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One of the most convenient ways to beat the summer heat indoors is with a portable air conditioner. They are easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about a complicated installation.
If your home or business is uncomfortably warm and you don’t have the budget to install a new HVAC system, a portable air conditioner is your best option. A freestanding A/C allows you to move the unit around as needed. This is just one of the many advantages of choosing a portable unit.
On this page, we will cover everything you should know about using a portable air conditioner. We’ll also discuss the best portable air conditioner UK customers can order directly online today. Keep reading to learn more.
How Does a Portable Air Conditioner Work?
A small portable air conditioner can make a big difference. This type of unit is a very efficient way to cool down 1 or more rooms at once. It’s also a great way to reduce the humidity indoors. Ultimately, the indoor air will be more comfortable, breathable, and smell better.
But, if you’re familiar with window units or HVAC, you might be scratching your head wondering how a portable air conditioner works. With other types of units, the hot air in the room is basically sucked into the device and blown outdoors, getting replaced with cool air from the device.
If the portable air conditioner has an exhaust hose, it will work in a similar style.
However, if you use a portable air conditioner without a hose, there’s no way for the unit to transport the hot air outdoors.
This type of portable A/C works in a similar way to a dehumidifier. There is a fan in the unit that sucks in all of the hot and humid air. The hot air then passes through condensing coils, where it gets cooled. Cool air then travels back into the room.
During this process, the moisture will also be extracted from the hot air. This is how the unit helps to dehumidify the room. The moisture will be contained in a bucket or container in the unit. Most portable air conditioners will alert the user when the moisture bucket needs to be emptied.
Quickview- How Portable Air Conditioners Work
- A fan inside the air conditioner will suck in warm air from the room.
- Warm air passes through condensing coils to cool down.
- Moisture from the warm air is collected on evaporating coils, then gets dropped into a small bucket.
- Cool air passes back into the room.
- This cycle continues while the device is on to keep the room cool.
- User will be alerted when the bucket with moisture needs to be emptied.
How To Use A Portable Air Conditioner
Using a portable A/C is very straightforward. However, every device is slightly different from the next. It’s strongly recommended that you always review the user’s manual of your device for exact instructions.
No matter which device you get during a portable air conditioner UK sale, you should take the same approach to using it. Always choose the right location for placing your air conditioner. Here are some tips you should keep in mind.
- Place the unit on a surface that is hard and level. It should always be placed on the floor. It’s not safe to place on a shelf or table.
- Keep the A/C at least 1-foot away from walls and other obstructions. Obstructions can restrict the airflow.
- Avoid placing it in an area where it could become a tripping hazard.
- Always allow the device to stand upright before plugging it in for 24 hours after delivery to let the gases and refrigerants settle.
If you purchased a portable air conditioner with a hose, you must place the unit near a window. It’s important to make sure the exhaust hose is kept straight while the device is in use. This will help the device operate properly and make maintenance easier.
Tips For Best Portable Air Conditioner Use
There are a few more tips that every owner should know about using a portable air conditioner.
- Turn the A/C on before the room heats up. The size of the room will determine how long it takes the A/C to cool the room. Small rooms can be cooled down in as little as 20 minutes, while larger spaces may take a few hours.
- Close doors and windows. The cool air will escape outdoors if your doors or windows are open. On top of that, the hot air from outside will get in.
- Replace the filter regularly. Your portable A/C won’t work efficiently if the air filter is dirty. It should be cleaned or replaced every 3 months.
- Remove heat sources. Is there anything else causing your room to heat up (other than summer temperatures)? Some people notice the sun heats the room up at certain times of the day. When this happens, you should use blinds or curtains to help block out the heat.
How Much Does It Cost To Run a Portable Air Conditioner in the UK?
There are a few factors that you must consider to calculate the cost of running a portable A/C in the UK.
- A/C wattage
- Cost of electricity
- How many hours of use per day
An easy way to find out the estimated cost of running a portable air conditioner is to take the wattage and multiply it by hours of use. Then, take the number you get and divide it by 1000. This will give you an estimated kWh. You can then multiply the cost of electricity by the kWh.
