Can I Use a Portable Air Conditioner in a Room Without Window Access?

Using a Portable Air Conditioner Without Window Access

The Ultimate Explanation Plus Complete Guide

Can you use a portable air conditioner without window access? How is it possible for you to use a portable air conditioner in a room without window access?

Portable air conditioner units are designed to be used in a variety of spaces and be fairly easy to move, as the name suggests. That also means they’re designed to be entirely adaptable to their environment and everyone’s living space is different. Even though there is an ideal way for a portable AC unit to work, not everything is a cookie cutter fit. So, how do you adapt your portable air conditioner unit to a room that’s not entirely ideal for the unit, like, say, a room without window access? And do portable air conditioners work well?

The short answer to this is: it is possible to use a portable AC unit without direct window access but it’s also not ideal and will require some finagelling on your part. Understanding how the unit works and how it works best will help you in understanding exactly what you need to do. AC units are complicated and involve an entire inner process to cool the air that we often take for granted.

How Does the AC Unit in Your Home Work?

AC units bring the temperature of a space down. Everyone knows that. Less known, perhaps, is that AC units also dehumidify the air as part of this process. Even less understood is all the stages an AC unit sends the air through once it’s taken in.

For outdoor units, there are more parts that go into the cooling process. The outdoor AC unit is made of the compressor, condenser coil, and a fan. Essentially, warm air is pulled in from inside your house through the unit. The heat and moisture in the air is absorbed by the refrigerant and then passed through the compressor coil. As the refrigerant and air move through the compressor, the fan provides an ambient air stream to lower the temperature. The hot air is then expelled from the unit into the outdoor air while the cool air is returned to the house.

In a smaller unit, this process is going to be a little bit different. And the process can different between units depending on their capabilities.

Ultimately the process is the same: remove moisture, expel heat, return cool air to the dwelling. The key point here, is of course, making sure the hot air has somewhere else to go besides back into the room. For many AC units, this involves sending it through an exhaust hose put through a window. But there are ways to get rid of the hot air without a window, when necessary and when you have the right unit.

Portable AC units have to do a bit more work to expel heat and moisture from a room. They don’t have the full power that your regular home AC unit has. They’re also not doing as much, as they’re designed for one room in a dwelling, but they do require a bit more work in setting up manually, especially if you’re utilizing it in a room that isn’t 100% ideal for a portable unit.

Home Requirements for a Portable AC Unit or Portable Air Conditioner Without Window

Portable AC units aren’t cookie cutter. But they do all have fairly similar functions and parts. First things first: they don’t usually need a special outlet to run because their voltage stays around the 115 to 120 watt range. However, depending on what else you have going in a room, you might want to consult with an electrician on the safest way to run power to your AC unit. And if your unit runs on a high BTU rate (over 15,000) then you’ll need to give it a dedicated outlet to draw power from. But, for the most part, you can put your AC unit in any room with any outlet and rest easy.

Portable AC units also need a good amount of space. While they don’t need to be completely standalone or in a minimum distance from other appliances, you’ll want to use your best judgement. The most important thing is to make sure you don’t have too many high energy appliances in one room so prepare the room for the AC unit with that in mind. Give the unit space to pull air in but don’t feel like it has to sit in the middle of a room. Many units are sleekly designed to sit quietly in the corners of rooms without being intrusive to the aesthetic.

Now, portable AC units don’t necessarily need a window. But they do need a form of exhaust to get rid of the hot air as part of the cooling process. Units will come with an exhaust hose that is intended to be run through a window. That’s the ideal. But it’s not always possible. And there are ways to adapt your unit to any room. If you have a wall that would be fairly easily to install a hole to run a hose through, that’s an option, if you have a drop ceiling or access to a ventilation system that’s also possible. If you’re looking at cooling a room that doesn’t have an obvious place to run the exhaust hose through, don’t fret, there’s options.

Alternative Ways to Hook Up The Exhaust

So, you need to cool down a room in your home that doesn’t have a window unit for you to run the exhaust through. What do you do? Is the room doomed to just be stuffy and overheated forever? The quick answer is no. But it’s going to take a little bit of finesse and creativity on your part to make it work.

