conditioners, the ultimate in personal space climate control. PAC or portable air conditioners eliminate the need to cut holes thru walls, run massive voltage outlets and lines, etc. to an area for climate control. All you need is a standard US 110v outlet with atleast a 15A circuit breaker.... plug in and you'll be cool in no time!
Unlike common through-the-wall, window or central air conditioners, a portable air conditioner fits right where you need it - and you can move it to a different spot whenever you like. No installation or ducting is required (although most portable air conditioners do use a hose to exhaust water vapors from a built-in dehumidifier). You can use portable A/C's virtually anywhere - bedrooms, family rooms, computer rooms, office, wine cellar, garage, attic, etc.
Because a portable air conditioner can be operated independently of central systems, it is easier to target cooling specifically where you want it. Cooling with a central air system usually creates wide fluctuations in temperature and causes a cool / warm effect as the thermostat cycles "on" and "off". Also, portable air conditioners use less energy than other air conditioner types.
Unlike window units that pull air from the outdoors to cool your room, portable air conditioning units use indoor air. The portable air cooler dehumidifies the air and the collected water is called the condensate. The condensate is removed from the air conditioner using two main methods. First, a bucket or tray inside the unit collects water, which must be manually emptied frequently. The second method evaporates the water and exhausts it through the main venting hose. Portable air conditioners must also vent the resulting hot air through an exhaust hose that extends outside a window, door or air vent.
Although you don't have to hoist portable air conditioners into a window every year for installation, there is some temporary installation each time a unit is moved from room to room. With a portable air conditioner, the exhaust air blows out a hose. One end is attached to the back of the unit and the other end must be vented outside. Each portable air conditioner comes with a window adapter kit that keeps the hose firmly in place and provides foam rubber to insulate the partially open window. Additional hoses may be attached for the purpose of draining the condensate that accumulates during operation.
Credit: consumersearch.com, May 2008
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is a standard measure of efficiency for comparing appliances and the cost of operation. The higher the EER, the more energy efficient the air conditioner. The WA1200E has an EER of over 12, while the Soleus KY32U has an EER of 10. Any rating of 10 or more is excellent. By cooling only one room, portable air conditioners can save you a considerable amount of money on your monthly electric bill. All of the portable air conditioners that we carry operate on 115 Volt/60 Hertz (the normal household standard). They generally run on about 7-10 amps and require a regular, 3-prong grounded plug found in most homes.
Portable air conditioners extract hot air that must be vented. If the hot air is not vented, the portable air conditioner will not be able to cool a room effectively. Window and venting kits are always included with our portable air conditioners at no extra cost. You may also vent the portable AC through a wall vent, into the attic or drop ceiling, or even around a door! You are only limited by your creativity! For venting these portable AC systems through casement windows (windows that crank out), Plexiglas can be used. Simply cut the Plexiglas as the size of the window, cut out a 5" hole to vent the hose, and place this over the open window; not only is the portable air conditioner vented, but Plexiglas will allow the same amount of light to pass through the window as before.
The plastic window kit simply is cut to fit most any slider or up and down window in your home - up to 4 feet. The window is then closed against the foam to seal the air from the outside, the exhaust hose then is fit through a small cutout in the foam. Installation takes about 5 minutes and this allows for easy portability from window to window. For windows larger than 4 feet, simply purchase extra foam at the local hardware store. As mentioned earlier, for unique window situations such as casement (crank-out) windows, a little creativity is all that is needed.
A portable AC is a small mobile air conditioner, unlike a window AC which must be mounted through the wall. Also, portable air conditioners do not require permanent installation. All of our portable air conditioners are between 29" and 34" tall and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds. Portable air conditioners also work well in apartment situations where a window unit is unacceptable.