Portable air conditioners (ACs) seem like the simplest forms of cooling systems available. However, you still need to be careful when buying a portable AC. Otherwise, you might get a unit that doesn't cool your house effectively or breaks down all the time. Here are a few factors to guide you in making the right choice.

1. Proper Ventilation

Portable ACs produces hot air during operation. The AC needs to vent the air out of the house so the house can remain cool. Portable ACs come with a hose or hoses to channel the heated air out of the house. As such, you need a way to connect your portable AC to the outside environment so that it can get rid of the heated air.

Below are some of the ways to properly vent a portable AC:

• Place the AC next to a window and pass the vent hose through the window.
• Use a hose extender (certified window kit) if you cannot place the AC right next to a window.
• Vent the AC into a drop-down ceiling for a windowless room.
• Vent the AC through a window in the wall.

Note that not every portable AC will have all the above venting options. Understand your AC's placement so that you can buy a unit that you can properly vent. Don't forget that your AC will be inefficient if you don't vent it properly.

2. Effective Drainage/Condensation

A typical portable AC also acts as a dehumidifier—the unit extracts some moisture from the air during operation. The AC has to get rid of this water before it accumulates to destructive levels. Portable ACs deal with the moisture they extract in different ways.

Some models come with an internal bucket that collects the condensed moisture, but you have to dump the water manually whenever the bucket fills. Other models have automatic dispensing, which gets rid of the condensation via the vents. There are also models that combine the two functions, getting rid of the moisture automatically but also collecting some water in case of high humidity.

3. Limited Noise

A portable AC can be quiet noisy, mainly due to its motors and air outlets. Don't forget that a portable AC system houses all its components in a single package. What is more, you have to place the unit inside the house for it to work. If noise is a concern to you, compare the noise levels of the different models to help you get a relatively quiet unit.

4. Aesthetics

Your portable AC has to be with you at all times if you want to cool your room. This means you don't want something that will be out of place in your house. Get a design and color that blends in with your décor so that it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb.

For more information about your options, contact air conditioning services.