Factors To Consider For Portable Air
Conditioners
1. Area to be cooled.
Two factors to consider when sizing the cooling power of a portable air
conditioner are the room size (sq. feet) and presence of a heat source, such as
direct sunlight or heat from something in the room like a server. It is
recommended to go with a portable air conditioner that is rated at cooling a
larger room area than the size of your room, especially when there is a heat
source. Note: Don't compare just BTU capacity. Some
manufacturers may call their units 12,000 BTUs but have smaller compressors that
cannot meet that requirement. Here is a link that shows a room
coverage comparison for each model.
2. Water Drainage. As part
of the cooling process, a portable air conditioner will collect condensation
similar to a dehumidifier. A key decision in selecting a portable AC is how to
empty the collected water. Most units can be connected to a tube (not included)
for continuous drainage via gravity while others have a water tank that can be
removed and emptied. In either case, the units will shut off when the water
tank is full.
Some models have a built-in pump that automatically pumps
the condensation to the outside so the unit will not fill with water and shut
off. In 2005, many models are utilizing a technology called ‘self-evaporation’
where the condensation is removed with the exhaust air. We have found that in
humid environments, the self-evaporation models do not effectively remove all of
the condensation and drainage is often required, either through emptying a water
tank or gravity draining through a tube.
3. Exhaust Venting. Another aspect of the cooling
process is the creation of hot air that must be exhausted to the outside or to
another area. All portable air conditioners come with a flexible plastic
exhaust hose that typically expands to 5 ft and is 5 inches in diameter. They
also come with a window kit that the exhaust hose snaps into such that the air
can be vented to the outside. Each model has a specific window kit that is
either foam or hard plastic and they can be installed with either vertically or
horizontally sliding windows. They are not designed to be used with casement
windows (that open out).
Other venting options are to vent through a wall similar to
a dryer vent or let the hose exhaust into another room that is able to support
the warm exhaust air.
Portable Air Conditioner Usage Tips
For optimal cooling of your portable air conditioner we
recommend the following steps:
-
Keep the exhaust hose as short and straight as
possible. This will make the AC unit more efficient.
-
Run the unit on the low fan speed as many units are not
able to effectively cool the air when the fan is set at high speed.
- Insulate the exhaust hose if it is extended to reduce heat emitted from
the hose.
For Additional Information on Portable Air Conditioners:
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