Comments on: Portable Air Conditioners - Keep Cool? Save Money?

By: Cheap GPS Systems

Cheap GPS Systems — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:02:45 +0000

I am so glad these have been invented and I look forward to the price going down. Think I will try one out after they receive some refinements and lower costs. I never heard of these until your post.

By: jfc

jfc — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:16:55 +0000

Hi Steve,

I remember the 4/60 AC we had on our cars, roll down all 4 windows and go 60mph.

By: jfc

jfc — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:15:29 +0000

Hi Business Note,

The only problem I’ve seen with buying them at Home Depot, Lowes or Wal-Mart is that they run their inventory very tight and rarely have portable AC units for sale at closeout prices. When our window AC unit died last year I had to go online to buy a replacement.

You’re right, the shipping fees can be killer, particularly with gasoline prices so high. For smaller units, UPS is the best bet for shipping although sometimes you can find good deals with freight lines if you can deal with their delivery terms and schedule.

By: jfc

jfc — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:12:11 +0000

Hi Judy,

Living on the coast can bring in a nice breeze. I used to live along the coast and that was one of the nicer things about living there, the evening breeze that usually followed the afternoon thundershower.

By: jfc

jfc — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:10:18 +0000

Hi Amish,

How well these units perform is based a lot on room size. If you have a small area, about 150-200 square feet, they can really help. Much larger than that though the performance drops off considerably.

As for cost savings, last summer in our old house I figure we saved about $1000 using a window unit vs. the central unit and I suspect a portable AC unit would see similar cost savings.

By: Judy Online

Judy Online — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:55:36 +0000

I’m lucky enough to live close enough to the coast that I have call breezes through most of the windows in my house. I really haven’t felt the need for a portable air-conditioner yet. However, in the winter it is quite a different story. Those cool breezes suddenly become rather nasty cold winds that whistle through the windows, so a nice portable heater might be a very good idea for me!

By: Amish Patio Furniture

Amish Patio Furniture — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:51:11 +0000

We’ve been trying to make it through the summer without buying an air conditioner for my office. But I have a feeling we may have to go ahead and get one. It has been getting warmer and warmer and there is a limit to how many clothes I can take off and still feel like I’m being somewhat professional!

I really don’t want to go to the trouble of installing a regular through the window air-conditioner, so if I could get a portable air-conditioner that would be effective it might be a very good solution for me.

By: Buy Business Note

Buy Business Note — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:18:08 +0000

Portable Air Conditioners may be expensive buying them new but I have seen a few of them at local auctions go at decent prices. The other option is to wait and snag one when they go on clearance at your local Home Depot or Lowes. Though that won’t help you this season.

The starting prices on eBay for a Portable Air Conditioner is very low, I am sure there are bargains to be had. Though be careful with shipping fees.

By: trade show booths

trade show booths — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:59:23 +0000

Hi Frank, Good article. I spent a summer working in Chicago and understand the need for air conditioning. I’d get soaked with sweat just walking between buildings during the day. An alternative to a portable air conditioner is just to live where you can get by without one, such as coastal California As a kid growing up in Nevada I remember our house didn’t have air conditioning so the basement was a favorite spot during the summer, and the car air conditioner consisted of the crank on the inside of the door that lowered the window. I think I also walked 10 miles through 20 feet of snow to get to school during the winter… ahhh, memories of childhood. Hey, anyone looking to save money on portable trade show booths? Oh, just portable air conditioners?… Oh, well. Cheers ~ Steve

By: jfc

jfc — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:53:27 +0000

Hi Robert,

That is a good point. I wonder how noisy these newer Portable Air Conditioners are? The information I’ve read indicated that most Portable Air Conditioners were between 50 and 60 decibels, not loud but noticeable. I guess that is slightly quieter than window unit ACs that can be rather loud.

It sounds like the split unit Air Conditioner would be good for a semi-permanent installation. They are apparently quieter and more efficient than window units or Portable Air Conditioners. They are also more expensive although they aren’t as expensive as a central Air Conditioner system.