The best feature of portable air conditioners is that they can be moved around from place to place. This makes them truly unique among various AC units. However, they are not simply plugged into sockets wherever one goes. Most of them come equipped with an exhaust tube, hose or pipe that must lead outside somewhere, in order for the condensed water to be expelled. What makes them portable is their characteristic in which they require no permanent installation. Say goodbye to drilling holes through walls or trying to fit an AC unit in a strangely-shaped window, for portable air conditioners come with a window venting kit, which is slid through the window. The exhaust pipe is fit into the kit, and thus, the unit is ready to be used. Installing the unit makes everything so much easier to operate.



It is normal to be suspicious of the actual portability of a portable AC unit. After all, one can say that a ninety-pound air conditioner is portable and can be carried around, but who would want to do such a thing? The portable air conditioner definitely lives up to its name, for caster wheels are always included with one. The box-like shape of the unit is able to hold both hot and cold sides of the air conditioner, and the exhaust hose is mostly used to get rid of heat. Like any other conditioner, however, the portable AC unit emits condensed water that it must get rid of. Some units collect the water in a removable bowl that regularly needs to be emptied. Other units are able to exhaust the water through their exhaust hose. Few units even come with pumps that force the condensate water through a tube. Today, there are even units that produce no water at all, and their numbers are slowly increasing.

It is very easy to use a portable air conditioner, but one must never forget that, when choosing one, many factors and features must be considered. First of all, the average size of the rooms where the unit will be placed matters greatly. Various models offer different square foot ranges, which must be looked into by the buyer. Some units can only cool up to 150 square feet, while other units can chill an entire room of around 400 square feet. It is important to note that all portable AC units vary in terms of cooling power, and this can affect their performance negatively if placed in a room too large or too small for their capabilities.

Another feature to consider is the drip factor. Portable air conditioners that do not produce extra water are generally more expensive, whereas dripping in cheaper models must be constantly be maintained by emptying the small trays regularly. Not doing so could damage the unit. Also, one must take into account the exhaust features (single or dual), the dehumidifier (sometimes, a unit can be substituted as one) and the actual size of the unit. Portable air conditioners can provide fulfillment through their various models and features that can fit all the needs of the owner.