An Introduction To Portable Air Conditioners

How They Work

Portable air conditioners operate through a fairly simple process. Warm air from the surrounding area is drawn in through special inlets on the portable air conditioner unit. This air is circulated through the unit and is cooled by evaporator coils with refrigerant running through them and then blown out through the front. Remaining hot air that was drawn through the unit is expelled and vented through the back with an exhaust hose.

Through this process, air is continually “cycled” in such a way where warm air in the area is continually drawn through the portable air conditioner unit and replaced with cooler air. Through this process the room is cooled until it reaches the desired temperature setting.

Types of Portable Air Conditioner Units

Single Hosed Units

Exhaust hoses are required to vent a portable air conditioner. Like the name says, a single hosed unit has one hose running from the back of the portable air conditioner to the vent kit (more information about vent kits found below) where hot air can be expelled.

Double Hosed Units

A double hosed unit has one hose that is designated as the exhaust hose to vent hot air and another as the intake hose to draw in additional air (usually from the outside). Double hosed units are typically portable air conditioner models that provide more cooling power and have a higher cooling BTU. The reason an intake hose is required to draw in extra air is because with higher BTU units, air is cycled in large amounts and hot air is expelled at a faster rate. This creates a negative air pressure in the room. The solution is to have an intake hose bring in additional air into the room to stabilize this negative air pressure.

Heat and Cool Units

A heat and cool portable air conditioner is a unit that provides both cooling and heating options. The heating function works by reversing the normal process of how portable air conditioners cool. Instead of expelling hot air and blowing cool air out, heater portable air conditioners expel cool air and blow out warm air. Of note, heat and cool portable air conditioning units are not meant to be designated heaters and should not be used in environments where the ambient temperature falls below 50°F.

Units with Dehumidifier Functionality

Some portable air conditioners have a special “dehumidifier” mode. While almost all portable air conditioners expel some moisture from the air through the exhaust hose, a few have a dehumidifier mode and can act as designated dehumidifiers. While turned on, these portable air conditioners cool as normal but also expel quite a bit of moisture through the exhaust hose.

Portable Air Conditioner Accessories

Filters

Like central air conditioners, portable air conditioners have replaceable filters that clean the air as it is being drawn through the unit. The replaceable activated carbon filters usually last for three months and should be replaced routinely.

Vent Kits

Portable air conditioners are primarily vented through a window kit to the outside. Included with almost all portable air conditioner units, a window vent kit usually consists of a window plate and an adapter for the plate. The adapter is used to fit the hose into the window plate which is then set into the window frame. Of note, window vent kits are designed for use in vertical and horizontal sliding windows.

In some instances where venting through a window is not possible, venting through the ceiling with a ceiling vent kit is another viable option.

Energy Efficiency

One of the biggest advantages of using a portable air conditioner is the ability to cool only a specific area. Portable air conditioners have caster wheels that allow them to be easily moved from room to room. While central air conditioning cools all rooms evenly, portable air conditioners can provide more cooling for the warmest areas or even act as a suitable replacement for central air conditioning. By not having to turn down the thermostat to comfortably cool all living areas, one can save a considerable amount on energy and electricity.