Choosing a Small Portable Air Conditioner
When it comes to choosing a Small Portable Air Conditioner, size matters. Too big, and it will be bulky and difficult to move around. Too small, and it will struggle to cool the room adequately.
To help you choose, we’ve compared the top 4 smallest PACs by their total volume (multiplying width x depth x height dimensions). Our pick is #1 Black+Decker BPACT08WT.
1. Efficient cooling
A small portable air conditioner may not produce gushing volumes of cold air like bigger models, but it’s still effective at rapidly cooling down room temperatures and surface areas. It’s ideal for spot cooling a Small Portable Air Conditioner specific space or a bedroom and, if you choose one that dehumidifies too, can help with humid climates as well.
These appliances use a compressor, condenser coils, evaporator coil and fan to cool the air. The compressor compresses the system’s refrigerant gas, converting it into high-pressure vapor. The evaporator coil then cools the vapor to a liquid state, and the fan blows the cooled air into the room. The exhaust hose, attached to the back of the unit, vents the heat and moisture outdoors.
Energy efficiency is a key consideration, and portable AC units are no different. Some models are labeled with an energy rating called EER or CEER, while others give you a power consumption measurement called wattage. Both are important indicators of an appliance’s efficiency.
You’ll also find a number that describes the unit’s cooling capacity, or BTU. Manufacturers use a formula to estimate the square footage that a portable air conditioner can cool, based on a room’s floor size and ceiling height. This information is helpful in determining how large a portable air conditioner you need.
2. Compact design
Small portable air conditioners are designed to be compact, and they don’t take up as much space as larger AC units. This makes them a great choice for spaces like camper vans, where space is at a premium. They can also be stored in the trunk of your car, or on a countertop.
Some models of small portable air conditioners have a dual hose system, which is more energy efficient than single-hose models. This is because they can bring in fresh outdoor air, as well as exhaust stale indoor air, which reduces energy consumption.
Another way that small portable air conditioners are more versatile than tower fans is that they can double as dehumidifiers. This is because the moisture removed from the air goes through the exhaust hose and out into the outdoors, rather than being collected in a tank that needs to be emptied.
The Black & Decker 7000 BTU portable air conditioner is an excellent example of this, as it has both cooling and dehumidification functions. It is a ducted unit, which means it can be vented through a wall to remove heat and moisture from the room, and it also has an LCD remote control with 24-hour timer.
This model is available in a smaller size without heating, or a bigger version with heating to provide supplemental warmth during colder weather. Both versions have a low power draw, which is ideal for areas where energy costs are high.
3. Easy to transport
A portable air conditioner is a great cooling device for an RV. It can be used in place of a window unit or to add additional cool air to a room that’s already being cooled by an AC.
Unlike many ACs that are installed in the wall, you can easily move a portable air conditioner from one room to another. This makes it a better choice if you live in an apartment or have to switch rooms often for work. You can also bring it with you if you’re camping, tailgating or spending the summer at the beach.
Small portable air conditioners are usually lightweight and easy to move. They’re not as heavy as traditional window units, and they typically have a lower operating noise. Some models register at just 51-53 decibels, which isn’t particularly quiet, but it’s much less than the average for an AC.
Depending on the model you choose, it may also have multiple operating modes, including a fan, dehumidifier and activated carbon filter. Some of these devices even have a sleep function, a 24-hour timer and a remote control. Some also have a dual hose design that helps reduce the amount of condensation collected inside the device. This can improve the cooling efficiency of your RV, especially if you have a large space to cool.
4. Low noise
If you’re shopping for a quiet portable air conditioner, look for a model with a low decibel rating. This way, you can cool your home without disturbing your family or pets with loud noises. The low decibel rating will also ensure that the unit is more energy efficient.
A quiet portable air conditioner can be a great option for windowless spaces where it would be impractical to cut in a vent and for small bedrooms that may need Small Portable Air Conditioner a light cooling effect. It can also work well as a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.
You can find models with a low decibel rating, like this LG AC, that can cool up to 175 square feet. Its caster wheels make it easy to move the unit around the room and it comes with an LCD remote for convenience and a 24-hour programmable timer. It also has a hose for exhaust, so you can vent it outside, and it’s compatible with Alexa so you can control it with voice commands.
Keep in mind that the lower the decibel rating, the quieter the unit. For example, this hOmeLabs model is rated at only 44 dB, which is quieter than the average library and slightly more quiet than an office. However, this is not the lowest available option for a portable air conditioner, and you can reduce the noise level of most models by taking some simple steps.