
Can you use a portable air conditioner without an exhaust hose?
If you need to cool your room, then you cannot use a portable air conditioner without an exhaust hose. Portable air conditioners work by removing warm air from the inside of your room. But the heat that it removes from your room needs to be put somewhere. This is where the exhaust hose comes into play.
Do air conditioners have water hoses in them?
Units now encourage the evaporation of most of the water they collect and gather the rest in a removable reservoir that you must periodically empty. This has eliminated the need to run water hoses through the room, but exhaust hoses are still critical components of portable air conditioners.
What size hose do I need for a portable air conditioner?
All portable air conditioners come with the standard hose length of 5-7 feet. If you need a longer hose, these can be easily found at a local hardware store. It is a good idea to avoid hose lengths over 12 feet or 90 degree bends.
What does the exhaust hose do on a portable AC?
This is where the exhaust hose comes into play. As your portable AC removes heat from the air inside your room, it blows this heat out through the exhaust hose. If you don’t use the exhaust hose, then your portable AC will not cool your room.

Why do you need a hose for a portable air conditioner?
A portable air conditioner uses its vent hose to remove heat, so venting it outside makes the most sense in almost every case. If the heat from the exhaust fan can come back through the intake of the air conditioner, you're wasting money.
How do you vent a portable air conditioner without a hose?
With this in mind, let's look at these 4 hoseless portable AC unit ventilation methods:Put A Portable AC Into The Door Gap. ... Mount The Portable AC Through The Window. ... Make A Hole In The Wall And Move Portable AC Unit To That Hole. ... Put A Portable Air Conditioner Into A Fireplace.
Does portable air conditioner need to be vented outside?
Why Do You Need to Vent Your Portable AC? Portable air conditioners cool your room by extracting hot air from the space. In order to cool efficiently and effectively, the hot has to exit the room. If the warm air is not vented outside, it will stay in your room, negating the cool air that is entering your space.
Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room with no windows?
Yes. For window AC insulation, most portable ACs require a window to vent out warm air, there are other options to consider when your room is windowless. You can vent out the warm exhaust air through the wall, the ceiling, the door, or the dryer vents, depending on your most convenient option.
What happens if you don't use the exhaust hose on a portable air conditioner?
If you don't use the exhaust hose, then your portable AC will not cool your room. It will blow all the heat right back into your room. What is this? By removing the vent hose and running your portable AC, you can turn your portable AC into a dehumidifier.
Can I vent my portable air conditioner through the floor?
You can vent through the floor, ceiling, even a chimney. You can even vent into another room. The primary goal of venting is to get the hot air coming off the compressor out of the room you are trying to cool.
Can I vent my portable air conditioner through the floor?
You can vent through the floor, ceiling, even a chimney. You can even vent into another room. The primary goal of venting is to get the hot air coming off the compressor out of the room you are trying to cool.
Do ventless portable air conditioners work?
Ventless coolers vs portable air conditioners In dry regions where evaporative cooling works well, so-called ventless air conditioners are more efficient than portable air conditioners and will humidify your air at the same time. But in humid conditions like the “Deep South,” the evaporative cooler won't work at all.
Can you vent a portable air conditioner through a screen?
Yes, you can vent a portable air conditioner through a screen. In this venting process, the airflow will definitely get across some sort of resistance. To make sure, however, that there will be enough space for the airflow to pass, you will need to consider your screen's material and structure.
Why do you need to vent your portable air conditioner?
This is because the nature of these systems is that they will extract hot air from around them.
Do they all come with hoses?
This means that the majority of air condition ers come with exhaust hoses. This is to ensure that the warm air can be removed and that it does not warm up the air while it’s being used.
Why vent a portable air conditioner?
Venting the hot air inside would prevent the room from cooling down. Once you understand how the air conditioner works, it's easy to see why every portable air conditioner needs a vent hose run to the outside of the building. There is simply no way to get around it.
How to get around portable AC vent hose?
There is simply no way to get around it. To minimize the inconvenience of your portable AC's vent hose, set your air conditioner as close to your window as you can. The closer the unit is to the widow, the shorter the vent hose you'll need to deal with. If you can't get your unit close to the window and fear that someone may trip over ...
What is the best humidity level for an evaporative cooler?
A humidity level of 60 percent or higher will render an evaporative cooler much less effective. In less humid climates, evaporative coolers can be just as effective as portable air conditioners while using less energy. Advertisement. references & resources.
How does a portable air conditioner work?
True Air Conditioners. Like all air conditioners, portable units work by pulling in warm air and running it through a cooling system filled with refrigerant. The refrigerant doesn't make the air cold -- it actually absorbs the heat from it. This heat has to go somewhere, and so is vented outside.
Do evaporative coolers need a vent?
Evaporative coolers require no vent or water hoses and are completely self-contained, making them the choice for those who need portable cooling without hoses. It is of note. however, that evaporative coolers work best in areas of low humidity.
