What You Should Know Before Purchasing a Portable Air Conditioner

As the temperatures outside begin to rise, the impulse to rush out to your local hardware or appliance store and buy a portable air conditioner may be quite tempting. But do you really know what to look for? As with any major purchase, equip yourself with some basic knowledge. Here are some tips on what to look for and consider when deciding on a portable air conditioner.

Types of Portable Air Conditioners

Portable Air Conditioners are great solutions for cooling bedrooms, dens, computer rooms, garages, and other small spaces, but they are not all built the same. Some have one hot air exhaust hose, and some have two air hoses: one for air intake and one for hot air exhaust. A single-hose portable air conditioner will take air from the room that it is in, cool it, and return most of that air back into the room. During this process, a small amount of that air will be used to cool the unit and will be subsequently blown out of the exhaust hose. This creates slightly negative pressure within the room being cooled, as a small amount of air is constantly being removed. If this negative pressure is anticipated by drawing unconditioned air into the room from adjacent spaces, then the cooling efficiency is slightly affected.

A dual-hose portable air conditioner, such as the Friedrich P12B [http://www.marlinappliance.com/products/Friedrich/frd/p12b.html], works by taking in air from the outside through one hose and using that air to cool the unit. The hot exhaust air is then expelled through the second hose. This process does not create negative pressure inside the room being cooled. However, there is a trade-off. Dual-hose units use warmer, unconditioned air to cool their compressors, which results in slightly less efficiency. They also employ two internal fans, which can mean slightly higher energy usage.

Ventilation

Most portable air conditioners can be easily vented through traditional double-hung windows, also known as vertical sash windows, using window kit accessories. These same accessories can typically be used for venting a portable air conditioner through a sliding glass window as well. For example, the Danby 12010H [http://www.marlinappliance.com/products/Danby/dan/dpac12010h.html] User Manual provides detailed instructions for installing this portable AC into a sliding glass window. Carefully check the manufacturer's specifications to ensure that your portable AC can be installed in sliding glass windows or if additional accessories should be purchased for installation.

Another thing to keep in mind is that venting portable air conditioners through sliding glass doors is much more complex than simple window installations. The window installation kits used for traditional windows typically don't extend far enough to cover the height of the door. For sliding glass door installations, we recommend using at least two window installation kits that are designed to work with your particular portable AC to completely cover the door opening. The two window installation kits can then be secured together using screws. Plywood and Styrofoam can also be used as covering and insulation material when installing a portable air conditioner into your door frame.

Regardless of the installation that you intend to perform, always consult the owner's manual for instructions, guidelines, and cautionary information.

Energy Consumption

Next you'll want to know how much energy your portable air conditioner will consume. As a general note, know that portable air conditioners are slightly less powerful than standard window units with the same BTU levels. This occurs for various reasons, including manufacturers inflating their listed BTU ratings to compensate for heat actually generated from the unit. So, as a general rule, we recommend you a unit that will cool a room slightly larger than you think you might need to ensure you have enough cooling power. However, don't go too big.

Use the following guidelines to determine the portable air conditioner capacity that your space requires. These calculations assume that you have standard 8-foot ceilings:

○ 7, 500 BTUs will cover 150 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 1, 200 cubic feet

○ 9, 000 BTUs will cover 200 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 1, 600 cubic feet

○ 10, 000 BTUs will cover 300 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 2, 400 cubic feet

○ 12, 000 BTUs will cover 400 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 3, 200 cubic feet

○ 13, 000 BTUs will cover 450 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 3, 600 cubic feet

○ 14, 000 BTUs will cover 500 sq. ft. x 8-ft. ceiling = 4, 000 cubic feet

Typically, portable ACs are classified according to the following room square footage guidelines:

• Lessthan 300 SquareFeet: These portable ACs are great for small rooms and other compact areas like bedrooms, nurseries, or home offices.
• Lessthan 500 SquareFeet: Portable air conditioners in this category are best suited for cooling medium to large areas such as living rooms and larger offices.
• Greaterthan 500 SquareFeet: These portable air conditioners work well in commercial and industrial applications, including large computer server rooms, manufacturing facilities, and special event spaces.

Keep in mind that you may need less BTU power if you live in a cooler region or only plan to use your PAC in the cooler evening hours. On the contrary, if you live in a warmer region or plan to use the unit during peak temperature hours you might require more BTU power. This is also true if you will be running multiple heat-generating appliances in the same room. You should also adjust your BTU requirement against the number of people who usually inhabit the room.

Typically, each person will generate about 2, 000 BTUs of heat. Also consider the number of windows in your room as well as the location of the room. Does sunlight regularly shine through your windows to make the room feel naturally warm? All of these things can affect the cooling performance of your portable AC.