Portable Air Conditioners: What Features to Look for

Because portable air conditioners are compact, portable, energy efficient, and require little installation, it's easy to see why they're the ideal portable cooling solution in instances where traditional air conditioning systems are impractical or  expensive to install. Although they still require an exhaust tube that must be vented, portable air conditioners are portable in the sense that they require no permanent installation, making them ideal for homes, apartments, or offices.

While many consumers understand that a portable air conditioner's BTU rating is important, there are several other features that you may not be aware of and should consider. Many portable air conditioners boast advanced features such as auto-evaporative technology, timers, and even built-in heaters. Here are some features you may want to pay attention to before making your portable air conditioner purchase:

BTU Requirements

One of the first things you will notice when shopping for a portable air conditioner is the term "BTU's" or "British Thermal Units." Every air conditioner has a cooling capacity number that ranges anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 BTU's, and the higher the BTU value, the stronger the air conditioner. However, be aware that purchasing an air conditioner with the wrong BTU value for your area will result in problems with cooling efficiency, as an air conditioner that's too powerful will cycle off too quickly and not properly dehumidify the room, and similarly, a portable air conditioner with too low a BTU rating will not adequately cool.

To accurately find out how many BTUs your room needs, perform one of these two equations:

1. Find the square footage of the room and multiply this number by 35 to get a general ballpark figure.
2. Find the square footage of the room and find this number range in the following chart:

EER Ratings

"EER" stands for "Energy Efficiency Ratio," and this is another number that's commonly used in the portable air conditionerindustry. High EER ratings are favorable because this means the unit costs less to operate. Portable ACs have EERs usually ranging from 8 to 11, and the higher the EER, the more the air conditioner will cost. So if you plan on constantly operating your portable air conditioner, it may be worthwhile to get a unit with a high EER.

Drainage Requirements

Consider whether you mind emptying a portable air conditioner's drainage bucket a few times a day or if you prefer a unit that can be drained continuously. Also, if you are willing to pay a bit more, there are portable air conditioners that exhaust the condensed water through its exhaust hose, minimizing condensate buildup.

Noise Level

Many modern portable air conditioners are now relatively quiet, but if you're concerned about noise levels, be sure to pay attention to decibel ratings. The higher the decibel, the louder the unit is. To get a basic idea of decibel ratings, refer to the following chart: