Advantages:

Even if you have an HVAC system, portable air conditioners are a great way to keep cool and save money at the same time. Unlike a central air conditioning unit, a portable air conditioner allows you to cool a specific room rather than waste energy and money cooling your entire home—including all the unused rooms. Not only does this save you money on energy use, it allows you to keep your most-used rooms at the precise temperature you want.

With portable a/c units, there is special adapter kit that will be used to vent the warm air out of a window. There are also models that allow you to vent hot air through your fireplace or through a hole in an exterior wall.

Disadvantages:

For all of their advantages and efficiency, portable air conditioners aren’t without their disadvantages. For one, they’re usually a little more expensive than window air conditioners and will likely use more energy. At this time, there are no portable air conditioners that have earned an Energy Star rating.

Cost:

The cost of a portable air conditioner will range anywhere from $300 to $1,500. This wide range is determined by many variables, including the size, features and overall energy efficiency of the portable air conditioning unit. The first step in figuring out which portable air conditioning unit is right for you, is to determine the size of the area it’s intended for, as well as the amount of BTU’s you’ll need to efficiently cool that area. Our BTU cooling calculator will help you figure this out.

If you have a small home or apartment, you don’t need the largest air conditioning unit. On the flip-side, if you’re trying to cool a warehouse or server-room, perhaps a commercial-sized unit would be the best fit for you.

Final Thoughts:

While this is debatable based on your current living situation, we’d rank the portable air conditioner as the best cooling alternative to a central air conditioning system. Not only do they help you cut down on the overall amount of energy you use, these devices will also help you save a ton of money while keeping the temperature precisely where you want it. Although, window air conditioning units may be more energy efficient, portable air conditioners still have the advantage of being easier to install and the ability to easily be moved from room-to-room. Because of these factors, this is the best A/C alternative currently available for consumers.

Resources:

• FAQs: Portable Air Conditioners
• The Best 5 Portable Air Conditioners
• Portable Air Conditioners: Dual Hose vs. Single Hose

taken from: https://learn.compactappliance.com/air-conditioning-alternatives/

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