Portable air conditioners are a great way of keeping your home cool and comfortable, providing you with a highly mobile solution to your cooling needs. Whether you’re looking to create a cool space in one room or need a unit that is easy to move from room to room, portable air conditioners are a perfect choice.
Portable air conditioning units come in a variety of sizes and capacities, so you can choose the right unit for your household’s size and cooling requirements. With their compact design, they can easily be moved around and placed in storage when not in use.
There is a lot of misinformation surrounding portable air conditioners, and this is what we’re going to clear up for you today. Below is a list of portable air conditioner pros and cons so you can decide whether investing in one is right for you.
Let’s get started.
Pros of Portable Air Conditioners
Easy Setup
Portable air conditioners are easy to set up and install. There is no need to hire a professional installer because most portable air conditioners just need to be plugged into an outlet and placed in the desired location in your home. Since they don’t require any ductwork or any other major installation work, they can be set up in less than an hour.
Can Be Moved From Room to Room
Because portable air conditioners are easy to set up and take down, they are also easy to move from room to room. They are not permanent like a window unit and don’t require professional installation, so the user can do it on their own.
The portability of a portable air conditioner allows you to cool your home based on need. If it’s hot in the kitchen and you want to cook, then cool that room down. When you’re done cooking and want to sit in the living room, roll your portable air conditioning unit into the living room with you. The possibilities are endless.
Multiple Uses
Portable air conditioners can do more than just cool the air. They can be used as a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the atmosphere or as an air purifier by removing allergens from the air. A portable air conditioner is a cost-effective alternative to buying multiple appliances for different uses.
Inexpensive
Portable air conditioners are affordable. In fact, they may be less expensive than other air conditioning options, such as through-the-wall or window units, central heating and cooling systems, and more. This is particularly true if you only need an air conditioner for one room at a time.
Portable air conditioners are also less expensive to install than central AC systems. Since they aren’t hardwired into your home’s electrical system, they can be plugged into any standard outlet, giving you complete control over where and when you use them.
Fit Where Ductwork Can’t
A portable air conditioner is particularly useful in garages, sheds, workshops, attics, and other small spaces where it’s hard to install ductwork. These spaces can get extremely hot in the summer months. A portable air conditioner can cool your area, free up space for other uses, such as storage or workbenches, and make it easier to install new windows and doors if you decide to remodel.
Can Be Put Away
Window units can be difficult to remove and store during months when they are not needed, and central air conditioning units are permanent fixtures of your home. Portable air conditioners can easily be wheeled from room to room or stored in a closet when not in use.
Cons of Portable Air Conditioners
Can Be Noisy
One of the biggest drawbacks of portable air conditioner units is the amount of noise they make. As with many other types of air conditioners, most noise made by a portable air conditioner will be from fans and air moving through the ducting system.
To reduce this noise, position your unit in a corner of the room so that it isn’t sitting in easily accessible areas where people congregate. Additionally, if possible, insulate all ducting to reduce noise.
In addition to moving and cooling air, some portable air conditioners also have a dehumidification function. This can be helpful during humid months when you’re using your unit regularly, but it can also cause some additional noise.
The dehumidification process will cause water to drip into a collection tray inside the unit, which is perfectly normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. However, this dripping can contribute to the overall noise levels of your unit.
Expensive to Operate
Even if you are saving money on an initial cost by buying a portable air conditioner, you may be spending more on electricity than you would with a central air conditioner. Portable AC units also have high maintenance costs and will need frequent repairs.
Only Cools One Room at a Time
If you want to cool multiple rooms with portable AC units, you will need to purchase multiple units and install multiple window kits, which can be time-consuming and expensive. You would need to purchase and install a new kit for each room that needs to be cooled.
You Have to Empty the Tank
Most portable air conditioners have a tank that collects condensation from the air. The tank needs to be emptied manually, so if you’re going on vacation and the temperature is high enough to require cooling, the tank could overflow and ruin your floor or carpeting.
Most tanks are designed to tilt out of the way so you can empty them into a sink or bathtub, but some people find that inconvenient. While there are some units with an auto-drain feature that allow them to drain continuously through a hose, that may not be an ideal solution if you live in an apartment building.
Final Word
When you’re in a hot climate, it’s hard to ignore the undeniable benefits of portable air conditioners. Whether you work from home or are simply trying to stay cool in the middle of a hot day, portable air conditioners provide a fast and easy way to make your home feel more comfortable.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to using a portable air conditioner. The first is that they’re less powerful than central AC. This means they’re not as effective at keeping your entire home cool. They also work better in smaller rooms than larger ones.
If you’re looking for a home HVAC installation or repair, give an expert a call to discuss your options. The team of heating and cooling specialists at Entek has specialized expertise and experience to help you find the most ideal solution for your home and budget.
