Portable Air Conditioners
With that, we’re rounding up the best portable air conditioners that you can buy online. Although window ACs are far more popular, portable ACs are a useful alternative if there’s some issue with size, style, or building management that prevents you from installing one.
Portable Ac Unit
If you don’t have central air and need to cool a room ASAP, the first question you have to address is whether you want to buy a portable AC unit or a window air conditioner.
The LG is also the heaviest portable AC we’ve tested. This is normally fine, since the unit has wheels to help you move it around, but its weight can be a problem when you’re trying to tip the machine over to use the drain plug, which is inconveniently located at the very bottom of the unit.
It’s a little different from the other portable units on this list. Traditionally speaking, a portable AC unit refers to one you could roll from room to room at a moment’s notice, but this one is portable in every sense of the word, as it is battery-operated and doesn’t depend on an outlet when you buy the version with the smart battery.
Other Portable Air Conditioners
It’s quieter than other portable air conditioners and at 53 pounds, you won’t strain a muscle moving it. It has a smaller suggested cooling area, so it’s best for an office or small bedroom. Ventless portable air conditioners are a great option for cooling down a room without needing to install an air conditioning system.
Cool Air
Circulate air with the press of a button on models that include remote control setting options. Auto air swing vents help move cool air around your space more efficiently to reach your desired temperature faster.
AC can fine-tune its cooling power to match the temperature of the room it’s cooling. As the folks at the Wirecutter point out, this gets you a more “precise comfort level.” And it really works.
Window Units
The big disadvantage is that they take up more space, and are often noisier and less efficient than window units. But it’s still better than sweating the summer away.
Portable ACs can also work with smaller window types that may not fit a window unit. In terms of the size of the unit, a portable AC unit will take up floor space, so it’s important to make sure you have the extra square footage for one.
Are portable air conditioners as good as window units? If you have the ability to window-mount, you’re likely going to have more success cooling a room with a window AC unit. You may be able to find comparable portable AC units to those that have to be wall or window mounted, but you’re likely going to pay more for them.
Exhaust Hose
A portable AC comes with all the equipment necessary to easily transfer from as long as you have access to a window to vent the exhaust hose. Another benefit of the exhaust hose is that it allows a portable AC to connect to multiple different window types.
Those without exhaust hoses are called evaporative coolers. They require a large amount of water to cool the space, can utilize ice to cool down the air as well, and are ideal in dry climates where humidity levels are low and the air is hot.
Portable air coolers, also known as evaporative air coolers or swamp coolers, are a type of air conditioning unit that works by using water to cool and humidify the air. They are a more energy-efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional air conditioners, as they do not use refrigerants or compressors to cool the air.
Cooling Systems
The Best Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner Everything we know about ductless mini-split heating and cooling systems after interviewing installers, manufacturers, and homeowners with systems of their own.
Both units have a dehumidifier and fan in addition to cooling mode, and can be controlled using the remote or top-panel buttons. AC fan is a type of fan used to circulate air in a room or area.
