Best Portable Air Conditioners That Work?

The portable air conditioner can help you to get refreshing cool air in hot weather. It is hard to deal with the warm weather in the summer. If you live in a tropical side of your country or if its summertime in your area, then a portable air conditioner can give you relief from high temperatures.

In this article, I will explain how portable air conditioner works and also guide you to buy the 5 best portable air conditioners that work.

You may have some questions in your mind like what is a portable air conditioner and how it works. Allow me to explain everything to you by answering all your questions and clear your doubts. I will also suggest some good portable air conditioners you can buy from online.

First, let me tell you about a portable air conditioner and how it works. I will explain everything step by step to make it easy to understand for you.

What is a Portable Air Conditioner And How It Works?

A portable air conditioner is a small size of air conditioner which can quickly move one place to another. This device works the same as a regular air conditioner but in a lower range.

A portable air conditioner can use to make a more relaxed small size of a room like 650 square feet to 250 square feet. The portable air conditioner is easy to use, and you can easily maintain the machine.

The air conditioner comes with single or dual hoses systems. The hose used to transfer warm air and cool the room. If the unit has a single hose, then it becomes hard to cool the room because it uses only one hose to transfer hot air and provide cold air.

The dual hose one uses an individual tube to transfer air to cool your place. One hose pulls out hot air, and another hose pulls in cold air. So without hose and vent, an air conditioner can’t work.

All air conditioner needs a place to vent warm air and make your area cooler. It is essential to vent portable air conditioners because of its extract hot air and cools the room effectively.

You can use a window or make a small hole on the wall to use your portable air conditioner. The setup of a portable air conditioner is easy. You can set up a portable air conditioner by yourself.

Do These To Make A Portable Air Conditioner Work More Effectively

Do you want your portable air conditioner to give it the best service? Then reads these roles to make your machine work ideally and provide you the best job.

Location of setup

It is essential where you want to put your portable air conditioner. Setup location can affect on the machine performance.

Try to place the machine where the sunlight cannot touch and avoid the high humidity area.

Proper ventilation

By using ventilation, warm air go outside, and fresh air comes inside the room. The correctly vented machine will maintain the appropriate temperature inside the room and prevent the machine from overheating.

Exhaust Hose connections

Try to keep the exhaust hose connection straight. Because in a straight line, the air can pass quickly and let the machine more effectively. You can sue other equipment to keep the hose straight.

Wash the air filter

It is very important to wash your air conditioner filter. You should try to clean the filter once in two weeks. By washing the filter, you can increase the lifetime of your portable air conditioner.

Clean water tank

Try to pull out the water when you are not using your air conditioner. Before you are storing a machine somewhere, clean the filter. Keep it in a safe place, and do not keep any fire element near it. Do not store it in your garage or the kitchen. You can damage the machine by storing it in the wrong place.

The Benefit of Portable Air Conditioner

A portable air conditioner can help you get fresh air if your room does not any window. You may rent an apartment which can construct without window. A portable air conditioner does not require a window for installation. You can use the wall to install your machine. The unit is super easy to carry, so you can move it room to room or apartment to apartment. The machine needs a small space for setup. You do not have to worry about space if you are planning to get a portable air conditioner.

These units use consume low energy and save your electricity bills. You can use a power-saving mood to reduce the usage of energy. Most of the units come with a timer that allows you to on/off the machine by setting your convenient time.

Most of the portable air conditioner can cool your room and dehumidifiers at the same time. So you can keep your place cool and dry by using one machine.

You can also find a portable air cooler if you do not want to use an air conditioner. The air cooler can work without vent. This unit also can keep your place cool and fresh.

The portable air cooler does not any windows to produce cold air. Air cooler uses water to reduce the temperature around you. In a short distance, an air cooler can give you relaxing cold air. It pulls in the warm air inside and cools it then produces cold air. Some of the air coolers have an ice container that can work more effectively.

5 Best Portable Air Conditioner in 2020

You are probably thinking about what type of portable air conditioners or an air cooler is best for you. I can also help you to find some best quality air conditioners.

If you are looking for a ventless air conditioner, then there is a suggestion for you. Let me tell you about the five best portable air conditioners which are considered being best in the market.

