Central air conditioners require more time to install than a wall unit. Central air conditioners and wall mount units are two main options for keeping your home cool as the temperatures climb. Determining which is the best choice for your home depends on your personal cooling needs, budget and the type of space you are cooling. Understanding both the benefits and disadvantages of the two cooling options can help you make the best choice for your home. Cost Comparison Wall and window units generally cost less for initial installation than central air units, and replacement costs are much lower, especially for the smaller single-room units. In 2013 wall units cost as little as $420 for the unit and installation, while a central unit cost $2,500. Wall units that draw less than 7.5 amps of electricity also don't require a dedicated circuit, so there are no electrician costs upon installation. Central units are more cost-effective if you are trying to maintain the same temperature throughout a larger house or apartment, while wall units are less expensive if you are cooling only one or two rooms in a home.

Energy Efficiency Central air conditioners provide more energy efficiency overall, but this is often offset because the units run constantly due to thermostats being set too low or the units being left on even when the home is empty. 3 ton heating ac unitWall air conditioner efficiency varies greatly. ac unit starterNewer models, especially those with Energy Star labels, tend to be the most efficient choice and use the least amount of electricity. are indoor ac units goodWhen shopping for both types of units, look for those with the highest energy-efficiency ratio, often listed as the EER. EER ratings above 10 provide the most efficiency for both central and wall units. Cooling Quality The correct size of wall unit for the space you are cooling can provide cooling quality comparable to a central unit, but an overly small unit cannot cool as well as central air in a large space.

Although windows, insulation and other factors can affect the cooling quality of a wall unit, you generally need a unit with a 5,000 BTU cooling capacity for a room up to 150 square feet, or a 21,000 BTU unit for a 1,000 to 1,200 square foot room. In large homes or those with open floor plans, central air provides the better cooling quality. A central system also maintains a steady temperature, while a wall unit may require frequent adjustment or turning on and off to maintain a constant temperature in the room. Both air conditioners cool best when they are properly maintained and the filters are kept clean. Other Concerns Central units are usually quieter than wall units, with the quietest central units registering 37 decibels and the quietest window units registering at 55 decibels. Newer wall units are generally quieter than old units, but it's best to compare individual units to determine which runs the quietest. Central units typically come with a one- to five-year warranty, while wall units may or may not have a warranty, depending on the manufacturer.

Although you can typically install a wall unit yourself if the wall already contains an installation hole, central units and the required ducts require professional installation. Updated Portable AC units are popular recently because it's summer and a bathtub outside, and because they don't block your entire window. Also they are more cost-effective than central air as they only air condition the rooms that you are using. There are so many types of portable air conditioners available, and each have their own ways of simplifying the steps of condensation removal, dehumidification, water-tray emptying frequency, filter cleaning, and remote operation, so choosing the right one can be daunting.Based on Comparaboo's analysis of over 90,000 customer reviews, expert articles, brand, and product reputation, the best portable AC unit is the Honeywell MM14CCS 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control.This portable air conditioner is 65.5 lbs and can cool, dehumidify, and fan areas of up to 550 sq ft.

The unit dehumidifies up to 79.2 pints a day, and air flows at 265 CU ft per minute. The fan has a choice of three speeds, and the cooling temperature can be set from 61° - 89°Fahrenheit. The portable unit sits on wheels, may be remote control operated, may be run on a timer, and has an auto-evaporation system that uses an easy-to-install window venting kit and flexible exhaust hose that reduce the need for water drainage. This window venting kit can be used in front of a metal screen and the exhaust will not melt the screen.This is the window installation kit it comes with. Everything snaps together and set up should take 5-10 minutes. This is how an older model looks with the exhaust hose and window kit set up. (The Honeywell MM14CCS has a digital LED display.)The auto-evaporation system is designed to not drip, comes with a condensation tray that does not have to be changed frequently, and its pull-up filter is easy to remove and washable. This shows the pull-up filter feature.This portable AC unit does not leak, and user reviews raved about their lower electricity bills and having to empty the condensation tray infrequently.

The parts it comes with are: Cooling unitWindow bracket kitWindow bracket panel adapterPlastic pins (no screws!)HoseHose connector__Check out the Best Portable AC Units 2015 list to see what else made the Top 10.Written I have found them all about the same(not that great). I used to rent a house and the central air conditioner just wasn't enough. A street facing window unit was out of the question. Therefore, I decided to try a portable unit with the "dryer" like vent.My ExperienceThe room was cooler. However, I experienced a lot of issues. Over a period of 2 summers, I purchased 4 different brands. I found the following to be true for all of them.Regardless of how quiet it says it is, it is going to be extremely loud.All of them leak like crazyThey never reach the desired temperature and had to run constantly to keep the room coolNot a very attractive addition to any roomWhy Purchase 4 Units?Every model I purchased started leaking at some point. I had one model that collected the water and when full you emptied.

However, it still leaked. Another model was supposed to take care of the water itself and had a backup collection system. This unit also leaked.At the time, I went online and researched the subject and if other people were having problems with leaks. I found match after match of people with the same issue. There seemed to be no fix. You could replace the unit. I did this too and it had the same exact problem.I finally purchased a hot water heater drip pan and placed under the unit. This collected the water, but it was a nightmare and I still ended up with major water damage.Living in Atlanta, Georgia, I wasn't sure if the high humidity caused problems or what. I finally abandoned the units.My RecommendationIf you can afford just a little bit more money, I would strongly encourage you to look into split systems. It's like a conventional unit, doesn't have any duct work to install, isn't that loud, doesn't need any venting and keeps the condenser on the outside.It has 3 parts. First, there is the inside part which hangs on the wall like a register or vent.