Thinking of Buying a Portable AC? 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Do
As with other air conditioners, you'll need to find the sweet spot between a comfortable temperature and energy efficiency, so your electricity bills won't skyrocket. Plus, regular cleaning can extend the machine's lifespan. But for this article, I'm focusing on a few things that might come up when buying, transporting and setting up a portable air conditioner.
Buying a new portable AC unit
1. Make sure it fits
Before buying a portable air conditioner, remember to check that the included window kit works for your window -- vertical or horizontal -- and fits in your window. This shouldn't be an issue for most brands but it's worth double-checking.
While some dual-hose models use separate hoses, my Midea Duo puts the exhaust hose inside the intake for extra insulation.
John Carlsen/CNET
2. Get a dual-hose model if you can
Portable AC units must circulate outside air over their condenser coils to remove heat from inside your home. In an ideal situation, an intake hose pulls cooler outdoor air in while a separate exhaust hose expels the heated air back outside. Unfortunately, many cheaper portable air conditioners combine the intake and exhaust into a single hose, which reduces the cooling power compared to pricier dual-hose models like the Midea Duo.
If you can afford it, I suggest getting a dual-hose model. However, if you go for a single-hose model or a dual-hose unit with separate hoses, consider getting a portable AC hose insulation sleeve to prevent the exhaust hose from heating your room on the way to the window. By keeping the hot air in the hose, your AC shouldn't have to work as hard.
Even a small portable air conditioner unit can be very heavy -- mine's on the larger end -- so you may need a second person to help you lift it.
John Carlsen/CNET
3. Don't store it on its side
Most portable AC units are bulky so it's tempting to shove them sideways in the back seat of your sedan on the way home from the store. Unfortunately, it's best to keep the portable unit in the upright position. This prevents oil from leaking out of the compressor into the rest of the closed cooling system -- the system is sealed to keep the gaseous refrigerant in. While this misplaced oil won't prevent the AC unit from running, it can make the machine louder and cut the AC's lifespan.
If possible, borrow a friend's truck or have the retailer deliver the unit directly to your home so it stays upright. If you have to put the unit on its side, it's best to let it rest upright for 24 hours to help the oil return to the right spot before running it.
Portable air conditioners need to be near a window, so it's best to rearrange your furniture so you can install it correctly.
John Carlsen/CNET
In my case, I have a shelf under the window that was more trouble to move than it was worth. To make my hose reach the window, I had to elevate my Midea Duo on a couple of cinderblocks topped with wood and spare carpet (to keep the wheels from rolling off the platform).
4. If you buy a used portable AC unit, be prepared to problem-solve
If you're on a budget, a used portable AC unit is worth considering. I picked up my refurbished Midea Duo for $130 -- well below the $480 list price -- from a local liquidator. Still, it wasn't as smooth an experience as I hoped.
Double-checking the model number when buying used appliances can help you get the features you want.
John Carlsen/CNET
5. Splurge on a heat pump model for additional warmth in winter
I spent hours finding the perfect model for my needs, which also happens to be CNET's current high-end pick -- Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL -- a heat pump unit that could heat my poorly-insulated office in the winter if needed. But when I found my portable AC unit online, I didn't notice that it was a Costco variant (MAP14AS1TWT-C) without the heating function. I got over my blunder pretty quickly, but it was disappointing at the beginning.
While my seller included a window kit with the unit, it was for a window air conditioner, not my AC.
John Carlsen/CNET
I tried in vain to track down a replacement window kit online and had no luck because the brand doesn't sell them. (I found a similar one from Danby that might work but I'm holding off for now.) Instead, I spent a few hours cobbling together a window kit from some foam insulation, spare wood and other materials I had lying around. It's worked well but my placement options are limited and I could have saved a lot of time with the right window kit.
Likewise, my portable unit didn't come with a remote control, which I've yet to replace. Fortunately, my machine is a Matter-enabled smart air conditioner that doesn't need a remote to access the advanced features. Still, remotes are worth keeping in mind if you want to control your room air conditioner remotely.
What's my takeaway? While buying a refurbished portable air conditioner worked out OK, there were several hoops to jump through that may not make the savings worth it for others.
Are portable air conditioners worth it?
A portable AC is the only option if you have narrow windows like mine, which won't fit a window unit.
John Carlsen/CNET
Although the design of portable air conditioners holds them back from matching the energy efficiency of a good central or window AC unit, they can be great for supplemental cooling in a hotspot in your home. They're also great for renters because you rarely need to install any window kit hardware with screws.
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