What happens when air passes through a wet membrane?
As the air passes through the wet membrane, the water evaporates, removing heat as it does so. As a result, the air that comes out of the evaporator is cooler than the air going in. This is the same principle as perspiration. As air moves across your skin and your sweat evaporates, your body feels cooler.
Why does the air in an evaporator feel cooler?
As the air passes through the wet membrane, the water evaporates, removing heat as it does so. As a result, the air that comes out of the evaporator is cooler than the air going in. This is the same principle as perspiration. As air moves across your skin and your sweat evaporates, your body feels cooler. Advertisement.
What happens if you don’t use a vent?
A portable air conditioner in cooling mode is very much like a purpose-built dehumidifier, except for one important difference: Portable air conditioners drip captured water onto the hot condenser coil, which makes the removal of heat more efficient and means you don’t have to dump out a tank every hour. If you send that air and humidity outside, it’s a win-win move.
What is the purpose of a two phase air conditioner?
This two-phase system is used in most appliances that need to cool things — refrigerators, freezers, portable ice makers and air conditioners.
What is the cold side of an air conditioner?
The cold side of an air conditioner is pretty much the same no matter what type you have. Air coming in from your room flows past the cold evaporator coil, which pulls out heat and condenses humidity into drops of water.
How much electricity does an AC unit use?
Since most units consume about 1,000 watts of electricity, this would actually heat up your room far more than it would cool off.
Do portable air conditioners have exhaust hoses?
M any new owners of portable air conditioners are surprised to see the large exhaust vent hose included in the box, since they’re often missing from photos of the air conditioner unit in advertising. Whether you’re shopping for a portable air conditioner or setting one up for the fifth summer in a row like we are, you might be asking yourself if you could just leave that bulky exhaust hose in the closet.
Can you switch a portable AC to a dehumidifier?
Switching a portable AC to “dehumidifier” mode doesn’t change the amount of heat being generated, but it makes the water go straight to a catch-tank (or, better, out of a drain hose) instead of back into the air. In this case, the big difference compared to a dehumidifier is that portable AC units typically have very small water tanks and are difficult to drain unless you can roll them outside and drain the water onto your lawn.
Does a swamp cooler remove heat?
A swamp cooler doesn’t really remove heat from your air. Instead, it traps heat in the process of changing water from liquid to vapor, basically the same way your skin cools off when you sweat.
How to run portable air conditioner without exhaust?
If you need to run a portable air conditioner without any exhaust vent tube, set it to run in “dry” or “dehumidifier” mode and connect a garden hose to the top drain port so you can collect condensed water in a bucket or floor drain .
How many inches of vent hoses do portable air conditioners use?
Just note that most portable air conditioners use 6- inch vent hoses, and dryer vent fittings are usually 4-inch. Like with a window kit, the most important thing about this install is to provide a clear path for the air, and the seal should be tight. Luckily, running straight through the wall means you can remove most of the bend from ...
What are the problems with portable air conditioner vents?
The two most common problems with portable air conditioner vents are kinked hoses and leaking window seals.
What is the advantage of buying a portable air conditioner kit?
The advantage to buying a kit for this purpose is that it will save you time, and they include all the hook-and-loop tape you need to make it easy to remove and re-install. The plastic bracket will hold up the weight of the dual hoses of our favorite portable air conditioner much better, though.
Do portable AC units need vents?
These AC units are like self-contained heat pumps: They collect heat from a room and send it somewhere else through an exhaust vent. But portable ACs don’t need to vent out a window, so long as you can find another way to send the heat outside. Below we’ve outlined four other ways to vent a portable air conditioner.
Can you vent out a door with no windows?
If you’re only running the air conditioner to deal with intense heat from something like a server rack in an interior room with no windows, venting out a door could make sense for short periods of time. Any time you’re venting into an interior space, you should monitor the temperature in the space you’re venting the heat to, making sure you don’t overheat anything.
Can you vent heat through a cooling system?
You can vent the heat through a building’s cold air return ducts directly to a central cooling system, but only so long as there’s enough capacity in that system to soak it up. Generally, if your central system can’t deal with the extra heat in a room just by redirecting the amount of air coming out of the vents, most HVAC professionals caution that you will only make the situation worse by adding a portable to the mix.
How Do Portable Air Conditioners Work?
The primary function is to pull in the room’s air, condition it to your set temperature by extracting the heat, and releasing the cooled air back into your room.
How Do Single-Hose vs. Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioners Work?
There are two types of portable room air conditioners: single-hose and dual-hose. Let’s see the difference between the two types, and how do these portable air conditioners work?
What is the purpose of a portable refrigerant hose?
Therefore, portable units have an exhaust hose that is used to vent the heat outside the room.
Why are portable ACs less efficient?
