What is a portable air conditioner?
An AC portable unit is an air conditioner that is designed to cool a dedicated area as opposed to an entire building (like central ACs do). They are ideal for cooling a single room such as a bedroom, living room, office, or studio apartment. Portable ACs sit on wheels for easy portability. Honeywell Portable Air Conditioners come with a convenient window kit and exhaust hose that can be quickly installed in your window or door (door may need extra door extension kit). Top-Rated Performance!" – Featured in Top Ten Reviews as one of the best portable ACs of 2024. Good Housekeeping's '8 Best Portable Air Conditioners of 2024, Tested & Reviewed' includes our models, reflecting our dedication to quality and performance.
How can I figure out the correct indoor portable air conditioner for my room size?
The most important consideration is the unit’s BTU (British Therma Unit) rating. The larger the room, example portable air conditioning for bedroom, the higher the BTU requirement. Below are some general guidelines:
Square Footage BTU Rating (ASHRAE)
250-350 -> 8,000
350-450 -> 10,000
450-550 ->12,000
550-700 -> 14,000
Remember to consider factors that can affect the number of BTUs required to cool your space, including number of windows, level of insulation, presence of heat-producing appliances, ceiling height, and number of people occupying the space.
What’s the difference between a portable cooler air conditioner and other types of air conditioners?
The basic difference between a portable air conditioner and other types of air conditioners is that portable room air conditioner units do not require permanent installation and can be moved from one room to the other. Portable ACs can be a less costly investment compared with window ACs as you can purchase one instead of needing multiple units for each room. Window ACs are also fixed and cannot be moved, so there is no flexibility in using them to cool different rooms.
Compared to central air conditioning, mini portable air conditioner for room can help save energy as you can cool only the rooms you need, whereas central air conditioning is set up to cool an entire home or building. Central AC is also a much more costly investment to purchase and install compared to portable ACs.
Do Evaporative portable air conditioners consume a lot of energy?
Air conditioners, including portable air conditioners, are complex machines and heavy power users. However, energy savings can lie in your usage of the technology. Choosing to cool down a single room with a small portable air conditioner rather than switching on whole-house central air could result in significant cost savings.
How do I install a portable air conditioner unit onto different kinds of windows?
- To fit a vertical sliding window, insert the window bracket onto the windowsill, extending the bracket to the length of the windowpane and lowering the window onto the bracket.
- To fit a horizontal sliding window, position the window bracket vertically with the exhaust hose opening at the bottom, sliding the window to seal the gap.
- To fit a casement window that pushes outward, you can purchase a seal kit, which seals around the window and zips around the exhaust hose to prevent hot air from returning into the room.
- To fit a sliding door, you can purchase a special sliding door kit which extends the length of the door.
- View this blog post for a visual guide to portable AC installation.
- Please note you cannot install a portable AC without venting.
How long is the exhaust hose? Can I extend the exhaust hose if it’s too short?
The exhaust hose can stretch to a maximum of about 4 feet (120 cm) in length. You need to free up at least 20 inches (50 cm) near the window in order to install the standing air conditioner properly. Do not lengthen the exhaust hose of your portable AC. Lengthening the hose increases the load of the unit’s blower by prohibiting the air from exhausting properly. This affects the cooling ability of the unit, reducing the life of the blower and possibly causing the unit to malfunction.
Any warranties included with the portable air conditioner may be voided if an extra extension hose or other connection part is added to the originally provided installation kit or if the installation is performed differently than the manufacturer’s instructions. If you find that the exhaust hose does not reach from the unit to the window bracket, place your portable AC onto a sturdy platform so the hose reaches the window.
What is the typical maintenance required for a portable air conditioner unit?
Routine cleaning is an excellent way to prolong the life of your portable air conditioner. Periodically wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth so it does not accumulate dirt or grime. Weekly, remove and empty out the internal condensation collection tank, rinse, and wipe down to prevent any buildup of bacteria. Portable air conditioners are usually equipped with dust filters or active carbon filters. Depending on the model, these may be washable in warm water or may need to be replaced seasonally.
How can I drain my portable air conditioner?
The humidity level of the air in your room will determine how often your portable AC needs to be drained. While all portable air conditioners require drainage on a regular basis, they differ on which method they use for drainage:
- Manual bucket drainage – Detachable tank can be removed and emptied; alternatively, built-in tank has hole through which water can be released
- Drain hose – Hose can be placed out of window or into bucket to drain condensate, sometimes with an internal pump that lets tank be emptied vertically/horizontally
- Automatic evaporation – Moisture is automatically drained via exhaust hose
Even with units featuring auto evaporation, manual drainage might be necessary in a high-humidity environment.
Why does my portable air conditioner collect condensation?
As your AC Portable Unit cools the room, it extracts moisture, or water vapor, from the air. This moisture condenses as water in a tank inside the unit. The portable air conditioner then releases cold, dehumidified air to be circulated about the room.
