Cooling a single room in a home is far more efficient than cooling the whole house at once. Individual room cooling used to be accomplished using window units, but these devices are bulky and can be difficult to install. One solution is to use what is called a portable air conditioner. These small and compact units are capable of cooling rooms of all sizes and plug directly into the wall. They have wheels on the bottom for smooth transport around the home.
Calculating Room Size:
To make an informed purchasing decision, you should calculate the square footage of the room that will be cooled. The size of a room plays a large role in how powerful the air conditioning unit must be. Portable air conditioners are rated in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. The higher this number is, the greater the cooling capacity of the unit. A unit which is under powered will run continuously, never being able to reach the desired temperature. A unit which is over powered will cool so quickly that it does not perform proper dehumidification.
What is the Energy Efficiency Ratio?
To save money on electricity, always look for portable air conditioners with a high Energy Efficiency Ratio. More efficient models are able to cool a room using less electricity. Over time, this efficiency can save you a lot of money.
Multi-Function Units:
Some air conditioners are capable of acting as heaters and dehumidifiers. With the dehumidifier function enabled, the unit will work to remove moisture from the air, thereby decreasing the humidity in a room. Heaters can warm an individual room so that you don’t have to turn on your big central air system. Multi-function units can serve you year-round, cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
Swamp Coolers:
A swamp cooler is an air conditioning unit which uses the cooling effects of evaporation to cool the air. Many of these models are indeed portable, but some people are turned off by them because they believe extra maintenance is required. While they do need to be maintained, this only involves occasional draining and cleaning. The more a swamp cooler is used, the more maintenance it needs. Portable swamp coolers work best in low humidity. They are a good option if you don’t mind regularly checking and cleaning the internal components. The main goal is to keep the water reservoir filled and to ensure that hard water sediments do not build up. If you’re looking for a small portable air conditioner, the swamp cooler may not be the best option.
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