February 5, 2018
Pros and Cons of Portable Air-Conditioning Units
If you are considering using a portable air-conditioning unit, there are both pros and cons.
Summer might seem like a long way away, but it will be here before you know it. If your air conditioner was on its way out last year, don’t wait for the first hot spring day to run out and make a hasty decision about what to put in your home. If you are considering using a portable air-conditioning unit, there are both pros and cons. Whether it is right for you depends on if you find more “pros” than “cons” in the comparison.
What are Your Options?
There are times when central air simply is out of the question and you need to find an alternative. There are various versions of portable air conditioners, or mini split air conditioners, to use, and they can be an excellent option for places like condos or other dwellings that prohibit the use of window units. Portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room and are typically much smaller. A great choice to cool small spaces, you can choose from either the refrigerative type or the evaporative type, depending on the conditions of your home.
Refrigerative air-conditioning units work in the same manner as window units; they have a vent that needs to go to the outside. The unit works by drawing out the warm air in the room, but it doesn’t have the ability to replace the warm air with cold the way that a window unit does. This means it takes much longer to cool a room down. An evaporative air-conditioning unit uses water that evaporates onto cooling fins. The vapor produced helps to draw warm air in and to cool the room down. Although it may be less reliable, the cost of running the evaporative air conditioning unit is up to 70% less than a refrigerative unit. Another benefit is that it works well in humid conditions.
The Pros of Portable Air-Conditioning
The biggest pro is that it can be moved from room to room, so you don’t have to buy more than one unit. It is also easy to install and isn’t as much of an eyesore as a window unit might be. If you live somewhere that you either aren’t allowed to use a window unit or you just can’t for other logistical reasons, then portable air-conditioning units are an excellent alternative. They have also come down in price considerably over the past several years and aren’t a huge shock to your budget.
The Cons of Portable Air-Conditioning
The reality is that portable air-conditioning units aren’t as good as window units at cooling down large spaces. They also aren’t as reliable when temperatures soar, because they often having a hard time keeping up. They also are not as efficient to use as a window unit.
In the end, if you are limited by not having the capacity for central air or choosing a window unit, then a portable air conditioner might be your best option. Easy to install and move from room to room, they aren’t a huge investment but can make your life a lot more comfortable.
St. Louis Mini Split Installation and Maintenance
At Scott-Lee Heating Company, we install and provide maintenance for Mitusbishi, Dikan and Fujitsu mini-split systems, as well as for Trane, Carrier, and York.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please feel free to give us a call at (314) 200-0788 or complete our short contact form. A Scott-Lee Comfort Specialist will be happy to help you improve the comfort level of your home environment.