What Experts Say About Portable Air Conditioners


Tips for Buying an Air Conditioner from Consumer Reports


How to Vent a Portable Air Conditioner

Most portable air conditioning systems come with a window kit to be used for venting. This kit generally consists of a window bracket, which is a piece of foam or resilient plastic that fits into an open window, a vent hose adapter for the bracket, and a couple of vent hoses. The typical vent hose is 4 to 5 feet long, so you have to position your portable AC relatively near a window.

Here are the steps you need to take to properly vent your portable unit:

When venting a portable ac unit, connect the vent hose to the portable A/C. If needed, cut the window bracket to fit your window comfortably. You may also require to cut a hole in the bracket for the hose, however a lot of brackets will include pre-cut holes.

Next, link the vent hose to the adapter, and close the window snugly. It's that easy! If they will certainly have to eliminate their window screen in order to install a portable air conditioner, consumers typically want to understand. While it depends on the kind of window and screen, many of our customers find that they do not need to eliminate the screen due to the fact that the exhaust hoses do not extend beyond the window.


18000 BTU Air Conditioner Reviews

18000 BTU air conditioners are some of the most popular units sold. These are giant units that can cool up to 1000 square feet. That means that you could use one unit to cool an entire apartment or multiple rooms in a single family home.

The Frigidaire 18000 BTU air conditioner is our hands down favorite. It is an excellent unit with tremendous cooling power. It is easy to install in any window. And it won't break the bank to buy it.


Why Should You Invest in an Evaporative Cooler

Evaporative coolers are an inexpensive way to stay cool all summer long. But they come with a catch. They will only work in arid climates. If you live in New Mexico or the high desert of California, they will definitely work for you. If you live in a humid area, they simply won't.


Idylis Air Conditioner Manual

The Idylis brand of portable air conditioners and air purifiers are popular ones sold at Lowes.

The only problem with these units is that they sometimes have some simple glitches that mean that they don't work as well as they should. If you can't find your Idylis air conditioner manual, don't worry. Here are tips for fixing the most common problems we see with these units.

1) Where is the drain plug and how do I drain this unit?

I have mine on a stand with a big container under it for capturing water ... I dump mine every early morning to keep the water from getting stale and making a smell you do not desire. Possibly put little bleach or alcohol in water to keep from that taking place.


2) Can this unit work with sliding windows?

Pull the casement window out from the frame. Make a wood or metal plate the same size as the window and install it in the frame. Make a hole in the place the very same size as the hose to vent it.


3) Something seems to be clogging the drainage pipe. What do I do?

There is probably some algae in the tube. Get a pipe cleaner or something comparable and jab up in there.


Portable Air Conditioner That Doesn't Need Venting

We often get people writing in to us to inquire if there is a portable air conditioner that doesn't need venting. I guess that people would like a little machine that the can set up and it will just work.

Unfortunately, a portable air conditioner - by definition - must have a vent. The vent is required to dispel the hot air.

There is a full explanation here.

But some folks still insist that they have seen portable units without vents. In reality, however, those were probably evaporative coolers as pictured below. These aren't air conditioners, though they look like portable units. They work in a completely different way than an air conditioner and that is why they don't require venting. Also, evaporative coolers will only work in dry, arid climates. They don't fix humidity.


How to Install A Split Air Conditioner

Split air conditioners have become increasingly popular in recent years. Here is a step-by-step guide for installing one of these units (brought to you by the experts at This Old House).


Personal Air Conditioner for Neck

Our nephew is graduating next week. In Texas. In June. Gonna be hot.

We sent him one of these personal air conditioner neck units. He will look like a dork, but he will be cool!


Haier 10000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Reviews

Looking for a powerful portable air conditioner? You really can go wrong with the Haier 10000 BTU portable air conditioner. This is an excellent unit that can cool up to 450 square feet. It comes with tons of nice features like a remote control and adjustable louvers. You can grab Haier models from Sears or through online merchants.

How to Save Money on a New Central Air Conditioner

A central air conditioner can be one of the most expensive appliances that any homeowner will ever purchase. Here are our three tips to make sure you save money when investing in a new central unit.

#1: Make certain the SEER number (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is 13 or better (14 in warmer climates). A less reliable system will certainly cost you more to run. Look for an EER (energy efficiency ratio) of 11 or higher for room air conditioning unit. A high effectiveness device costs more, but if you reside in a hot climate, it will certainly pay for itself in a few years by reducing electrical power expenses.

#2: A cooling system is among the greatest energy guzzlers in your home (second just to your heating system, depending on where you live). It might be beneficial to consider changing it with a more energy effective system if you have an old air conditioning system with a SEER score of less than 8. You should have the ability to recover the expense in simply a couple of years.

#3: Perform regular maintenance on your cooling system. Replace the filter month-to-month throughout the cooling period and have a professional service your system at the start of each cooling period.