Some say that portable AC units are better than window AC units, others claim they have never had a problem with window AC and therefore it must be better than a portable AC. You cannot adequately base your decision on whether to choose a window or portable AC unit only on opinions. You should base it on facts.
Full Answer
What is the best air conditioner for Windows?
- Best for Small Spaces: Frigidaire White Energy Star 5,000 BTU
- Best Affordable Option: Cool-Living 5,000 BTU
- Best for Sliding Windows: Frigidaire 8,000 BTU 115V Slider
- Best for No Noise: Midea U Inverter 8,000 BTU
- Best for Low-Profile Windows: LG Smart Window Air Conditioner 8,000 BTU
- Best With Heat: Koldfront WAC8001W 8,000 BTU
What is the best portable air conditioner?
- Best Portable Air Conditioner Overall: Whynter Elite Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Portable Air Conditioner For Small Rooms: Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Portable Air Conditioner For Large Rooms: Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
- Best Desktop Portable Air Conditioner: Evapolar evaCHILL
Does window AC have heater?
Window AC with heater can provide 10,000+ BTU of cooling effect during the summer. The same window unit with heat can provide 10,000+ BTU of heating during the winter. Window AC units with heat can work both as air conditioners and heater, eliminating the need for 2 separate HVAC devices.
What is the most efficient air conditioner?
- BEST OVERALL: Lennox SL28XCV Air Conditioner
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Keystone Energy Star 5,000 BTU Air Conditioner
- RUNNER-UP: Amana AVXC20 Air Conditioner
- BEST WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER: LG 18,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner
- BEST MINI SPLIT: MRCOOL DIY Gen-3 Mini Split Air Conditioner
- BEST PORTABLE: Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
Which is better window or portable air conditioner?
Generally speaking, window ACs are more affordable, more efficient, and more effective than their portable counterparts, so they are usually what you should get.
Is it cheaper to run a window air conditioner or a portable air conditioner?
Many window units are less expensive than portable air conditioners, saving you money. Window air conditioners can generate significantly more cooling power per British thermal unit (BTU). This leads to cooler rooms and lower energy bills. This type of AC unit won't take up any floor space or extra room in your home.
Is a portable air conditioner worth it?
It's generally less efficient. Portable air conditioners often take more BTUs — and therefore use more electricity — to cool the same square foot space as a window unit. This is likely because they generate waste heat indoors instead of outside, creating more overall heat for the unit to deal with.
Which is quieter portable or window AC?
Portable air conditioners are not louder than window units. On average, portable air conditioners are slightly quieter, by just 1.8 decibels, than window units. However, the most common decibel level for both is 56 dB.
Does Portable AC use a lot of electricity?
How Much Electricity Does A Portable Air Conditioner Use? Mid-sized portable air conditioners use an average of 2900 watts per hour. Particularly large units can exceed the electricity usage of even central air conditioners, expending about 4100 watts per hour.
How long do portable air conditioners last?
5 to 10 yearsPortable air conditioners last from 5 to 10 years. Portable AC units can be moved from room to room and can generate anywhere from 8,000 BTU to 15,000 BTU of cooling output. Portable AC units have the lowest lifespan of all AC types because: They get moved around a lot.
Does portable AC cool room?
A portable air conditioner can lower the temperature of a room by 5 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes. It is a very convenient air conditioner since it can provide cool air anytime and anywhere you want.
How can I keep my room cool without AC?
How to cool down a room without acPut ice in front of a fan. ... Keep curtains and blinds drawn. ... Use fans more effectively. ... Improve the air flow by opening windows. ... Create exterior shade at windows. ... Hang damp sheets in front of the windows. ... Close doors to keep out the heat. ... Switch off electrics.More items...•
Will a portable air conditioner cool my house?
Cooling Only – if you have a hot spot, it is most likely also a cold spot in the winter. Keep in mind that portable ACs only provide cooling and not heating. So if you're buying a portable AC for a hot spot, you might also need to buy a space heater for the same room.
Do portable air conditioners use more electricity than window units?
