Portable units are generally not cheaper to operate compared to central air conditioning. However, the good thing is that you can greatly reduce your energy bills if you tactfully use your portable air conditioner. Portable air conditioners can save you money and reduce your energy bills, but only if you use them strategically. While every neighborhood and homeowner's association has its own set of rules, one of the most common restrictions found in all of them is related to window air conditioners.
There are many reasons why they are restricted. If you've converted a room that wasn't originally part of your central system, adding a portable air conditioner to the space can be much easier than placing the new square footage in your central unit. Cooling just one room at a time is environmentally friendly and a great way to save money, especially since these smaller units run on a fraction of the energy consumed by central air conditioning. The decision to opt for a portable system for your air conditioning needs may turn out to be exactly what you're looking for. If you're considering making a decision between a central or portable air conditioner, keep in mind that the cost of installing a larger HVAC unit on its own can be staggeringly high.
Portable air conditioning units can also be used in homes with neighborhood restrictions or windows that are too small for window units. In a small apartment or in a secondary space of the house, a portable air conditioning unit can even replace central air conditioning. If you are in a larger building, a portable unit can be easily moved from room to room, as it is needed as an add-on to central air conditioning. Window units are similar to portable air conditioners in that they require a window to vent hot outdoor air. Central air conditioning systems cost more than portable air conditioners and window units, but they are more powerful and efficient.
Not only do some of the best portable air conditioning units save you money by cooling only the rooms that are needed, but portable air conditioners are also much cheaper to install than a central air conditioning unit, resulting in a much lower initial out-of-pocket expense. Some portable air conditioners go a step further and include a “dry” mode that slows down the fan, allowing the condensed steam to stay longer and dry even longer the air. Select a window air conditioning unit, a mini-split air conditioning unit, a portable air conditioner, a combined air conditioning and heating unit, or a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC). A portable air conditioning unit differs from a ductless mini-split unit, a common alternative to traditional central air conditioning.
It works by extracting warm air from the room, cooling it, and then returning the cold air to the room. When temperatures rise, so do dreaded electricity bills, especially when you have a central air conditioning unit running all over the day.
