The Ins And Outs Of Portable Air Conditioning

Portable air conditioning has become extremely popular in the past years. Most people use them even if they have a central system because portable air conditioning can provide outstanding local cooling for a significantly lower cost. Read on to find out more of the pros and cons of a mobile a/c unit and if one could work for you.

A portable air conditioner is a self-contained unit, ordinarily about 30 inches tall and about 80 pounds in mass. The greatest thing is that it doesn't require any installation: it stands on the floor and you don't have to fit it in your window or your wall. Most mobile a/c units have little wheels, so you can directly move them around.

Portable a/c 'pros':

You can activate your portable unit from room to room, so there is no need to buy a window-mounted air conditioner for each room.

You don't have to block your window or make holes in your wall - a portable air conditioner is ready to use as soon as you unpack it.

Operating mobile air conditioning to cool only one room instead of switching on a central system saves you a lot on energy bills.

Myths of air conditioner 'cons':

A portable unit costs somewhat more than a window air conditioner with a lesser cooling capacity comparable to central air conditioning and mini-split systems (where the compressor is outside). Certainly not any more.

Portable a/c is noisy. If noise is your issue, look at the reviews of several portable units and select the one that makes the less noise.

Does portable a/c work in cooling huge rooms?

That depends on the measurement of your unit. Small portable units with cooling capacities of about 8,000 btu are superior for a 300 sq. ft. room, while bigger 24,000 btu air conditioners can productively cool a 1,000 sq. Foot room. So, as you can see, a right sized mobile air conditioner can do a good job even in a very large room. However, you should know that larger doesn't necessarily mean better. An air conditioner that is too large will consume more energy and won't cool your area effectively, because it will stop and start constantly.

Portable air conditioner energy efficiency

Everybody knows that air conditioners consume a lot of energy, so energy efficiency is a heavy issue. However, the past developments in technology allow manufacturers to develop very efficient air conditioners. A few years back an eer (energy efficiency ratio) of 6 or 7 was voted good. Today the standard is 12 or above.

Advance portable air conditioners are as energy efficient as window or mini split units. To pick out the most efficient air conditioner, look at its eer - the higher, the more desirable. In addition choose a unit from a unit bearing the energy star. The energy star denotes that an air conditioner meets energy efficiency guidelines and is identified by the us environmental protection agency and the department of energy.

How affordable is a mobile air conditioner'

You may be surprised to learn that portable air conditioning is not very expensive. The prices have dropped down significantly in recent years, and now you can buy a good unit from around $300. Of course, air conditioners with a huge cooling capacity cost more, and so do those with more energy efficiency ratings. However, when it comes to paying more for a more efficient unit, you actually save cash because your energy bill will be lower.

To conclude, if you don't have yet air conditioning in your home and don't feel like investing in a central system, a portable air conditioner can be a wonderful alternative. And if you use a central air conditioning unit, it's still a good idea to have a portable unit for cooling just the room you are in, instead of the whole house. It can importantly reduce your bills.