One of the most important things that needs to be considered is the size of the unit itself.  This is not only true of the physical size of the unit, as that is also something that needs to be taken into consideration but you need to make sure that it has enough power to take care of the job.  Whether it is a free standing air conditioner or if it is one that cools the entire house, it is going to be rated by BTUs.  This is a unit of measurement which shows you how much energy is output by the unit and it can help you to determine how large of a room you can keep cool.  Some adjustment may need to be made if this is a secondary unit that has been used in a room that is not quite being kept cool enough to buy the regular house unit.

Something else that needs to be taken into consideration is exactly how portable one of these free standing air conditioners is going to be.  Some of them will truly be free standing and will collect the water in a pan that will need to be emptied from time to time.  Other units, on the other hand, will need to be attached to the window in order to vent the condensation.  If you plan on moving the unit from room to room or do not have close proximity to a window, make sure that it is truly a free standing unit.

Having one of these free standing air conditioners in your home can be an excellent way to keep it a little cooler whenever it is warm outside.  They are one of the most convenient ways of doing so, as well, and can easily be moved in most cases when one room in the home into another whenever there is a need.

The first thing that really should be said about small window air conditioners is that not all of them are only going to be useful for small areas.  Just because the unit itself is smaller in size does not mean that it might not contain enough power to cool a larger area of the home.  You can not always just go by the physical size of the unit in order to determine what size of a room it is going to cool.  This is actually done by looking at the BTUs of the unit, which is going to show you how much power the unit has and its ability to cool a room.

One of the most important things that people look for whatever choosing from among the small window air conditioners that are available is the amount of noise that it is going to make.  This is especially important if the AC unit is installed in the bedroom window where noise is often a consideration that can affect your quality of sleep.  Another thing that may need to be considered is the style of the unit, particularly if it is installed in more of a public area of the home.

Some additional features that you may want to consider are that many of these small window air conditioners can also act as a dehumidifier or even as a fan, without the cooling unit turned on.  Something else that many people find convenient is if the unit has a digital thermometer so that you are able to control the temperature inside of the room a little easier.  One final option that you might want to consider is getting a unit with a remote control, you would be surprised with how many times you will use it.  Although these additional options are not necessary, they do help to make the unit a bit more convenient.

All air conditioner units, whether they are wall mount air conditioners or if they are whole house units are going to be rated by BTUs.  This is simply a way of letting you know exactly how much cooling power the unit is going to have.  You need to make sure that the wall mount air conditioners that you choose are going to be powerful enough to keep the room at a temperature that you would like.  If you are purchasing a new unit, it will likely give you a rough estimate of how many cubic feet the AC unit is going to cool.  If you’re purchasing a used unit, it may take a little bit of math on your part.

Something else that many people feel is very important for wall mount air conditioners is choosing one that is going to be quiet.  There really is nothing that is more distracting than an AC unit that is noisy, especially if it is kicking on and off in the middle of the night.  A quiet AC unit, on the other hand, is also going to make some noise but it is what many people would consider to be white noise.  With one of these units running in the background, you will more than likely sleep better because it will drown out any other noises that may disturb your rest.

There are so many different options for these wall mounted air conditioners that it is difficult to describe them all.  Some of them have dehumidifier functions while others will include a remote control so that you can turn the temperature down a few notches without actually getting up and doing so manually.  There’s no doubt that these units have come a long way over the course of the past few years so make sure that you look at the variety of options that are available before making your decision.

The most basic air conditioner for a single room is the window unit.  Although many people would not consider these a portable air conditioner, the fact is that they can be easily installed and removed whenever the need arises.  If you’re going to be cooling one specific room for a long period of time, your best option would probably be to find a quiet portable air conditioner that fits into the window.  It stays out of the way and is up off the floor so that it blows into the room effectively.

There are also a number of different units that can easily be moved from room to room or perhaps even around to different areas of the same room.  These air conditioners are often used whenever an individual either does not want to install a window unit or if they want to be able to use it in multiple rooms of the home at different times.  There are plenty of these quiet portable air conditioner units that are floor models, but there is something that you need to consider.  Many of these floor models need to be vented to the window so they would need to be in close proximity to it.  There are some portable or conditioners that are freestanding but you will need to continually empty the water out of the pan as it collects.

