
Portable and Window AC Basics
Do you have an older home that does not have central air? Maybe you are looking for a little extra cooling in a garage or other area not serviced by your central AC. Whatever the reason, you are in the market for a window air conditioner or one of the newer portable AC units.
These are a great option for providing cooling, provided that you understand the difference between them, when to choose one or the other, and if you install and use them properly. Here are some basics on window and portable units.
Window and Portable Units 101
Just what are window and portable AC units? Simply put, they are alternatives to the complex process of installing or adding to a central air conditioning system.
Central air works off of the ducting in your home, if such ducting even exists. If you are adding on a room or have no previous ducting installed, this can be an expensive, invasive and time consuming process. Portable and window AC units solve this issue.
Instead of using ducting, they are installed directly into the room or area that they are going to cool. They are smaller and less effective than central air, but that is the way that they are designed.
Window units take up one of the windows in the room or space that you are trying to cool. They sit half inside and half outside using the window as the portal to do this. More expensive units can be set to a specific temperature while cheaper units simply have settings like low, medium and high.
Portable units are similar to window units, but they sit fully inside your home. They still need to exhaust air to the outside, so they will have some ducting on the back of them that needs to be attached to the outside somehow. This may be through a window or a permanent exhaust port put into the wall. A portable unit is different than a window unit in that it is not always in the same position in the room. It can even be moved from room to room as long as the exhaust is long enough or moved to accommodate.
Windows and Portables Do’s and Don’ts
Any space that does not already have air conditioning is a great option for a portable or window AC unit. They are very effective at keeping a specifically sized room cool and comfortable.
Do not put one of these units into a room that is already supplied by central air. If you have a room that just isn’t being kept cool by your central air unit, it can indicate serious problems with your unit. A smaller supplemental system is not the answer.
Also, don’t try to cool large spaces with these units. They are typically sized for small enclosed areas, like a bedroom. Larger areas require more power.
Need Help Installing a Portable or Window AC unit?
Executive AC can help you install one of these units in your home. Contact us today!