FAQs about Portable Air Conditioners Published July 7, 2010 | Updated July 1, 2015 On a scorching summer day, portable air conditioners can make your room a refuge from the heat. Whether you are short on space, need a little extra cooling in a problem area or just want to keep your personal space at a constant, cool temperature, portable air conditioners are the solution. Unlike a window air conditioner that needs to be attached to a window or central air conditioners that can sometimes struggle to reach each corner of the house, portable air conditioners can follow you anywhere in the home. Room air conditioners are relatively easy to use, but here are the answers to a few common questions to help you use them efficiently. About Portable Air Conditioners: Shop Air Conditioners ▸ Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room without a window?Just like all other air conditioning units, portable air conditioners need to have somewhere to release heat. A window is usually the most convenient way for portable air conditioning to vent, but there are other ways.

For example, you can attach the exhaust tube to an air vent. Maybe the best idea would be to install a small vent leading directly outside. What is the difference between portable air conditioners and air coolers?Air coolers use moisture, like a swamp cooler, to cool an area. This makes them quite a bit less effective in areas that are already humid, and they have a smaller cooling radius. On the other hand, they can often double as humidifiers. A portable air conditioner actually cools the air with a Freon system and generally has a larger cooling radius than an air cooler. Is it safe to leave portable air conditioners on during the night?All portable air conditioners collect condensation as they cool. This is generally collected in a water tray in the air conditioning units themselves. If the water is about to overflow, the portable air conditioner will shut itself off. Generally, portable air conditioners have this same function if their air filters are about to overflow. The only real hazard is if you have plugged a portable air conditioner into an overused plug.

Room air conditioners use a good amount of electricity and can cause a short if they don't have a dedicated plug. Otherwise, portable air conditioners are as safe as any other appliance. Can I lengthen the exhaust hose on a portable air conditioner?While it is possible, extending the exhaust hose can often void the warranty on your air conditioning unit. best home central air conditioner unitsIn addition, if your workmanship isn't professional, it might be unsafe to lengthen the exhaust hose. best ac unit reviewsIf you would like to move your portable air conditioner, just move the exhaust hose or get two air conditioners.ac unit in the winterThere are times that a room or small space needs to be cooled and there is no windows to install window mounted unit.

When this happens there are a few options depending on your budget and HVAC skill set. Lets take a look at a few options for how to cool a room that has no windows. Cut Out a Hole (Not recommended) A hole can be cut out and a window mounted A/C unit installed. This is not professional and often makes a home look a bit shanty but does work. A professional HVAC person would install a Mini Split system (see next option on list) and not bother with a window type unit. It still is quite common as it is straight to the point that most anyone can understand. I cant suggest anyone do this but we all have been short on money and what doesn’t work for one person may work for another. For a professional install of a HVAC system into a windowless room a Mini Split system is the best option. They do require more knowledge to install than a package window unit but are much more efficient, quit, and long term HVAC solution. They are called mini splits since the two main components of the system the evaporator coil and condenser are separated.

A copper line-set is run between the two components taking heat with it. Most mini split units are also heat pumps so they will both cool in the summer and heat in the winter. While it is suggested that a professional be hired to install a mini split there are DIY kits that are sold that allows anyone to install a unit. Read here for more on a Do-It-Yourself Mini Split install. Portable cooling units are also a option. There are two types of portable unit evaportative and standard air conditioning Evaportative type units work good when there is no humidity. They also dont need a opening to the outside making them ideal in dry climates. Air conditioner portable units require a vent hose be fed outside to pump out hot air. Both type types of units have there advantages and disadvantages depending on the scenario. Read Here for a Full Review on Portable Units for Rooms with No Windows. There are several different methods for cooling a room with no windows.

The best option is to install a Mini Split unit which is the way a professional HVAC person will suggest it be done. Portable units are also a option although unless you live in a dry climate a hose attachment will still need to be run outside. With the many different methods and styles of A/C units there is no doubt at least one way that will fit your budget and keep a room cool. Since there are so many variables to take into consideration often the best solutions can be found reading reviews on Amazon or in the forums to see what others have done and how it worked for them.Above: Keeping your home cool without an air conditioner, especially during the day time. Check out the video at the end of the story for ideas on staying cool at night. SEATTLE -- An air conditioning unit just might be the easiest way to  cool down your home (many local retailers, including The Home Depot, recently received new shipments in recent days), but for many of us, it's simply too expensive or impractical.

We have some solutions for both day and night. Madison Stenek with The Home Depot brought in some great examples of inexpensive things we can all do to keep our home cool. "One of the easiest things you can do year-round is to properly insulate your home," she said. Aside from standard insulation, this includes weather sealants you can use on your windows and doors. There's even a window sealant kit she shows us that uses a window film that can reportedly save you $500 a year in energy costs. Stenek estimates about 50% of heat and cooling air gets out through gaps you have in your windows and doors. Something you may not have heard of using before: window films, both decorative and heat-resistant. The films are easy to apply with an application kit, and can help keep the heat out. BONUS: They're easy to put up and to remove. For night time, fans are especially important, and Stenek pointed out the  focus should be on the direction the fans face.  A 'twin window fan' can adjust to fit right inside  your window;

a stand-alone fan can circulate cooler air inside. Combining these two types of fans just might be the key to a good  night's sleep: "What most people don't know is if you actually turn [the twin window fan] the opposite way, and you have a circulating fan as well in your room, it's going to suck a lot of the heat out." Do you  have a ceiling fan? Little known fact: make sure it's set to spin counter-clockwise, as that will allow the heat to come up and out instead of swirling the hot air around. And when all-else fails, Stenek says to drink a glass of cold water before going to bed! Watch the videos for more ideas on keeping your home cool this summer, and remember: if you do decide to invest in an air conditioning unit, there are a lot of options. We are running through some of them live on the show this Friday at 7:20am. Click HERE to browse through the air conditioners and fans at The Home Depot. Below: How to keep your  home cool without an air conditioner at night.