Air Coolers

An air cooler can be an affordable and economical alternative to air conditioning. Air coolers work on the principle of heat loss during the evaporation process, resulting in cooler air. They are much more effective in a very dry climate. In a more humid climate, an air conditioner will give greater relief from the heat. Since an air cooler works on the principle of evaporation, it uses a water tank that must be filled periodically.

Air Filtration

All portable air conditioners include air filters. The better models have superior filters which clean your air.

Dehumidifiers

In addition to cooling the air, an air conditioner dries the air by reducing the amount of humidity in it. Therefore portable air conditioners also work as de-humidifiers.

Portable Air Conditioners

Portable air conditioners have built-in wheels and are truly portable as they can be moved easily from room to room. The only requirement for a portable air conditioner is access to a window so that the hot air exhaust can be vented outside. Portable air conditioners do not require installation. You simply place the exhaust hose in a window with a window venting kit. The venting kit works with any standard double-hung or side-to-side sliding window. It can be set up in just a few simple steps:

1. Place the portable air conditioner near a window.
2. Connect the exhaust hose to the opening of the air conditioner.
3. Connect the other end of the exhaust hose to the window venting kit.
4. Place the window venting kit in the window and adjust it so that it fits properly.
5. Close the window on the venting kit so that no air enters through the window.
6. Plug in the air conditioner and turn it on.
7. Cool off and Enjoy!

Window Air Conditioners

A window unit is installed in the window of the room you want to cool. This is a smart buy if floor space is precious and you need to spot cool one room in your home.

EER

EER - Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the measurement of the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner. The higher the EER number, the more efficient it is. An air conditioner with a higher EER will cost less to operate in the long run.

Noise Level

Different types of air conditioners operate at different noise levels. If you need a portable air conditioner for a bedroom, look for a lower decibel rating or a "quiet" label. A higher decibel rating means a noisier unit.

RH

RH - Relative Humidity. The ratio of the amount of moisture in the air, to the maximum amount of moisture that air would contain if it were saturated. The humidity and the temperature are crucial factors in determining how comfortable the room is.

BTU

BTU - British Thermal Unit. It is the measurement of heat extracted from your home by an air conditioner. Smaller rooms can operate efficiently with lower BTU ratings while larger rooms need higher BTU ratings.

CFM

CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute. The CFM is a measure of the volume of air blown -- the higher the CFM, the stronger the airflow.

Timer

A built-in timer allows you to set the time that you want the air conditioner to turn on thereby keeping down operating costs.