Window Air Conditioners vs. Portable Air Conditioners: Which One Is Right for You?
If there’s not an AC unit available to you yet, then consider cooling the home. Most people use central air that vents the air in the house through ductwork. Some people may need a different cooling solution to maintain a comfortable environment at home. Air Conditioning Windows is the best choice available. It is important for each of us to understand our budgets, the size of our home, the physical capacity for installing a product and to understand their value proposition. Lets explore the main differences to see what is best for our home.
Window Unit The two most common alternatives are window units and portable units. Choosing between the two comes down to understanding how they work. Both options convert a gas to liquid and back again. A window unit uses chemicals called refrigerants that absorb the heat from the air when it passes over a set of coils, resulting in chilled indoor air.
Portable Air Conditioner Vs Window Unit
The similarities in portable windows are largely identical. This is the two types of air conditioners available in rooms that do not require any pipes or piping. They are very easy to install and require minimal care. To compare windows versus portable ACs however the differences between them need not always be obvious to us. How does portable air conditioner compare to windows and door fans? Why does an air-conditioned window unit cost more money?
All air conditioners function the same way – they pull in hot air, the hot air then runs over the cooling coils, the heat turns the refrigerant running through the coils into a gas, and a fan cools the gas back into a liquid while blowing the hot air outside. Portable and window air conditioners do all of this in one compact unit versus a central AC. An air conditioning fan is a mechanical device that is used to move air through an air conditioning system. The fan is typically powered by an electric motor and works in conjunction with the cooling coils, evaporator, and condenser to transfer heat from the inside of a building to the outside.
Window Vs Portable AC Cooling Capacity And Room Coverage Comparison
A cooling fan’s performance is measured using BTUs per hour. Larger rooms will require more BTU, and smaller rooms will require lesser BTU. Find out information about calculating BTUs using this calculator. It’s a solid DOE guide that says the minimum rated unit is about 20 BTU per cubic foot. Both window and portable cooling units are capable of providing adequate room cover. Window AC units provide a much wider space range than air conditioners portables.
Efficiency The best way to compare the efficiency of a window vs. a room air conditioner is to take the reported area covered and compare it to the coming capacity in BTU. Window units usually present more clear data in terms of efficiency while the portable models fall all over the spectrum: some appear to be enough to cool an indoor stadium (hyperbole), and some need to stay.
Portable Air Conditioners
Air conditioners are compact air conditioning units which are largely freestanding and fully integrated within the living space while operating. Due to this their style is generally quite stylish and they can be bought with various colors to compliment their interior. They can sit against a wall, and must provide an adequate width. Portable air conditioning systems work similarly to windows air conditioning systems but at a reduced cost to reduce noise. A purely design advantage of these dehumidifying units is the lack of moisture levels in rooms over 75%.
In fact, pretty much everybody installs these room air conditioners themselves. You don’t need a professional HVAC installation like with mini splits or central AC units. Comparatively, it’s a bit easier to install a portable air conditioner than a window air conditioner.
Installation Difficulty (Portable AC Units Are Easier To Install Than Window Units)
The problem with portable versus window AC is often based on comfortability. Another huge aspect is easy installing conditioner. The installation and operation of windows and mobile air conditioners is simple. Most rooms have their own air conditioning system installed. It does not take much work to complete an HVAC installation such as mini split units and central air conditioners. Comparatively, installation can be a lot quicker with bringing a portable air conditioner in versus a window air conditioner. Installing a window AC unit involves mounting the window.
When it comes to window units, the window the unit will go in should be carefully measured. While modern window air conditioners can be installed in a variety of window sizes, they are still mostly standard sizes; for oddly-shaped windows, a window air conditioner is unlikely to fit. To choose the right size air conditioner, calculate the area of the room.
Expected Lifespan (Window AC Units Last Longer Than Portable AC Unit)
It’s important for you to know the difference in the life of the portable AC unit over the whole window AC model. You want a cooling system that will last a lot of times. Compared to portable cooling units, window air conditioning offers an overall better expected life expectancy. This means windows can last about five times longer than portable AC units. The material is more stable, that is. What is the longest lifespan for an air conditioner? You need to know that the life expectancy of the air conditioning unit also impacts the cost of the unit.
In the past, portable and window units both measured their power outputs using British Thermal Units, or Btus. However, because of their different efficiencies, and different ways of drawing in air for cooling, these ratings were not always comparable.
Space Requirements: How Much Space Do Window vs Portable AC Units Take?
Everybody understands the need for air conditioning in rooms. Portable cooling units sit in a flat area and are easily accessible. This decreases the floor size by 2-4 ft. The width for portable AC units varies between 1 inch and 2 inches. A portable AC system is 30-40 inches thick on a bed. Window air conditioning is a totally different subject. They are similar to portable AC units except they must be mounted to a window sill. Secondly, you need large windows. It usually won’t matter.
A window unit uses chemicals called refrigerants that absorb the heat from the air when it passes over a set of coils, resulting in chilled indoor air. A portable unit, on the other hand, utilizes an exhaust pipe, which funnels the air out of your window. When you’re in the heat of the moment (pun intended), you may be hasty to get your hands on whatever you see first.
A small window air conditioner is an ideal choice for cooling a single room or small space. These units are relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and can provide effective cooling in a short amount of time.
Single Hose Portable Air Conditioners
Single hose portable AC units draw air out of the room (normally from behind) and blow the cooling air to the rear. The air conditioner then expelled some of the air conditioned air through one hose connected to a specially supplied window kit. The tanks contain water that collects most of the moisture drained from the air. The tanks have to be regularly filled, or connected, by a pipe, to the floor drainage system. Portable air conditioners produce heat and humid air – an advantage.
Installation Kit: How To Seal A Window For Portable vs Window AC Unit?
The use of portable as well as window AC systems requires an open window. You know it can be dangerous when the air conditioner is operating in the open window of your room. Most window and door ACs come with an integrated window seal. If the product doesn’t come with it, you must buy it separately.
This seal kit closes the rest of windows. Different seal on windows versus the mobile unit. If a portable AC unit is installed it has mounting tape attached across the windows. It won’t be the easiest task, particularly in a big window.
Which is better a window or portable air conditioner?
Window and portable air conditioning units can help reduce room heat but are not comparable in terms of efficiency. AC windows are efficient in reducing heat and costs. A portable air conditioner is easily installed and can be useful in confined areas if your windows do not fit the standard unit.
In this analogy, the container is your room, the liquid is the air in your room, the straw is the exhaust hose on the portable AC unit, and your mouth is the air outside your home. When you draw the liquid out of the container through the straw into your mouth, what happens? Air from outside the container is drawn in to take the place of the liquid that has been removed.
There are several companies in Las Vegas that offer portable air conditioners. Some of these include Aire Serv, Air Pro Heating & Cooling, All Seasons Air Conditioning & Heating, and Cool Breeze Air Conditioning.
