Portable Air Conditioning: What It Can and Can’t Do For You
On the whole folks will agree that portable air conditioning isn’t the best way to cool off. It just doesn’t measure up to either a central air conditioning system or window units. But sometimes your circumstances may not allow either of the other more effective alternatives.
For folks who live in an apartment, for example, these units are frequently the sole way they can cool down their living quarters. Normally, the windows in an apartment are either inconveniently located or the landlord won’t allow installing a window air conditioner. This makes a portable air conditioner your only possible option.
There might be times when you want to cool down just one specific location. For a garage, workshop, or other small space, setting up a permanent unit is unrealistic. In these circumstances a portable air conditioner can be a satisfactory option. Without going to the trouble of permanent installation, you can get a rather decent degree of comfort.
Portable air conditioners function in a similar manner to other forms of residential air conditioning systems. They take in air, dehumidify and chill it, and then push it back into the room. Different from other systems, they don’t pull in air from the exterior of the building. Only the air that is in the room is treated by a portable air conditioning unit.
This is one of the reasons why they are inherently less efficient. Indeed, most people who complain about portable air conditioning units do so for the reason that the room simply doesn’t get as comfortable as with other kinds of air conditioners.
For this reason, you’re not likely to get the comfortable temperatures from portable equipment that you may be hoping for. Then again, portable air conditioners can relieve a hot room, giving some degree of comfort in circumstances where more customary solutions aren’t practical.
You also need to keep in mind the square footage of the room and the cooling capability of the equipment. For a space that’s 150 square feet or smaller, you should be fine with a 7500 BTU model. For 200 square feet, 9000 BTU units are more appropriate. Essentially, you should count on adding 1000 to 1500 BTUs of capacity for every 50 square feet you are attempting to cool.
You’ll have to expect to drain the condensed moisture that results from the cooling process. With central air conditioning or a window fixture, conversely, moisture is eliminated outside. A number of of these units feature a removable tray. Sometimes you have to turn over the entire unit to draw off the water. Some utilize a hose that goes out through the window and empties the water there. Commonly these units have a foam insulation package to seal the window more efficiently.
When the temperature rises to the point where living indoors becomes unbearable there is a real need to cool things down so you can work, relax and sleep. A residential air conditioning system is the best way to handle the situation.
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