How to Maintain a Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are self-contained cooling systems that are especially useful for supplemental cooling or for areas where installing traditional air conditioners are impractical or too costly. One of the great advantages of a portable air conditioner is the fact that the unit can be moved from one room to the next and also because it does not require permanent installation. With that in mind, it should also be noted that portable air conditioners still need to be vented through a window or wall, and after a unit is moved to a desired area, the exhaust hose must be positioned before cooling can begin. However, maintaining a portable air conditioner is usually quite easy. Here are some common maintenance requirements found in most portable air conditioners:

Initial Venting

Installing a portable air conditioner is simple, but an exhaust hose must be vented out somewhere with a venting kit. These kits are usually included with the portable air conditioner and slide into a window. An exhaust hose is fitted into the appropriate space in the window kit, and at this point, the portable air conditioner can begin the cooling process. In instances where venting through a window may be impossible, the unit can also be vented through walls or drop ceilings. While these installation methods may require a bit more work than using regular window kits, this will allow you to use the portable air conditioner in areas where there are no windows.

Water Drainage

When a portable air conditioner cools the ambient air, water is also removed. Most of this water is used to cool the actual unit, and this results in more efficient cooling. For especially humid climates, you may find that a good amount of water is collected. However, there are many different ways that various portable air conditioners deal with this condensate water. The most basic portable air conditioners will collect water in buckets which need to be emptied periodically. The frequency of emptying these water buckets will greatly depending on your climate conditions and on the amount of time the unit is in operation. More advanced units are able to evaporate a great deal of the moisture in the hot air discharge, therefore allowing for less or even no water to be emptied. Almost all portable conditioning units are able to support the connection of a drain hose for water to be drained continuously if desired, and condensate pumps are also available to pump this drained water through a hose that can be directed outside or to a drain pump located inside.

Cleaning and/or Replacing Air Filters

Almost all portable air conditioners will include some kind of washable air filter that removes particulates from the air. As well, some advanced units include built-in air purifiers complete with ionizers for particles and carbon filters for odor and gas control. With this in mind, regularly cleaning or changing the air filter in your portable air conditioner will result in an allergy-free, healthier, and more breathable environment, as well as a properly functioning unit. Cleaning the filter in your portable air conditioner to ensure that your unit is working to its capacity is important, and should be undertaken on a monthly or bi-weekly basis, depending on use.

For portable air conditioners with washable filters, simply slide the filters out, immerse the filter in warm water with a mild detergent, and rinse thoroughly and dry before replacing them back into the unit. However, with portable air conditioners utilizing carbon filters, these will need to be replaced according to manufacturer's directions - usually every few months or so.

Cleaning Housing

Keeping your portable air conditioner clean will increase air volume, and the actual housing of the unit should also be cleaned every few weeks or so. This usually entails wiping down the surface of the portable air conditioner with a soft, damp cloth when the unit is turned off. Abrasive chemicals or detergents should never be used to clean the surface of the unit, as this may result in scratches or damage. Also, try to keep the portable air conditioner away from direct sunlight as much as possible, as this can change the surface color of the unit's body.

End of Season Storage

When the cooler months arrive, properly storing your portable air conditioner is imperative in order to extend the life of the unit and to ensure maximum cooling efficiency when it is in use. To properly store your portable air conditioner, turn off and unplug the unit, drain all condensate water from the water container, and turn the portable air conditioner to fan mode for a few hours in order to dry out the unit's interior. Once the inside of the portable air conditioner is completely dry, clean the filter as outlined above, wrap the cord around the cord hooks, pack the unit in its original carton, and store it in a dry location. However, although portable air conditioners with built-in heaters can be used year-round, they should still be regularly maintained like any other type of portable air conditioner.

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