Portable air-conditioners are not as effective as a window unit. No doubt, buying the right kind of air-conditioning unit can still make a difference in the temperature of your room.

Below are the features that would aid in getting the right portable room air conditioner for your specific purposes:

1) Match BTU to Room Size

Remember that you need more BTUs in a portable air conditioner than you would in a window unit for the same size room.

• An area of 100 to 200 square feet needs 7-8,000 BTUs
• An area of 150 to 250 square feet needs 8-9,000 BTUs
• An area of 250 to 350 square feet needs 9-10,000 BTUs
• An area of 300 to 400 square feet needs 10-12,000 BTUs
• An area of 350 to 450 square feet needs 12-14,000 BTUs

Pay close attention to the floor plan and insulation to know the right BTUs.

If a portable air-conditioner has a higher BTU rating than needed, the unit will cycle off too quickly and will not properly remove humidity from the air.

However, insufficient number of BTUs will not adequately cool a room.

2) Casters, Wheels & Handles

Look for a unit with casters or wheels and handles for easier transport.

3) Noise Level

Note that you CANNOT find a totally silent portable air conditioner. They can’t be totally silent because of the motorized fan and compressor system that cools and circulates the air.

Nevertheless, the amount of sound varies considerably. Even decibel results can be misleading because many things can affect sound level such as position of the unit and the carpeting. So, just find a sound level that you are comfortable with, or getting a unit with that will help you to minimize the sound (timer, multiple fan speeds, etc.)

4) Oscillating Louvers

An air-conditioning unit with oscillating louvers or multidirectional airflow will circulate the air and cool the room faster.

5) Digital Controls

Experts prefer digital controls which allow you to set the temperature and control the timer.

6) Venting/ Exhaust Hose Needed

Never buy a portable air conditioner without them. If you don’t want to empty water buckets, search for one with an optional water-drainage hose. An ‘auto-evaporative’ unit is ideal if emptying tanks is inconvenient but if hot air is exhausted into an attic or drop ceiling you wouldn’t want any moisture to be exhausted with the hot air.

Dehumidifying: Most portable air conditioners dehumidify as well as cool, although some will do this as a separate function. If you are venting your warm air to the attic or a dropped ceiling, get a self-evaporative unit to prevent moisture issues. Self-evaporative units will save you trouble dealing with draining the unit as well, at least day-to-day. For dehumidifying and high humidity situations, you will need to check the bucket regularly. Some units have a “full bucket” indicator.

7) Sturdy Window Adapter Kit Needed

The unit is vented with a window adapter kit. The window adapter kit keeps the hose in place and provides insulation to the partially opened window, drop ceiling, or wall.

8) Handy Duct Tapes

These help to seal gaps during the installation of the exhaust hose. Portable Room Air Conditioner - BTUs Requirements Compile the following requirements to determine your area’s BTU requirements:

9) Ease of Maintenance

Portable ACs are designed for easy maintenance, but filters need to be washed or replaced, and even with self-evaporative units, you will need to empty the bucket or drain the unit. Look for ACs with easy access to these areas.

Calculate your room’s square footage by multiplying its length by its width. Verify the size of the window opening for venting. Check the plug type and electrical requirements of your room. Exceptions You will need to increase the size (power) of the unit you purchase (from your earlier calculations) if you:

• Have lots of windows
• Have heat generating appliances
• Have second story homes (Add the BTU amount by 10%)
• Have each additional person over two persons in a room (Add 600 BTUs)
• Reside in a warm, humid region
• Are planning to use it in a kitchen (Add 4,000 BTUs)
• Are cooling a poorly insulated garage
• Unordered List ItemHowever, reduce the BTUs by 10% if you are planning the use the portable air-conditioning units in shaded areas.

Well, you have it! Now you have what you need to know to help you purchase your portable aircon. In Singapore, you may go to any of the appliance outlets, such as Courts, Best Denki, and Gaincity.

But the next question is once I own one, what do I need to do to keep it clean and cold?

Do I ask an aircon serviceman to come clean my portable unit or do I do it myself?

Next » Cleaning Your Portable Aircon