Portable air conditioners are air conditioning units that can be transferred from one room to another. They're self-contained systems that do not require any permanent installation. However, portable air conditioners do require venting via a window or wall. Once you've positioned the portable air conditioner where you'd like it, you must set the exhaust hose through an opening to the outside so that it can vent hot air out of the room.It's necessary to vent portable air conditioners because they extract hot air. If you want your air conditioning system to cool the room effectively, you need to let the hot air vent to the outside. When you purchase a portable air conditioner, the venting kit will almost always be included.Portable air conditioners can also be vented through a window, wall, ceiling or even a door. Plexiglas is generally used for venting portable air conditioning systems through casement windows. First, you need to cut the Plexiglas to the size of the window. Then cut a 5" hole and set this over the open window.

With this, the portable air conditioning unit will vent the hot air to the outside. Also, Plexiglas will allow the same amount of light to pass through the window as regular glass.The portable air conditioner venting kit must be installed in order for the unit to work correctly in air conditioning mode. Although portable air conditioners come in a range of different styles and sizes, the venting steps are generally the same across the board. Make sure you keep the exhaust hose very straight while using the venting system. Try not to increase the length of the exhaust hose (it can, however, be shortened). Using an extension cord with a portable air conditioner is also not recommended.Remember: venting instructions may vary from unit to unit, but the most important thing to remember is to follow the instructions provided with your air conditioner. By venting the unit properly and following the care instructions provided, your portable air conditioner will last you for many years.So how do you know which size air conditioner you need given the many different sizes available?

It depends on the size of the room or rooms you are trying to cool. To start you need to measure the area that needs to be cooled and this will give you a good idea of the correct size air conditioner you will need. If you are looking for an air conditioner that will cool your entire house then please call us as there are many other factors needed to calculate this.home window ac units To calculate the size you need to multiply the length times the width of the room or rooms you are trying to cool. when is the best time to buy a new ac unitWhen trying to cool two adjacent areas determine each space separately and add the totals together. how does a commercial ac unit workThen refer to our chart to the right to see how many BTU’s your air conditioner needs in order to cool the room(s) properly.

Example 1: You want to cool just one room that is 10′ long and 12′ wide. 10 X 12 = 120 By looking at our chart you would need an air conditioner with 5,000 BTU’s to cool this room of 120 sq. ft. Example 2: You want to cool two adjacent rooms. Room #1 is 10′ long and 11′ feet and Room #2 is 8′ wide and 10′ long. Room #1: 10 X 11 = 110 Room #2: 8 X 10 = 80 Total of both rooms is 190. You would need an air conditioner with 6,000 BTU’s to cool these rooms. Once you have determined the number of BTUs that will most efficiently cool your rooms, you need to make adjustments based on other factors as well: How many BTUs to cool a room? Here are some common room sizes and the needed BTUs: 8 X 10 = 80 sq. ft. | 9 X 10 = 90 sq. ft. | 10 X 12 = 120 sq. ft. | 11 X 13 = 143 sq. ft. | 12 X 12 = 144 sq. ft. | 12 X 14 = 168 sq. ft. | 13 X 19 = 247 sq. ft. | 14 X 18 = 252 sq. ft. | 16 X 20 = 320 sq. ft. |

While you can calculate the square footage on your own, one of our trained air conditioning professionals may be the better choice to perform a BTU calculation on your home. Give us a call and we will be more than happy to help you get the correct air conditioner you need.Tip: Don't just add up the total wattage for everything you wantSee our section on power management to learn how to use a smaller generator to power more. More help on determining Refrigerator or Freezer (Energy Star) as indicated on bulb (i.e. 60W) as indicated on bulb (i.e 60W) Furnace Fan, gas or fuel oil Coffee Maker (4 cup) Electric Range (8-inch element) Window Air Conditioner (10,000 BTU) Tip: Don't just add up the total wattage for everything you want Hair Dryer (1600 watts) Microwave Oven (650 watts) See the chart below to estimate your power needs. Bench Grinder (8 in.) Circular Saw (Heavy Duty, 7 1/4 in.) 3/8 inch, 4 amps

1/2 inch, 5.4 amps Electric Chain Saw (14 inches, 2 hp) Hand Drill (1/2 in.) High-pressure Washer (1 hp) Table Saw (10 in.) Capacitor Start Induction Run Capacitor Start Capacitor Run Electric Fence, 25 miles Milker (vacuum pump, 2hp) Portable Heater (kerosene, diesel fuel) 60 amp with 250-amp boost Following air conditioning sizing recommendations saves homeowners money. Without proper guidance from a home heating and cooling professional, many people will spend extra money buying air conditioners that are too large for the space. By buying the proper size of air conditioner, homeowners save money in the short-term, with a smaller cash outlay for a unit that is not too large for the space. Long-term operating costs go down with smaller, more efficient units as well. Air conditioning sizing does not follow the “bigger is better” adage. In fact, an air conditioner that is too large for a room won’t cool the area uniformly.

Additionally, a smaller unit that stays on continuously to create a consistent temperature in the room operates more efficiently than a large unit that turns on and off frequently. A unit that continues operating for longer periods of time at a lower level also dehumidifies the area more efficiently. Removing humidity from the air makes a room feel even cooler. Experts provide guidelines and recommendations for the size of air conditioning unit that is appropriate for any home. If you’re unsure about the size of air conditioner that your space requires, ask a professional contractor or salesman before you buy. The heating and cooling industry rates air conditioners’ cooling capacities based on British thermal units (BTU) per hour, or by the “ton,” which is 12,000 BTU per hour. Most room air conditioners have cooling capacities ranging from 5,500 BTU to 14,000 BTU. Depending on how hot your local climate gets in the summertime, a 5,000 BTU air conditioner will cool a room of 100 to 150 square feet.