Should I Buy A Portable Air Conditioner?
In the hot, humid summer months, nothing is more enjoyable than escaping to a room that has air conditioning. So when summer rolls around and it begins to get warm outside, you might start thinking about whether you should pick up a portable air conditioner to keep the heat out and add cool dry air to your stuffy rooms.
Portable air conditioners can be great because you can move them from room to room in your house and they are very easy to install. This makes them perfect for “spot cooling” rooms such as offices, sun rooms, and bedrooms.
However, there are a few things you need to consider before you place an order on Amazon or go pick one up at the store.
In this post, I’m going to share some important things to consider when determining if a portable air conditioner is the right cooling option for your needs.
Why use a portable air conditioner?
If you’ve done some research, you probably already know that portable air conditioners are not always the best cooling solution.
Many portable air conditioner models have a lower cooling capacity than other types of air conditioners. Plus, other air conditioners are usually quieter than portable air conditioners. This is because portable air conditioners have both the compressor and fan inside the enclosed space they are cooling, whereas window air conditioners have the compressor and fan outside.
So why would anyone use a portable air conditioner?
Despite some of the drawbacks, using a portable air conditioner has many benefits. And in some scenarios, using a portable air conditioner is the better option.
Not surprisingly, one of the main benefits of using a portable air conditioner is that it can be easily moved. With other air conditioning options, the air conditioner is in a fixed location and you are confined to a certain room in the house if you want to feel cool air. But with a portable air conditioner, you can easily move it anywhere in your home.
If you want to cook in the kitchen, just take your portable air conditioner with you. If you want to watch TV in the living room, you can easily bring it there. Sleeping at night has never been so restful since you’re not overheating now that your portable air conditioner is by your side.
Portable air conditioners are not only convenient. They are super easy to install and can also potentially save you money. By relying less on your central AC, you can lower your bills by using a portable unit in the rooms you use most. And if you live in a mild weather region, where you rarely need AC, portable air conditioners are a much more affordable option. This is why portable air conditioners are primarily used for supplemental and spot cooling.
Some portable air conditioners double as a heater. Many people like the versatility that a dual portable air conditioner and heater plays. You may have one room in your home that is colder than another during the winter months and would like to heat that room instead of turning on your central heat to heat the entire home. A dual action portable air conditioner and heater would allow you the flexibility to either cool a specific room or heat one up as you see fit.
Portable air conditioners are also great because they can be easily stored and out of the way when they are no longer needed.
Is a portable air conditioner right for me?
While it’s true that you can move a portable air conditioner from room to room, there are a some other things you need to consider when determining if a portable air conditioner is the right option for you.
Using a portable air conditioner has a few requirements, which you will need to make sure your space can accommodate.
Portable air conditioners need ventilation
You need to make sure your portable air conditioner is located next to a window or a sliding patio door in order to have the hot air ventilated out.
All the hot air that the air-conditioning unit processes needs to get vented out of your room somehow. So before you decide to buy a portable air conditioner you need to think about where you want to use it and make sure there is a window or some other ventilation option nearby.
Most portable air conditioners will come with a window installation kit so that you can easily vent that hot air outside. You can see an example of a portable air conditioner installed below.
Portable air conditioners require a power outlet nearby
The other thing you need to think about is if the portable air conditioner will be close to an electrical outlet. Portable air conditioners use a lot of power and it is not recommended to use one with an extension cord.
Clearance around the portable air conditioner
Another thing that’s really important is to make sure you have enough clearance around the air conditioning unit so that it has adequate air flow to cool the room properly. Always make sure to check your instruction manual so you know how much clearance is required. You never want a portable air conditioner to be directly against the wall.
Condensation
One thing that people don’t always think about when buying portable air conditioning units is the fact that they all collect condensation. Depending on the unit you purchase, you may have to drain the excess moisture from time to time.
Draining out the excess water is not really that big of a hassle but it is something for you to be aware of that you’re going to have to do when you have a portable air conditioner.
In conclusion
My goal is to give you a better understanding about portable air conditioners, determine if you need one, and then help you find the right model for your space. So make sure to check out my other posts where I share my top tips for how to pick a portable air conditioner that’s right for you.