Another interesting thing about these AC units is the fact that many of them can be used for multiple purposes.  We have a quiet portable air conditioner that also functions as a dehumidifier and even has a fan function for when the temperature outside is not quite as warm.  Our favorite feature about this particular unit is the fact that it has a remote control.  We can easily switch the unit off from across the room if we happen to need it quiet for just a moment.

There are a number of different reasons why you may be looking for a portable air conditioner.  Perhaps you have a room in your home that just doesn’t seem to cool itself as much as the other rooms from your central A/C or it may also be that you want to cool one specific room at certain times of the year but are not concerned as to whether the rest of the house is air-conditioned.  Regardless of why you need it, there’s no doubt that you are looking for the best portable air conditioners that are available.  Here are some of the choices that you have.

The first thing that you need to decide is exactly how much space you are going to have to cool in cubic feet.  This will help you to determine the size of the air conditioner that you are going to need.  You may also need to adjust this number to a certain extent, if room is  already cooled by a central air conditioner but only needs a bit more help in order to get down to the temperatures that you would like.  There will likely be an approximation of how much space the air conditioner will cool somewhere on the appliance.

There are also different opinions as to whether the best portable air conditioners are the type that fit in a window or the type that you can move around the room.  For the most part, people are going to buy the window units but if you do happen to buy a freestanding unit, it may need to be in close proximity to the window as well.  Each of these air-conditioners is going to need to be emptied regularly or to be vented properly.  If it is vented to a window, you will not need to be concerned about it shutting off because the water pan has become full.

One way for you to determine which are the best portable air conditioners is to look online at a review website.  There are many of these websites that are available but try to find one that offers feedback from a variety of different sources.  Some of the A/C review websites are simply sales pages that are going to direct you to the best selling units.  As long as you’re getting feedback from a number of different people, however, you have a better chance of actually knowing what you’re going to get once you install the unit.

Most people report easy instillation with the exhaust only taking 10 minutes to secure to an outside window.

Product Dimensions: 18.2 x 34.2 x 21.5 inches ; 87 pounds

Other benefits mentioned by other happy customers:
“My allergies from the smoke went away after running this for a couple of days.”
“I suspect it will be very useful as a dehumidifier in our damp rainy winter season”
“quiet enough to leave running while we sleep”

Only minor negative feedback regarding price:
“this is an excellent if expensive unit”
“starts up and shuts down it’s VERY LOUD”

Based on my experience and other online reviews it appears the 11,500 BTU Sharp Portable Air Conditioner is a good product at a premium price.

The first reason to buy a portable AC unit is that you don’t have central air in your house.  No AC in much of the world means a very long hot summer with many sleepless nights.  Besides being inconvenient it can even be dangerous for infants and elderly.

The second reason is affordability.  Entry level portable air conditioning units can be purchased online for less than $300.  They require little to no maintenance or installation work.

The third reason is portability.  I personally move mine to my bedroom at night for sleeping and into the living room during the day.  I would have to purchase and install 2 window units to accomplish what I can do with just one portable air conditioner.

A fourth reason to be come more popular.  Imagine its 90 degrees outside and you want to invite people over to your place.  After one miserable experience of watching a movie in 90 degree heat your friends may suddenly not be very interested in visiting.

My fifth and final reason to always buy the best portable air conditioner is you get what you pay for.  While it’s difficult to find a truly bad portable AC unit, it is still possible.  I highlight several units that have a history of leaks and high energy consumption on this site.

