Portable air conditioners are great cooling options for rooms and apartments without access to central AC. They're easy to install, add instant cooling, and come with tons of features for simple operation.
But you should consider these 5 things before purchasing a portable AC for your home or office.
1. What size portable air conditioner do I need?
Portable air conditioners are rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Models with higher BTU ratings provide more cooling power for larger rooms. It's important to buy a portable AC that's appropriate for your space so that you don't waste energy or money on one that can't adequately cool it.
In a standard room with 8-foot ceilings, use these estimations:
- 8,000 BTUs will cover 200 sq. ft.
- 10,000 BTUs will cover 300 sq. ft.
- 12,000 BTUs will cover 400 sq. ft.
- 13,000 BTUs will cover 450 sq. ft.
- 14,000 BTUs will cover 500 sq. ft.
Note: The guidelines above are not exact. Environmental factors may increase or decrease the number of BTUs required. For example, rooms with poor insulation or heat-producing appliances will require models with slightly more BTUs.
If you have any questions about what size you should buy, feel free to call us at 1-800-934-9194.
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2. Where should I place my portable air conditioner?
During the cooling process, portable ACs produce hot air that must be exhausted through a vent hose (or hoses). All the models we sell come with an included window kit to send the warm air outside. This means most portable ACs need to be plugged in within a few feet of a window.
Placing them next to a window in the easiest and quickest way to install them, but you do have other options. For more information, check out our How to Vent Your Portable AC article.
3. How much maintenance do portable air conditioners need?
The only maintenance you really have to worry about is draining collected moisture. All air conditioners pull moisture out of the air as they cool, Portable AC's included.
There are multiple ways to get rid of condensate: Manually remove the pan and empty it as needed, attach a hose for gravity draining to a different location, or use an external pump to push water up and out of the AC into an appropriate drain.
The most hassle-free portable ACs, however, feature fully self-evaporative designs. These models, such as the unique line of DeLonghi air conditioners and the efficient Whynter portable ACs, evaporate all or most of the water they collect. Since the moisture is automatically removed, you won't have to worry about draining them, and if they do need draining, it's only occasionally. Check out our article discussing fully self-evaporative portable AC brands for more information.
You'll also need to clean filters as directed and defrost the unit fully if ice builds up on the coils. Other than that, most PACs offer a "set it and forget it" approach to maintenance.
4. How loud are portable ACs?
Portable ACs do create noise in your space. Unlike window ACs, which extend outside of the window, the entire Portable AC unit is housed inside your room. Any machine that generates airflow is going to produce some level of noise.
If you're especially concerned about this, be sure to compare the decibel (dB) levels produced by different units. Soleus Air PAC's are among the quieter models on the market, reaching 49 dBs on their highest settings.
5. Are portable ACs energy efficient?
A quick way to determine the energy efficiency of any PAC (for the sake of the environment and/or your monthly energy bills), then take a look at its Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). The EER tells you how many BTUs are used for each watt of power. In other words, units with higher EERs are more energy efficient. Toyotomi models are known for their energy efficiency.
In Summary
Portable air conditioners are a fast and simple way to cool rooms or spaces from 200 sq. ft. to over 1,000 sq. ft. Consider the size of your room to determine the BTU rating you need. Take into account where the window and outlet are placed since your portable AC will need to be vented through the window. Remember, if your AC is not self-evaporative, it will need to have a place for condensate drainage. Portable AC's are easy to install and truly portable, giving you the ability to use them wherever needed.
Still Have Questions?
For more information on any specific air treatment solutions, browse our products and visit our Knowledge Center. Not sure what's best for you? We can take the guesswork out of decision-making. Contact one of our air treatment specialists at 1-800-934-9194. We want to help make your indoor environment healthy and comfortable.