1. Honeywell 525-729CFM Indoor Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler

152 Reviews Honeywell 525 CFM Indoor Outdoor Portable Evaporative Cooler, 525CFM, Grey Product Dimensions: 18" W 13.8" D 33.7" H | Product Weight: 24.9 lbs

Recommended for areas up to 320 sq. ft.

Backyard BBQ's, pool parties, relaxing on the porch, garden or deck—an outdoor evaporative air cooler beats the summer's heat and keeps the good times rolling.

US Compliant, Outdoor-Rated Honeywell Swamp Cooler with UV resistant material & GFCI cord for safe outdoor operation.

Built to cool large spaces with minimal effort! Top loading ice compartment with a continuous water hose connection & triple-sided Honeywell Honeycomb Cooling Pads means powerful evaporative cooling all day long.

Like a cool, lake breeze, Evaporative Air cooler reduces temperature through water evaporation. Moist, cool breeze can cool you down without spraying floor & furniture with water!

Built-to-Last, Honeywell Air Coolers have been leading the industry with their quality products for over 12 years.

Provide best performances in hot and dry climates where humidity levels are <60%

Honeywell comes with an evaporative air cooler and a tower fan with humidifier functionality. This air cooler covers small to medium size of the area to produce cold air. You can use this indoor and outdoor space. It comes with a variety of features.

Features

You can use this device as an air cooler, tower fan, and humidifier.

These machines cover up to 320 square feet.

The consumption rate of electricity is super low 228w

Has a water 6.6 to 18.5 gallons size of a water tank and ice compartment

This air cooler has a carbon dust air filter

Its comes with remote control systems

You can change fan speed up to 3

This one has low water alarm

This portable air cooler has different sizes of coverage dependent on models. Honeywell 525-729CFM can cover 320 square feet to 650 square feet. You can use one of these in your living room, kitchen, garage, or in your BBQ party for fresh air.

You can increase and decries the power of the fan. At high speed, the fan can make a little bit of noise, and the lowest rate can operate quietly.

If you want, you can add ice to make the fan cool the air. You can use this option if you feel hot or the weather is warmer than usual. The ice and full speed of the fan can decrease the temperature a few degrees.

The water tank of these machines is big enough to run for long hours. You can easily remove the water tank and wash it. The water tank can connect with a water hose, or you can fill the tank with water. If the water goes below the lower point, then the machines will notify you to refill. And the carbon filter will provide you fresh and healthy air.

This machine is easy to move because of its size, and weight is only 24.9 pounds. It has four wheels, which make it easier to move.

If you are living in a small room then this air cooler can be the best option for you. Honeywell 525-729 CFM Portable Evaporative Cooler can be a perfect choice for small to medium rooms. And the unit can remotely manageable and also you can set on a timer so that you don’t have to wake up at night while you are sleeping.

2. LG LP1217GSR 115V Portable Air Conditioner

1,293 Reviews LG LP1217GSR 12,000 BTU Graphite Gray Portable Air Conditioner - Rooms up to 400 Sq. Ft Your purchase includes One LG LP1217GSR 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner for Rooms up to 400 Sq. Ft - in Graphite Gray color. One LCD Remote Control and One Windows installation kit

Air conditioner dimensions: 16.93” W x 27.36” H x 12.80” D. | Weight 67.2 lbs

Performance: 12,000 BTU. Dehumidification: 5.5 pts/hr. | Est. cooling area of 400-sq.ft. | Noise Front dB (A) (High/Low) 53/51

Other specifications: Dry Air Flow (CFM) 220 | Voltage / 60 Hz 115 V | CEC Cooling Power (W): 1350

Bucket less design with auto-evaporation system built into this model. Moisture created by the cooling process evaporates inside the unit, allowing continuous operation without having to regularly empty the bucket

LG portable air conditioner is one of the best air conditioners you can find on the market. LG produces the best quality product. This machine comes with so many digital controls that make it easy to operate.

There is some beautiful feature this portable air conditioner has.

Comes with remote control and digital display

Power saving can run in 115v.

Best for 300 square feet room and has 6 feet long power cord.

This air conditioner comes with an auto evaporation system.

