Is a Portable AC Unit Better Than a Window Unit?

If you don’t have centralized air in your home, then you might have already done a fair amount of research into the discussions around portable AC units and window units. When you first move into a new apartment you may think the lack of central AC sounds fine in your head, you’ll use a fan or find some way to keep cool. But temperatures are rising more than ever and homes can become steam baths when the air is left unchecked by the efforts of an AC unit, which does more than simply cool the air.

So the question becomes: do you install a window unit or get a portable, indoor unit for your room? 

Which one is going to work for you is going to depend greatly on what you’re hoping to get out of your AC unit in your room. If you want full climate control, fancy settings, a dehumidifying component, or other aspects vs. something that simply drops the temperature and makes your home a bit more manageable, you’re going to be looking at a couple different options. A full scale dive into research is the best way to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck and the most cost efficient way to cool your home during the hot months. 

AC Unit Basics

First, let’s get into how an AC unit actually works. It’s something we all take for granted and when it breaks in some way, we call a repair person to come out and fix it and don’t really care how it broke, why, or how they fixed it. But understanding exactly how an AC unit converts hot, humid air into cool air is pretty important to figuring out what’s gonna work for you. 

AC’s don’t just blast cold air into a room, they convert the air already in the room and drop the temperature of it. An AC unit will pull air from the room in and bring it into contact with refrigerant, which converts from liquid to gas when it comes into contact with heat. That heat is released into the outside air while cool air is pushed back into the room. All AC units are going to use same sort of system to create cooler air in the room or house. 

The difference is going to be how exactly the AC does that work. Window units have a direct access to the outside air while portable AC units have to connect to the outside via an exhaust hose. 

What Are Your Needs? 

From the actual mechanical aspects of a portable AC unit vs. a window unit, what you need is going to be a huge factor in which one works for you. This doesn’t just mean cooling a room but looking at what the room size is, what the geography of the room is in relation to your furniture, what you’re able to put in your room per landlord or township regulations. 

There’s a couple of major questions to ask yourself before you dive into this: 

• Where is this AC unit going? 
• Do you have access to a window?
• What is the electrical outlet access of the room?
• How many rooms are you cooling? 

The first one: where is this AC unit going? That’s important. A portable AC unit or a window unit can be powerful for for a smaller bedroom or den but a living room might need to be evaluated more completely. For example, a portable unit has some movement capabilities across a wider room. You can do more zone cooling through use of a portable AC unit. So long as it’s got a connection to ventilation through a window and access to electric. A window unit in a larger living space will still work, however it may not have the total cooling power a portable AC unit would have in a similar space. 

Next is do you have access to windows. As discussed, all AC units require some sort of connection to the outside. It doesn’t always have to be a window, some installed units connect to ductwork or have an output installed through the wall, but for an AC unit or a window unit, a window is necessary to get them to run correctly. A bedroom is going to have more access to a variety of windows, in most cases. A living room might be less fertile with window choices and more stylized, designer windows could be difficult to get a window unit installed in. 

The electrical access in each room is going to be vital. AC units, no matter what type, use a lot of electricity. Don’t be surprised at a spike in your bill after using a unit for an extended period of time. But they need solid connection to electrical outlets and it must be an outlet that can take that kind of power output. What access you have to suitable electrical outlets may be a determining factor in if you’re able to get a portable AC unit or a window unit. A lack of outlet at an ideal window is going to be a problem since you can’t use an extension cord for this, while a portable AC unit will have more freedom for which outlet it draws power from. 

If you want to cool more than one room or want the ability to truly leverage your AC unit to cool as much of your dwelling as possible, then that’s also going to be a factor. A window unit is designed to cool one space and does so very effectively. But a portable AC unit can move around a room or be moved into different rooms to provide zone cooling. So if you only want to buy one unit and want it to cool as much as possible, that might change things for you. 

The Pros of a Portable Unit

So, let’s say you’ve done some research and read through this article a bit and you’ve decided you want a portable AC unit for your home. Or maybe you’re on the fence and you’re not sure, either way, there are some pros to consider where a portable AC unit is concerned. One obvious and very prominent reason people go with a portable unit is their aesthetic appeal. A portable AC unit is generally sleek and many of the higher end models are designed to fit into space more smoothly. It’s even become something of an aspect for urban loft style apartments. It’s also much easier to store away and hide when it’s not in use. 

