Summer heat can be unbearable without a way to stay cool, but the high cost of running central air conditioning all day can also be prohibitive. When you need a cost-effective and efficient way to cool your home or business, a portable air conditioner can be a great solution.
However, people who are used to central air may be unfamiliar with how portable air conditioners work or if they work well. Luckily, they are quite simple to understand and use to cool warm spaces. Once you know the ins and outs of portable air conditioners, you’ll find they’re a great way to beat the summer heat!
How Portable Air Conditioners Work
Portable air conditioners work by pulling in warm air, cooling it, and blowing it back out into the room. Many units also have systems for removing humidity from the air and collecting that moisture for a better cooling effect. Portable air conditioners also have exhaust hoses to vent hot air created by the unit to the outdoors.
Good airflow is vital to using a portable air conditioner. Every unit comes with an easy-to-install venting kit that should take the user no more than 5-10 minutes to place. Most units will be vented through a window or wall vent, but some can be vented into the attic or out a door. Portable air conditioners also need plenty of space from which to draw air. If a unit is crammed in a corner or narrow space, it will struggle with air intake.
Once your portable air conditioner is vented and positioned correctly, it’s just a matter of flipping a switch to turn it on. It may take a little while for the unit to process enough air to cool your room; therefore, it is recommended that you turn your portable air conditioner on early before the room becomes uncomfortably hot.
What to Expect from Your Portable Air Conditioner
If you have never used a portable air conditioner before, you may wonder how well they actually cool a home or office space. They work very well! However, you need to know what to expect and how to help your portable air conditioner do its best.
First of all, portable air conditioners, like window units, will only cool one area of a building. If you want more than one room cooled, you will need multiple units. If you use those units correctly though, you will have plenty of cool air to enjoy where you need it most.
You can expect the most from your portable air conditioner when you don’t overwork it. Start by buying the right size of unit for your space. Using too small of a unit in a large space will be ineffective. The larger the area, the larger a unit you will need.
Most portable air conditioners are rated in BTUs. You can use a chart online to determine how many BTUs you need to cool the size of area you want to. You will also need to choose a larger, and thus more powerful, unit if you plan on putting it in an especially hot or humid room, one with high ceilings, or a crowded room. All of these conditions create more stress for a less powerful unit and result in less cold air unless you account for them in the model you purchase.
Portable air conditioners are a great way to cool areas of your home or business all summer long. Still have questions about how to make a portable air conditioner work for you? Ask the experts at Pure n Natural. We can help you find a portable air conditioner you’ll love to use!