There’s a lot of rooms that need climate control that don’t have access to a window. One common example is computer rooms and other storage rooms in commercial buildings. They need plenty of cool air but many don’t connect to any sort of central air system. So how do you get the ability of cooled air in a place desperately in need of it, without windows or other obvious forms of ventilation?

One of the most common ways to do this is to put the exhaust hose through a created hole in the wall. You’ll obviously need to make sure this is allowed by your landlord and any other building codes. While it’s fairly easy to run cable through installed holes in the wall, putting a larger hole for an exhaust hose is a much different story, especially if you’ve got a dual hose unit. But, where possible, an exhaust port can be created through a wall, not dissimilar to running that cable through a created pathway in a wall and outside. You can also attach the exhaust hose to an air vent and run it that way, by using your dwelling’s existing air system.

There’s some other tricky ways you can try to do it as well. If you’ve got easy access to a dryer vent, that’s an option as well. This isn’t always recommended because of the difference in size and diameter between the vents. But it’s possible. One thing to look out for while doing this is to see if the external port on the dryer has a flap and, if so, if the AC unit hose will be strong enough to push it. If not, you’ll need to remove it or the hot air won’t be going anywhere. If you’re looking at cooling down a basement, this is a great option

No matter what, one thing you’ll have to keep in mind is that, without a window, you might eat up the fresh air indoors without replacing it. So, no matter how you run the hose outside to exhaust the hot air, you’ll need to have a way to cycle back into the room new air as your running the unit. This could be opening doors to hallways that have access to fresh air or open windows. Again, it all depends on your home and what you’re working with from a design standpoint.

When To Call In a Pro?

Portable AC units are designed to be very DIY. That’s part of the reason they’re great for apartment dwellers and young, first time homeowners as well as college students in dorms that allow them. They’re small, portable, easy to set up, and shouldn’t normally require an HVAC pro as a rule. However, it’s never wrong to get a consultation if you’re not sure about the electrical components or the set up. But, for certain parts of the process, depending on what exactly you’re doing and how you’re install your unit, you’ll really need to bring in a pro.

If you’re running the vent through a wall, instead of a window, you’ll want to call a pro to first help you figure out the best way to vent without a window (through the wall or into the ventilation system). If you can safely get the vent through the wall with an HVAC pro’s assistance, then that’s the route to go. Keep in mind you need to get to the outside so this means putting a hole in the siding of a dwelling. This hole will be permanent. So if you rent, make sure your landlord is okay with the modification you’re making. If you’re a homeowner, make sure what you’re doing is up to code.

The more complicated way to vent the excess air will be to hook the hose vent into the ventilation system. This is going to work best in a drop ceiling room. Unless you’re installing your unit in a commercial building, there’s no guarantee you have one of these but it’s worth talking to a professional about if you’re considering this alternative form of ventilation system.

FAQ About Portable AC Units

There are some other questions that may help the process of setting up your portable AC unit, no matter your conditions. Take a look at the frequently asked questions below about portable AC units before you head out to the store to buy and install one in your home.

What BTU level is best for me?

That’s going to differ for everyone. The size of the room, the climate you’re fighting, and the outlet options are all going to be factors. The first thing you need to look at is how big of a space you’d like your portable AC unit to cover. For a quick overview, take a look at the chart below:

• 7,500 BTUs will cover 150 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 1,200 cubic feet
• 9,000 BTUs will cover 200 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 1,600 cubic feet
• 10,000 BTUs will cover 300 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 2,400 cubic feet
• 12,000 BTUs will cover 400 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 3,200 cubic feet
• 13,000 BTUs will cover 450 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 3,600 cubic feet
• 14,000 BTUs will cover 500 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 4,000 cubic feet

So, keep in mind the measurements of your room and start there. Then take a look at what else you have in the room, how much power is being used in the room, and make sure you’ve got the capability in your outlets and power chords to be able to take the level of BTUs you need for a room.

What are the electrical requirements for a standard AC unit?

As mentioned, most units don’t require anything special and run around 115 volts. That shouldn’t require any special outlets or power chords. But anything a bit closer to commercial grade should be looked at by a professional to make sure you’re using a safe amount of energy for your unit.

How do I empty water from the unit?

Portable AC units take water out of the air and collect it. But they have no way of dispersing it on their own and will need to be emptied. In most cases. There will be different model types, three specifically, that your AC unit will fall under.

