Why Buy a Portable Air Conditioner?

In areas where heat in undesirable, portable air conditioners can solve the cooling challenge by lowering the temperature in almost any type of environment.

What is a Portable Air Conditioner?

Like window air conditioners, portable air conditioners are cooling units, but unlike window units, portable air conditioners do not require permanent installation such as breaking into a wall or reconfiguring a window. However, portable air conditioners do require window venting, which usually entails positioning a flexible hose by a window. These types of cooling devices allow you to take control of the indoor temperature in areas such as apartments, offices, or homes where wall, window, or central units are not viable options. Also, because these units almost always have casters for portability, they are easy to move from room to room. In addition, many portable air conditioners are also multi-functional and provide other functions such as heating and dehumidifying. Because portable air conditioners lower temperatures by using a refrigeration cycle, this results in reduced humidity of the air processed by the system and lowered relative humidity levels - something to consider if you live in a humid climate.

How Do Portable Air Conditioners Work?

Portable air conditioners usually consist of a boxlike frame that holds both the cold and hot side of the air conditioner and an exhaust hose to expel heat. When a portable air conditioner cools the ambient air, water is removed, with most of this water being used to cool the actual unit, resulting in more efficient cooling. In terms of removing this condensate water, two main methods are used. First, a bucket or tray inside the portable AC collects water which must be emptied frequently. The second method involves the evaporation of water and exhausting it through a main venting hose and through a window, wall, or drop ceiling.

Although it may be true that portable air conditioners do not require permanent installation, there is some minor work that must be performed each time a portable air conditioner is moved from one room to the next. Because portable air conditioners blow exhaust air out of a hose, one end is attached to the back of the unit and the other is vented outside. All portable air conditioners include window adapter kits which help keep the hose firmly in place and provides foam to insulate the partially opened window.

Because portable air conditioners remove water from the air, they also function as natural dehumidifiers, and many portable air conditioners are completely multi-functional. In addition to cooling and dehumidifying, most portable air conditioners can also be used as fans. Still, some portable air conditioners such as the Soleus KY-34 are perfect for year round use, as they include built-in space heaters.

1. Versatile - Portable air conditioners remove moisture from the air and also act as dehumidifiers. In addition, many advanced models also include air purifiers, fans, and even space heaters - allowing them to provide comfort in any type of environment.

2. Energy Efficient - Because only certain rooms or specific areas are being cooled, portable air conditioners can save you a considerable amount of money on your electric bill, and most of the portable air conditioners we carry operate on 115 volts and 60 Hz.

3. Portable - One of the great advantages of portable air conditioners is the fact that they can be moved from room to room. Because portable air conditioners almost always include caster wheels, you can bring cooling comfort to any room of your home with ease.

4. Easy Installation - Unlike traditional window air conditioners, portable air conditioners do not require any type of permanent installation, and even though they do need to be vented, this can be easily accomplished with the window kits that are included with the unit.

5. Filters Air - Portable air conditioners include air filters and sometimes even ionizers and activated carbon filters to help improve air quality. This results in decreased indoor pollutant levels, improved immune system, and decreased occurrence of asthma and allergy attacks.

See Portable Air Conditioners

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