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Choosing the right Portable Air Conditioner for your home
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Choosing a Portable Air Conditioner
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How to determine the proper BTU ratings.
Every air conditioner, including portable AC's, are rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs). The
greater the BTU rating, the more cooling power the portable air conditioner has. The following are
general guidelines for the maximum room size to BTUs that are typically recommended for portable
air conditioners:
- 7,500 BTU: 150 square feet
- 9,000 BTU: 250 square feet
- 10,000 BTU: 300 square feet
- 12,000 BTU: 400 square feet
- 13,000 BTU: 450 square feet
- 14,000 BTU: 500 square feet
These guidelines can sometimes vary from one manufacturer to another when it comes to maximum suggested
room size because of different factors that can reduce the effectiveness of portable air
conditioners.
Here are a few factors that might increase or decrease the BTUs required:
- Reduce your required capacity by 10% if your room is heavily shaded.
- Increase your capacity by 10% if your room is very sunny.
- Add 600 BTU to your capacity for each additional person (beyond two people) that regularly
occupies the same room.
- Add 4,000 BTU if the room is the kitchen.
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Considerations to keep in mind before buying a portable air conditioner.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a portable air conditioner is power rating.
Quite often, people mistakenly assume more power is always better because if it gets too cold, you can
always turn it down. However, the experts will tell you to pay close attention to the floor plan and
insulation in order to get the right number of BTUs. Otherwise, you could find yourself with excess
condensation and other aggravating problems.
After deciding on your BTU rating, much of the decision comes down to your own preference. The number
of exhaust hoses or if you want oscillating or fixed louvers are purely a matter of choice. Deciding
what you want depends on several factors, including the space being cooled, how long you intend to keep
the unit on at one time and whether there are dedicated personnel who are allowed adjust it as needed.
Some companies are concerned about noise levels as well and, therefore, pay special attention to the
sound created by each machine.
PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONERS ALSO NEED TO BE EXHAUSTED: Below is
an example of a 2 hose model being exhausted.
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What else should be considered when choosing a portable air conditioner?
Consumers have many different levels and brands of portable air conditioners to choose from these days.
Many of these are evaporative, which means there are no water tanks to empty. Still others require you
to drain the internal water tank every 12 hours to several days. The type of portable air conditioner
you choose may depend greatly on where you intend to exhaust it. For instance, if you are going to
exhaust the air conditioner through the attic or a drop ceiling, you would not want moisture to be
exhausted with the hot air so you would not use the evaporative type. However, if you are exhausting
the unit through a window, the evaporative type would be a good choice.
You might also want to consider the modes of operation you will require. Portable air conditioners
dehumidify the air and can also be used as fans. Some units can be used as dehumidifiers (separately
from the air conditioning function) and/or heaters.
Another consideration is picking the control type that fits your needs. You can choose electronic
controls, which offer features such as remote control, louvers that can be set to swing automatically
or advanced programmable timers. You may also choose the manual control type, which is simpler to
operate and can restart cooling process after a power outage without human intervention.
Finally, considering the energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating and sound level will play an important
part in your decision to choose a specific portable air conditioner as well. The higher the EER, the
more efficient the unit is. The lower the decibel level, the less noise the air conditioner will make.
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