Best unit :  Sharp portable air conditioners

Worst unit: Delonghi portable air conditioners

Additional product features:

• 2 fan speeds for fast or normal cooling
• Directional air discharge louvers
• Easy grip handles and casters for mobility
• Warranty: One year limited parts and labor. Five years parts only on the compressor.
• Sunpentown Electronic Control Portable Air Conditioner with Remote – 10000 BTU
• 10,000 BTU room cooling capacity
• Designed to provide quiet and efficient cooling to any room, with no permanent installation
• Dehumidifies for personal comfort
• Built-in water tray or extended water tube for continuous drainage
• 38 pints per day moisture removal
• 3.2 pint water tank capacity
• 62°F – 90°F thermostat
• Operational temperature: 62°F – 110°F
• R22 refrigerant
• Washable air filter collects large dust particles and prevents bacterial build-up
• Activated carbon filter helps remove odor (replace it once every 6 months or as needed)
• Extendable exhaust hose (up to five feet)
• Full thermostat control
• Digital temperature display with electronic controls
• 1-12 hour timer
• Remote control
• Rotary compressor
• Weight: 65 pounds
• Dimensions: 30″h x 16″w x 15″d

Internet reviewer:

“I purchased this unit out of desperation in the midst of a heat-wave. I read a lot of reviews and settled on this guy, and I’m not disappointed. My living room isn’t huge (approx. 12′x16′), but it cools it down effectively.

The Pros:
- My girlfriend loves the remote. You can change the mode, target temperature, fan speed, and turn it on and off without moving off the couch.
- I like that it shows you the temperature. I also like that it automatically kicks the compressor on and off as needed.
- No buckets to empty.

The Cons:
- When the other reviews talk about the exhaust tube being big, they’re lying. It’s FREAKIN’ HUGE. Think dryer hose.
- There’s no way (that I’ve found, at least) to set it to turn off when it hits the target temperature. I still panic over high energy bills, so it’s scary to leave it running all the time. I’d like it a lot more if it would not only kill the compressor, but shut down the whole unit when the room becomes cool enough.
- It’s fairly noisy. I don’t have a lot of experience with air conditioners, but it’s louder than the few units I’ve been around before. It’s not terrible, though, so this is only a half-con. More of a concern, I guess.
- It’s not an Energy Star appliance. That was my biggest hesitation point before I ultimately bought this unit.”

In my opinion the best Amcor portable air conditioner is probably the Amcor AF8000E 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. Find the best portable air conditioners.

Additional product features:

• 7,000 BTU portable air conditioner
• Auto evaporation function allows continuous use without water removal
• Six settings – three cooling and three fan speeds
• Dehumidification function
• Remote control and 24-hour on/off timer

No assembly is required and it’s very low maintenance!

Internet reviewer:

“I’m coming up on the second year of hard use. I used it mostly in my bedroom and at night this thing will chill you out. During the day we get full sun and it still keeps you about 73 deg. If temps outside reach over 90 degrees it’ll keep it about 75. I use it to supplement our old central air unit that will keep downstairs nice but once you get above the first floor good luck. This runs almost 24 hours a day for about 7 months and all you have to do is vacuum the back and vacuum the front filter every couple weeks. You never have to drain (I do after winter sets in). I liked ours so much I bought a second for the 3rd floor. As far as noise…you know it’s there but like anything else you get used to it and can tune it out.”

In my opinion the best Haier portable air conditioner is probably the Haier 7,000 BTU Portable A/C with Remote. Find the best portable air conditioners.

Other product features:

• 12,000-BTU air conditioner for quickly cooling any room in the house
• Uses environmentally friendly R410a refrigerant gas;
• 24-hour programmable timer
• 4 fan speeds; electronic controls;  LCD display; remote control; 24-hour timer; dehumidifier
• Sleep and Smart modes; built-in air filter; window bracket and exhaust hose included
• Measures approximately 15 by 18-1/4 by 30-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty

However based on recent reviews from Amazon.com: (Warning!)

“The downside is that it leaks like crazy. Even with the dehumidifier off. And I live in El Paso, not exactly a humid area of the country.”

“After 3 months this unit leaked very bad. I sent it in for service only to be told it was dirty and needed cleaning at a cost of $100!”

“We are on our second Pinguino after our first machine leaked on our carpet. We returned the unit now the second machine leaks aproximately 4 pints of water a day.”

Based on these reviews the best DeLonghi portable air conditioner may disappoint.  Find the best portable air conditioners.