You can set the timer to switch on or off.

You can quickly move this air conditioner room to room or house to work. These machines can be the best option when you are moving a lot. The small size of machines and weight is 67.2 pounds makes it easy to carry.

The design and the color of this air conditioner can blend in with any room décor. It can cover around 300 square feet of space to cool up and has 12000 BTU. This device has 6 feet long cable cord, which can allow use in the hottest spot in the room.

LG LP1217GSR 115V Portable Air Conditioner has auto-swing air vent technology, which makes sure no hot spot left untouched. This machine can be programmable for 24 hours on/off timer, and you can control the temperature even when you are not there.

You can use easily operate this air conditioner and get high-quality air. The color of this unit can easily fit with any home decor. LG LP1217GSR 115V is easy to install and the function is user-friendly.

3. Whynter ARC-14SH 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

961 Reviews Whynter ARC-14SH 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier, Fan & Heater with Activated Carbon Filter plus Storage bag, Platinum And Black|Black Award Winning: 1. Good Housekeeping's "2020 Best Overall" and "can cool down a room faster than other portable units" 2. Consumer Report's 2020 Highest Score; UL listed

Dual hose operation; Cools up to a 500 square feet space(ambient temperature and humidity may influence optimum performance); Dehumidifying capacity: 71 pints per day; Air Flow (at high speed): 430 m3/h / 253 CFM; 3 fan speeds

Three operational modes: Air conditioner, dehumidifier, fan & heater; Cooling capacity 14000 BTU (ASHRAE-128 Standard) / 9500 BTU (DOE+ 2017 Standard); Heating capacity 13000 BTU (ASHRAE-128 Standard)/ 8200 BTU (DOE+ 2017 Standard); Maximum power consumption: Cooling 1300 W / 11.6 A; Heating 1000 W / 11.6 A

Full thermostatic control (61°F - 89°F) with digital readout, 24 hour programmable timer; Eco-friendly CFC free green R-32 refrigerant; Patented auto drain function fully exhausts all condensate automatically in most environments

Includes complete set window kit, remote control, activated carbon air filter, washable pre-filter, user manual and storage bag; Casters for easy mobility

Extendable exhaust hose (up to 60″); Window kit dimension: 6.5″ W x 20″ L (minimum), 46″ (maximum); Unit dimensions: 19″ W x 16″ D x 35.5″ H

Whynter ARC-14SH can be your best choice if you are looking for a portable air conditioner with heater. This machine is powerful and fast. It comes with 14000 BTU and can cover a medium-size room around 500 square feet.

Features

It can use as an air conditioner, heater, fan, and dehumidifier.

This machine can cover 500 square feet to cool or heat up.

It has full thermostatic control

Can be programmable for 24 hours

Eco- friendly and CFC gas-free

It comes with remote control and digital display control

Has activated carbon air filter

It uses 1250 W of energy

You can change the fan speed to 3

If you are looking for an air conditioner and heater than Whynter is the best option for you. This machine has dual hose technology, which makes it powerful than a single hose one. You can use this unit in the summertime and also in winter. This portable air conditioner can cover up to 500 square feet of space. You can use this machine for s small size of bedroom, office.

The performance of the machine is quite good. This unit has advance auto drain technology. It also has a dual hose function, which provides fast cooling air. You can have the best performance in low-cost energy because this unit can run with 115 V of electricity.

Whynter is environmentally friendly with CFC free. So you can enjoy the fresh and healthy air without harming the environment. This air conditioner has activated carbon filter, which can help you to get fresh air.

This machine has four operational modes, which mean you can use this unit as an air conditioner, heater, fan, and dehumidifier. You can also set the timer to switch on or off for 24 hours. It comes with remote control functions so that you can change the settings without change your positions. The machine can restart itself after a power outage.

The installation of the machine is easy, and you can efficiently operate it. This unit requires a small space for installation and best for a small size room and medium-sized room.

Whynter ARC-14SH has air condition and heater option. This unit can serve you in summer and winter. You can use this portable air conditioner to stay cool in the summer and heat up your room in winter.

