The major difference between portable ac vs window unit is that a portable unit uses an exhaust hose to funnel the air to a window while a window unit expels the hot are out the back of the system.
Portable ac vs window unit.
Portable and window air conditioners do all of this in one compact unit versus a central ac which requires ductwork a blower unit an outdoor condenser unit and refrigerant lines.
Portable air conditioners are independent movable units with exhaust hoses that are easy to install and vent out of a variety of window types.
Portable air conditioner vs.
A window units is installed by resting it on a window sill lowering the window down to trap the a c in place and.
In this portable air conditioner vs.
Both unit types must be vented to the outside to function properly and are better as a.
Window units can be heavy to lug to a window and difficult to install but they are efficient at cooling down a room.
Determining your needs for a portable ac vs window ac.
A 12 000 btu portable ac will cool roughly as much as a 6000 btu window ac.
When it comes to cooling a certain room or living space the best air conditioning options available to consumers are usually window or portable units.
All things being equal a window air conditioner is better than a self contained portable design.
Condensation is another issue associated with portable air conditioners.
I found this out the hard way.
You didn t mention that portable ac units are very inefficient at cooling compared to a window unit.
If you can use a window unit do it.
Electricity states a window unit uses anywhere from 500 to 1440 watts to run while a 2 5 ton central unit about the size for a typical 1 500 to 2 000 square foot home uses about 3 500.
The challenging part when it comes to buying a unit however is that both units provide a handful of advantages despite their pitfalls.
Portable units are usually used in situations that a window unit won t work.
While some of the newer and or pricier models remove the condensation through the vent exhaust many still rely on a drip pan which quickly fills up and must be manually emptied.
Window units like the ge profile phc08ly pictured above typically take the form of a single heavy box sometimes with an extendable panel on either side.
Window air conditioners are generally less expensive than portable air conditioners but they are more difficult to install and only fit in standard sized windows.
Advantages of a window air conditioner.
But not everyone can install a window unit easily and that s why portables have become so popular.
It will be quieter more efficient and less expensive to purchase.