Portable Air Conditioner Buying Guide

Portable Air Conditioner Buying Guide

Equipped with different sizes, features, and capacities, portable air conditioners are designed for a wide range of home and living scenarios. To help you choose the right portable air conditioner for your home, we've created our Portable Air Conditioner Buying Guide, running you through everything you need to know. 

Explore the variety of portable air conditioners from well-known brands including Dimplex, Rinnai, and Omega Altise

Portable AC benefits

  • They’re mobile and movable from room to room, making it convenient and flexible to use around the house.
  • Installation is easy and doesn’t require a professional. You just need a window or sealed exhaust point and a bit of spare time. 
  • If you’re renting, unable to install a more permanent unit, or want to take your cooling with you, a portable air con is an ideal cooling alternative.
  • Portability makes it effective as a single-room cooling option, especially in smaller spaces like offices and family rooms.
  • A portable AC often offers plenty of handy features to increase your comfort and lower energy use, such as programmable timers.
  • Many portable units double up as dehumidifiers and reduce the humidity in your home, so there’s less chance of allergens and mildew developing.

A portable air-conditioner works by pulling the warm air from your room, removing and expelling the heat (and humidity, if it has a dehumidifying function), and filling your room with cooler, drier air. Its built-in thermostat ensures the set temperature in your room is consistently maintained.

Due to its more compact size and one-directional airflow, a portable air conditioner works most efficiently in its immediate area. Your family room or bedroom, for example, is ideally sized for a portable air-con. You’ll need a standard powerpoint nearby, a window or exhaust to vent to, and you’re good to go.

Portable AC installation

How do I install a portable air conditioner?

Portable units are installed by simply attaching the exhaust hose to the air con and fixing the other end to your window or other exhaust point. Every portable unit comes packaged with its own venting kit and the basic tools required for installation.

Because it does require an exhaust, the portable unit can go as far as the flexible exhaust hose allows, which is generally about 2-3m in length (more than enough in many instances).

Note that the standard window kits provided do not specifically suit crank or casement windows, as they open outwards or inwards rather than up or down. You can however find simple DIY installation solutions online.

Do all portable air conditioners have to be vented?

Yes. Like other air conditioners, a portable unit needs to release the warm, stuffy heat and humidity from your home somehow. Window-venting is generally the most common and convenient method of ventilation, but a portable air conditioner can also be vented through a ceiling exhaust, sliding door, or wall exhaust.

Buying the right capacity air-conditioner for your home is essential. You want an air conditioner that is powerful enough for your specific needs, but won’t end up costing you a fortune on your power bill.

So we’ve provided a general sizing guide and tips below to help you pick the best possible model for your home.

How do I choose the right size?
  • 1. Calculate the size of your room or living space in square metres (sqm). It’s best to measure the largest room you intend to use the AC in, as you can simply lower the settings should you want to use it in a smaller room.
  • 2. Measure the width and length of the room in metres, then multiply them to get your total room size in sqm. So, a family room 4m wide by 6 metres long equals 24sqm (4m x 6m = 24sqm).

    Once you’ve got your room size, have a look at our sizing guide below for size recommendations.

Room Size (sqm) 

A/C Capacity

20 to 30sqm

2.8kW

40sqm

4.2kW

50sqm

5.6kW

Every air-conditioner style has its pros and cons. It all depends on how and where you want to use it.

While more permanent options, such as split-system air conditioners, are generally the most powerful and efficient option, they can be costly and inconvenient to install because they require an indoor and outdoor unit. This can make them quite impractical, especially if you’re renting or living in an apartment or other smaller-space living. Window air conditioners, while being effective in individual rooms, are also much larger and aren’t as mobile, as they have to be installed into the window itself rather than simply attaching to it.

Portable air conditioners, on the other hand, are designed for convenience. They are flexible, practical and easy to install, and go wherever you need them. You may pay a little more for the convenience in the short-term, but for short, effective bursts of comfort, you can’t go past them.

Like any appliance, portable air-conditioners do also have their limitations. They’re not generally going to be as effective as a more permanent split-system in larger rooms, for example, and their running costs will be a little higher if used over long periods.

  • Programmable timer and sleep settings

    A programmable thermostat saves you time and money by allowing you to pre-program your air conditioner to turn on and off when you want it to.

    Many portable units allow you to set a precise temperature and have the machine turn off once it’s been reached, or have the air con start cooling at preferred times or duration throughout the day. Some models even offer sleep settings, which quietly and intelligently maintain an ideal temperature in your home as you sleep.


  • Reverse cycle

    Much like split-system air conditioners, you can also find portable units in reverse-cycle – meaning they can cool your home in Summer and heat your home in Winter.


  • Self-evaporator

    The self-evaporator feature ensures collected humidity and moisture from your room is simply evaporated, so you won’t have to constantly empty the collected water out.


  • Dehumidifier

    Excess humidity and vapour makes a room stuffy and uncomfortable, and can also lead to the growth of mould and mildew. The dehumidifying feature removes this dampness from the air. This feature is an especially good option for people with respiratory issues and allergies.


  • Air purification and odour removal

    Air purifiers use a filtration system to remove harmful pollutants (such as dust, bacteria, and other fine debris), to create a cleaner, healthier and more comfortable environment, especially for anyone with allergies or other sensitivities.

    Some models also feature odour removal, which can also be helpful in removing the smell of mildew and other unpleasant odours such as cigarette smoke and pet odours.


  • Fan Speed - Some models of portable air conditioner allow you to adjust the fan speed to suit your needs.
  • Drip Tray - Portable air conditioners with a dehumidifying function work by removing moisture from the air, which is then converted into condensed water. This water is then collected in a drip tray, which needs to be emptied from time to time. Other models come with a drainage hose which automatically drains the water away. Alternatively, higher-end models use a self-evaporative system which eliminates the need for a drip tray or hose.
  • Window Kit - To operate your portable air conditioner, it will need to be positioned near a window. Next, the exhaust hose needs to be directed out the window to get rid of the hot air. Most models come with a window kit together with instructions on how to set up your air conditioner.
  • Remote Control - A remote control is a handy feature that enables you to switch your portable air conditioner on or off and adjust the temperature without needing to get up and walk over to it. Especially useful in a bedroom - allows you to stay in bed!
  • Timer -  Another useful feature to look out for, timers enable you to set the air conditioner to start operating before you get home from work, so you can walk straight into a lovely cool home. Portable air conditioners with a timer function can also be set to switch off during the night, to save electricity while you're asleep.
  • Sleep mode - Some portable air conditioners come with a sleep mode that is specifically designed to help you get to sleep. Perfect for hot summer nights!

Please feel free to contact our customer support team for any queries about portable air conditioners. Call us on 1300 000 500.