Which Is Better: A Portable Air Conditioner or Ductless?

Portable Air Conditioner

• A portable AC produces cold air with a cooling element, a condenser fan and a thermostat. The unit features a power cord, which plugs into a grounded power outlet, and an exhaust hose that attaches to the back of the unit and to a window. While a portable air conditioner packs a punch while cooling a room, the unit must have a way to exhaust dirty air. It's technically possible to allow the unit to exhaust into a room, but the exhaust not only intoxicates the air, it heats the room even as it cools, which renders the unit practically useless. The unit must have an exhaust route to outside air. A portable air conditioner can be used without its duct, but only if the unit is in fan only mode. The fan circulates the air within the room without the cooling element in use, thus impurities aren't removed from the air and no exhaust is created.

Portable Air Cooler

• A portable air cooler unit differs from an air conditioner, in that it uses cold water and ice to cool the room, moisturizes the air and contains no duct. The unit has no need to exhaust air. Instead of pulling moisture from the room, it generates moisture into the room by blowing air over a ice-water mixture. The front panel of the air cooler, like the AC, features a fan-speed mode, which can make the room cooler or less cool. Without the need for an exhaust hose, the unit can be carried anywhere and used easily after it's plugged in.

Portable Air Conditioner Maintenance

• While a portable AC unit produces notably cool air, it must be tended to every now and then. If the unit is being used in a humid room, the internal tank is at risk of filling frequently. When the internal drain tank fills, the unit's cooling element turns off, until the tank is drained. Some units feature an external tank, which can be removed from the unit and refilled, while other units must be carried to a drainage area for drainage. Approximately every two weeks, the air filter on the back of the unit must be checked and cleaned.

Portable Air Cooler Maintenance

• It may be easy to transport, but to reap the benefits of an air cooler, the unit must always be filled with an icy mixture; 1 part ice to 2 parts water approximately. The unit contains a water tank with indicator marks that range from "Maximum" to "Empty." The water line must never fall below the "Empty" mark, lest the unit ceases to cool.