Portable air conditioners are generally less energy efficient. The reason is they take more time to condition a room than any other type of AC of the same capacity. Portable ACs tend to generate some heat during the whole process. It is not noticeable but slows down the overall cooling process.
How does refrigerant work?
The refrigerant plays an essential role in the whole process. It is what cools down the room air and is used as a heat exchange medium.
How to keep portable AC from mold?
If your portable aircon isn’t reversible or you don’t plan to use it in winters, it must be stored properly. Clean the device and dry out the water tray to prevent the growth of mold. Use mild soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the exterior of your portable AC.
What is the main function of a portable air conditioner?
The primary function is to pull in the room’s air, condition it to your set temperature by extracting the heat, and releasing the cooled air back into your room. The basic components involved in working a portable air conditioner include: Evaporator coil and the refrigerant: Responsible for cooling the air.
Is a portable swamp cooler and a portable air conditioner the same thing?
No , these are not the same. Swamp coolers, also known as evaporative coolers or swamp coolers, use water and evaporation to cool. Generally, air coolers lower ambient temperatures by 10-20 degrees. Portable air conditioners use a compressor and coolant to cool and are much more effective in cooling rooms and for keeping the humidity low.
Can the exhaust hose be extended?
All portable air conditioners come with the standard hose length of 5-7 feet. If you need a longer hose, these can be easily found at a local hardware store. It is a good idea to avoid hose lengths over 12 feet or 90 degree bends. You can also vent through the dryer hose as long as the hose diameter is 5" or more and the outdoor venting flap is removed.
How to drain portable AC?
With the unit off, the water is easily emptied into a drip pan. You can also gravity drain the portable AC by connecting a hose to the connection on the reservoir. Portable ACs are able to provide effective cooling with minimal water usage, making them one of the most efficient systems on the market.
How many amps does a portable air conditioner use?
All of the portable air conditioners that we carry operate on 115 Volt/60 Hertz - the normal household standard. They generally run on about 7-10 amps and require a regular, 3-prong grounded plug found in most homes.
What is an EER rating?
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is a standard measure of efficiency for comparing appliances and the cost of operation. The higher the EER, the more energy efficient the air conditioner. Any rating of 10 or more is considered excellent. By cooling only one room, portable air conditioners can save you a considerable amount ...
How much does a portable AC unit weigh?
All of our portable air conditioners are between 29" and 34" tall and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds.
How long is a portable AC hose?
You can also vent a portable AC through a wall vent, into the attic or drop ceiling, or even around a door - you're only limited by your creativity! A portable air conditioner's exhaust hose is generally between 5 and 7 feet long and is made of high quality, flexible plastic.
What Happens If You Don’t Vent Your Portable AC?
If you do not vent your portable AC, it will not be as effective. The entire point of venting your AC is so that the heat that it pulls out of the air can be removed. If you do not have a ventilation port for the exhaust, the heat will just flow back into the same room, which can actually make things hotter.
How to vent portable AC unit?
The simplest method is to funnel the exhaust line of your portable AC unit through casement windows. Casement windows use a hand crank to open, and you can buy portable AC unit vent kits to attach to casement window units. This method requires a hose to attach to the exhaust port.
What is portable air conditioner vent kit?
Portable air conditioner window vent kits are designed to attach to AC units and have a hose that you can install in the closest window.
Why is portable AC used?
The point of a portable AC unit is to extract heat from the air to cool things down. If that hot air is extracted and does not have anywhere to go, then it just stays stuck in the same room.
How to reduce AC noise?
Generally speaking, having AC units closer to windows also make the noise levels emitted lower too. Avoid humidity. Humid air can get inside the air conditioner and cause moisture accumulation on the inside. Too much moisture can damage the air conditioner components over time. Clean the air filter.
Can you attach a dryer vent to an exhaust hose?
In some cases, this may not be a viable option if the dryer vent diameter is too small to accommodate the hose.
How to store AC units when not in use?
Store properly when not in use. When not using your AC unit, make sure that the vents are covered, and it is stored in a cool place. Keeping the vents covered prevents blockages, and the cool air prevents moisture accumulation from humidity.
Check for low airflow in portable air conditioner
Low airflow through your portable AC will cause the exhaust hose to get hot. Why does that happen? The exhaust hose is used to discharge heat from the portable AC. So if your portable AC doesn’t have enough airflow through its exhaust hose, then heat won’t be able to flow outside properly.
Vent the portable air conditioner correctly
The next thing that you should check is for kinks and twists in the exhaust hose. If the exhaust hose has too many kinks, then air won’t be able to flow out of it.
Portable AC is too small for the space
Another reason why your portable AC’s exhaust hose gets too hot is that it is undersized for the space that you are trying to cool.
Portable air conditioner exhaust hose needs to be insulated
In most cases, if your portable AC’s exhaust hose is hot, it’s due to one of the reasons above.
