced, simple to install, and mobile if necessary.
Additionally, unlike window air conditioners, portable devices do not require permanent installation. They’re perfect for renters and those who live in condos or apartments where it’s not possible to permanently alter the building’s framework.
Because landlords and HOAs may restrict or forbid installing air conditioners, a portable air conditioner can be a lifesaver in hot weather.
In addition to being convenient to transport, portable air conditioners are excellent for campers, RVs, trailers, and other mobile homes. You can cool the air around you wherever you go, whether it be outside, in your car, or at your camping, with assembly-free portable AC units like the EcoFlow WAVE 2. Additionally, using portable AC units might utilize less energy, resulting in lower electricity costs.
While portable AC units may only use 1.176 kWh per hour, central AC units can use up to 2.3 kWh per hour. Depending on the average electricity prices in your state, switching to a portable AC unit can significantly save your cooling expenses.
Considerations For Selecting A Portable Air Conditioner:
You’ve already taken the first step in the purchasing process if you’ve determined that a portable air conditioner is the best option for your home. The difficult part now is choosing which portable air conditioner is best for you from all the different designs, models, functions, features, sizes, and other factors.
You can pick a portable air conditioner that meets your household needs by considering the factors listed below. To make an informed choice, compare various models based on your priorities.
The following information will help you select the best portable air conditioner for your home.
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Cooling Power:
In two aspects, cooling capacity is crucial. First, selecting the proper cooling capacity ensures that you can cool your room to the precise temperature you want. Second, selecting an inadequate cooling capacity may need your air conditioner to work for extended periods of time, shortening its lifespan and raising your power costs.
The size of the largest room that a portable air conditioner can effectively cool is measured in total square footage, or in BTUs are heaters that are utilized to determine what amount of power is needed to increase the temperature of a pound of fluid by one degree Fahrenheit.
It Is simple to calculate the measure of an area by dividing its height by the width of the area. Yet, keeping in mind that since they produce more air space, higher ceilings in a room can significantly impair its capacity to cool. Furthermore, issues that could adversely affect cooling capacity include humidity, inadequate insulation, draughty windows, prolonged light exposure, heat produced by in-room electronics, and extended sun exposure.
The basic rule Is that the higher the number, the more powerful the unit is, though BTUs can be more perplexing. Although numerous factors can affect cooling capacity, in general, an 8,000 BTU unit will chill a room up to 350 square feet, while a 10,000 BTU unit will cool a room up to 450 square feet and a 14,000 BTU air conditioning (AC) unit can cool 700 square feet.
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Size And Placement:
You must ensure that the air conditioning unit you buy can fit next to a window and has enough room around it to work. A portable model sucks air in through its intake and then vents hot air out the window, operating similarly to a window air conditioner.
This could imply that you need to reserve roughly twice the space of the actual unit. While cooling capacity should be your top priority, watch out for purchasing a unit that is too big for the space you have available.
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Sound Volume:
The noise from an air conditioner’s motor and fan can be fairly loud. You might not care, depending on how much you need to relax.
However, a lot of individuals would rather their household appliances run as quietly as possible, especially if they’re going to be used every day for a while. If this worries you, be careful to read reviews that include comments mentioning the fan or motor’s noise levels before making a decision.
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Accessibility:
Aren’t all portable air conditioners portable? The name says it all! Undoubtedly, but that does not imply that all models are simple to maneuver around a home. There isn’t much to worry about if you plan to put up your portable AC unit in one room and keep it there.
However, wheels are necessary if you want to be able to move it from the living room to the bedroom at night. Since not all units contain these, make careful to refine your search to reduce the number of possibilities.
The weight of the AC unit is another factor to take into account. If you want to move your unit up and down stairs regularly, this criterion is crucial.
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Controller And Timers:
A timer is often included with portable air conditioners so you can program the device to turn on before you arrive home from work or turn off in the evening so you can open the windows and let in some cool air.
Anyone who wishes to keep their home at a comfortable temperature while saving money on their energy bill will appreciate this function.
Portable air conditioners occasionally come with remote controllers. If you work from home and want to be able to change the temperature when you’re in the middle of a virtual meeting, this is a terrific option to have.
Consider purchasing a smart portable air conditioner that integrates with your smart home technologies for increased convenience. Through an app on your smartphone, you can monitor and manage your device with this type of model whether you’re at home or away.
