Don't Be Miserable - Get Cool

Do you hate your house in the summer? Do you find yourself going to the mall a lot so you can stay cool? You don't have to install central air conditioning to be cool this summer - get a single room air conditioner.

There is a big difference between a portable air conditioner and a window air conditioner. The biggest difference is you can move a portable from room to room. Since a portable conditioning unit is on wheels, you can move it where you want to. But there are pros and cons when dealing with a portable air conditioner.

Pros -You don't have to cut a hole in your wall. You don't have the risk of losing the integrity of your outside walls. You also don't have to worry about losing cool air around the edges or hot air coming in. - You don't use up a window to put the window air conditioner in. - The view out of your window is not lost. - You don't have to buy a portable unit for each room because you can move it from room to room as needed. - Cheaper than installing central air conditioning.

Cons - Noisier than a ductless air conditioner. A portable unit is self-contained, the compressor is inside the unit. - You will pay little more for a portable air conditioner than a single room air conditioning unit. - A portable unit gives off hot air which must be vented out of the room somehow. - Because of the dehumidifying action of the process, portable air conditioners create water. You have to find some way to get rid of the water. You can let it evaporate on its own; run a hose to a drain or outside; or have a pan that you can empty.

Nowadays portable air conditioners are just as energy efficient as window models. They have become much more energy efficient over the last few years. The EER is calculated as the ratio of the Btu's per hour to the number of watts the unit draws. The average now is around 12. The higher the number, the better. Many units even meet the EPA's Energy Star rating criteria.

You can usually find a decent unit for around $300. Generally, a more efficient unit will cost more upfront, but you will save money over time. The first step before purchasing a portable air conditioner or a window air conditioner is to figure out what size you need for the room.

A window air conditioner is usually used to cool off one room, but if placed strategically, you may be able to cool off your entire house. You can save money in lots of ways by using a room air conditioner. First off, you can buy a single room air conditioner for as little as $150. This is nothing compared to installing central air.

If you use a window air conditioner instead of central air, your electric bill will be much lower. You will experience a large spike in usage during the summer when your central air conditioner is runner constantly. When you use a window air conditioner, you only need to worry about cooling off the room you are in. Most people only use a room unit when they are in the room to be cooled and then turn it off when leaving that room. This controls the amount of money you spend each month.