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Portable Air Conditioners: Buy the Right One and Stay Cool This Summer

Learn about your options.

Molly Price Former Editor
Megan Wollerton Former Senior Writer/Editor
5 min read
keystone m series portable air conditioner

Portable air conditioners are a quick fix for hot rooms.

Keystone

Temperatures are steadily rising as we head into summer. If you're sweating it out at home, a portable air conditioner could be just what you need. These plug-in units are designed to cool rooms with the help of a nearby window and a power cord.

With no expensive installation required, they can be a big help for rooms that aren't climate controlled or don't get enough airflow. They're also useful in buildings with windows that can't fit a standard window AC unit. Here's everything you need to know if you're on the hunt for a portable air conditioner. 

Read more: Best Portable AC Units of 2022

How portable air conditioners work

Portable air conditioners are different from window units; they look more like tower fans or air purifiers that can sit easily in the corner of most rooms. 

Like the dryer vent that exits your home via a nearby window or wall fitting, portable air conditioners use a hose to vent moisture and exhaust out of your home. You should get a window venting kit with your purchase, and it includes everything you'll need to hook up the hose to your window and seal off the rest of the window's open space. 

Your portable air conditioner will plug into a power outlet nearby and pull air through its system to cool it and circulate it throughout your space. Most units include a water reservoir to help dehumidify the air it is circulating. Others use their vent hose to evaporate that moisture. 

There are two main types -- single-hose and dual-hose -- and they work differently. Let's take a look. 

Single-hose portable air conditioners

A single-hose portable air conditioner works by taking the stagnant, hot air inside your room, cooling it and then circulating it through your space.

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In single-hose units, the hose vents hot air and moisture outside.

Haier

Any excess warm air or moisture is vented out of your space through the portable air conditioner's window venting hose. These models, like this Black & Decker model are typically more energy efficient than dual-hose models. 

Dual-hose portable air conditioners

Dual-hose models don't use the air inside your home. Instead, they pull fresh air from the outside through that hose attached to the window. That's the air the portable air conditioner will cool and then circulate through the room.

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In dual-hose units, one hose vents in air from outside to cool and circulate throughout the room. The other hose vents any extra hot air and moisture back outside. 

Whynter

A second hose takes the excess warm air and moisture and vents it back out through the window. These units will usually cool down a room faster.

What to look for in a portable air conditioner

Once you've decided that a portable air conditioner is for you, there are a few things to consider. 

Plan where you'll put it

You may already know which room in your home needs cooling, but you'll also need to think about where you're going to put it. You'll need nearby access to an openable window that can serve as the venting source. You'll also need a nearby electrical outlet.

Pricing

Portable air conditioners aren't cheap. Small, personal models can cost around $50, but for a unit that will cool an entire room, you're likely to spend at least $200. The large and more powerful the unit, the more you'll pay.

Many models available online range from $250-$499 for rooms between 200-650 square feet. Seasonal items like air conditioners tend to go on sale in the off-season, so keep your eyes peeled for fall and winter deals. 

Sizing

Size matters! Cliche? Yes. True? Also yes. You need to know how big the room is to determine just how much circulating power you need to purchase. Portable air conditioners come in different sizes, and often that means different prices too. 

Here's a quick guide, from air conditioner manufacturer Sylvane, with the assumption of 8-foot ceilings:

  • 7,500 BTUs will cover 150 square feet x 8-foot ceiling = 1,200 cubic feet
  • 9,000 BTUs will cover 200 square feet x 8-foot ceiling = 1,600 cubic feet
  • 10,000 BTUs will cover 300 square feet x 8-foot ceiling = 2,400 cubic feet
  • 12,000 BTUs will cover 400 square feet x 8-foot ceiling = 3,200 cubic feet
  • 13,000 BTUs will cover 450 square feet x 8-foot ceiling = 3,600 cubic feet
  • 14,000 BTUs will cover 500 square feet x 8-foot ceiling = 4,000 cubic feet

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, a measurement of how much heat an air conditioning unit can remove from a space per hour. Portable air conditioners use this unit to measure their cooling power, so the higher the BTU rating, the larger the room an air conditioner can cool. 

Small rooms: A 7,000-to-10,000 BTU unit can effectively cool rooms up to 300 square feet. This 8,000-BTU Midea unit claims to cool rooms up to 150 square feet. 

Medium rooms: For rooms between 350 and 700 square feet, you'll want a 11,000-to-14,000 BTU unit. This 12,000-BTU SereneLife air conditioner says it cools rooms up to 450 square feet. 

Large rooms: Residential units generally top out around 14,000 BTU, enough for 700 square feet at most. For spaces larger than that, you'll need to look into commercial or industrial models. A unit that is too small for your space will run for too long and never effectively cool it to the temperature you want. There are some exceptions, though, like this 15,000-BTU residential Honeywell model that promises to cool up to 775 square feet. 

If you need portable cooling for larger spaces but don't want to pay commercial prices (they can soar into the thousands), consider buying multiple smaller units and placing them far apart. 

Read more: Portable Air Conditioner Deals

Extra features and helpful smarts

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Some units work with an app so you can make adjustments on the go.

De'Longhi

Once you've determined the right size unit, it's time to think about what extra features might enhance your experience. Here are a few common extras and example units.

Timer: Timers let you set cooling to start or stop after a certain amount of time or a certain time of day. 

Remote: A remote control will help you manage your climate control much more conveniently.

Dehumidifying: Air conditioners that also dehumidify can help rooms feel less stuffy fast.

Smarts: Portable air conditioners with smarts have WI-Fi to connect to voice assistants for voice commands and routines or to a mobile app. 

Maintaining your portable air conditioner

Portable air conditioners have air filters to keep circulating air clean. It's a good idea to clean the filter out every two weeks for the best performance. You can wash these filters with dish soap and warm water. 

Because portable air conditioners also dehumidify to some extent, you'll also need to drain your unit's water collection tray, if it has one. Dual-hose models may not collect water if they vent most of the humidity out a second hose, so check your unit's care instructions to find out more. Drain the collection tray often, before or after use to prevent mold growth. 

Other than those two maintenance items, general dusting and wiping down will keep your unit looking fresh and working well. If you store it in cold weather months, keep it in a cool, dry place. 

With a little bit of math and planning, you can solve your summer heat problems before they ruin the season with a portable air conditioner for your space.