Unfortunately money tends to be a problem and if you don’t have the money to spend, the product you are trying to buy often lacks in its ability. Can it be worth it to shop for cheap portable air conditioners? Of course. You just have to know what to look for when purchasing such a unit.
BTU
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and it refers to how much an AC unit can cool a room. The more BTUs, the more cooling capacity the unit has. BTUs in portable air conditioners usually range from 3000 BTUs upward towards 30000 BTUs.
EER
EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. The more energy efficient the air conditioner, the less money it will cost to operate it. A higher EER may mean the air conditioner is more efficient but it will also make purchasing the unit more expensive.
Easy Cleaning
Finding cheap portable air conditioners that are easy to clean can be rather difficult however, it is essential in keeping your air conditioner in working order. There are portable units that have reusable filters and are still easy to keep clean. A unit that has a reusable filter will also save you money in the long run.
Water Drainage
Some air conditioners need to be drained several times a day. There are portable air conditioners that need to be drained less or that come with a window venting kit. If it comes with a window venting kit, make sure you are able to easily use this feature. The portable air conditioners that come with a window venting kit or that have to be drained less often, usually carry a higher price tag. There are also units that have special evaporative systems that help with excess water as well.
Noise Level
Air conditioners are known to make noise and more often than not, it tends to be unbearable. Buying a portable unit that has special features such as timers, a sleep mode, or several fan speeds will help you to eliminate noise. If you constantly keep your unit running on high speed, you are going to have noise. Some portable air conditioners list the decibel rating for each speed, so if noise is an issue for you, make sure to check.
Special Features
There are many different features that can be found with portable air conditioners. Some are operated by a remote control, have caster wheels, carrying handles, timers, heating capabilities, can dehumidify, and much more. It all depends what you need and the price you are able to pay.
Portable air conditioners come in all sizes, weights, BTUs, EERs, and with an array of special features. However, when looking for cheap portable air conditioners, you are sure to be lacking in several of these categories. Make sure you look for the best BTU for the room in which you want to cool. Too many BTUs may result in excess condensation and can actually be less efficient. You will also want to look for a higher EER for the price you can pay as well as special features, noise levels, cleaning accessibility, and the easiest water drainage care. Knowing which features you need the most will ensure that you find a quality product at the price you can pay.