From a technical standpoint, portable units are incredibly easy to install all on your own. In fact, many portable AC units come with an install and ventilation kit to make putting it into space easy to do for virtually anyone. Even if you do run into issues while installing, many likely come with a help line or access to a professional if you do run into hiccups. 

Ultimately, one of the best aspects of a portable AC unit is in its name: it can move around. These units aren’t tied to one spot or even one room as long as you properly set it up after you move it. This makes it ideal for zone cooling. If you have one room that gets blasted with sunlight but by the afternoon the back room is roasting, you can take care of both issues with a portable unit. Even better, you can hook up portable AC units to existing exhaust units, such as the one in your kitchen or your laundry, if access this way is the only option. 

The Cons of a Portable Unit

There are, however, reasons to maybe look somewhere else if the cons of a portable unit go against your needs. For starters, the portable AC units tend to be fairly loud. Central air is almost soundless and even wall or window units are fairly quiet, but all the equipment of a portable AC unit id indoors, which means all the sound is too. 

Another disadvantage is the condensation or water build up that can happen. While most units will disperse water outside through the vent, many require you to monitor an internal tray or container that captures the condensation and you will have to empty it periodically or risk leaking and damage to your property. There is also a chance that you will have indoor condensation building up on the windows and other surfaces. 

The Pros of a Window Unit

So, maybe a window unit is the way you want to go? After seeing the pros and cons of a portable unit you still want to compare how a window unit stacks up. Well, just like the portable unit this style has its own list of pros and cons that could make it the perfect fit for you, or maybe not. 

First, window AC units have the benefit of not taking up too much space. They take up one of your windows, but they take up virtually no indoor space by sitting in the window. There’s no corner you have to get them snug into or shelf that you need to make space on. Window units fit snugly into place and can sit out of the way while still doing their job. 

A window unit also tends to require far less electricity than other options. While all forms of air conditioning are ultimately going to put a dent in your electric bill, a window unit does not make as big of a dent as other options. They actually rank fairly well, in comparison, on energy efficiency tests. 

There is also no exhaust issue when it comes to window AC units. Since their design puts them partially indoors and partially directly outside, their exhaust vents right out and into the open air with no danger of condensation or the need to empty a collection area. Once it’s installed, you don’t need to do any regular maintenance or emptying to keep it running–barring a malfunction in the machine itself. 

Another great feature is there’s no need to reinstall the unit. While portable units are moved around and reinstalled in every new spot, these units, once in place, stay there. There’s no fumbling them around or needing to install the exhaust, once they’re in they’ll do their job pretty much on their own. 

Cons of a Window Unit

Window units are, however, not without their cons. While they don’t take up much space, they are a bit more cumbersome when it comes to installing on your own. They’re heavy and require a bit of real finagling to get them to fit properly in a window. While it does not require a professional to install, many people often need help installing units. 

Another con is the danger of dripping water. You may have heard other window units drip water as the exhaust works to remove moisture from the air. While that is not a problem as a default, pedestrians can get hit with the steady drip of water and might have a thing or two to say to you about it if so. It could also potentially cause structural damage outside if it affects soil or flower beds or the siding of the dwelling itself.

The installation process of the unit itself can lead to some cons later. Many window units come with panels to take up the remaining gap space in the window that thee AC does not fill. This is to keep out the elements. However, these panels are not foolproof and can be very thin at times. They’ve been known to let hot air which can cause the AC unit to work overdrive or they can cause a room to be unnecessarily chilly on the off months when the AC is still installed but not in use. 

And, of course, one big con for many people is the appearance of window AC units. Even the most sleek models are not particularly appealing and they do jut out rather unnaturally from otherwise nice facades. 

How Do They Compare? 

So, are portable AC units as good as window units? It depends on what you need them for. A portable unit can deliver the same power of cool air as a window AC unit with more style and less intense installation procedures. They’re sleek, modern, and powerful though they can be a little loud and require more regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly and correctly. But, they can cover more space and give you more freedom to cool your home without the commitment of installing them semi-permanently in a specific window in your home. They also can be stored in the winter far easier than a window unit and don’t lose energy or heat the same way. 

Ultimately, portable units have their advantages, they also have some cons, but what you select is going to come down to your needs so remember to ask: 

• Where is this AC unit going? 
• Do you have access to a window?
• What is the electrical outlet access of the room?
• How many rooms are you cooling?