09 Jul 4 Tips for Installing Portable AC Units
Portable ac units are pretty easy to install, but there are some things that you can do during the installation to ensure the best cooling at the lowest costs.
Here are 4 tips to ensure that you install your portable air conditioner in the most optimal way.
Tip 1: Choose Your Room Carefully
The best place to put your portable air conditioner is in a small to medium-sized room. It is even better if the room has a door that lets you keep the cool air inside. If you are using the ac unit to supplement your central air conditioner, having a closable door isn’t necessary. Rather, the unit will work in tandem with the central unit.
Tip 2: Don’t Worry about the Seal on the Window Panel
Your portable unit probably arrived with a plastic strip with a hole for the venting tube. Place the strip in the window and attach the hose. But don’t worry too much about sealing the window panel perfectly. Your unit will actually work more efficiently if you let a bit of outside air get in it. This outside air will be easier to cool for your air conditioner.
Tip 3: Don’t Stretch the Exhaust Hose
Try to keep the air conditioner close to the window. You don’t want to stretch the exhaust pipe too far. The unit will work most efficiently if you keep the hose short (less than three feet).
If you stretch out the hose, the fan has to work hard to remove the hot air.
This means that the air conditioner is less efficient and takes longer to cool your room.
You should never try to extend the hose. If you do this, it will force the unit to work harder and less efficiently.
Tip 4: Keep it Cool
If you want to keep your room cold around the clock during a heat wave, set the thermostat on your portable air conditioner to the coldest temperature you can handle at nighttime. By doing this, your unit will keep your room cool before the heat hits the next day. This can save energy in the long run.
By contrast, if you are using your portable air conditioner as a supplement to central ac or split ac units, this step probably isn’t necessary. Rather, you can probably keep the room sufficiently cool simply by turning it on before the hottest temperatures of the day hit.
Jane Dabad is the lead writer at The Air Conditioner Guide. Here you can find portable ac units reviews as well as more information about buying a windowless portable air conditioner.
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