Asked on: May 26, 2015 by Jodie S., Naples Do ceiling fans help me reduce my A/C costs? Ceiling fans can help you reduce your cooling costs because they allow you to set your A/C thermostat higher and still feel comfortable. The breeze increases the evaporation of moisture from your skin making you feel cooler than you would without it. However, there’s a catch. Ceiling fans cool people, but they don’t lower the temperature in the room. So, you’ll waste money, not save, if you leave them on when no one is around. By the way, the same advice applies to portable fans, like standing floor fans. Turning off a ceiling fan when you leave a room instead of letting it run all the time can help you save from $3 to $7 a month, depending on fan speed. There’s always a little extra electricity involved in turning on the fan again when you need it. However, the amount used is minimal. It’s always better to turn off the fan when you’re not in the room. Other tips for saving this summerDuring Florida’s hot summer months, in particular, your A/C works overtime to keep your home cool.

Even if you never change the settings on your thermostat, as the days get longer and hotter, your A/C needs to run longer to keep you comfortable. Ultimately, the higher the temperature is outside the higher your energy costs can be. But, we can help you find ways to make your bill lower. View our Summer Savings Tips to find ways to save energy and money. Also, my colleague shows you the ideal temperature to set your thermostat for maximum savings. As you’ll learn, every degree makes a difference. More informationHave a cooling-related question I haven’t answered? Here are some additional resources that might be helpful: What causes higher summer bills? Making your A/C system work for you The best A/C setting for seasonal customers (or extended vacations) Your personalized Energy Dashboard Online Home Energy SurveyCooling or heating your home has never been so affordable. We have a look at some of the top brands on the market today, and you can find out about where to get them too.

But before you buy, you must learn about what to look for to pick the best portable air conditioner for you. We’ve covered the essential air conditioner features to look for in our portable air conditioner buying guide.Buy portable air conditionersHow to find the best portable air conditionerPortable air conditioner terms explainedFrequently asked questionsHere are some of the most popular portable air conditioners available for online retailers and popular Australian department stores. These portable air conditioners were selected from the most popular units available in the following popular retailers and websites. The following popular retails sell a range of portable air conditioners. Some units are only available online. There are cheap portable air conditioners to buy online as well as in-store..auAppliances OnlineEach type of air conditioner has strengths and weaknesses, we’ve summed up the key features so you can quickly compare.Have a look at this table for a quick comparison of the features of different types of air conditioner.

There’s a little bit more to think about than temperature. components of split ac unitsRead our air conditioner buying guide to find the best air conditioner for your home.cost of wall unit air conditionerYou’ll find that most portable air conditioners in Australia are made to cool a room. 3 ton ac electrical loadYou can find reverse cycle portable air conditioning units if you require heating from your portable air conditioner; however, this may cost you more than a cooling only unit.A portable air conditioner cools a room by pumping cold into a space and removing the hot air. Portable air conditioning units have a hose that vents hot air away from the room you’re trying to cool. The hose is usually placed in a nearby window.While these types of air conditioners are called ‘portable’, there’s a limit to how far you can place the unit from the ventilation point.

And if you try to extend the hose, you can void the warranty.Every smart consumer who buys a portable air conditioner has a read up on the features of these unitsBuy a portable air conditioner and be comfortable in your home all year round. A portable air conditioner can:ProsCool the air of a room.Remove odours and smoke from the air.Take the moisture out of the air.ConsA portable air conditioner can generate noise that disturbs the ambiance of a room, especially small rooms. Other types of air conditioners have the noisy part of the unit outside the home.Although portable air conditioners are smaller than other air conditioner types, they’re still a noticeable inclusion to the room.A portable air conditioner must be placed in a suitable place for ventilation. The exhaust hose can be large and can run hot under heavy use.Looking to find the best portable air conditioner? Read about the following to make an informed decision about your needs.BTU’s stands for ‘British Thermal Units’ and refers to the cooling power of an air conditioner.