4. SHINCO SPF2 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner- Effective cooling for small room.

585 Reviews Shinco8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners with Built-in Dehumidifier Function, Fan Mode, Quiet AC Unit Cools Rooms to 200 sq.ft, LED Display, Remote Control, Complete Window Mount Exhaust Kit 【EASY-COOL】- Compact 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Unit, Delivers Fast, Effective Cooling for Spaces Up to 200 Sq.Ft in Home, Bedroom, dorms, apartments, cabins, campers, offices, bedrooms, or living rooms. When the room is cool enough, switch to the first speed level,this air conditioner will become quiet(Noise ≤55dB), enough to maintain the temperature while you are sleeping.

【3-in-1 FUNCTIONALITY】- It has 3 modes to choose from - cooling, dehumidification, fan only. Air conditioner cools your room quickly; 2-speed fan satisfies your needs. With 19.2L/day dehumidifying capacity, the dehumidifier function is a quick fix for stopping the growing of bacteria and mold in hot and humid environment.Bucket-less, self-evaporating operation makes your living space cool, clean and dry.

【EASY-TO-USE】- LED display and simple selections control panel,full-featured remote, 24-hr timer, plus a quiet ＜55dB output on Low speed mode for disturbance-free nights. Four castors wheels make it easy to move from place to place, You can place it on bedroom, study, living room, kitchen, small office, RV, party and etc.

【QUICK INSTALLATION】- Your purchase includes: Portable Air Conditioner, Window Mount Kit, Quick Setup Guide, Remote Control (batteries not included). Move your air conditioner to the preferred cooling area, attach the 59" hose and adjustable window brackets (fits openings from 25 - 51“), turn the unit on and let your cooling begin! An exhaust hose and window kit are included, no extra tools are needed for assembly. Installation instructions are simple and can be done by anyone.

【SUPPORT】- Shinco offers 12-months warranty and free return or exchange within 30 days of order receipt. We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If there is any question, please don't hesitaste to contact us, we will reply to you within 24 hours and help you solve the problems.

Shinco is one of the oldest manufacturing companies of air conditioners and dehumidifiers. The unit is well designed and user-friendly. You need a small space for setting it. This machine can provide you the best cooling air and help you to relax.

Features

This unit has self-evaporative cooling systems

Can use as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier

Perfect for 200 to 350 square feet small room

Has LED display and simple control panel

Also has remote to control the air condition

Can set the timer for 24 hours

It comes with four castors wheels

Easy to setup

This unit has 8000 BTU, which means this air conditioner has the ability to cool your room fast. If the room size is between 200 to 300 square feet, then this machine can work effectively. You can use this portable air conditioner in your living room, office, or cabin.

After the room comes to the cooling point, switch the air conditioner to the first level, which can maintain the temperature without making noise. You can use this option while you are sleeping. The noise level of this unit is less than 55 dBA, so you can relax without worrying about noise.

By having high BTU, this unit can give you the best performance. The unit consumes only 900w of energy to provide you the best service and can help you to save electricity bills. This unit has 60 pints dehumidifying capacity, and you can change the fan speed depending on your needs.

This machine can control by using a digital display, or you can use remote to control it. You can set a timer for 24 hours to switch this unit on or off. So you can control the air condition even you are close to the air conditioner.

It has a water tank which is big enough to stay a long time and gives you fresh air. And the filter is washable so you can wash the filter after use.

The size of this unit is small enough to fit in your bedroom, office, or cabin. You can quickly move this machine room to room because of it only 46.3 pounds. And the installation is super easy so that you can set up by yourself.

SHINCO SPF2 has the power to cool a small size of room fast. This unit is power-saving and suitable for traveling. If you live in a single room then this air conditioner can help you to sleep well. You can bring this unit if you are staying alone and save your money.

