FAQs About Portable Air Conditioners | The Heat Pump People

When it comes to cooling your home, there are many options to choose from. For example, there are ducted central cooling systems that operate through ducts in your home and floor-mounted heat pumps, fixed air conditioning units and portable air conditioners. Below we take a look at common questions surrounding the latter option.

Portable air conditioners can be an excellent short term cooling solution for single rooms or smaller spaces such as a studio apartment. They're commonly used temporarily in bedrooms, bungalows, dens, garages and other places.

Yes, absolutely. Portable air cons can work well for cooling single rooms or as a supplementary cooling tool alongside an HVAC system. They typically sit on the floor and are quick to set up. Most models also have wheels so you can move them to different rooms, making them a handy alternative to fixed air conditioning units.

If you only want to cool a small confined space such as a small single room, portable air conditioners may be an energy-efficient option. As they only cool the immediate space required, they can be more efficient than a centrally installed air conditioning system if only one or two rooms were being occupied while it was on.

Yes. Modern air conditioning systems use evaporator coils, which cause moisture to condense and leave the air inside your house. As moist, hot air contacts the cold coil, water collects on the coils and gets moved outside as the cooled air is pushed into the room. While a portable air conditioner may not extract humidity as quickly as a dehumidifier, the process of cooling a room automatically has a dehumidifying effect.

Portable air conditioners are self-contained and don’t require a permanent installation. However, they do require venting via a window, wall or doorway. Once you've positioned the portable air conditioner where you like it, you must set the exhaust hose through an opening to the outside so that it can vent hot air out of the space. Having vents trailing across the floor can be cumbersome and unattractive, often why portable units are not as popular as fixed solutions.

Portable air conditioners are less effective and efficient, noisier, and more expensive than the window & split air conditioners to run. Some other disadvantages are;

• They take up floor space, which can be crucial if you have a small living space.
• They are noisy in comparison to fitted air conditioners
• They are usually less efficient and costly in comparison to fitted air conditioners
• Depending on different models, you may have to empty the water tank

At Heat pump people, we highly suggest Carrier Portable Heat Pumps/Air Conditioners because they are;

• Elegant compact design with a stylish look
• Easy to move from room to room
• Both heating and cooling can be used all year around.
• With the “Follow Me” sensor built into the remote control, the unit will automatically change the operation mode to supply a comfortable temperature, just like the air conditioner follows you.
• Uses standard 10 Amps plug
• No drainage is required in cooling. Instead, the slinger up fan swashes condensate water onto the condenser and evaporates. As a result, it also improves the cooling power and cooling efficiency.

At The Heat Pump People, we provide high-quality portable air conditioning systems throughout Christchurch. We are passionate about providing the finest quality heating and cooling systems to our clients. Speak to our friendly team on (03) 366 1823 about our customised heat pump and air conditioning solutions or any questions you may have.