Many homes don't have AC built in and some aren't suitable for installation, but that doesn't mean you have to swelter through the summer heat with no climate control! HVAC firms aren't just for installing complex, building-wide systems; many can also recommend and sell portable aircon machines you can use in any room. They have a few extra considerations that permanent AC doesn't, though, so read on to learn how to get the most out of these highly effective units.
Put some thought into how you arrange the outflow pipe
Air conditioning creates hot air, and that heat has to go somewhere. Built-in HVAC systems generally vent it out through a roof unit, but portable AC has to take a slightly more direct approach. Most commonly, this comes in the form of a flexible tube that works as a sort of 'exhaust' for all the excess heat. Unless you're lucky enough to have a handily-positioned cat flap you can run this tube through, you'll need to open a window--and therefore risk letting a whole lot more hot air in. The trick here is to block off the gap in the window as much as possible. Aircon suppliers will often sell Velcro-and-fabric window dressing solutions for this, which serve double duty by holding the pipe in place. Ask about this when you buy your unit--your local HVAC shop will be able to advise for your particular windows. Whatever you pick, make sure the pipe is long enough to run it well out of the window. You want that hot air blown as far away from your house as you can, after all!
Take advantage of the dehumidifying function
The way humans perceive heat isn't based only on temperature. The humidity of the air makes almost as much of a difference--because who wants to feel clammy and sticky all summer long? Portable AC units double up as handy dehumidifiers, and it's well worth figuring these functions out and taking advantage of them. It will help you cool down your home dramatically, and with less power usage than the main AC function--so it'll also save you money in the long run when your energy bill comes in.
Shrink your 'cool space' as much as possible
The larger a space your unit has to cool, the harder it will have to work--and the less effective it will be. The beauty of these units is that you can move them from room to room with you, so keep your doors and windows closed and make your chill space as small as you can. When you do move the unit into another room, this will also help preserve the cooler temperature in the space it was working in before--all without spending money on chilling out more than one space at a time.
Reach out to an air conditioning contractor to learn more.
