Considering a Portable Air Conditioner? Here's What to Look For!
We Recommend the NewAir ACP-1300H Portable Air Conditioner!

See Our Complete Selection of Portable Air Conditioners!

How is a portable air conditioner different from a window AC?
A portable air conditioner is a small, mobile air conditioner which must be mounted through the wall, as opposed to a window. Portable air conditioners do not require permanent installation. All of our portable air conditioners are between 29 inches and 34 inches tall and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds. Portable air conditioners such as the Soleus PE2-07R-62 also work great in apartment situations where a window air conditioning unit is not an option.

Are portable air coolers and portable air conditioners the same?
No, portable air conditioners and portable air coolers are not the same. Air coolers use water and evaporation to cool like a swamp cooler. Only the direct air stream is cooled by 10 to 15 degrees, not including ambient air. Portable air conditioners also use a compressor and Freon to cool, keep humidity levels low, and are much more effective than air coolers.

Why and how are portable air conditioners vented?
Portable air conditioners extract hot air that must be vented. If the hot air is not vented, a portable air conditioner will not effectively cool. Window and venting kits are always included with our portable air conditioners at no extra cost. You can vent a portable air conditioner through a wall vent, an attic, a drop ceiling, or even around a door! Use Plexiglas for venting a portable AC system through casement windows (windows that crank out). Simply cut the Plexiglas to the size of the window, cut out a 5 inch hole to vent the hose, and place over the open window. Not only is the air conditioner vented by this method, but Plexiglas will allow the same amount of light to pass through the window as before. Click Here for detailed venting instructions.

How long is the exhaust hose?
Portable air conditioner exhaust hoses are generally between five to seven feet long and are made of high quality, 5 inch flex hoses.

How do the window kits work?
A portable air conditioner foam window kit is cut to fit most home windows, such as any slider or up and down window, up to four feet (for windows larger than four feet, simply purchase extra foam from your local hardware store). The window is closed against the foam to seal the air from the outside, and the exhaust hose is then fit through a small cutout in the foam. Installation takes about five minutes, allowing portability from window to window.

Can the exhaust hose be extended?
All of our portable air conditioners come with a standard hose, five to seven feet in length. Longer hoses are readily available at the local hardware store, although it is a good idea to avoid hose lengths of over 12 feet or 90 degree bend. You can also vent through the dryer hose as long as the hose diameter is five inches or more and the outdoor venting flap is removed.

Do portable air conditioners collect water?
Most portable air conditioners condensate water as they are cooled, containing the water in an internal water reservoir. On all of our models, this water reservoir has an auto shut-off feature, so that water is never spilled on the ground. With the unit off, the water is easily emptied into a drip pan. You can also gravity drain the portable AC by connecting a hose to the connection on the reservoir. For example, the ACP-1000E Portable Air Conditioner by NewAir does not build up water because it exhausts the humid air out of the room.

Will my new portable AC be energy efficient?
The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is the standard measure of efficiency when comparing appliances and operation costs for products such as portable air conditioners. The higher the EER, the more energy efficient the air conditioner is, and any rating of ten or more is considered excellent. Furthermore, by cooling only one room, portable air conditioners can save you a considerable amount of money on your monthly electric bill. All of the portable air conditioners we carry operate on 115 normal household standards of 115 volts and 60 hertz. They generally run on about seven to ten amps and require a regular three-pronged grounded plug found in all homes.

Are portable air conditioners used to cool computer server rooms?
This is one of the most common uses for a portable air conditioner! Even in small computer rooms, a 12,000 BTU unit should be purchased due to the extra heat produced. Moreover, a portable AC will help keep the air comfortably dry and more suitable for computer application.

We recommend the following portable air conditioners:

See Our Complete Selection of Portable Air Conditioners!