1. When should you use a portable AC unit?
Portable air conditioners are best used to spot cool smaller rooms. They can be used if you are
not able to use a window AC unit; don’t want to lift a heavy unit in
and out of your window and destroy the paintwork; or want to move it from room
to room as needed and don’t want to purchase multiple window units. We
find that people like them to augment inefficient central air conditioning
systems, especially when the bedrooms are hotter upstairs. Menopausal women
find the extra spot cooling to be a real boon.
2. What capacity portable air conditioner do I need to buy to equal the performance
of a window air conditioner?
Since our general rule is that a portable air conditioner will cover only
half as much space as a window unit of similar BTU capability, you need to
double the strength of a portable unit to cover the same area.
3. Do portable air conditioners dehumidify a room?
All air conditioners will dehumidify a room somewhat, but often not to the
humidity level that feels as comfortable as you would like. The reason for
this is that an air conditioner turns itself on and off depending on the temperature
that you have set and will often turn off before the humidity is removed to
the level that you want. A dehumidifier on the other hand, turns itself on
and off depending on the humidity level that you want to achieve and doesn’t
care what temperature you have set. We often sell humidifiers to "coastal" people
where their homes might be a comfortable 72 degrees, but the humidity still
remains high.
4. Are portable air conditioners energy efficient?
It depends on the brand and model, but many are not. You will save the most
money by properly sizing your unit so that it doesn’t have to work as
long or as hard as a small unit might.
5. What is your best recommended portable air conditioner and why?
Our best unit is the Toyotomi TAD-32G 12,000 BTU unit at $549.95, which has a double hose to help cool the room faster.
6. Do I have to vent these air conditioners to the outside?
Yes, you always have to get rid of the heat that these produce while cooling the air.
7. Can I increase the length of the exhaust tube that comes with the machine?
No, the manufacturers correctly determine the hose length and adding to it
makes it more difficult for the air conditioner to remove the hot air. You
need a smooth and easy exhaust flow or backpressure will develop which would
reduce the efficiency of the machine.
8. The installation diagrams show the exhaust hose exiting horizontally.
Can I install this vertically to exhaust into a ceiling?
This would not be a good idea because you would either have to lengthen the
hose, which we don’t recommend, or raise the unit on a table so that
the hose would reach. Additionally, since the exhaust air is carrying the moisture
out along with the hot air and exhausting to a ceiling, this could produce
condensation of this moisture above the ceiling.
Check out all the portable air conditioners on our website.
First Published: June 2005
Updated: April 2007
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