5 Myths About Temporary AC Units

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23 Oct
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When talking about air conditioning, there are two primary options: fixed and portable. As you can imagine, fixed units remain stationary since they are built into your building’s facade. Even window-mounted air conditioners are considered fixed since they don’t move once they are installed.

Portable A/C, however, sometimes gets a bad reputation, despite its versatility and reliability. So, to help dispel some of those misconceptions, we’re going to bust five myths surrounding portable A/C units. After reading this article, you’ll probably want to buy one to help keep you cool during the hottest parts of the year.

#1 Portable Air Conditioning is Unnecessary With a Central HVAC System

At first glance, this myth makes a lot of sense. After all, if you have a central heating and cooling system for your home or business, why waste money on a portable air conditioner?

Well, if you’ve ever been in a room that seems to defy your HVAC system in all conditions, then you know that that’s a lie. Unfortunately, central A/C doesn’t work uniformly throughout the building, which can lead to hot or cold zones.

In these spaces, a portable unit will help alleviate any climate control issues, making it much more pleasurable for everyone inside.

Not only that, but portable air conditioners help your central system run more efficiently. Now that certain spots are already climate controlled, your central A/C doesn’t have to work as hard, particularly during the hotter parts of the year.

#2 You Need to Turn Off Portable A/C When You Leave

Again, the thinking behind this myth makes a lot of sense at first. Realistically, you don’t want to be spending money by running an air conditioner when no one is around to benefit from it.

However, there is a better alternative. The reason for this mistake is that everyone tends to set these machines to a specific temperature and keep it there all day and night. A better option is to increase that temperature by about 10 degrees when you leave instead. Then, when you come back, return it to the original setting.

The reason that this tactic works better is that your portable A/C (and/or your central HVAC) doesn’t have to work as hard when you return the next day. Also, it can be much more comfortable when coming back into the building since it won’t be sweltering hot or frigidly cold.

#3 Portable A/C is a Luxury, Not a Necessity

Unfortunately, many people (especially higher-ups) believe that air conditioning is more or less a luxury item. Yes, it’s nice to have, particularly when the weather gets hot, but it’s not necessary all the time.

However, there are several tangible benefits to maintaining a comfortable interior temperature all year round. When you compare the dangers of improper climate to the cost of running a portable A/C unit, it starts to look a lot more appealing. Here are the reasons why A/C should be a priority.

Mold Growth 

Hot and humid environments can spawn mold much faster, which will only become more and more of an issue over time. Also, some strains can pose significant health hazards, which is why you need to stifle their growth as quickly as possible.

Heat Exhaustion/Stroke 

The human brain is a fascinating organ, but it doesn’t take much for it to become sluggish. An increase of just a few degrees can be more than enough to cause mental strain and fatigue. Simply put, an air-conditioned workforce is a more productive one.

Higher Productivity

While mental fatigue can cause people to slow down, overheating can impact a person physically as well. If you run a warehouse or business with a lot of manual labor, portable air conditioners can allow workers to stay busy for longer, with fewer breaks.

#4 Portable A/C is Too Expensive

Typically speaking, you will spend more by deploying a variety of portable air conditioners than you would with a central HVAC system. However, the versatility of these units makes them a viable option, both regarding climate control and cost-efficiency.

For example, rather than running a central system all night, you can utilize portable A/C units to keep various spots within the building cool (i.e., server rooms). Also, as we mentioned above, portable air conditioners can allow your central HVAC to work more efficiently, which can cancel out the additional costs of operation.

Finally if you don’t currently have central heating and air, portable machines are going to be much better cost-wise than trying to install a brand-new system. This way, you can focus on certain hotspots within the building, rather than trying to keep everything climate-controlled. For example, if there are areas that stay shaded or stay empty throughout the day, why is waste money cooling those spots with central A/C?

#5 It’s Too Difficult to Exhaust the Hot Air

One of the challenges you face with portable air conditioners is that they still generate heat. The compressor and other internal mechanics work hard, which means that you need to find a way to exhaust that heat, so it doesn’t counteract the cooling effect.

However, there are options available. First, most of these units come with a flexible exhaust hose that simply needs to be placed at a window or vent. If your machine won’t be moving very much, this is a viable solution. Second, you can buy water-cooled A/Cs, which don’t require an exhaust port. Instead, you just have to connect them to an external water source.

Bottom Line: Portable A/C is Viable and Economical

No matter how you look at it, chances are that your home or business can benefit from deploying one or more portable air conditioning units. These devices can make climate control much more accessible, and they can provide a much better living environment. Don’t underestimate the power of comfort, particularly when productivity is on the line.

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