How to Vent a Portable Air Conditioner without A Window

With the increasing value of portability, portable air conditioners have become popular cooling solutions for various spaces. However, they usually rely on window ventilation, which can be challenging in certain situations. In this article, we will explore practical solutions for venting a portable air conditioner without a window, providing unconventional settings with comfortable cooling options.

Key Takeaways

• Portable air conditioners are becoming popular due to their low setup cost, portability, easy installation, and space-saving advantages, making them a suitable choice for cooling single rooms in shared apartments or dorms.
• However, portable air conditioners have limitations, including being less efficient in larger spaces, producing noise, and consuming more energy, which can increase electricity bills if used excessively.
• Venting is crucial for portable air conditioners to work effectively. While they are typically vented through windows, alternative methods like sliding doors, wall vents, dryer vents, ceiling vents, or chimneys for windowless rooms exist.

What Are Portable Air Conditioners?

As technology evolves, a gradual shift towards portability is no surprise. From portable music players to chargers, it has been increasingly easy to carry everything on the go.

As a result, it’s no surprise that portable air conditioners have gripped the market. These AC units are self-contained systems and are usually used to cool single rooms. The most basic requirements for portable air conditioners to work are a socket and a window for ventilation.

A portable air conditioner works based on a refrigeration cycle. In the most basic sense, it sucks in the warm air present in the room and uses condensation to cool it down. The cool air is then flown back into the room.

The moisture extracted from the hot air has to be vented outside. The hot air is shifted to the refrigerant present in the system to convert the refrigerant fluid into gas. The exhaust vents then vent out the heat released by converting fluid into gas. A window is used to install the ducts.

The Advantages of A Portable Air Conditioner

There is a reason portable air conditioners have increased in popularity over the years. As people move into shared apartments and dorms, they neither have the budget nor space for a conventional AC unit.

This is where a PAC system comes in. It offers a variety of benefits over a conventional AC unit or even a fan, which can be summarised in these points:

Low Setup Cost

Portable air conditioners have a low setup cost due to their size and function. If you need to cool a relatively small single room, these fit the requirement perfectly and can be bought and set up at a low price.

Easy to Move Around

This is where the portability factor shines! Since portable air conditioner units are lighter and compact, you can roll them over as and when required. Shifting an AC unit from one room to another is no longer a hassle!

Quick and Easy to Install

The only requirements for a portable air conditioning system are a socket and a space to install ventilation. Usually, windows or sliding doors can do the trick for the latter.

Save a Considerable Amount of Space

A portable air conditioner only takes up a fraction of your space and can be set up quickly, as long as a socket is available. You don’t have to worry about tripping or not finding room for this air conditioner!

The Limitations of A Portable Air Conditioner

As with a central AC, portable AC units are not perfect. They offer a variety of advantages but come with their fair share of troubles as well:

Not Suitable for Specific Room Sizes

A portable AC unit works perfectly with a small room but are not feasible for a bigger space. For instance, you cannot set these up in the drawing-room. They are only efficient in cooling a smaller area.

Produce a Lot of Noise

Like a conventional air conditioner, a portable AC produces a noticeable amount of noise. Usually, you get used to it after some time. On the contrary, specific units in the market have no sound.

Less Energy Efficiency

These small units take up a considerable amount of energy and may add to your electricity bill. Due to these portable AC units being less energy-efficient, it’s advised to use them sparingly.

Types of Portable Air Conditioning Units

A portable air conditioning system may differ from another in terms of the vent hose provided.

A single-hose design consists of a single intake and exhaust hose. Since it uses the same hose, the cooling is much less efficient and requires more power to work.

On the other hand, a dual-hose design uses two hoses, one for intake and another used as an exhaust hose. As a result, it is more energy-efficient and can effectively cool faster than a single hose.

The vent hose is an important part that helps enable the more efficient working of a portable air conditioner. But that raises the question: Why is venting so important?

The Importance of Providing a Venting Outlet

As the name suggests, ventilation facilitates the proper movement of air and prevents it from getting trapped. As a result, adequate venting prevents health complications and breathing issues.

