What is the Most Effective Portable Air Conditioner?
When researching what is the most effective portable air conditioner, in my opinion the dual hose, self evaporating type came out top for a number of reasons.
Rather than just list off a "top five" or "top ten" models like everybody else, I want to actually explain what the main features are that contribute to that level of effectiveness that makes certain portable AC units better than others.
Stand Out AC Unit Features
Since portable air conditioners are relatively poor performers when pitted against similarly powered window AC units or mini-split AC installations, there needs to be something to give the best performers in the portable category an edge over the rest.
It just so happens that there are at least two features that some free standing AC models have that makes them stand above the majority of portable units. These are:
- Dual hose operation
- Self evaporating technology
Let's take a look at each of these features in turn:
Dual Hose Operation
This is where the AC unit has two vent hoses attached that connect to a window fixing kit.
One hose is used to draw fresh air in from outside, thereby preventing negative air pressure inside and the various problems that are associated with that situation.
Since the air intake does not use air from inside the room, the coils can be more efficient at chilling the air that passes through them, reducing energy consumption in the process.
The second hose acts in the same way the single hose works on the single hose portable AC units. It s used to exhaust the hot, moist air that is produced by the refrigeration process in creating the nice chilled air that keeps you cool.
Self Evaporating AC
Another big effectiveness feature is the ability to re-evaporate the condensed moisture inside the unit and re0use it to aid in the cooling process.
You can read all about the type of portable air conditioner that uses a self-evaporation mechanism to greatly reduce production of condensate that I'm describing here in more detail by following that link.
This self-evaporation action reduces the amount of energy consumed to produce cold air, making the unit more energy efficient and therefore economical to operate.
Combining the Two Benefits
When you combine self-evaporative technology with dual hose operation, you increase the effectiveness of the portable AC unit by a greater factor.
If you are in a position where you cannot afford to install central air or zoned mini-split AC units in the whole house and a window AC is not possible for whatever reason, a portable air conditioner with dual hoses and self evaporative technology can be the next best thing to keep you cool in summer.
Summary
A portable air conditioning unit is generally regarded as a low-budget solution to staying cool in summer, but if you are going to buy one, it might as well be the most effective portable air conditioner you can afford.
You will benefit from being able to move the unit from room to room as needed (as long as you have a suitable window fixing kit installed in each room to vent the unit) and stay within a tighter budget by only needing to purchase a single portable unit.
Last Updated: March 21, 2023