What's more, a window air conditioner actually uses energy more efficiently than a portable unit does. That means you get even more cooling power per BTU. When you are looking at window units, pay attention to the BTU rating. The higher that number is, the bigger the room the unit can cool.
Are portable AC noisy?
Unlike a split air conditioner, a portable air conditioner has everything in one casing. This means the compressor of the air conditioning, which is responsible for the noise, is built into the casing. This causes a lot of noise. With a split air conditioner, the compressor hangs outside, so it's not as loud.
How much electricity does a window AC use?
between 500 to 1,500 wattsHow Much Electricity Does a Window AC Use? On average, a window AC unit can use between 500 to 1,500 watts of electricity to run. A midsize window air conditioner that uses 900 watts of electricity will consume approximately 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month if operated 8 hours per day.
How much can a portable AC cool a room?
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.
Can portable AC units be used without a window?
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.
Do portable air conditioners need a vent?
It's necessary to vent portable air conditioners because they extract hot air. If you want your air conditioning system to cool the room effectively, you need to let the hot air vent to the outside. When you purchase a portable air conditioner, the venting kit will almost always be included.
Pros & Cons Of Portable Air Conditioners
Here is an overview of portable air-conditioners; how they work, what they are suitable for, their advantages and disadvantages.
Pros & Cons Of Window Air Conditioners
Here is a detailed overview of window air conditioners, what they are, how they work, their advantages and disadvantages. Read on to find out all about window air conditioners.
Portable Vs Window ACs (Key Differences & Which Is Better?)
When finding the best air-conditioner that is cost and energy-efficient, the choice is always between portable AC vs Window AC. Here we have discussed and compared both options to find out which ones better and which ones best based on the features.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we have given you enough evidence to decide what unit would suit your needs. Portable, as well as Window ACs, have proven their worth in different spaces. However, a lot has to be considered while basing your decision, from room size to the weather outside, and more.
What is portable air conditioner?
Portable air conditioner units are designed to sit on the floor, and they can come in a wide variety of designs, although most are a towerlike shape, small enough to move around and often equipped with wheels to make repositioning easier. They often must be positioned near a window (more on this below) to run a vent out of to shed excess heat and water vapor outside, but they otherwise have few placement requirements.
What to do if you aren't sure what model of HVAC to get?
If you aren’t sure what model to get, we suggest contacting a local HVAC expert to discuss the size of your home, what other cooling methods you use, and how much power you need.
Can you uninstall a window AC unit?
It’s an option for offices that don’t have windows that can be opened and similar situations. Window AC units, of course, aren’t really portable at all. In extreme situations, they can be uninstalled or replaced, but they are generally considered a fixture of the building. GE Aros Smart Air Conditioner.
Is a window based AC better than a portable AC?
Conclusion. A window-based air conditioner is generally easy to use and a better return for the money unless you really need a portable AC unit. Here are a few situations where a portable model tends to be the better option: Windows may be too high off of the ground to comfortably install a window AC, even on the first floor.
Do window air conditioners have to be standardized?
Window air conditioners tend to be standardized in shape, made to fit specific types of windows. This also means that you have to give up window space to use them, which may be more difficult in some cases than others.
Do window AC units have to face outside?
Window AC units, on the other hand, are made for a (more or less) permanent installation in a space where a windowpane used to be. This allows them to face outside so they can let heat dissipate into the outdoor air and even connect to a permanent drainage system if necessary. Window air conditioners tend to be standardized in shape, made to fit specific types of windows. This also means that you have to give up window space to use them, which may be more difficult in some cases than others.
Can you install an AC on the ground?
Windows may be too high off of the ground to comfortably install a window AC, even on the first floor. Windows have a shape or style that prevents a window AC from being used. You really don’t want to sacrifice the light or airflow you get from your windows.
What is the job of a window AC?
Window AC. Since the job of a room air conditioner is to take heat from your room air and move it outside, having the hot components — the condenser coil and compressor — sitting outside in free-moving air is ideal. Since it’s all one connected unit, the window AC can even use the water that collects on the indoor coil to help cool ...
Why are window units better than other units?
