Are portable air conditioner good?
Portable air conditioners are good for specific cooling needs, such as when you want to cool down a room quickly or when you are on-the-go. If your purpose is to move the AC from room to room, then it’s a good option.
These portable Air conditioner is good for those people who are living in rented rooms and do not have permission to drill holes in the wall.
Without drilling holes, you will not be able to install a split or window AC.
Portable air conditioning units should be bought if only the above conditions are met.
Otherwise, if you are living in your own house, you are better with installing split ACs.
The portable air conditioners are efficient enough, affordable and easy to use.
They’re also not permanently installed in your home and so you don’t have to worry about the installation process.
However, they might not be the best option for you depending on what cooling needs your home has because it’s highly subjective.
In order to decide if a portable air conditioner is worth it or not, take into consideration these factors:
– What kind of energy saving do I want?
– What kind of cooling do I want?
– What size is my room/house and how much space does it have?
– How many people am I going to need this for?
And although they look like evaporative coolers, they do not have water tank or ther air cooler features. But they do have all air conditioning features and here you can somewhat direct the air flow since you can move the ac around for efficient cooling of a place.
Pros of portable air conditioners?
Portable AC running costs are lower
Portable air conditioners can help save you money on your energy bills, as well as cut down on the heating and cooling costs.
The best way to use a portable AC is for it to be plugged into an outlet in your bedroom or home office.
But more than electric bills the portable AC saves you installation cost.
Less maintenance required
Portable air conditioners such as the Honeywell Tower Fan Air Conditioner are not intended to be drained. You only have to unpack it and turn it on!
For other maintenance, you can wipe the outer body clean with wet clothes. For more complex problems you have to take help from a technician.
Portable Air Conditioners are priced lower
Newer models of portable air conditioners are getting less expensive every day. They provide a good alternative for people who want to cool down their homes without using an AC unit.
In India, LG portable AC models are more popular and well known.
Air Quality
Portable units does have some air filters which they use to improve air quality. But these are not pure air purifier but still provide decent value.
The portable air conditioner units do use the same air in the room it self to purify.
Portable Air Conditioners are easy to store away
Portable AC’s are good for Indian homes because they can be hidden or put away during the winter seasons. They don’t take up much space, are easy to use and have a wide range of temperature settings.
This is best for those small rented apartments where you do not have permission for modifying it.
Portable Air Conditioners Do Not Require Installation
Portable air conditioners are portable units that do not require installation. They just need to be unpacked and turned on, which requires only a little electricity connection at the electrical switch.
They are usually used in summer and during extreme weather conditions, such as high temperatures.
They are portable
Portable air conditioners are not easily portable but still somewhat portable. You can pick it up and place it in another room, store it away. Or use in different room or house as well.
Cons of a portable air conditioner?
Portable Air Conditioners Are Not “Easily” Portable
Portable AC units are not easily portable because they’re heavy, need to be moved on carpeting, and you may not be able to move it as much as you thought.
Noise Can Be a Factor
The main disadvantage of a portable air conditioner is the noise that it produces, which can be similar to a dishwasher or vacuum cleaner. Some people may decide that noise level is important when deciding on an AC unit.
Portable or window air conditioners are a great choice for those looking to cool down without creating too much noise.
These two options have a lower decibel rating, which is better suited for quieter environments.
Old window air conditioner will make a lot of noise though.
BTU Selection Chart by Room Size
A portable air conditioner is one that can be moved from room to room, but it does not keep the whole house cool. It must be placed in a designated spot and has a smaller BTU rating compared to central air conditioning systems.
- 150 sq. ft. requires 5,000 Btu (British Thermal Units)
- 250 sq. ft. requires 6,000 Btu
- 350 sq. ft. requires 8,000 Btu
- 450 sq. ft.: 10,000 Btu
If you are in the market for a new air conditioner, it is important to consider your room size and be aware of what Btu rating will work best. For example, if you have a 20-square foot bedroom and need an AC with 8500 BTUs then buying something that has less than 5000 would not provide adequate cooling.
Are portable air conditioners more energy efficient?
Portable ACs are not always the best choice for Indian homes. They require a high BTU rating to cool a large living space, which can increase power usage quickly.
Yes, split AC does consume more power but these cools down the room way faster that any portable AC.
For example, if a portable ac takes around 1 hour to cool down a room of 100 sq feet. A split ac or even a window AC can cool down the same room under 20 minutes.
So effective cooling capacity also goes to split ac.
So if you consider, split acs are more power efficient since the energy usages is optimum. Energy efficiency of portable units are on the lower side.
Also if you are buying a split inverter AC with high energy star and low energy consumption then it will beat any portable air conditioning systems out there.
Drainage issue
Portable AC releases water from the drainage pipe. And most of the time it will release at least 3-4 liters of water in 5-6 hours. You will need to buy a long drainage pipe to get that water out.
