Portable air conditioners provide instant relief to sticky, hot days and can be used in the home or office to provide more comfortable living and working conditions. They will usually cool the air down to about 21 degrees centigrade, can be easily stored away during the winter and need very little by way of installation. They work on the same principle as fridges; air is cooled over a coil, condensed and then vented away through either a hose (these are often called “single units”) or into a separate tank for emptying (usually called a “split”system.).
Single Units
These are completely self-contained with a hose attached for extracting the warm air. The hose will be similar to that found on a tumble dryer and will need to be vented through a window. There is usually a kit for this supplied with the machine so that it can be done easily and quickly. The will also be a tank inside the machine that collects the water extracted from the air. This will need emptying regularly. Most single units are air cooled but some also use water as well to cool the incoming warm air and so will have a built-in water tank that will need to be filled up.
“Split” System Units
Work in a very similar way to single units except that the water that’s been extracted from the warm in-coming air is separated off into a condenser box which is usually placed on the outside of the building (ideally)and connected to the machine by means of refrigerated lines. These types of machines can be more effective for larger areas although are generally more expensive to buy.
Cooling Power
This is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). Before you buy, think about the rooms that you will want to use you unit in. Calculate the area of the largest room that you’ll be cooling and, as a rough guide, you will need about 4 BTU per cubic foot to cool a room. This is meant only as a general rule of thumb only. Many other factors will affect the number of BTUs you will need; windows, machinery such as computers etc. and, of course, people. All air conditioner units will have recommended room sizes on them so that you can judge for yourself before you buy. Remember, though, that it may sometimes be more cost effective to buy two machines for a very large space than one. Machines with the highest BTU rating will be the most expensive.
Running Costs
Most single portable air conditioners have a power output of about 1KW per hour so you can work out the running cost by looking at how much you pay for your electricity. Split System Units tend to use slightly more power (about 1.4 KW per hour) so will be more expensive to run.
Air Filters
All air conditioners have some form of air filter but better quality models will often have filters that will clean your air while cooling it. Some filters will also destroy bacteria, keeping your air purer and may be a real benefit to those people who suffer with allergies.
CFM
This is a measurement of how much air the units blows (Cubic Feet per Minute) and can be a useful guide for comparing different models. Many models will give two setting options for this so that you can adjust it depending on the conditions.
Noise Levels
This is measured in decibels and is sometimes given on different models, but not always. The higher the decibels, the louder the noise will be.
Other Useful Options
Many air conditioners now come with remote control so that you can adjust the machine without even leaving your seat (or bed)! Some also have a timer so that you can set the unit to come on, or go off, to suit your routine. This seems like a good idea; you could come home to a nice cool living area without the expense of running the machine when the house is empty. Similarly, a “sleep” setting is available with some, meaning that although the unit will keep operating while you sleep, it does so at a slightly lower (i.e. warmer) level, so that you don’t get too chilly in bed. This also means that by operating at a lower level the noise from the machine is also reduced. Some air conditioner units will also heat as well as cool. This may be a very useful extra and makes the unit more versatile and cost effective.
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