Everyone is familiar with the Split AC and Window AC system. There is another option called portable AC. Although it is not as viable or efficient as the regular split AC, you still have to go for a portable AC in some cases.
The main advantage of portable AC is it you can move it to anywhere/room you want. People who move from city to city or need a temporary solution for the heat need a portable air conditioner.
How Portable AC works?
The operation of portable AC is much similar to the regular AC. In a portable AC, the machine vents out the hot air through a duct pipe instead of water condensation from the air. So, there would be a hot air exhaust duct.
A flexible duct pipe generally does it from the rear of the Portable AC unit, and it connects with a window outlet. That means the AC needs to be put within one meter from the window to get optimal service.
Does Portable AC Work?
They do. But, if you compare it with a split AC, then their efficiency is 30% to 40%. The water condensing and releasing system is more efficient than only venting out the hot air. Split or window AC also uses less power as they need a shorter time to cool the room.
These are a few things you need to check before choosing a portable air conditioner.
- Price
- Portability
- Durability
- Dimensions/ sizes
- Weight
- Warranty
- Cooling Capacity
- Noise
If you have no problem with the price, go for a renowned brand like LG or Honeywell. There are other excellent brands in the market, but these two have provided us with the most satisfying result regarding price vs. Service.
When you choose a portable AC, at first, you should look for your budget and the capacity of cooling for the AC. Then select the one with the low noise operation. A portable AC with high noise is very disturbing during the night.
Most AC provides a standard warranty, but be aware of their service and maintenance before buying one. Then there are other factors like size, dimension, and weight of the portable AC. Usually, cheap portable AC is heavier than they look, and the power consumption is high. So, in the long run, a cheap portable air conditioner is not a good option.
01. BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
If you are looking for a cheap portable air conditioner, then Black+Decker ACT08WT can be your choice.
This 5,000 BTU DOE (8,000 BTU ASHRAE) unit can cool a room up to 150 SQ FT. It’s not the perfect portable air conditioner, but a budget-friendly solution to keep a room temperature within 65°F.
The sleep mode settings and adjustable fan speed can minimize the noise while you sleep. However, our recommendation is not to use it for your large bedroom. Instead, you can use this unit for your drawing room or shared space that is little or under 200 Sq. Feet.
Living in a dorm, during camping time, or in a small cabin everywhere, you can use it. After the summer season, you can pack it for storage.
The good thing about the black+Decker BPACT08WT is it also works as a dehumidifier, ventilation, and cooling mode at the same time. You can adjust your settings from the top LED panel; a remote is also included.
02. TCL 14P31 Portable Air Conditioner, 14,000 BTU
Not everyone is a fan of Chinese products, but this TCL portable air conditioner can prove you wrong. TCL 14P31 works more than it is advertised. If you can spend around more than 500 bucks, then this should be your choice. The unit creates less noise and can cool a mid-size room up to 500 Sq. Feet.
They advertise it is suitable for a 350 sq feet area, but we have seen this unit can easily handle a room of 500 sq feet on our field test.
It has three functions like the most standard portable air conditioner dehumidifying, Cooling, and Fan. Multiple fan speed depending on user choice is also convenient. Setup needs only 10-15 minutes without any help, and you can pack it in less time.
What bothers some people is that the unit has a fan on the upper side of the unit. So, it doesn’t throw cool air directly when you are sleeping. Instead, the room gets cooled by throwing cool air towards your ceiling.
You can use this in your bedroom, dining room, office, basement, and almost everywhere. The washable filter system also keeps the air clean from dust and pet hairs.
Energy consumption will depend on how much air is vented out from your room and the room size. We do not recommend it to run in a room more than 500 sq Feet. The unit runs on 115 volts and 1450 watts consumption.
It is 14.56 x 17.61 x 28.15 inches in dimension and weighs around 66 pounds. Not much bigger, but keep in mind that you will put it inside your room.
03. LG LP1419IVSM Smart Dual Inverter Portable Air Conditioner
If budget is not your problem and you need a quality product, this LG LP1419IVSM Smart Dual Inverter Portable Air Conditioner should be your choice.
It runs on 115 volts and can cover a 500 Square Feet room. Power consumption is 1370 Watts. Compared to other portable air conditioners in this segment, this is more energy-efficient and silent.
The unit dimension is 18.11 x 19.41 x 30.43 inches, and it weighs 78 pounds. A bit heavier than the previous ones we have listed.
You can control the LG LP1419IVSM Smart Dual Inverter Portable Air Conditioner with Remote and voice, easy integration with your home assistant like Google Assistant/Amazon Alexa.
LG is always trustable with good quality products, and if you need to choose a portable air conditioner for a long time, this unit is our recommendation.
Portable AC is not suitable for all environments, and your home window must have a sliding type opening for easy setup. Before buying a unit, you need to consider that your room size and environment support the portable AC; otherwise, you might not get the performance you want, and energy consumption would be high.
Also, remember that a portable Ac is not an alternative to your regular window or split AC. Window AC is more energy-saving and convenient in almost any environment. The humidifier of a portable Ac is not up to the task as a window unit.
You can certainly install a portable AC in less time and without help, but they are applicable only where you do not have the viability to install a regular unit, or the room size is smaller. Also, they are not genuinely portable as a hot air duct pipe needs to be installed.
What’s your think about it?