If you have too many BTUs for a small room, the air will cool too quickly and the portable air conditioner dehumidifier will not work properly. Not enough BTUs and your portable air conditioner will work overtime to get the temperature you want.You can use an online calculator to find out approximately how much heat is generated by a space per hour and find a portable air conditioner with the BTU specifications to match.Factor in the following variables when you calculate BTU's needed to cool a room.The type of room you want to cool plays a big role in finding the best portable air conditioner for your needs.*To find out how many square meters your room is, just multiply the width of the room  and the length of the room.Energy efficiency is how much bank you get for your buck. The energy efficiency of the a portable air conditioner factors in how much power the unit draws to operate. Single-duct portable air conditioners may not be as energy efficient as other types of air conditioner, that is — they cost more to operate.

But portable air conditioners are cheap, and sometimes they are the only option to cool a space.Portable air conditioners do not have an energy rating like other household appliances. They’re not included in the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) and energy rating program. Some manufactures include information about energy efficiency, but the lack of a star rating makes it difficult to compare the energy efficiency of portable air conditioners.Energyrating.gov offers a side by side comparison of air conditioning units and their energy efficiency.Read on for an explanation of some of the jargon we’ve used on this page. British Thermal Unit (BTU) is a measure of the amount of heat a portable air conditioning unit can remove from the air of a room every hour. This is the amount of power the portable air conditioner uses. An old term used to describe the speed of the motor of an air conditioner.This is a type of air conditioning unit. One part of the air conditioner is inside the house and the other part is outside.

A type of air conditioning technology that regulates the temperature of a room to maximise energy efficiency. Inverter technology is common in most split system air conditioners.Read answers to some of most frequently asked questions about portable air conditioners below. .au — A team member will be in touch shortly to help you with your question about portable air conditioners.How does a portable air conditioner work?Portable air conditioners stand on the floor and can be moved from room to room. Fresh air is taken from the room and replaced with cool air, and hot air is blown out a tube from the back of the unit to a small opening in the room like a window. A tube is generally supplied when you buy a portable air conditioner. You may also get a kit to help connect to the tube to a standard size window. Portable air conditioners can be plugged into the wall for ease of use.How do I install my new portable air conditioner?You don’t need to hire an expert to get your portable air conditioner up and running.

The only tricky part about installing a portable air conditioner can be securing the vent to a window. Centre the portable air conditioner in the centre of a window frame and use the window kit to block any air flow from outside. Plug the unit into a wall socket and installation is complete.Why do portable air conditioners need to be vented outside?Portable air conditioners suck in fresh air and blow out cold air. They also need to vent hot air. The hot air runs through a tube to the outside of your house. It’s usually installed in a window.What happens if the heat comes back in?A portable air conditioner is ideally placed next to a window so hot air can be vented out of the house. Problems with the supplied window kit may result in air coming back through the window. There are a number of tips on the internet for fixing this problem. People have come up with some inventive solutions for this problem including using tape and plywood.Portable air con: just plug it in?Most portable air conditioners can be plugged into a wall electrical outlet.

There may be a chance that the additional load of the portable air conditioner can trip the circuit breaker if a number of appliances are running at the same time and the wiring is old.What’s the best portable air con for a small room?Portable air conditioners work best when they’re cooling or heating a small space. There are so many different portable air conditioners that are capable of working properly in a small space. Compare the portable air conditioners we’ve talked about on this page with other air conditioners available to buy in-store and online to find the best portable air con for your small room.What’s an inverter air conditioner?Inverter air conditioners can operate at a number of speeds between quick and slow. Non inverter air conditioners only have one speed and keep operating until the room reaches the desired temperature. Air conditioners with inverter technology are more energy efficient than non-inverter air conditioners.What does horsepower mean?Horsepower is a hangover term from the early days when air conditioners were powered by mechanical motors.