Is My Portable AC Exhaust Hose Installed Correctly?

If your exhaust hose is installed improperly, the hot air will not flow out as it is supposed to. This non-exhausted air will stay in the room thereby warming the room as opposed to cooling it.

Back To Top

Do Portable AC Units Need Venting In Heat Mode?

Yes, your portable air conditioner will need to be vented even when in heat mode. Your PAC will work the same way as if producing cool air, just oppositely. It will blow hot air into the room from the front and the cold air will be ran through the exhaust hose out the back.

Back To Top

Installing A Portable Air Conditioner: What Is Required?

There are 3 main requirements:
  • Sufficient Room: - Adequate room for the unit to be installed.
  • Electrical Outlet: - A proper electrical outlet that fits your unit.
  • Venting: - A proper place to vent hot air that is exhausted.
Back To Top

What Is An AC Hose Made Of And How Long Is It?

The length of the hose included differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. Generally the hose that you will receive will be 4 - 7 feet in length. They are constructed of a temperature-resistant plastic reinforced with metal.

Back To Top

What If I Need To Extend My Exhaust Hose?

This is not something that is generally recommended as for some manufacturers, this may void your warranty. However, you can purchase extra exhaust hosing at a local hardware store. The additional hose must have the same diameter as the hose provided with the original purchase of your portable air conditioner.

*Please note that the longer the exhaust hose gets, the less efficiently the portable air conditioner will cool. It is not recommended to make the hose any longer than approximately 9 - 10 feet.

Back To Top

Window Kit Installation: What Is Included And How Does It Work?

The standard window kit for your AC unit includes a window bracket, which is simply a piece of foam or durable plastic that fits into an open window, a vent hose adapter for the bracket and one or 2 vent hoses. If necessary, you can trim the bracket to fit your window more adequately. You will attach the vent hose to your portable air conditioner, then connect the vent hose to the adapter, and close the window tightly.

Back To Top

Portable AC Venting: Where Can I Vent?

Other than your standard sliding window ventilation, you can also vent your portable air conditioner through a sliding door, a casement or crank window, through a wall directly to outside or into another room such as a garage or storage room or through a dryer vent.
  • Sliding Door Ventilation - The window brackets will not be long enough to fill the vertical opening, so you'll need to fill the extra space with some other material like plywood or plexiglass, but this type of ventilation can be done.
  • Casement Or Crank Window Ventilation - These types of windows open like doors which means the standard window kits will not fit them. Many customers who have these windows simply cover the entire window with plexiglass and cut out a hole for the exhaust hose.
  • Wall Ventilation - Some customers prefer to exhaust the hot hair through a wall vent, directly outside or into another room. You will need to use a jigsaw to cut the correct size hole into the wall and then seal the edges of the hole with silicone caulk.
  • Dryer Vent Ventilation - Typically this type of ventilation is not recommended, but it's not impossible. Due to most dryer vents having a 4 inch diameter and exhaust hoses being larger, this would make proper ventilation harder to achieve. Also, dryer vents have a flap on the outside and the hot air being vented out is not strong enough to push it open. In this case, you will need to remove the flap and replace it with screen.
Back To Top

Should I Empty The Water From My AC Unit?

When the heated air is cooled, moisture is removed from the air. All portable air conditioners will remove water from the air collected and depending on which unit you decide on is to how it will deal with this process. That being said, the simplest AC units will require you to empty its drain bucket as often as every 8 hours. The more sophisticated units will automatically evaporate this moisture.

Back To Top

Manual Control vs Electronic Control: Is There A Difference?

Manually controlled portable air conditioners will have a knob that you will use to set the temperature to low, medium or high. The electronically controlled PACs will have a touchpad and a digital display which allows you to set the unit to a specific temperature. Some electronic controlled units can also be use with a remote.

Back To Top

How Do I Determine My Plug Type And Voltage?

You can compare your outlet to see how many volts you will need as well as what type of plug your portable air conditioner will require. There are 2 parts to a plug type; voltage and amperage. Most rooms have standard circuits rated for a total of 15 amps of electricity. As far as voltage, many units have a common 125V/15A plug that can be used in most homes. If you are installing a unit with a higher amp than 15, it is recommended to call an electrician to upgrade your circuitry.

Back To Top