Most portable A/C units have between 754 W and 1480 W. However, the most common type available is 1200 W. For this example, we’ll use a 1200W that runs for 8 hours per day.
1200 x 8 = 9600 / 1000 = 9.60 kWh per day
The average rate of energy consumption in the UK varies. But, in most regions the average rate is around 32 to 35 p per kWh. Taking the example above, we’ll measure it in a household with an average rate of 34p per kWh used.
9.60 x 0.34 = £3.26
The average cost of running a portable air conditioner UK for 8 hours is £3.26 per day.
However, many A/C units that are sold exclusively in the UK are measured in BTU. You can still use the same equation above by converting the BTU into watts. 1 BTU is equal to 0.2931 watt-hours.
Benefits Of Using a Portable Air Conditioner
Choosing the right type of air conditioner for your space is an important decision. If you’re debating between a window A/C unit or a portable A/C, you might wonder what the pros and cons are. While both types of units can improve air quality indoors, there are more advantages to using a portable air conditioner.
Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits of using portable A/C.
- No restrictions. Users can bring their portable A/C anywhere. They can use it to cool their living room during the day and their bedroom at night. People can also easily bring their unit to other locations (ie: cabin, cottage, or trailer during vacation).
- Small & compact. Portable air conditioners can easily cool down a large room. However, the units themselves are compact. You don’t have to worry about a portable a/c taking up much space in your room.
- Cost efficient. If installing central air isn’t in your budget, a portable a/c will provide your space with the same cool air for a fraction of the price. They also use less energy to operate, leaving you with a lower energy bill.
- Multi-function. Technology has come a long way over the years. Modern portable a/c units have more than one function. Most units will also feature modes to work as a circulating fan and dehumidifier.
Best Portable Air Conditioner
- ✅🆒【Powerful Cooling Capacity】🆒 The AirOrig air conditioner has a 9,000 BTU cooling capacity which provides cooling down to 16°C across 300 Sq.Ft with 330 m³/h circulation that ideal for home large room including living rooms, bedrooms, bathroom and offices. This high powered portable ac unit will keep you cool and comfortable all year round.
UK residents can beat the heat this season with the AirOrig Portable Air Conditioner 4-in-1. This is one of the highest-rated portable A/C units available online. So, why is it the best portable air conditioner to use? Let’s review some key points.
- Units available in either 7000 or 9000 BTU
- 9000 BTU unit can cool spaces up to 450 sq-ft; 7000 BTU can cool spaces up to 300 sq-ft.
- Built-in dehumidifier
- Easy to install exhaust hose for nearly any window size
- Remote control operated
- Easy-to-use control panel with LED lights
- Sleep timer option
- Washable air filters
- The portable unit has wheels, making it easier to move
- Energy saving deceive
- 3 modes- cooling, circulating fan, and dry (dehumidifier)
This device can cool large rooms down to a temperature of 16 C/ 61 F. Since it’s on wheels, it can be easily transported from one room to the next, providing your household with fresh air in all rooms. It also features hidden side handles, making it easy to carry. Let’s review the product details so you know what to expect.
AirOrig Portable Air Conditioner 4-in-1 Details
| Weight | 20 kg |
| Height | 70 cm |
| Width | 30 cm |
| Depth | 30 cm |
| Manufacturer | Zhejiang Oulun Electric Co. |
| Release Date | April 2023 |
| Customer Rating | 4.2/5 |
It’s important to note that this device does have an exhaust hose. This hose is designed to fit in sliding windows. The window mount size can be adjusted from a range of 0.6 to 1.2 m (23.6 to 47.2 inches) to fit your window.
Since this unit hit the market in spring 2023, hundred of UK customers have brought it home. Overall, it’s a very efficient unit for cooling large rooms. The number 1 thing that customers like about this A/C is that it can cool a room down quickly. Although the device looks small, it is very powerful.
Pros & Cons of AirOrig Portable Air Conditioner 4-in-1
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| More affordable than popular brands | Only compatible with sliding windows (horizontal and vertical) |
| Easy to operate | Loud when in use |
| Very easy to install | Small water bucket (may fill up multiple times on a hot and humid day) |
| Keeps rooms as cool as 16 C | |
| Easy to move to different rooms |
