A:AnswerVery simply the unit needs outside air so venting through the wall will work. My unit came with a kit for venting out the window. I don't think it would be much challenge to "adapt" the same kit for through the wall venting. Bigger challenge will be making the installation water tight on the outside and decorative on the inside.
A:AnswerI have it about 18" from the wall. You'll find you can't get any closer unless you turn it side ways due to the hose. Noise level is the same as a strong fan. I find it works good. Very happy with the unit and the brand. I found the power consumption very low when you compare to other brands. I also purchased two 8000btu units. All great quality..
A:AnswerYou need to move the warm air outside, so yes venting is necessary. The long answer is that there is a compressor generating heat inside the unit. It generates at least as much heat as you remove when you cool the air. The net effect would be no change in room temperature, maybe even an increase if not vented outdoors.
There are evaporative coolers that use water or ice for cooling and would not need to be vented. They are generally inexpensive because they do not require a compressor or refrigerant. I'm not very familiar with these style units but would speculate that you would have limited cooling ability from a portable unit. In addition the water or ice would have to be renewed periodically.
