subject: How To Choose The Perfect Portable Air Conditioner [print this page] Choosing the best portable air conditioner for your home can be a challenge if youve never shopped for one before.
The key to success is determining the size of the area you want to cool, how many BTUs it will take to adequately cool that space, matching the required BTUs to a unit of the correct size, deciding whether or not you want a model that heats as well as cools, and then finding a highly rated model that matches you specifications.
I hope this doesnt sound like a lot of work; because it isnt. With the help of the following pointers youll be transformed from novice to expert in minutes and ready to order a portable air conditioner with really cool results.
1. Measure the space you want to cool. Every portable air conditioner has a BTU rating that corresponds to a specific coverage area stated in square feet. So the first thing to do is get out your old reliable tape measurer and measure the length and width of the room. (If one or both of the measurements is feet plus inches, just round it up to the next foot).
Next multiply the length x width to determine the coverage area in square feet you need to cool.
Note: If your goal is to cool a large open area such as a living room - dining room kitchen, which in turn probably connects to hallways, be forewarned that the results you get from a portable unit may or may not live up to your expectations.
2. Match the coverage area measurement to the correct size unit. Lets say the room you measured is 11 x 13 equaling 143 square feet. Applying a conservative estimate of 50 BTUs of cooling output per square foot you would need a portable air conditioner rated at 7,000 BTUs (50 x 143 = 7150).
Note: There arent many 7,000 BTU models to choose from. If you happen to need a unit this size but cant find one with satisfactory reviews you can safely move up to the 8,000 BTU category where the selection is better.
3. Do you need a single or double hose model? Every portable AC needs at least one hose to exhaust the hot air and condensate generated by the compressor. The second hose on larger units is necessary to intake air from the outside to minimize the occurrence of negative room air pressure.
Fortunately, the manufacturers of portable air conditioners have made this decision for you. In most cases units with an output of 10,000 BTUs or less are single hose models and those above 10,000 are dual hose models; in other words, dont worry about it.
4. Are you looking for a portable air conditioner/heater combination? If you answered yes to this question look for a model with a compressor that has the capacity to heat as well as cool. The advantage of a compressor/heat pump arrangement is the unit has the ability to heat and cool approximately the same number of square feet.
You know youve found a portable air conditioner/heater with this capability when the product description states both cooling AND heating in BTUs: 12,000 BTUs cooling 11,000 BTUs heating.
However, when the description of a portable air conditioner/heater mentions only cooling BTUs, chances are it uses a built in electric space heater for the heating function. This isnt necessarily a bad thing as long as youre aware that it will heat only a third of the area that the unit is capable of cooling.
If the product description is vague or confusing you can always go to the manufacturers website and call customer support for a definitive answer.
5. Read the reviews. You dont have to buy from Amazon, but its definitely worth your while to spend a few minutes reading their product reviews.
I like to start with the 1 star reviews where the shortcomings of a product are detailed in brutal honesty. But not all complaints deserve equal weight. Some complaints, like it died after two weeks, deserve serious consideration. Others, like Im giving this product 1 star because it arrived broken in two, describe a problem with packing or shipping, not the product itself.
And some complaints, such as noise, are purely subjective. What is soothing white noise to some is an annoyance to others. Comparatively speaking, the noise level of a portable air conditioner is the same as a window air conditioner with identical BTU output.
Read the good reviews too. Some reviewers go to extraordinary lengths outlining the pros and cons of a product while others share helpful tips on how to get the most from your portable air conditioner.
