Air Conditioners Compare to Fixed Units

Choosing the best air conditioning for your home can be a big decision. Updating your furnace can also be a major investment, so it’s important to understand the different types of air conditioners and their features before making a final choice. The knowledgeable heating and cooling consultants at JPS Furnace & Air Conditioning in Omaha can help you establish the right system for your home based on the size of your house, family’s air quality needs, budget and energy efficiency preferences.

Unlike fixed ACs that are mounted in the ceiling or on the wall, portable air conditioners sit on the floor and come with an installation kit for quick set up. They are generally smaller than traditional window units and have wheels so they can be moved from room to room as needed.

The way they work is pretty simple: hot air is sucked in through the intake fan and passes over the evaporator coils. This cooling coil is made up of metal strips that are coated with refrigerant liquid, which then turns into a gas when it interacts with the hot air. The gas cools the air, and water (in the form of condensation) is released as a byproduct. The more information about water is then funneled outside through the exhaust vent on the portable air conditioner.

How Do Portable Air Conditioners Compare to Fixed Units?

Another advantage of portable air conditioners is that they can often be used as a dehumidifier, too. The condensation produced by the process of cooling indoor air is pulled into a drip tray, which may need to be emptied occasionally. Some models of portable air conditioners have a built-in drain system to eliminate the need for this manual process.

While these benefits are considerable, it’s worth noting that portable air conditioners aren’t nearly as efficient as their fixed counterparts. The reason for this has to do with how they vent heat and water vapor. The cooled air is pushed back into the room through an exhaust pipe, which also pushes in warm and unconditioned air from other rooms or from the outdoors. This creates a vacuum that makes the air conditioner work harder to keep the room cool.

Air conditioning, a marvel of modern technology, has become an indispensable feature in countless environments, from homes and offices to vehicles and public spaces. Its transformative impact on human comfort and productivity cannot be overstated. Yet, beyond its surface-level cooling effects, air conditioning encompasses a wealth of intricate processes, engineering principles, environmental considerations, and societal implications.

To avoid this, you should only use a portable air conditioner in one room at a time. This will allow the cooling capacity of the unit to be fully utilized, rather than wasting its energy by cooling other rooms that are not being used. In this way, you can improve the energy efficiency of your home and help reduce your electricity bills at the same time.