Choosing A Quiet Portable Air Conditioner

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:36:23 +0000

Nearly everyone appreciates an air conditioned room when summer heat and humidity are at full blast. But if there is no central air, or a window or through the wall unit is impractical or impossible, then a portable air conditioner might be a consideration. But there are several things to know before purchasing one.
The major advantage of a portable air conditioner is the ability to take it from room to room. But units tend to be large, usually weighing 50 – 85 lb., and may not be so easy to move. Portable air conditioners also need to be vented, and come with one or two flexible hoses attached for that purpose. Therefore, a unit would always need to be placed near a window, as well as re set up everytime it’s moved, which may also limit actual portability. Window vent brackets are usually included, and usually don’t require any additional tools.
Another issue is what happens to the water that collects when air is cooled. In some units this water is used to cool the condenser coil and is mostly evaporated. In other units it would have to be emptied either by hose or by hand. Like all air conditioners, noise is also potential concern. Some (but not most) portables advertised on the web are specifically noted to be quiet. However, some of them cost considerably more; most were stated to be ‘quieter than others’ without any specific decibels or other noise comparisons.
One of the most important things to know is that portable Btu’s come at a higher price. For example, in one big box store, a window unit of 15,100 BTU’s (approx. 900 sq. ft room) cost $399, but an 11,000 Btu portable unit in the same store cost $100 more. In general, the least expensive portable units cost around $300, and most range from about $400 – $650. Additionally portable air conditioners tend to be less energy efficient, and cool less area than a similarly sized window unit. So to effectively cool a room, more Btu’s per square foot would be needed, and energy costs may be higher.
The web sites of Consumer Reports and Consumer Search suggest the following about portable air conditioners:
- Choose a portable over window units if less than maximal cooling is needed or if other types of air conditioners are not an option
- Make sure a unit has casters for rolling.
-Buy more Btus than would be needed in a window or through the wall unit.
-Purchase a unit with a drainage hose, or auto evaporation.
-Look for a unit with two hoses, since these tend to cool slightly better than one hose models.

Portable Air Conditioner Guide » quiet

Choosing A Quiet Portable Air Conditioner