• Manual: This means you have to manually remove the water gathered yourself. It’s pretty standard: the unit will have a collection bucket for the water that will need to be periodically emptied after use, just like any dehumidifier.
• Drain Hose: There are some models that come with a drain hose, like the exhaust hose, that allow the water be drained in a separate location. But if you’re already windowless for the air exhaust, this might not be the best option since it will require another venting system.
• Self-Evaporating: There are some models that combine the air vent with an evaporation feature that allows the moisture to be expelled out right alongside the excess warm air. These are popular models because of the low maintenance on them and, if you’re without a window in your room and have a safe way to vent through the wall, this is a good option. However, if you’re venting into the larger system in the dwelling, you don’t want to send excess moisture through there.

What is the difference between single and dual hose models?

This might make things a bit tricky if you’re trying to get creative about how you’re venting the air. In a single hose model, there is, as you might guess, just one exhaust hose. It takes air from within the room, cools it, and returns it to the room while ferrying some of it away and out of the room. One negative result from this process is a pressure change in the room from the ratio of air taken it out and returned. It’s slightly different.

For a dual hose system, the pressure change in the room is handled by the second hose that occasionally pumps small amounts of air into the room to help balance out the pressure. This is a unit that won’t work well in a room without a window or obvious access to the outside. Though it’s possible, it’ll cause a lot more work for you to set up and likely won’t be worth the hassle and cost.

How noisy will the unit be?

This is something you’ll want to factor in when shopping around and most buying guides for portable AC units will have a recommendation on the noise level of the unit. You’re going to have to expect a little noise. All AC units, whether portable or central, are noisy by nature. Check the noise level suggestions on units before you purchase one and, if possible, take a listen to one working and decide for yourself if it has a noise level you can deal with in the intended area the unit will be used.

What is the energy efficiency of a portable AC unit?

All portable AC units will come with an EER (energy efficiency rating). The higher the rating is, the more efficient it is. No matter what, portable units will be more energy efficient than larger, more permanent options, but even amongst these options there’s ways to lower your footprint even more.

Are there rooms a portable AC unit shouldn’t be used in?

Any room that you would have an AC unit in can also take a portable AC unit. That being said, there are some exceptions. For example, a garage is generally not a place recommended for use of a portable AC unit since it requires an excessive amount of manipulation to work and the nature of garages make them very hard to keep cool. Some unfinished basements will also be places you’ll want to avoid placing a portable AC unit.

It should also be noted that, within a room, a unit does need some breathing room. We’ve gone over this a bit but as much as you have the instinct to hide a unit in a room, you can’t hide it too much that its function becomes impaired by space. No closed closets or cabinets. It can be tucked into a corner, but it needs space. Luckily, many units out there are designed to look as sleek as possible for this reason.

Can I install an additional exhaust to my unit if it only has one?

Unfortunately, units are designed to operate very specifically. While you can employee some creativity in exactly how you go about using your exhaust hoses, you can’t add or subtract hoses from the unit without causing serious problems to its overall function. Too much pressure and the compressor will shut down. And there is the issue of changes to the unit voiding the warranty if something does go wrong.

How do I prep the unit for colder months when it won’t be used?

When winter rolls around, you need to have a game plan for what to do with your portable AC unit. It can’t just sit waiting to be used. Mold will start to collect, parts can be damaged. You have to prepare your unit for hibernation, like any other summertime appliance.

• First, drain the unit completely of water in any humidifier reservoir.
• Next, allow the unit run on fan mode for about 24 hours to dry out the inner part of the unit.
• After about a day, unplug the unit completely and remove the air filter for cleaning and then reinstall it. Lastly, remove the air hoses.
• If possible, store the unit in the container it came in but, always make sure the unit is up right and not leaning on anything.

It’s possible to have a portable AC unit in less than ideal conditions. In fact, many of them are designed with these places in mind. While cooling your den in your apartment in the summer is a fairly easy trick for any portable AC unit, it is possible to cool rooms such as attic spaces, computer rooms, and storage areas that are enclosed with no direct access to the outdoors through a window. It’ll take research, man power, and maybe even a little bit of help from an HVAC pro, but you can have your space cooled in no time once you do the right work.