Should you buy a window mounted mounted A/C unit or portable unit? Let look at the positives and negatives of both as well as other things that separates them. Window air conditioning units have been in use for many years and are a tested way to cool a space in a home or small building. A window unit is more difficult than a portable unit to setup but once installed it does not need to be moved again. The back will stick out a home which to some is unsightly.Works well to cool a small area.Small or large units can be bought.Out of the way taking up no floor space.Can not be moved easily and needs a window to work.More difficult to setup than portable units.The back sticks out a window which is unsightly for some. Portable A/C units are built for easy setup, mobility, and to be easily stored away. They do require a hose be fed out a opening such as a window to pump out hot air. This takes more space than a window unit since not only does the unit itself take up a area the hose will need its own area.

There are hose-less portable units but they are Evaporative type models and work with water that evaporates. Hose-less type units are not true air conditioners. They do work in regions with low humidity but do not work in humid climates.Easily stored away when not needed.Most have wheels to roll the unit about.Needs a hose extended out through a window.Are limited in capacity to keep the unit mobile.Takes up more space than a window unit. Using a portable air conditioner or window unit will be a personal choice as every situation and home is different. Personally I prefer a window unit as once they are installed they are out of the way set and forget option. Portable units do have their place and I still use one on hot days that a room is not being cooled enough. Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below. Iconic One Theme | PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – If you’re considering buying an air conditioner, but you don’t want a lot of fuss with a window installation, you might be tempted to go with one of those portable floor units.

But beware, Consumer Reports tested a bunch of them and found they’re not much better than your average fan. With temperatures rising outside, a seemingly easy fix is a portable air conditioner. They’re designed to draw in warm air, cool it, then exhaust it outside through a hose that connects to your window. Consumer Reports tested eight of them, brands like Honeywell, Haier and Frigidaire. Prices range from $250 to more than $500. Consumer Reports used a special chamber to test their cooling power. The temperature outside was kept at 90 degrees and the humidity at 70 percent. Inside, each air conditioner was set to 75 degrees. Strings of thermocouples recorded temperatures throughout the room. The results were disappointing. “None of these units, not even the biggest ones, could get our test chamber below 80 degrees, even after an hour and 40 minutes,” Bob Markovich, Consumer Reports, said. That was true even of the most expensive unit tested – a $550 Honeywell, which promises to cool up to 550 feet.

It struggled to cool the test chamber, which was half that size. “Window air conditioners are much more effective, and they tend to cost less,” Markovich said. Consumer Reports found at least one window unit to recommend for each sized room. ac units that run on natural gasFor larger rooms and medium sized rooms, two LG brand air conditioners won, costing $350 and $240 respectively. ac unit not working properlyFor smaller rooms, Consumer Reports’ best buy is a $210 GE.wall unit air conditioners on sale The reason these portable air conditioners don’t work is because while they use conditioned air from inside the house to cool the condenser and force the hot air out through that vent, it creates negative pressure, which actually draws more hot air into the room you’re trying to cool.

Also, because the entire unit is inside the house, they’re often much louder as well. More Reports by Susan KoeppenWhat uses less energy? May 3, 2010   Subscribe What is more efficient: a fan or a window air conditioning unit?The requested URL /sdmb/showthread.php?t=617551 was not found on this server. Owned and Operated in America since 1999.Window Air Conditioner Pros and Cons Not sure whether to buy a window- or a portable air conditioner? Let’s first look at the advantages and disadvantages of a window unit air conditioner. Are more popular, thus are easier to find and price competition is in full force Often have relatively low noise output and high efficiency Water drains from the unit to the exterior with no intervention needed Sends ALL hot air to the exterior as warm air is exchanged for cold Even small units can adequately cool 100-300 square feet. Larger units can cool rooms up to 650 square feet If carefully placed, can cool more than one room

Can be placed either in windows or wall holes The window where you install the air conditioner is blocked as long as the unit is there Dripping water outside can end up where you do not want it to (pedestrians on a city street? creating rust on a metal roof?) More of a hassle to remove and move to another room/location Not all windows support air conditioners Installation can get tricky if you do not have exterior support. It is not unheard of for window units to fall out of windows at inopportune times, even during installation. The panels that come with these units can let in a lot of hot air, making the air conditioner less efficient Even the best installation can still leave your home or apartment at a security risk Quite frankly, the appearance of many window units in a living area is not seen as the ultimate in decorating or class Click here for the Pros and Cons of Portable Air Conditioners Click here for Window vs. Portable Air Conditioners