Portable Air Conditioners Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Part II

What does EER mean?

The EER, or Energy-Efficiency Rating, measures the air conditioner’s energy consumption and efficiency. A high EER rating means less energy is being consumed.

Any rating of 10 or more is excellent.  Furthermore, by cooling only one room, portable air conditioners can save you considerable on your monthly electric bill.  All of the portable air conditioners that we carry operate on 115 Volt/ 60 Hertz (normal household standard). They generally run on about 7-10 amps and require a regular 3 prong grounded plug found in all homes.

How is a portable air conditioner different than a window AC?

A portable AC is a small mobile air conditioner unlike a window AC which must be mounted through the window opening.  Furthermore, portable air conditioners do not require permanent installation. All our portable air conditioners are between 29″ and 34″ tall and weigh between 50 and 90 pounds.  Portable air conditioners also work great in apartment situations where a window unit is unacceptable.

Is a portable air cooler and a portable air conditioner the same thing?

No they are not the same.

Air coolers use water and evaporation to cool much the same way a swamp cooler cools.

Pros: The use less electrical power because of is a small water pump and fan motor.

Cons: Only the direct air stream is cooled (10-15 degrees) and generally air coolers cannot cool the ambient air in a room. They work best in Hot & Dry climate (Southwest)

Portable Air conditioners use a compressor/Freon to cool and are much more effective in cooling rooms and at keeping the humidity low.

Pros: You can cool a room to a set temperature no mater what the humidity is outdoors.

Cons: They use more electrical power to run the compressor.
More below

What are the pros and cons of a portable air conditioner?

Portable air conditioners can be easily rolled from room to room.
With some small modifications a unit can be vented through a casement or sliding window, sliding door.
They can weight between 50 to 90 pounds.
The exhaust hose is only 5 feet long (hose extensions will harm the unit)
Some portable air conditioners have condensation buckets or trays that need to be emptied.

Is a portable air conditioner the right choice for me?

Portable air conditioners are great for specialized applications where central air or conventional window air conditioners are unfeasible or too expensive. If you have an area that needs cooling, but conventional air conditioners won’t work for you, a portable air conditioner could be the answer you are looking for.

Do portable air conditioners require venting?

Yes, all portable air conditioners require some type of ventilation. It is important that you vent the hot air outside of the room you are trying to cool.

Our entire units comes with hoses to vent the exhaust and window filler kits to allow you to properly vent out of most windows. However, you do not need to vent the hot air out a window. The window venting kits also fit most sliding glass doors ( if you make modifications , or you may make a custom modification and vent the exhaust through a wall do not install exhaust hose into a drop ceiling or anything that does not vent outside

Can’t I just let the portable air conditioner run without a vent?
Portable air conditioners are designed to operate with a vent.  Your going to be able to cool the room because front of the machine would blow cold air, but the back of the  machine will blow hot air….The two air streams will mix and you will be left with a warm room

What is the difference between manual and electronic controls?
Basically, this is as simple as a digital display for knobs. Keep in mind that you must have electronic (digital) controls to use a remote control.

Could you explain the difference from between electric heat and a heat pump?
When a unit says that there is electric heat there is a heat strip in the unit that uses the fan to distribute the heat. Electric heat is meant to subsidies an existing heat source.

A heat pump function is similar to an air conditioner however instead of cooling the air like it would in the summer it heats the air and redistributes it into the room. It often will not work when it is colder than 40 (except some PTAC units) degrees outside but, most unit have electric heat backup. If heat is very important to you a PTAC unit could be your best choice. Please look at the air conditioner description or call us at 1-800-570-3355 to talk with an air conditioning expert.

What does Energy Star mean?
Energy star is a government backed program that backs products that are extraordinarily energy efficient. Products that meet strict energy efficient requirements determined by the EPA and the US Department of Energy that do not compromise the performance and features of a product receive the Energy Star logo.
What is a chassis and do I want one that slides out?
A chassis is the guts of an air conditioner. When the air conditioner is described as fixed that means that the chassis does not slide out. Air conditioners with slide out chassis are easier to repair especially if the air conditioner is a through the wall air conditioner.

How do I determine the noise level?
All air conditioners will make some sort of noise however the air conditioners on the market have been engineered to be quieter than older units. Mini split air conditioners are the most quiet since the compressor sits outside.

What are air flow and output options?
This determines how you can move the vents to determine where the air flows in your room. Air deflection means that you can move the vents