Portable air conditioners are a flexible, effective, and relatively inexpensive way to cool your home during those blazingly hot days and sticky humid nights. A good unit will be like a loyal companion, staying faithfully by your side for many summers to come. Having said that, not all air conditioning is created equal, and the wrong choice is likely to mean constant headaches and neverending expenses. Before you go out and spend any money, check out this brief overview.
Types of Portable Air Conditioners
Single Hosed Units
Portable a/c's have to be vented. Hot air is removed from the rear of the machine through a single hose (hence the name) to a vent kit.
Double Hosed Units
In these units, one hose is used as an inlet to bring in additional air, while the other is used to vent hot air. Portable air conditioner models using the double hoses generally have a higher cooling BTU, and offer more cooling. With these higher BTU units, an inlet hose is needed to bring in more air, because larger amounts of air is cycled through the unit, and exhausts hot air faster. The double hose method solves the issue of negative air pressure in the room.
Heat and Cool Units
Heat and cooling options are offered by portable air cons with an added heat function. Heat is provided by reversing the principle that is used to cool the air. Cool air is exhausted from the rear, and warm air is blown out of the front of the unit. However, if the temperature of the room falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, this feature will not heat the room effectively.
Dehumidifying Units
Most portable systems exhaust moisture through the exhaust hose, and some units are specifically designed with a "dehumidifier" mode. These portable air conditioners will act as a dedicated dehumidifier. They will remove much more moisture form a room, and still cool efficiently.
Accessories for Portable Air Conditioners
Filters
Portable ac's have filters, which can be replaced, just like central air conditioners. As air is brought into the machine, it is cleaned by running through these filters. Activated carbon filters usually should be replaced periodically, and last around three months.
Vent Kits
A window vent kit comes with most portable air conditioners. These kits are the way these units vent to the outside. A window plate and an adaptor for the plate make up a window vent kit. The hose fits into the adaptor, which then fits into the window plate. This assembly is then set into the window frame. The window then secures the kit and seals the room. You can use these window vent kits in vertical and horizontal sliding windows.
Venting through a ceiling with a ceiling vent it may be necessary if venting through a window is not an option.
Energy Efficiency
The ability to cool just one area is one of the best reasons to get a portable air conditioner. They can be moved readily from one location to another, because most portable air conditioners have caster wheels. Portable air conditioners can actually increase your energy efficiency, and save you money on electricity. A portable unit cannot cool your entire house, but they can help by cooling warmer rooms, so you don't need to lower the thermostat even more. You can save more by only cooling specific rooms and not running the central air.
Summing Up
Hopefully this brief overview has given you some idea of what kind of portable unit is right for you. Remember that while a good air con can be your best friend, a bad one can be your worst enemy, with unceasing maintenance charges and skyrocketing electricity bills, so be sure to do your homework before taking the plunge!
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