A portable AC  is a small mobile air conditioner, unlike a window AC or split AC, but without any permanent installation required. All of our portable air conditioners are between 29" and 34" tall and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds. Portable air conditioners also work well in apartment situations where a window unit is unacceptable.  See below for answers to some of the most common portable air conditioner questions we get from customers:   No, these are not the same.  Air coolers, also known as evaporative coolers or swamp coolers, use water and evaporation to cool. Generally, air coolers lower ambient temperatures by 10-20 degrees. Portable air conditioners use a compressor and coolant to cool and are much more effective in cooling rooms and for keeping the humidity low. Portable ACs extract hot air, and this hot air has to be vented. If the hot air isn't vented, the portable air conditioner will not be able to cool a room effectively. Window and venting kits are always included with portable air conditioners at no extra cost.

For more information on venting, click here.You can also vent a portable AC through a wall vent, into the attic or drop ceiling, or even around a door - you're only limited by your creativity! 210 Delivery And Moving ServiceFor information on venting portable AC systems through casement windows, click here.Washer And Dryer Typical DimensionsA portable air conditioner's exhaust hose is generally between 5 and 7 feet long and is made of high quality, flexible plastic. Free Dogs For Sale In Quad CitiesThe plastic window kit simply is cut to fit almost any slider or up and down window in your home - up to 4 feet. The window is then closed against the window kit to seal the air from the outside, the exhaust hose then is fit through a small cutout in the window attachment.

Installation takes about 5 minutes and this allows for easy portability from window to window. For windows larger than 4 feet, simply purchase extra Plexiglass or Styrofoam at the local hardware store. As mentioned earlier, for unique window situations such as casement (crank-out) windows, a little creativity is all that is needed.All portable air conditioners come with the standard hose length of 5-7 feet. If you need a longer hose, these can be easily found at a local hardware store. It is a good idea to avoid hose lengths over 12 feet or 90 degree bends. You can also vent through the dryer hose as long as the hose diameter is 5" or more and the outdoor venting flap is removed. All portable air conditioners produce condensation as they are cooled. This water is then contained in an internal water reservoir or drained through a hose. On all of our models, this water reservoir has an auto shutoff feature so that water is never accidentally spilled onto the ground. With the unit off, the water is easily emptied into a drip pan.

You can also gravity drain the portable AC by connecting a hose to the connection on the reservoir. Portable ACs are able to provide effective cooling with minimal water usage, making them one of the most efficient systems on the market. Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is a standard measure of efficiency for comparing appliances and the cost of operation. The higher the EER, the more energy efficient the air conditioner. Any rating of 10 or more is considered excellent. By cooling only one room, portable air conditioners can save you a considerable amount of money on your monthly electric bill. All of the portable air conditioners that we carry operate on 115 Volt/60 Hertz - the normal household standard. They generally run on about 7-10 amps and require a regular, 3-prong grounded plug found in most homes. This is one of the most common uses of a portable air conditioner! Even in small computer rooms, a 12000 BTU unit should be purchased due to the extra heat produced. Moreover, the portable AC will help keep the air dry and more suitable for computer application.

See our server room portable AC guide to learn more.Shop Our Selection of Portable Air Conditioners9 Tricks to Beat the Heat (Without Turning Up the AC) It's summer and if you're not getting out of town, chances are you'll find yourself fighting a battle with the heat between now and the fall. Maybe you're like us and you don't have air conditioning, maybe you're trying not to rack up big bills, or maybe you're trying to be more environmentally-friendly. Here are some tricks we've accumulated through years of grinning and bearing (and sometimes baring) it. Keep the curtains or the shutters closed: Keeping the sun from streaming directly in helps keep your place a little cooler. Hang a wet sheet in front of the window: when the air passes through the damp cloth, the moisture cools it off. In the same vein, try a bowl of ice in front of a fan: Let the cool air blow over you. Turn your fan around to face out: And blow the hot air out of the house. If you have a ceiling fan, turn it so it spins in the opposite direction and blows the hot air up and out.

Arm yourself with a spray bottle filled with chilled water: Douse yourself liberally. As the water evaporates, it cools you down. You can also try plunging your hands into a bowl of ice water. Turn off (and maybe even unplug) your appliances: Your computer, your tv, your chargers — all give off heat, as do your dishwasher and your clothes dryer. Try drying your dishes and clothes the old fashioned way (air drying and line drying). You'll save energy and keep the house cooler. Switch to CFLs: not only are they good for the environment because they use less electricity than conventional bulbs but the bulbs don't get nearly as hot. If you have a white noise machine, try rain or waves: The cool sounds will help you feel cooler. Strip your house of its rugs, throws and knick-knacks: Try filling it with plants instead. It's a visual trick that, like the aural trick above, works to fool your mind; bare surfaces look cooler which in turn makes you feel cooler. What are your tricks for staying cool?