Posts Tagged portable air conditioning units
3 Good Reasons To Buy A Portable Air Conditioner
SPT TN-12E TechniTrend
Ignore the fact that portable air conditioner units can look like something out of Star Wars, you need to make your decisions based on real facts, some of which are presented here.
Visit a few blogs and forums on the Internet, as you will find them full of information and you will find that people voice similar concerns. These include concerns about price, energy consumption, noise levels and venting.
Keep in mind that the average portable air conditioner unit is run for 750 hours each year in the USA and that they use a fair amount of energy. The Energy Efficiency Rating (or EER). Basically, the higher the EER rating the more energy efficient the unit will be. EER ratings of 8 for example, are at the low end of energy efficiency but these tend to be older units. The average rating today appears to be around 12 which is good.
Before you buy your portable air conditioner units, check the number of amps available to the room you intend to cool. Basically, if you buy a unit that uses 14.5 amps and your circuit is 15 amps you could end up blowing the fuses!
Looking at noise levels, portable air conditioner units that deliver 14,000 Btu’s or less normally tend to noise levels around 50 decibels. To compare, this is similar to the noise that most refrigerators will generate.
The jury is still out as to whether a dual hose unit is superior to the single hose formation when it comes to venting. While a single hose unit will drain some of the cool air it produces from the room, a dual hose system will help eliminate this problem. However, a dual hose system tends to be slightly less efficient for reasons such as the use two internal fans.
Portable air conditioner units tend to have one of three methods of disposing of the water extracted by the dehumidifier module. i) Automatic evaporation will eliminate the need for any drains or reservoir pans but just how reliable this system is will vary from model to model. ii) Some models will use a direct drain via a hose attached to the unit which can be a problem unless the unit is used near a drain or a bucket! iii) You can simply empty the reservoir yourself that seems like the easiest option to me.
The price of your unit should be looked at in conjunction with efficiency, as a highly efficient unit will offset any higher price over time. A cheaper model that is not as efficient, over time, will cost more. Remember that portable air conditioners are usually more inefficient than comparable window units although they tend to cost twice as much.
Portable air conditioner units do have at least one huge advantage, you can move them where they need to be and store them away when you don’t.
Do It Yourself Air Conditioning Maintenance
When the time comes, you will be able to find a lot of information on just what to do on the Internet, at the library and from the system manufacturers. However, if there is a major problem, such as with the condenser or refrigeration unit you still may need to get a qualified engineer to fix your system.
The basic things you should be doing are to clean or replace the filter. Then vacuum or brush the condenser coils after removing the covers. Be very careful not to damage the coils or fins. Check the condenser drain and the fan is clean and check the mountings are secure and everything is oiled.
Don’t forget to clean the external vent regularly as this will allow the system to be more effective.
Do not attempt any do it yourself air conditioning maintenance if you are unsure of what you are doing or it could cost you dearly, particularly if it is in the condenser or refrigeration unit as previously mentioned. Otherwise, a lot of it is basic common sense, a screwdriver, a brush and a cloth!