5. hOmeLabs14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner – Noiseless and can cool 460 to 600 square feet of room

432 Reviews hOmelabs Portable Air Conditioner - 14000 BTU Quiet AC with Removable Washable Filter - Cooling Fan with Remote Control, LED Control Panel, Indicator Lights and Wheels for Easy Mobility PORTABLE, QUIET ENERGY-EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONER - Experience a cool and relaxing day at home with the hOmelabs portable air conditioner. It cools quietly and is perfect for 450 to 600 square feet room with horizontal window opening. Equipped with an automatic vertical swing function that evenly distributes airflow throughout the room

EASY TO INSTALL, NO HEAVY WINDOW UNIT TO LIFT - Our portable AC measures 17.9 x 15 x 30.7 inches and has wheels so it can be easily moved to any room that has a window accessible. Simply attach the hose and the window slide adapter, plug in the power supply and you’re good to go. Most customers are able to install in 8 minutes or less. At the end of a season or when you don’t need it, simply unhook the unit and store in your closet, basement or garage

WASHABLE AIR FILTER AND REMOTE CONTROL - Keep your air clean and your portable AC running efficiently with the included washable filter. The filter indicator light will illuminate to remind you when to clean the air filter. We recommend you clean the filter approximately once every two weeks. The unit also comes with a remote control to quickly set your desired temperature, fan speed, change cooling modes or activate the sleep feature

YOUR SATISFACTION IS OUR PRIORITY - hOmelabs offers a 2-year warranty and free return or exchange within 30 days of order receipt. We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If you experience any issues, please contact us or any of our authorized sellers directly, and we will do everything we can to make things right!

If you are looking for the best portable air conditioner at a low cost, then this unit is for you. Homelabs is a powerful machine and can decrease the temperature every fast. The design of this unit can go with home décor. You need a small space to install this machine and serve you with the refreshing air.

Features

This unit is portable and has powerful 14000 BTU

It’s noiseless and can cool up to 450 to 600 square feet of space

Has automatic vertical swing function

Easy to install

Built-in dehumidifier function

The air filter is washable

Comes with remote control and digital display

Homlabs portable air conditioner can work effectively inside 450 to 600 square feet of area. You can use this unit in your living room, bedroom, office, or in a cabin. This machine has an automatic vertical swing function that distributes the cool air every corner of the room.

You can easily install this air condition at your home or at the workplace. This unit requires 17.9 x 15 x 30.7 inches of space to install. You can also quickly move this machine because it has four wheels. The installation will take 10 minutes, and then you are good to start the machine.

The dehumidifier function can cool your room faster than other air conditioners. You can connect the water tank direct with a water hose, and you do not have to worry about refilling water.

The air filter of this unit can washable, and you can use it for a long time. This machine has a filter indicator light, which will remind you when you need to clean your air filter. The air filter needs to clean once every two weeks.

This portable air conditioner comes with remote control functionality. You can change the setting without touching the machine. This one also has digital display control. You can set a timer for the device to on or off. This option lets you control the machines even you are not near it. You can set 24 hours timer in this unit. All the function is easy to control and let you maintain the best temperature inside your room.

This air conditioner makes less noise and lets you sleep peacefully. After cooling the room, you can adjust the fan speed or activate the eco-friendly sleep mode.

How to Choose Best Portable Air Conditioner

Now let me tell you how to choose the best portable air conditioner. If you are willing to buy a portable air conditioner, then you should consider some points.

Cooling area

Before you buy any portable air conditioner, you should think about the size of your room or space. If you know what you are looking for, you can choose a perfect portable air conditioner. You can find different types of this machine in the market which can cover the different sizes of room and space.

Standby time

You should be careful about the standby time of the machines. If the standby is short, then it can disturb you while you are sleeping. Choose a device that comes with at least 8 hours of standby time. The water capacity of the tank is essential to stay on for long hours.

Programmable Function

It is a good option if your portable air conditioner has programmable functions. You can set the timer on or off the machines whenever you need it. By setting a timer, you can reduce power consumption and save energy.

If the machines have a low water level alert, then you can refill water in time. Programmable machines can help you to control easily.

Performance and functionality

Always keep your eyes on the performance of machines and buy the best. Performance depends on fan speed and cooling systems. The water capacity and ice container also provide you best service.

Try to get a machine that is easy to use and has digital controls. Also, try to get a remote control to unite, which will allow you to change all the functions without change your position.

Noise Level

At high speed, most of the portable air conditioners make noise. Noise can be disturbing, so while you are buying an air conditioner cooler, pay attention to the noise level. Try to get the machine which makes less noise and gives you the best service.

