If you've been shopping for a portable AC recently, then you know there are a lot of choices available in the market. Portable air conditioners offer more flexibility than other window or wall air conditioners. Portable Air Conditioner is an easy-to-install appliance floor unit for areas that need cooling and dehumidification. Quick installation, without damaging window sills permanently, and casters that allow convenient portability, make the portable air conditioner ideal for use in different locations and rooms. Portable air conditioners have wheels and are compact (usually 2' - 3' tall). Condensation is either collected in a bucket, redistributed through a hole, or recycled through the air.

Portable Air Conditioner vs Central Air Conditioner

If you’re trying to cool a large household, you may think of investing in central air or another fixed air conditioning system. However, this may cost you a pretty penny, and while central air can be incredibly efficient at keeping your home perfectly climate-controlled, you may not want to make such a large investment at once, or may not get your money’s worth.

Portable air conditioning units allow you to focus on cooling the room you’re most active in, instead of cooling the entire house. This allows you to prioritize high-use areas, without having to cool down unused space. Plus, portable air conditioning units are much more energy efficient then they are fixed counterparts, making them perfect for lowering your electric bill and raising your comfort levels during the heat of Summer.

Advantages of having a portable air conditioner

Mobility

As opposed to the traditional window air conditioner, a portable one is easier to move from one place to another with the help of casters mounted to the unit, or wheels attached to the base. Being mobile, it can be used in a home office during the day and moved to the bedroom at night.

Lower energy costs

While they are becoming increasingly energy-efficient, central air conditioners still use a lot of power to keep multiple rooms cool. A portable air conditioner only cools the room that is in use, helping save a lot of energy.

Easy installation

What could be better if you can use a home appliance right out of the box? Well, a portable air conditioner will enable an extremely easy, hassle-free installation without any screws and other fixing materials. The only thing you have to do is create an exhaust vent for the condensed air to pass out of the room.

Cost-effective

Portable air conditioners are smaller units and hence, cost less as compared to large window units and central air conditioning systems. Since they are available at cheaper rates, you don’t have to cut down on your other expenses and can easily get one for your home.

Convenient for rental apartments

There are too many limitations on everything when it comes to a rented house, one of them being the equipment in your house. You ought to buy furniture or other pieces of equipment that are convenient for transportation while shifting, and easy to install in the new house. In such a situation a portable AC is the best equipment because of its mobility and easy installation. Your trouble is lessened with this type of AC and you can focus on the transportation of other heavy appliances and gadgets while shifting.

Features to consider while buying a portable air conditioner

Noise

The vast majority of portable air conditioners are not completely silent. Models that scored Excellent or Very Good in our noise tests are so quiet that the only sound you might hear is the fan running. For the most part, this noise will be minimal and mostly described as “background noise” that you likely won’t even notice. However, it is still an important factor to consider while shopping for a portable air conditioner.

Programmable thermostat

Most people like to have a unit that does more than just power on and off. A programmable thermostat lets you set specific temperatures, airspeeds, and duration of the operation that you want and trust that it will turn off once the room’s cooled to that point. This can be especially helpful when you are trying to control the noise level of a unit or have the air conditioner operate and maintain a specific temperature for a set time.

Dehumidifier

An air conditioner that comes with a dehumidifier can help remove dampness from the air. Many portable air conditioners will give you the benefits of a two-in-one appliance that can save you money and maintenance, especially when using one in a single room. While all portable air conditioners act as a dehumidifier to some extent, some have exclusive settings that allow them to operate solely as a dehumidifier. Controlling the humidity in your home is beneficial for many reasons, but is especially important as the heat starts to rise.

BTU (Cooling Capacity)

The BTU is the standard unit of measure to convey how powerful a portable air conditioner is. The number of BTUs directly corresponds to the size of the room or space you need to cool. 1 BTU equals the amount of energy needed to raise (or lower) the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1°F at sea level. When applied to an air conditioner, this refers to how many BTU’s of thermal energy (heat) the air conditioner can remove from the air around it, per hour. The higher the BTU rating, the larger the room you can cool with it.