All of the advantages of a window unit come from the fact that most of it is hanging out your window. This makes it more efficient, more affordable, and even more quiet. You’ll also give up less floor space.
What is the loudest part of an air conditioner?
Noise. The loudest parts of an air conditioning system are the compressor and the fans moving air past the two coils. A window air conditioner keeps the compressor and one fan outside, so it’s quiet. Not as quiet as a central system, but much quieter than a portable.
Do window air conditioners block windows?
A window air conditioner blocks part of a window and one outlet, but that’s really it. You don’t lose any floor space the way you do with a portable unit, and there are no bulky hoses hanging off your window.
Is a window air conditioner better than a portable air conditioner?
But not everyone can install a window unit easily, and that’s why portables have become so popular.
Can you put a portable air conditioner on a window?
The installation of a portable air conditioner isn’t exactly easy — if you’ve got to carry it up the stairs, it’s still heavy. But it’s definitely less nerve-racking to put some foam tape and a plastic bracket in a window than it is to balance a window unit on your windowsill while you secure it.
What is the drawback of portable AC?
The biggest drawback, however, is surely the energy rating. While some portable ACs meet or exceed the governmental minimum requirement for AC energy usage to be 10 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio), many don’t. And for the ones that do, you can expect to pay more. And if you don’t want to go with a portable or window AC, ...
What is the difference between a window unit and a portable unit?
A window unit uses chemicals called refrigerants that absorb the heat from the air when it passes over a set of coils, resulting in chilled indoor air. A portable unit, on the other hand, utilizes an exhaust pipe, ...
Do window AC units use more energy?
Window AC units are tucked away in a window, making them less noticeable and freeing up morel living space. They also use energy more efficiently, so you can get more cooling power per BTU.
Is LG a good brand?
If noise control is of the utmost importance, LG is a great brand to try thanks to its dual-inverter compressor, which eliminates that unwanted noise, so you can sleep soundly and cool. There are also some conveniences that should be considered as well.
Is central AC needed in older homes?
It makes your home feel more comfortable when the mercury spikes. However, central AC isn’t an option for some living in older homes or in parts of the country where it hasn’t traditionally been included in residential buildings. It’s also an expensive, impractical addition to houses without it. That’s why you may want to consider ...
Do portable air conditioners have condensation?
Condensation is another issue associated with portable air conditioners . While some of the newer and/or pricier models remove the condensation through the vent exhaust, many still rely on a drip pan, which quickly fills up and must be manually emptied.
What is the best feature of portable air conditioners?
One of the most attractive features of a portable air conditioner is that it is extremely easy to install. You will receive a window kit through which you will place a small exhaust. This is so the heat removed from the air in your room can be evacuated.
How does a portable air conditioner work?
A portable unit uses an exhaust pipe that funnels the air out your window. A window unit is already outside and simply expunges the hot air that way.
What to consider when choosing an air conditioner?
Things to Consider When Choosing an Air Conditioner. Some people may decide that the noise level of the unit is important. Air conditioners are notorious for making a humming sound when they kick on. While there is no discernible difference between portable and window devices, you can find differences between specific models.
Why are window units banned?
Some homeowners’ associations ban the use of window units because they hang outside of a window. Portable air conditioners do not have any pieces that will protrude from your window, therefore will not violate such regulations.
Why do people use air conditioning units?
When the temperature starts to rise, most people rely on their air conditioning units to keep their homes and offices at a comfortable temperature. There are a number of options on the market when it comes to the type of unit you use. If you aren’t sure if you should use a portable or a window model, here are a few guidelines that might help you.
Can you install an air conditioner through the wall?
It is important to note that some window air conditioner can also be installed through the wall which does not require an actual window space. In order for this type of installation, you will need to purchase a Through-the-Wall Window Air Conditioner that has a specific kit that allows the unit to fit that particular type of area.
Is a window air conditioner good for cooling?
Either a portable or a window air conditioning unit is a great tool for efficiently cooling your home. Both devices can actually reduce your energy bills in warmer months. By assessing your needs and taking into account the benefits of each, you can make a right decision between the two.
