Don’t Waste Money On Cheap Portable Air Conditioners

A portable air conditioner is a cooling option you might consider in a variety of circumstances. If you’re trying to cool an individual room, but the room’s design, apartment building rules, or other factors prohibit a window unit, a portable air conditioner may be a viable alternative. However, not all portable air conditioners are created equal. While you might be tempted to save money by purchasing a cheaper, single hose unit, opting for a more expensive dual hose air conditioner can actually reduce costs in the long run and deliver better performance overall.

That said, you first need to decide whether a portable air conditioner is right for you at all.  There are a lot of downsides of portable air conditioners. Despite the name, a portable air conditioner can be relatively heavy, loud, and inefficient. That said, if circumstances prevent you from opting for a superior cooling solution, you at least want to know you’re investing in a portable AC unit that will serve your needs and justify the cost. To that end, buying the more expensive unit might actually be your best bet.

When you shop for portable ACs, you’ll likely find that single hose models have more appealing price tags than dual hose models. However, purchasing one might ultimately be the less financially sound choice.

A single hose portable air conditioner unit works by pulling air from inside the room and cooling it. The unit is designed to vent warm air and moisture outside the room. However, because a single hose portable AC pulls air from within the room and pushes it outside, the result is negative air pressure within the space you’re trying to cool. This causes the air in the room to be replaced with air that can leak in through other areas through the little gaps beneath closed doors. This naturally counteracts the cooling effect of the unit. Thus, the AC has to use more energy to function as intended.

On top of that, the harder an AC has to work, the more wear-and-tear the unit goes through. This can limit its lifespan and result in the need for early repairs. All these costs add up over extended periods of use. A single hose unit might be acceptable for a small room, but it’s a poor choice for a larger space.

A portable air conditioner with two hoses typically represents an improvement over a single hose unit. One hose in a dual hose unit draws in air from inside the room, cools it, then sends it back into the room. This process generates heat within the components of the unit. The second hose takes in air from outside, uses it to cool the unit, and sends that warmed air back outside. This addresses some of the efficiency and effectiveness problems that can plague single hose models. The dual hose unit may cost more initially, but it will likely compensate for that with better savings and performance in the long run.

Finally, if you’re not sure whether a portable AC unit is right for your cooling needs, it helps to discuss this topic with a professional. They may be able to point you in the direction of better options. You can research the best portable air conditioners currently available as well. If you decide to purchase one, it’s also wise to brush up on some basic information, such as how much space you should leave between a portable air conditioner and the wall.