Portable air conditioners are great cooling options for rooms and apartments without access to central AC. They're easy to install, add instant cooling, and come with tons of features for simple operation. But you should consider these 5 things before purchasing a portable AC for your home or office. Portable air conditioners are rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Models with higher BTU ratings offer more cooling power and can cover larger rooms. It's important to buy a portable AC that's appropriate for your space to make sure you don't waste energy or waste your money on one that can't adequately cool your room. In a standard room with 8-foot ceilings, use these estimations: Note: The guidelines above are not exact. Environmental factors may increase or decrease the number of BTUs required. For example, rooms with poor insulation or heat-producing appliances will require models with slightly more BTUs. If you have any questions about what size you should buy, feel free to call us at 1-800-934-9194.

During the cooling process, portable ACs produce hot air that must be exhausted out of their hose (or hoses). All the models we sell come with an included window kit to expel the warm air outside. This means most portable ACs need to plugged in within a few feet of a window. Placing them next to a window in the easiest and quickest way to install them, but you do have other options. For more information, check out our How to Vent Your Portable AC article. Additionally, some commercial ACs, like Movincool portable air conditioners, are available with installation kits that allow the hot air to vent out through a drop ceiling or an adjacent wall. The only maintenance you really have to worry about is draining collected moisture. All portable ACs pull moisture out of the air as the cool; it's just part of the process. There are multiple ways to get rid of this moisture: Manually remove the pan and empty it as needed, attach a hose for gravity draining to a different location, or use a pump to push water up and out of the AC and into another location.

The most hassle-free portable ACs, however, feature fully self-evaporative designs. These models, such as the unique line of DeLonghi air conditioners and the efficient Whynter portable ACs, evaporate all or most of the water they collect. Since the moisture is automatically removed, you won't have to worry about draining them, and if you do, it's only occasionally. Check out our article discussing fully self-evaporative portable AC brands for more information. You'll also need to clean filters as directed and defrost the unit fully if ice builds up on the coils. Other than that, most PACs offer a "set it and forget it" approach to maintenance. Portable ACs do create noise in your space. They're working to cool your space, and unlike window ACs, their entire bodies are housed inside your room. Any machine that generates airflow is going to produce some level of noise. If you're concerned about the noise level, be sure to compare the decibel (dB) levels produced by different units. 

Soleus Air portable air conditioners, for instance, are among the quieter models on the market, reaching 45 dBs on their highest settings.harga ac split bandung If you're concerned about the noise level in your home, call us at 1-800-934-9194. central ac unit power consumptionWe can point you in the right direction.ac window unit vs. portable If you're concerned about energy efficiency (for the sake of the environment and/or your monthly energy bills), then you should look at a PAC’ s Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). The EER tells you how many BTUs are used for each watt of power. In other words, units with higher EERs are more energy efficient.Toyotomi models are known for their energy efficiency. For more information on any specific air treatment solutions, browse our products and visit our Knowledge Center.

Contact one of our air treatment specialists at 1-800-934-9194. Benefits of a Portable Air Conditioner A portable air conditioner takes in room air, cools it and directs it back into the room, venting warm air outside through an exhaust hose you install in a window. Controls on the unit allow you to adjust settings such as fan speed and temperature. This appliance is a simple, versatile alternative to central air conditioners and window units. Designed to cool an individual room, it's relatively easy to install and can be a good option for rooms with no existing cooling system or rooms you don't need to cool all the time. It can also supplement larger systems and help cool apartments or rentals where you're unable to install a permanent unit. Easy setup and the portability provided by a compact design and wheels allow you to move the air conditioner from one room to another and reinstall it with minimal effort. Good to KnowMake sure your window is compatible for use with a portable air conditioner.

Units fit different window sizes and those designed for single- or double-hung and sliding windows will not work with casement windows, which open by swinging outward. Choosing the Right Portable Air ConditionerTo find the proper air conditioner, determine the square footage of the room you want to cool by multiplying the room length by its width. Up to 200 sq ft: look for an 8,000-BTU unit Up to 300 sq ft: look for a 10,000-BTU unit Up to 400 sq ft: look for a 12,000-BTU unit Up to 450 sq ft: look for a 13,000-BTU unit Keep in mind that as the BTU rating increases, the size and weight of the air conditioner does as well. Portable Air Conditioner Features Look for features that make the device more versatile and convenient. You can find air conditioners with multiple functions in addition to cooling. A dehumidifier mode removes moisture from the air without cooling. A fan function simply circulates air in the room. Some portable air conditioners have a heating capability, allowing you to keep the temperature comfortable year-round.

Make sure you configure the unit for each mode. For example, cooling mode requires warm air exhaust, while the dehumidifier function requires access to a drain to remove the moisture the unit collects. If your portable air conditioner has a heater function, the heating unit will have a separate BTU rating, meaning the room size it fits may be different. There are other features available: As an air conditioner cools the air in a room, it also removes moisture. Water collects in the unit. Self-evaporating air conditioners reduce the need to drain this water. A programmable timer lets you set the unit to turn on and off at specific times, helping you reduce energy consumption by operating the air conditioner only when needed. A remote control adds convenience — you can adjust settings and turn the air conditioner on and off from across the room. A lamp-off feature lets you turn off the panel display lights so they don't make the room uncomfortably bright at night.

CautionFollow the air conditioner manufacturer's instructions for safety, use and maintenance. Portable Air Conditioner Setup and Maintenance Select a location near a window and an available power outlet. Note that the manufacturer may specify that you plug the device directly into the outlet with no extension cord. Setup is relatively quick and easy and should require just a screwdriver to complete. Install the unit's adjustable window panel and connect the exhaust hose. Allow the unit to stand upright for at least an hour and it's ready to operate. Portable air conditioners require simple maintenance. Disconnect the unit from power before you begin. Drain the water from the unit as needed. Depending on conditions, even self-evaporating units may need draining. Clean the air filter every two weeks or as directed by the manufacturer. Regularly wipe the air conditioner down with a damp cloth to remove dust. Wipe up excess moisture with a dry cloth. Shop for Portable Air Conditioners