Despite their compact size and light enclosure, portable room air conditioners can be every bit as effective as their large, prebuilt, and permanently installed counterparts.
With the most powerful portable units boasting cooling power often unheard of in ceiling and wall mounted air-conditioners, it's no surprise that a growing number of tenants, homeowners, and temporary residents are opting for a portable unit when outfitting their residence for summer.
So before you order that expensive wall mounted air conditioning system, consider the benefits of a more compact alternative.
Apartment dwellers and a growing number of suburban residents are in agreement - a portable room air-conditioner unit is often the best option for keeping your home cooling costs at reasonable levels.
We've prepared this buyers guide to help you find the best portable air-conditioner unit for your home, apartment, or condominium.
1.
Don't buy for your home, buy for your room.
Most consumer air-conditioners are capable of cooling between three and four-hundred square feet of floor space.
While that's generally sufficient for a living room or bedroom area, it's rarely enough to keep an entire home or mid-sized apartment cool.
We recommend shopping for portable air-conditioner units on a per-room basis, and not as a temperature moderation option for your entire home.
With strategic placement, you can keep the vast majority of your home's living space cool with just one small air conditioning unit.
2.
Don't expect the same performance as a built-in system.
Not all air conditioners are made equal.
While portable air conditioner units have evolved beyond their former energy-eating form, they've yet to become as powerful and effective as a large ceiling unit or industrial air conditioning system.
With smart placement, your portable air conditioner unit can become equally as effective as its larger, more expensive alternatives.
Opt for a major living area and place your air conditioner for optimum airflow - you'll gain the same temperature benefits as a larger unit without the needless extra power.
3.
Look for efficiency awards and environmental benefits.
While all modern air conditioners offer reasonable energy efficiency, there's a clear and definite variation between today's best and worst home cooling systems.
Shop with an eye for energy usage and you may end up saving a lot of money in the long term; cheap portable air conditioner units may result in short-term savings, but they're likely to require more energy under heavy usage.
With the most powerful portable units boasting cooling power often unheard of in ceiling and wall mounted air-conditioners, it's no surprise that a growing number of tenants, homeowners, and temporary residents are opting for a portable unit when outfitting their residence for summer.
So before you order that expensive wall mounted air conditioning system, consider the benefits of a more compact alternative.
Apartment dwellers and a growing number of suburban residents are in agreement - a portable room air-conditioner unit is often the best option for keeping your home cooling costs at reasonable levels.
We've prepared this buyers guide to help you find the best portable air-conditioner unit for your home, apartment, or condominium.
1.
Don't buy for your home, buy for your room.
Most consumer air-conditioners are capable of cooling between three and four-hundred square feet of floor space.
While that's generally sufficient for a living room or bedroom area, it's rarely enough to keep an entire home or mid-sized apartment cool.
We recommend shopping for portable air-conditioner units on a per-room basis, and not as a temperature moderation option for your entire home.
With strategic placement, you can keep the vast majority of your home's living space cool with just one small air conditioning unit.
2.
Don't expect the same performance as a built-in system.
Not all air conditioners are made equal.
While portable air conditioner units have evolved beyond their former energy-eating form, they've yet to become as powerful and effective as a large ceiling unit or industrial air conditioning system.
With smart placement, your portable air conditioner unit can become equally as effective as its larger, more expensive alternatives.
Opt for a major living area and place your air conditioner for optimum airflow - you'll gain the same temperature benefits as a larger unit without the needless extra power.
3.
Look for efficiency awards and environmental benefits.
While all modern air conditioners offer reasonable energy efficiency, there's a clear and definite variation between today's best and worst home cooling systems.
Shop with an eye for energy usage and you may end up saving a lot of money in the long term; cheap portable air conditioner units may result in short-term savings, but they're likely to require more energy under heavy usage.
SHARE
