Home LivingSmart Home7 mistakes everyone makes with portable air conditionersDon’t make these howlers with your new portable air conWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingSmart Home7 mistakes everyone makes with portable air conditionersDon’t make these howlers with your new portable air conWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Don’t make these howlers with your new portable air con
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Meaco)
(Image credit: Meaco)
However, you can’t just buy thebest portable air conditioner,bung it anywhere in a room and expect it to perform as it should. This is because there are many things to consider before you even think of bringing one into the home.
If you make any of the common mistakes I highlight below, chances are the aircon won’t perform as it was intended and you will feel shortchanged, flustered, hot, sweaty and angry. Your partner will accuse you of wasting a lot of money on a useless white elephant, an argument will ensue and divorce proceedings will follow.
So, if you want to remain happily married or in acivilpartnership, you could do worse than dip into this handy guidebeforeyou splash the cash.
1. Choosing the wrong size unit
The single biggest mistake most people make when buying a portable air conditioner is choosing the wrong size of unit for the intended space. The key spec you’re looking for is BTU which stands for British Thermal Unit, a standard measure of heat that lets you know how many units of heat the air conditioner can remove. In a nutshell, the higher the number, the more powerful the unit and therefore its suitability for a larger room. If the unit is too small, it will struggle to cool the room effectively and possibly have no effect at all. Similarly, an oversized unit may cycle on and off too frequently, wasting energy in the process.
The peak BTU of a portable domestic aircon unit is around 18,000BTU – the point at which it is time to consider a professionally installed integrated system instead. In general, the highest and most common ratings you might come across for a portable unit are between 12,000BTU and 14,000BTU. This range would be good for a large room of about 30 feet in length and 15 feet in width. The most popular sizes of portable aircon in the UK are between 7,000BTU and 10,000BTU.
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2. Not using the supplied exhaust hose
Every portable air conditioner comes with a large circular exhaust vent that needs to be ported outdoors using the supplied hose(Image credit: Meaco)
Every portable air conditioner comes with a large circular exhaust vent that needs to be ported outdoors using the supplied hose
Every portable air conditioner comes with a large circular exhaust vent that needs to be ported outdoors using the supplied hose
(Image credit: Meaco)
Granted, there’s no law to stop you from just using the unit anywhere in the room without any venting – it will cool you far better than any fan if you sit close enough – but the whole point of portable aircon is to cool an entire air space rather than an individual. So if you forgo the hose – and the supplied fittings which I shall get to in the next chapter – your aircon unit will be fighting against itself. In fact, it will have almost zero effect if left on for 30 minutes or so and the room may possibly get even warmer as a result.
3. Failing to use the supplied window fittings correctly
Use the supplied expandable hose and window attachment for maximum efficiency(Image credit: Meaco)
Use the supplied expandable hose and window attachment for maximum efficiency
Use the supplied expandable hose and window attachment for maximum efficiency
(Image credit: Meaco)
Since the reason your home is hot is because of high outdoor ambient temperatures, no aircon unit – both portable or built in – will work effectively if doors and windows are left open. So, the first thing to do is close them, which admittedly doesn’t feel like the most pleasant thing to do when it’s so lovely and warm outside.
The alternative is to have a 4 to 6-inch hole punched through an outer wall. This is a much more costly option but also far and away the most aesthetically pleasing. It also makes it much easier to use the air-con as and when required.
4. Incorrect aircon placement
Proper placement of a portable air conditioner is also crucial to its performance. Placing the unit in an area with poor air circulation or obstructing its vents can hinder its ability to cool the space efficiently. So avoid placing it near curtains, furniture or other objects that could obstruct the airflow. As mentioned above, ideally position the unit near a window or outer wall where the unit can exhaust the hot air outside using the provided venting kit. Oh, and don’t leave it sitting in direct sunlight or its thermostat will become terribly confused.
5. Running the unit 24/7
(Image credit: Meaco)
(Image credit: Meaco)
While it’s tempting to keep your portable air conditioner running continuously during hot weather, doing so increases energy consumption which can be very costly. Also, continuous operation can put unnecessary strain on the unit. Instead, use the unit when needed and consider utilising other cooling methods, such as fans or shading windows, to reduce costs.
To give you some idea of UK electricity running costs, a top-performing portable aircon like aMeacoCool MC Serieswith 14,000BTU consumes 1,560W which, at today’s electricity rates, equates to a running cost of around 47p per hour, £3.76 for an eight-hour day, £26.32 per week and whopping £1,368.64 per year.
6. Not considering the noise
7. Using the aircon unit the moment it’s delivered
It’s very tempting to remove the air conditioner from its transport packaging and immediately turn it on. But this is not good for it because, like any fridge, a portable air conditioner needs to rest in an upright position for several hours after it’s been transported. This is to allow the refrigerant to move back to its proper position after being displaced while the unit was very likely on its side in the back of a truck. There is no fixed time for this resting process but research shows that a period of 8 to 24 hours is a safe bet.
Now you know how to avoid the most common aircon mistakes, dip into our carefully curated guide to thebest portable air conditionersyou can buy.
Air conditioners not your cup of cool? Head over to our guide to thebest fansinstead.
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