If air is not adequately circulated and expelled appropriately, it may trap some foreign particles and adversely affect a room’s occupants. Additionally, odours may stick and give the house a peculiar smell.

Using a venting hose allows you to control the amount of fresh air entering your room. In addition, it provides an escape from the already trapped air. Setting up a portable air conditioner without a vent hose is impossible.

Since ventilation is essential, a portable air conditioner has dedicated vents placed near a window to facilitate easy circulation.

But what happens when you want to up a unit in a windowless room? Indeed, there must be other ways to set up a vent!

Setting Up a Vent For a Windowless Room

Since most air conditioners have their vent installed near a window, it might seem that an air conditioner without a window as an outlet is impossible to set up. That’s incorrect. You can set up the vent near an outlet that provides a connection between the indoors and outdoors.

A portable air conditioner vent can be set up in various spaces.

Using a Sliding door

In the absence of a window, a door is your best friend to set up a vent for your portable air conditioner. The only issue with door venting is that you cannot use doors that lead to a hallway or inside the house.

As a result, a sliding door is recommended. These doors usually open towards the balcony, providing a perfect outlet for the air.

Using a Wall Vent

Using a wall vent may prove more tricky than using a door, but it is feasible. You can use a power drill to make a hole in the exterior wall equalling the diameter of your hose and then vent a portable AC as required.

Commonly, wall vents are paired with a single-hose portable air conditioner since a dual-hose would require a giant hole in the wall.

Using a Dryer Vent

If you’ve already installed a dryer vent hose, setting up a portable air conditioner vent is easier! Most dryer vents have dimensions similar to an AC vent. As a result, you can use the same hose to vent a portable air conditioner!

The only drawback is that a hose for an AC vent is generally 6 feet in length. You would require a longer hose, which you can purchase separately.

Using a Ceiling Vent

If your house or office space has a drop ceiling, it can act as a vent for a portable air conditioner. Most modern homes do not have the specified drop ceiling and cannot utilise ceiling venting.

On the other hand, office spaces often have drop ceilings serving no purpose. You can use ceiling vent kits to install the venting hose for your portable air conditioner. These kits help extend the hose length and work with almost any portable AC.

Using a Chimney to Vent

One of the most unusual ways to vent portable ACs is utilising your unused chimney. The issue is ducts are not available in a lot of homes. Moreover, It cannot be considered a permanent solution since chimneys are used throughout the year, except for summers.

If you have a chimney and want to use it for your portable unit, contact a professional to set it up correctly.

Heat Pump Source: Reliable Heating and Cooling Solutions

At Heat Pump Source, we take pride in our unwavering commitment to serving the UK with top-tier HVAC solutions. From the efficiency of heat pumps and the cool relief of air conditioning to the warmth of boilers, radiators, and underfloor heating, our dedicated team is always at the forefront of innovation. We understand the unique needs of every household and business, and we strive to provide dependable health and cooling products and services that are tailored just for you. Ensuring your comfort and satisfaction is our utmost priority. Whether you have questions, need guidance, or require support, we’re always here to assist. Please don’t hesitate to contact us; we’re eager to be of service.

Summing Up

It is possible to set up a portable air conditioner without a window. Various tools exist in the market to help you set up your AC unit according to your convenience.

During summers, these units can deal with the warm air that sweeps the country. You can use them to channel hot air and help keep the room cool, albeit at a slower rate. The cold air can help you focus on work and help you relax.

Granted, utilising this cooling system may not be feasible in the long run, owing to environmental complications. Even so, this restriction can be circumvented by using a more environment-friendly source of power.

For instance, solar panels can be installed and used as power sources for a portable air conditioner. The panels encourage the use of renewable energy and help you save on your electricity bills.

The only downside to using solar energy for ac units is that you cannot use it after sunset unless you invest in a battery. The battery helps store the power generated by the photovoltaic cells during the day. As a result, you can use this energy at night.

With portable devices rising in usage, investing in a portable air conditioner is a good idea. You can carry them as and when required. Suppose you’re an individual who moves around a lot; a portable unit would benefit you more than a conventional unit.

After all, you don’t have to worry about the setup.