BTU Selection Chart by Room Size
| Room Size | BTU Needed |
|---|---|
| 150 sq. ft. | 5,000 BTU’s |
| 250 sq. ft. | 6,000 BTU’s |
| 300 sq. ft. | 7,000 BTU’s |
How to install a portable AC unit
A portable AC unit is a great option for those who live in a hot climate and especially during the summer. These units are easy to move, set up, and take down. This makes them ideal for those people looking to stay cool without having to worry about how much space they need or how long it will take to install an air conditioner. They can be used indoors as well as outdoors with their built-in wheels that make moving them around easier than ever.
Step 1: Carefully unbox the portable AC
Step 2: Set up in a corner or with a wall behind the AC. The wall must have a window or hole in it. A ventilator would do.
Step 3: Connect the long pipe with the designated area at the back of the portable ac. This large pipe will take away hot air.
This is the exhaust and it should not leak at the ac unit and not on the place where it reaches outside. Then your AC will send heat waves via this extension to outside.
Step 4: Connect the drainage pipe.
Step 5: Connect the power plug of the portable model to 15 AMP socket or higher.
The cooling process will start working right after you switch on power.
The power socket should be above 15amp like a fridge or AC socket. The power cord that these portable air conditioners come with have decent lenght.
FAQ
What happens if you use portable AC without vent?
If you don’t use the exhaust hose and instead just place your portable AC on a windowsill, it will not do anything. You can turn your portable AC into a dehumidifier by removing the vent hose and placing it in a bucket or sink. In this mode, your room will actually get hot.
Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room without a window?
Yes, you can use a portable air conditioner in a room without a window. But you have to make sure that you still get an opening large enough for the ventilation/exhaust pipe to go out.
Otherwise, the portable ac will not work.
Do portable air conditioners waste a lot of electricity?
Portable air conditioners are better for Indian homes because they waste less electricity and cool the room to the same temperature. There is a risk of heat exhaustion when using portable A/C because it cannot exchange heat with anything else in the house. Window units are more power efficient than portable air conditioner due to their ability to be exchanged with hot or cold air from outside sources.
Portable air conditioners are typically more efficient at cooling a space than central units. However, they require a great deal of energy to run as well. This is because their design consists of an exchange between them and the ambient environment; this exchange will vary depending on factors such as size, ambient temperature, and number of people in the space.
Are portable air conditioners worth buying?
If you own a apartment or house then for cooling do not buy portable air conditioner. Portable air conditioners are good for those people who live in rented houses. Portable AC is not power efficient and not worth having if you can install a split AC.
Why portable air conditioners are bad?
Considering their power usges and cooling capacity, they are bad for their efficiency. You can get away without installing or drilling holes but you will have to pay more bills.
Do portable air conditioners work?
Yes, portable Ac does work but since it generates some heat along the way, it has lower efficiency.
Can portable AC cool a room?
Portable AC can cool a room depending on its capacity. Generally, 1 ton portable AC will cool a room of around 100 sq feet. But if you compare it with a split AC, then the split ac will cool down the room faster.
How long do portable AC units last?
Wall-mounted ac units will last at least 10 years. But portable AC units are not that durable so they should last around 5 years at least.
Do portable AC units use a lot of electricity?
A one ton portable ac will consume around 1kw per hour. That is on per with some electric friendly ACs. But a portable 1 ton AC will consume more electricity than a similar 1 ton split AC. This happens because the portable AC will take around 1 hour to cool down a room. Where the split AC will cool down the same room under 20 minutes.
Will a portable AC cool my apartment?
A portable ac will not cool an apartment. It can certainly cool down a small room but can not cool multiple rooms.
Which AC is better window or split or portable?
Split AC is overall best for any room that you own. Split ACs look great, consume electricity efficiently and For those who do not mid getting a window blocked for a window AC, then they can use that. Those who live in rented places or do not have provision to install a wall mounted AC, get portable models.
Can a portable AC unit cause carbon monoxide?
Portable AC units do not make carbon monoxide by default. But the exhaust pipe might get heated but other than that these are no dangerous.
Are portable air conditioners loud?
Portable air conditioners are not loud but they do produce sound around 60 decibels. And since the machine will be inside your room, there will be some sound. But it will be comparable to some high-speed pedestal fans.
Do portable air conditioners need a window
Portable AC do not need a window for installation but they will need some way to get the exhaust pipe out. That can be done using a window or a ventilator at top.
Can I leave my portable air conditioner on all day?
Yes, you can leave your portable ac for whole day. But it will consume a lot of power and that is neither good for your pocket nor for the environment.
Conclusion
If you are considering a portable ac unit then you must have no other way to install a split or window AC. The energy usage is also high in these dual-hose model but still to beat the summer heat you can buy a portable AC.
Like a normal window air conditioning units or split ac they have remote control. different operating modes, fan modes etc.
So surely get them to avoid the summer heat.
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