Portable Air Conditioner Tips and Tricks

Are you a proud owner of a portable air conditioner, or are you looking to purchase a portable air conditioner and want to get the most from your purchase? Here are 5 tips and tricks to maximize your portable air conditioner’s effectiveness and ensure you have a long and happy relationship together.

Close Off the Space

Portable air conditioners are meant to cool a specified, enclosed space. The more you can close off the space, the better and more effective the unit will be. Try to close any doors or openings leading into the room you are trying to cool. In addition, try to eliminate as many heat sources within the room as possible, like lights and electronic equipment.

Turn It On Early

The best tip anyone can give you is to turn your portable air conditioner on early. If your portable air conditioner is the only source of cooling in a room, it is best to turn it on while the temperature in the room is relatively cool. For example, if you know you’ll need the unit to cool a room that gets hottest mid-day, turn it on a few hours before the mid-day heat has its full effect on your space. That way, the unit will be able to sustain a comfortable temperature while operating efficiently. If you wait until it is 95 degrees in the room you are trying to cool to turn the unit on, your unit will have to work twice as hard and may not be able to get the temperature down to a comfortable level. In addition, if you use a fan in conjunction with your portable air conditioner, the cooling power of your unit will be supplemented and the cold air will better circulate

Venting Options

Many people feel they cannot use a portable air conditioner because they do not have a window in the room they are trying to cool. This is not a problem! Though most portable air conditioners are designed to vent out of a window (most come with a handy, easy to install window kit), you can get creative when thinking of venting options. You can vent through the floor, ceiling, even a chimney. You can even vent into another room. The primary goal of venting is to get the hot air coming off the compressor out of the room you are trying to cool. As long as you can accomplish that, then you and your portable air conditioner will have a very happy life together.

Venting From a Casement Window

Many people think that they cannot use a portable air conditioner because they have a casement, or crank out, window. Don’t fret, this is easy to overcome. You simply need to get a piece of plexiglass cut to the size of your window, and attach it like a screen so that the window will still open (usually can be done with strong Velcro). In that piece of plexiglass, have a 5 inch hole cut near the bottom. Then you simply put the vent hose in the hole, and you are good to go. Plus, you do not lose the view from the window when you use the plexiglass!

Filters, Filters, Filters

Though portable air conditioners come with a pre-filter, it is often best to use an additional filter. Many units offer a carbon filter as an accessory. There are also great anti-microbial filters available, as well as a unit that has a silver ion filter. You want to be sure to replace the filters about every 3 months, so buying a five pack of filters will not only last you over a year but it is also cheaper than buying them one at a time.