A portable floor air conditioner can be a great decision to help you cool off and remain comfortable in warm weather. However, not all portable air conditioners are the same, and this guide should help you buy the right unit for your home or business.
Decide How Much Power You Need
An air conditioner’s BTU rating will tell you how much heat it will remove from a living space. In order to get the most out of your portable air conditioner, buy a unit with the right BTU rating for the size of the room you need to heat. Typically, the larger the BTU rating, the larger the portable air conditioner will need to be to do the job.
In general, follow these rules for BTU ratings:
• 8,000 BTU rating: Cools up to 200 square feet
• 10,000 BTU rating: Can cool up to 300 square feet
• 12,000 BTU rating: Cools up to 400 square feet
• 13,000 BTU ratings: Appropriate for up to 450 square feet
Decide Between a Single Hose or a Double Hose Air Conditioner
Regardless of the type of portable air conditioner that you buy, you will need to have a way for the warm air to exit through the window. Portable air conditioners have either a single hose or a double hose.
Single hose units use the air in the room, while a double hose uses fresh air from outside to cool. A single-hose will use less energy and will typically cost less than a double hose unit. But a double hose unit will cool the room faster.