Choosing Portable Air Conditioners

Unit Features and Terms
Take into consideration the room size, BTUs, noise levels, an installed timer and whether the unit has a heater in addition to the cooling unit. A portable air conditioner's value is also related to how it functions and causes water to evaporate; that can reduce the need to frequently drain the condensation that collects in the unit's tank.

A site for comparing the energy efficiency of room air conditioners is found at Energystar.gov. The site is comprehensive and is updated regularly.

For novices doing research on portable air conditioners it's worth noting some key terms: BTUs refers to the cooling capacity of the unit. The higher the number, the greater its cooling ability. EER refers to Energy Efficiency Rating. Again, the higher number has a higher energy efficiency rating.

ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners must exceed a national standard by at least 10%. The column titled "Percent Better" shows how much each model exceeds the standard of the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA).

Buying Retail
A commercial comparison table featuring 17 different brands is available through Air-N-Water.com. Prices range from $269 for a MobilComfort KY-80 to $ 1,299 for a DeLonghi PAC-W130E.

Air & Water has a 35,000 foot warehouse in Santa Ana, California. The company stocks what they refer to as "the most important products" for the purpose of providing fast shipping times and providing valuable customer service.

Many orders can go out the same day - even orders that are taken between 3pm and 5pm.

During the past 8 years, Air & Water has grown from an online start-up to one of the largest independent appliance retailers. The company ranked number 19 in the home improvement category in the Internet Retailer Top 500 list; there are more than 30 employees working in various phases of warehouse inventory, customer service, and programming.

Cooling Options
Another way to improve the air conditioning needs of a home is to plant shade trees over windows or sides of homes exposed to the sun during the hottest part of the day.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy recommends installing "horizontal trellises for east and west-facing windows. Protect south-facing windows with deciduous trees or climbing foliage [to] take advantage of low-angle sun in the winter, when the leaves fall."

A portable air conditioning unit may be better than a central air system if: the mornings are relatively cool; the house is fairly well-shaded and daytime heat peaks from 2pm to 4:30pm; a portable unit can readily cool the main living space.

Choosing an energy efficient portable air conditioner and the strategic use of plants can provide efficient ways to cool a home.