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Efficient Use Of Energy:
Are you worried about how much your summertime power bill will go up if you run your AC? Look for a device. It can help you save energy and is ENERGY STAR-approved. This yellow sticker certifies that the appliance satisfies the requirements specified by the authorities in order to receive the designation.
Additionally, you should take measures to make the area you’re cooling energy-efficient. This can be achieved by reducing full sun exposure by drawing the blinds, covering windows and doors to keep in cool air, and caulking draughty spots around your house.
Choosing a portable air conditioner that links to your smart thermostat is another method to keep an eye on your energy usage. These versions talk to each other wirelessly through your Wi-Fi network at home to turn on or off depending on the temperature or humidity in the room.
Additionally, while you’re away from home, you may monitor your energy usage on a mobile device and make changes as necessary.
Single-Hose Mechanism VS. Dual-Hose Mechanism:
Your portable AC unit’s total efficiency is impacted by the hose system it employs. Dual-hose systems employ two different hoses, one to exhaust hot air outside and the other to bring in cooler air from the outside, as opposed to single-hose systems, which suck hot air from the outside and cool It down using a condenser.
Single-hose devices can be less expensive but use more energy to cool the same space than dual-hose units, which are often more expensive but operate more effectively.
Offering the best of both worlds is the EcoFlow Wave 2. Depending on your location and your cooling requirements, you may install optional single-hose or double-hose ducts to its accessory-free design, which is customizable.
What Position Should My Portable Air Conditioner Be In?
Throughout the chilling procedure, portable air conditioners produce warm air that must be vented via a ventilation pipe (or hoses). To convey the warm air outdoors, a window kit is included with every model we offer. This implies that the majority of portable air conditioners must be plugged in close to a window.
The simplest and fastest way to place them is next to a window, but there are other possibilities.
How Often Do Portable Air Conditioners Require Maintenance?
The only significant maintenance required is draining any moisture that has accumulated. All air conditioners, even portable air conditioners, remove moisture from the air as they chill it.
Think about using a self-evaporative model or condensate drainage Condensate can be disposed of in a number of methods, including by manually removing the pan and emptying it as necessary, by attaching a hose for gravity drainage to another location, or by using an external pump to force water up and out of the AC into the proper drain.
However, fully self-evaporative portable air conditioners have the least amount of difficulty. The majority or all of the water that they collect is evaporated by these models, which include the distinctive DeLonghi air conditioner line and the effective Whynter portable ACs.
You won’t have to bother about draining them because the moisture is automatically eliminated, and if you do, it will only be seldom.
Conclusion:
Using portable air conditioners to chill rooms or areas between 200 and 1,000 square feet is quick and easy. To determine the BTU rating you require, take into account the size of your space. Since your portable AC will need to vent through the window, consider where the window and outlet are located.
Keep in mind that your AC will require a location for condensate drainage if it is not self-evaporative. You can use a portable air conditioner anywhere you need it because they are simple to set up and really portable.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s):
Q: How Do I Choose A Good Portable Air Conditioner?
Ans: The three most important factors when shopping for a portable AC are the cooling capacity, portability, and power source. Get one powerful enough to cool your space while being portable enough to carry, and be sure its power source will last you all day and night.
Q: What Are The Two Types Of Portable Air Conditioners?
Ans: Both vented and ventless portable air conditioners exist. While ventless devices employ evaporative cooling to chill the air, vented portable air conditioners use a hose to vent out the hot air and moisture created by the cooling process. Water is used to cool heated air in evaporative air coolers instead of refrigerant.
Q: How Many Rooms Can A Portable AC Cool?
Ans: Since both packaged devices are designed to chill a single space, window air conditioners, and portable AC units are the most equivalent. Window air conditioners are superior to portable air conditioners on most counts, including power, cost, and energy efficiency.
Q: What Are The Disadvantages Of A Portable Air Conditioner?
Ans: They are less cost-effective. For cooling, portable air conditioners typically utilize more electricity. They discharge some warm air along with the cool air they produce since they lack an outside unit. Although this heated air is barely perceptible, it does impede cooling.
Q: Which BTU Is Best For Portable Air Conditioners?
Ans: As mentioned, a number of factors might have an impact on cooling capacity. There are other variables, but in general, an air conditioning (AC) unit with 8,000 BTUs will cool a room up to 350 square feet, one with 10,000 BTUs would do so up to 450 square feet, and one with 14,000.000 BTUs will accommodate 700 square feet.
