How well does a portable air conditioner cool?
Number of degrees cooler
A portable air conditioner is great for extra cooling on a hot summer day. But, a portable air conditioner only cools the air by a couple degrees. Is it 30°C at home, for example? The air conditioner will only cool to a temperature of about 28°C.
Cooling capacity in BTU
We express the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner in BTU (British Thermal Unit). The higher the BTU, the more powerful the air conditioner is. This means that a portable air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 7000 BTU is suitable for a smaller room than one with an 18,000 BTU cooling capacity. On average, a portable air conditioner needs between 352 and 535 BTU per squared meter. This is based on a ceiling height of 2.5m.
Influence of heat loads
The heat loads of a room influence the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner. Does the sun shine on your window all day long? The room will heat up faster, so an air conditioner will cool less well. That's why we indicate the surface a portable air conditioner can cool with high or low heat loads.
High heat loads: many windows facing south, bad isolation, flat roof, and many people or electronic devices in the room.
Low heat loads: few windows facing south, good isolation, slanted roof, and few people or electronic devices in the room.
Improve cooling capacity
You have some influence on the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner yourself. For example, close the curtains when the sun shines on the windows and turn off electrical appliances. We also recommend you to turn on the air conditioners in the morning. It's not as hot in the house yet, so it's easier for the portable air conditioner to keep the temperature low. Keep windows and doors closed too, and use a window seal set for the drain hose.
How well does a portable air conditioner cool?
How well a portable air conditioner cools depends on several things. For example, the temperature in the room and the amount of sunlight on the windows. When many appliances are on, such as the television, game consoles, or the vacuum cleaner, the air conditioner doesn't cool as well. Depending on the situation, a portable air conditioner cools between 4 and 8°C. Is it already 30°C in your room? The air conditioner cools the temperature to about 25°C.