The essential thing in a portable air condition is hoses. All kinds of air conditioner use hoses to pull in hot air and produce fresh air. On a hot day, the air conditioner needs to work more to pull out hot air and decrease the temperature of the room.

You can find a single hose or dual hose portable air conditioner in the market. The single hose is suitable for a small room, and double hose air conditioners can cover a bigger space. You have to choose from different configurations of portable air conditioners, which is suits for you.

Now let me tell you details about these two of the air conditioners’ advantages and disadvantages. You may get some bits of help from these details.

A portable air conditioner with a single hose

Most of the portable air conditioner has single hose air cooling systems. The single hose method uses an air compressor to pull out the hot air from the room and create negative air pressure inside the chamber. The negative air pressure pulls in the cold air from the air conditioner. By using this method, a single hose air conditioner help to maintain the low temperature inside the room.

If you are living in a small or medium-size room, then a single hose air conditioner is okay for you. But sometimes a single hose cannot create enough cool inside the room. The fact is the machine can use only one tube to transfer the air.

And sometimes the machines use the hot air to fill the negative air pressure inside the room. In this way, the device needs more power to work hard. Which means the machine needs more energy to work and cost you more money.

But if you want to take your portable air condition everywhere you go, then a single hose is the best option for you.

The single hose portable air conditioner size is small and lighter than dual hose air conditioners. You can always keep your single hose air conditioner close to you and feel the cooling. The BTU of the single hose machines can higher depending on the product. Always check the BTU if you are willing to buy a single hose portable air conditioner.

A portable air conditioner with dual hoses systems

961 Reviews Whynter ARC-14SH 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier, Fan & Heater with Activated Carbon Filter plus Storage bag, Platinum And Black|Black Award Winning: 1. Good Housekeeping's "2020 Best Overall" and "can cool down a room faster than other portable units" 2. Consumer Report's 2020 Highest Score; UL listed

Dual hose operation; Cools up to a 500 square feet space(ambient temperature and humidity may influence optimum performance); Dehumidifying capacity: 71 pints per day; Air Flow (at high speed): 430 m3/h / 253 CFM; 3 fan speeds

Three operational modes: Air conditioner, dehumidifier, fan & heater; Cooling capacity 14000 BTU (ASHRAE-128 Standard) / 9500 BTU (DOE+ 2017 Standard); Heating capacity 13000 BTU (ASHRAE-128 Standard)/ 8200 BTU (DOE+ 2017 Standard); Maximum power consumption: Cooling 1300 W / 11.6 A; Heating 1000 W / 11.6 A

Full thermostatic control (61°F - 89°F) with digital readout, 24 hour programmable timer; Eco-friendly CFC free green R-32 refrigerant; Patented auto drain function fully exhausts all condensate automatically in most environments

Includes complete set window kit, remote control, activated carbon air filter, washable pre-filter, user manual and storage bag; Casters for easy mobility

Extendable exhaust hose (up to 60″); Window kit dimension: 6.5″ W x 20″ L (minimum), 46″ (maximum); Unit dimensions: 19″ W x 16″ D x 35.5″ H

The double hoses is the upgrade version of single hose sir conditioners. Both of the hosen work together to cool the area. Every hose works independently and lets the machines work more effectively. One hose pulls out the hot air from the room by using the pipe and another hose pill in the cold air inside the room. By working this way, the room gets a lower temperature than outside.

The machine takes the hot air from the room, then cool it and give it back to the room. But the single hose one cannot work that way and sometimes get heated up by itself.

In this case, the dual hose use outside air to cool down and puss inside the room. It helps the machine to stay cold for a longer time. Because of this, the devices can work for a long hour and keep cooling your room.

Single and dual hose air conditioners have some good side and bad side. The single hose one is an old version but works well for a small room. You can quickly move the single hose machine anywhere you want.

On the other side, the dual hose will cost you more money than the single hose one. But it can work better than the single hose one and can run longer. The size of the dual hose is petty bigger than a single hose portable air condition.

In conclusion, it is always up to you to choose the right product for yourself and make your decision depending on your budget.

Bottom Line

In the end, i want to say always research about the items you want to buy. Read the user manual carefully before using the items. Keep the installation place clean and dry all the time to avoid unwanted accidents.