Portable Air Conditioners

If central air conditioning isn’t an option for your home, or if you simply want to add extra cooling to a certain room, a portable air conditioning unit is the perfect solution. Many remote-control portable AC appliances are easy to set up and give you more flexibility than whole-home or window air conditioners. These mobile cooling appliances provide instant cooling, can easily be moved from room to room, and come with multiple features such as remote control, timer, auto shut-off, oscillating design, integrated heater, built-in Wi-Fi and more. When deciding which model is the best portable air conditioner for you, first measure the size of your room and select a unit with adequate BTUs for the square footage. As portable AC units cool the room, they expel warm air and moisture, which commonly vents to the outside through a tube placed in a window. While many units include a window exhaust kit, you should consider whether you will be required to remove accumulated moisture by emptying a water reservoir manually or if you’ll need to provide access to a drain for continuous water flow. An evaporative cooler, designed for spot cooling rather than lowering room temperature, does not require venting but does require a constant supply of water. For any portable AC appliance, it’s wise to plug into a surge protector to defend against unexpected increases in voltage that can cause irreparable damage.

One of the top advantages of having a small portable air conditioner is that you’re able to use it other places besides your home. Take it along while camping to use as an RV air conditioner or even to cool off inside your tent. Keep in mind that even a mini portable air conditioner takes up some space so plan for where you want to place it ahead of time. To help your portable air cooler be as efficient as possible, use a tower fan to boost air circulation and better mix hot and cold air together for a more consistent temperature throughout the room. If you prefer, you can also use a box fan positioned close to a portable air conditioner to keep the air moving and facilitate cooling. If you find the air in your home too dry for your comfort, try running a humidifier with your AC or select a portable air conditioning model that has a humidifying feature built in. Since running an air conditioner tends to stir up any dust on surfaces, you might want to use an air purifier to help remove airborne pollutants or buy a portable AC that has washable filters to reduce allergens and other unwanted particles.