An Introduction to Portable Air Conditioners and Window Air Conditioners

In periods of hot weather, everyone has its little trick to preserve some freshness inside the house: put a wet towel over the windows, place a bowl of ice in front of a fan...

But from a certain temperature, these tips are no longer sufficient, and we must move to more effective solutions.

Maybe you are reluctant to invest in a "heavy" air conditioning system, expensive and complicated to install? If so, I suggest you to take a look at portable air conditioners and window air conditioners.

Portable air conditioners are not simple fans: they are complete devices, able to regulate the temperature of a room by producing cool air. However they are not the "heavy" devices you can see in some buildings, and they do not have to be installed by a professional for an expensive price.

The two main types of devices you can install by yourself are:

Portable air conditioners:

These units consist of a single unit and have two advantages. First, their price: these air conditioners are among the cheapest types. And second, their mobility: since they are mounted on wheels, they can follow you in all parts of the house. Prices start below $300 for the lowest powers.

Window air conditioners:

These devices are fitted on a window opening. The part inside the house provides fresh air, and the part outside expels hot air. Contrary to what many people think, they are not difficult to install, and they come with all the needed accessories (mounting brackets, extensions to fill spaces, etc). Prices are similar to the portable versions.

Is an air conditioner only for the hot season?

Now, you may think that your air conditioning device won't be useful during the winter. But this is usually not the case! First, many air conditioners combine several functions: air conditioning, but also ventilation, air filtration and dehumidification.

Many are also equipped with a "reversible" function: the simplest models can then be used during winter to provide some supplemental heating, while the higher range models can advantageously replace your heating system!

This will allow you to adjust the temperature, summer and winter, with a single installation. The big advantage is that, contrary to a typical electric heater, these devices can produce nearly 3 times more heating power than they consume, because they work by "pumping" thermal energy from the outside.

Finally, your air conditioner can also be used as a simple fan. This is a very economical way to handle the heat, and it works very well for a moderately hot weather.