Even though we're in a culture where "super-sizing" is all the rage, this is definitely not the approach you want to take when choosing a portable AC. Though it may appear that bigger is better, choosing an air conditioner that is too powerful for your room will actually waste energy. On the other hand, choosing a unit that is too small for the area is also a waste because no matter how efficient and highly-rated the mobile AC is, it will be completely ineffective.For this reason, it's critical to know what size AC your room needs before you buy. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a portable room air conditioner. Do you need it to be multi-functional (since many units now double as a heater, fan, and/or dehumidifier)? Do you want it to have multiple modes? Are there any special design elements you'd like, such as LED display, remote control access, or maybe even a timer? As you can see, portable air conditioners feature many choices. But the one choice that consumers tend to ignore is the unit's listed BTU level.

Since many consumers get intimidated by abbreviations they don't readily know, they make the mistake of ignoring important specifications that need to be taken into consideration before purchasing a mobile AC.how much is a new central ac unitLet's solve that problem right now. the cost of air conditioner installationBTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which is nothing more than a unit of energy. how to tell what size ac unit isA BTU tells us what an ACs power and cooling capacity is. The higher the BTU, the stronger the AC. Mobile air conditioners usually have between 5,000 to 16,000 BTUs, with some having as many as 30,000 BTUs! When we talk about the "size" of a portable air conditioner, we don't mean its physical dimensions but rather the BTU capacity.

So while you should make sure your unit will actually fit in the room you want to use it in, it's critical to make sure it has the right BTU capacity to effectively cool the room.The right size depends on the size of the room. Measuring square footage: The first step to finding out what AC is right for you is to figure out the square footage of the room(s) you need to cool. You can calculate the square footage by multiplying the length of the room by the width of the room. As an example, let's pretend your room is 18 feet by 25 feet:Length x Width = 18' x 25' = 450 square feetMatching square footage with the recommended BTUs: Once you know the square footage, refer to the chart below and find the recommended BTUs for your square footage. AIR CONDITIONER BTU GUIDERoom Size Recommended BTUs150 sq. ft. up to 5,400 BTUs200 sq. ft. 6,000 BTUs340 sq. ft. 8,000 BTUs400 sq. ft. 9,000 BTUs450 sq. ft.10,000 BTUs550 sq. ft. 12,000 BTUs750 sq. ft. 14,500 BTUs850 sq. ft. 16,000 BTUs1,000 sq. ft.18,000 BTUs1,400 sq. ft.24,000 BTUs1,520 sq. ft.28,500 BTUs1,600 sq. ft.32,000 BTUsIf you don't have a chart on hand when making your purchase

, you can always get an estimate for your recommended BTUs by multiplying the square footage by 35.Ideally, having a chart on hand is best. Just print out this page and keep it as a handy reference when you shop for a portable air conditioner. Factors to consider:Since this chart is designed for an average room under average conditions, you should be aware of special conditions or needs of your room.Once you have taken these simple steps to figure out your cooling needs, you're sure to make a much smarter investment in your comfort. If you still need help choosing your portable AC, call our cooling experts who will guide you through the process. View our selection of portable ACs.Portable Air Conditioner Buying GuidePortable Air Conditioners and Energy EfficiencyThe Green Guide to Portable ACWritten Portable  air conditioners are all of relatively similar design and  unfortunately, all "true" (eg with a compressor and pressurized coolant)  portable air conditioners require venting out of a window through a  vent hose of some sort to expel the heat pulled from the air.

To my  knowledge all portable AC's are designed with casters and sit on the  floor with a hose that extends to the nearest window.Window AC's are a different category all together and are usually  slightly more efficient but require more effort to mount and take up a  large amount of space in your window.One  difference between portable air conditioners is their BTU or "British  Thermal Unit" rating with is a rating of how much the air conditioner  will be able to cool. On household portable units this usually ranges  from 8,000 to 14,000 BTU's. In contrast, whole home air conditioners are  rated in "tons", one ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU's.The  efficiency of a portable air conditioner is another big difference you  should be aware of. Portable AC units are rated in EER or energy  efficiency ratio that is a rating of how much cooling the unit does with  the amount of power it uses. EER is easily computed by dividing the BTU  by the wattage used. As an example, a 10,000 BTU portable AC that uses  1,000 watts would have an EER of 10 (10,000 / 1,000 = 10).

The higher  the EER the more efficient the unit is.Most  portable AC's automatically evaporate the condensation that builds up  and only require draining when operating in very humid environments.The  only major fundamental design difference between portable air  conditioners is if they are a single hose or double hose unit. Both of  these require venting out of a window using a sliding plastic spacer  that is closed in the window frame and has a hole cut in it (or two) to  connect the vent hose(s) to.A  two hose portable AC draws in outside air to cool and push it into the  room while a single hose draws air from inside the room to cool. A  single hose is typically less efficient because part of the air drawn in  the unit is pushed out the vent and causes hot air to enter the room  from other parts of the house or the outside through leaks in the  insulation. Below is a picture of a single hose Soleus KY-34 (left) and a  two hose Soleus LX-140 (right).There are also evaporative coolers (sometimes called swamp coolers) that work by adding moisture to the air but those typically only work in dry climates.

They typically are not as effective as AC's either. However, they do not require venting and use far less power.If you have any further questions about portable AC's or evaporative coolers feel free to comment and I'll do my best to answer right away.Written Portable Air Conditioner:Portable air conditioners are independent, movable units with exhaust hoses that are easy to install and vent out of a variety of window types.Difference in types of portable Air Conditioners:Design,Portable air conditioners are different in terms of their designs. Some have movable units with exhaust hoses that are easy to install and others might have a vent out like other variety of window types.Pricing,Such Air conditioners are available in many different price range. They are usually around $100 more expensive than window air conditioners of the same cooling capacity. Bigger ton portable AC costs more than the others.Noise level,The noise levels of portable air conditioners vary, with some models being as quiet as a fan and others being as noisy, if not noisier.

Efficiency, Different portable AC's have different efficiency but there is not very great fluctuations. In the U.S., there are no federal regulations to define the energy efficiency of portable air conditioners, and so no portable air conditioner is given Energy Star ratings.If you live in San Diego and want to get your AC installed or repaired and want to avail HVAC services form an expert of 15 years then give me a call at (858)530-1822 or visit me at Heating and Air Conditioning San Diego HVAC Contractor | Airmakers Difference between Portable AC and Window ACI hope this helps.Written The "self-contained" label usually applies to portable air conditioners that, through special design, are able to send out water condensate through the exhaust hose. So, not entirely self contained but there will be little or no need to drain the water from the unit. /2012...Written The most notable differences in portable ac's would definitely be the price. The weight of the AC also play's a huge factor.