Summer is arguably the best season for many people. As soon as June rolls around, people are already preparing for sunny days, summer clothes, holidays, and road trips. However, not everyone is looking forward to summer. Depending on where you live, the summer heat can be a real issue. Here’s how you can stay cool and refreshed during this hot and humid time of the year!
How To Remain Cool?
Heat is grueling and unforgiving. If you live in places such as Arizona or New Mexico, the summer heat can turn even the most basic functions, such as merely existing, into a true nightmare. Simply looking for shade is not enough to stay cool. At that point, you have a limited number of options — you can either get a complete AC system, which your home either has or doesn’t have, or you can get a portable AC.
Contrary to popular belief, having an AC system in your home is not yet considered standard. Not to mention that living in an apartment doesn’t make it feasible to install full-sized AC units. On top of that, sometimes you may not be permitted to make any long-term alterations to the apartment, which are necessary for wall-mounted, split AC units. Every landlord has its own set of rules and boundaries.
Portable AC Systems?
If conventional AC systems aren’t feasible in your situation, the next best thing is a portable AC device. When most people think of portable ACs, they think of massive, pylon-type machines that take up a lot of space. Those exist as well, but the current tech has allowed AC companies to shrink their products into truly portable devices. For example, Blast Auxiliary Portable AC is so practical thanks to its small size and usefulness. You’re probably wondering just how effective such a small device actually is?
The truth is that you have to fine-tune your requirements before you look for a portable AC. The model mentioned above is a battery-powered unit that won’t cost you an arm and a leg and will allow you to enjoy some refreshment wherever you go. Of course, it’s not the most ideal unit if you’re looking to cool down a massive space for 24 hours straight.
If that’s something you’re interested in, you’ll need to look at models that sacrifice some of the mobility for better cooling performance.
What to Look For in a Portable AC?
The general parameters for choosing a portable AC system are the same as the ones for regular ACs. You still need to figure out the BTU value necessary to cool your room. A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a unit of measurement that tells you how effective an AC is. Smaller rooms will require at least 8,000 BTUs while larger spaces can easily bump that figure to 13,000 BTUs.
Selecting a portable AC that isn’t powerful enough for your needs will result in two things — a room that is nowhere near the set temperature, and a unit that is operating at peak power as it tries to reach the temperature values you’ve selected.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. If you get a mini portable AC, such models aren’t designed to cool down entire spaces. Instead, they are designed to cool down the air around the user. Most such models come with features that you won’t necessarily find elsewhere. Things such as built-in humidifiers, battery-powered designs, and even mood lighting are all available.
Once you dial in the right BTU value, you can then look for other features that make your life easier.
The Logistics of Portable AC Systems
Alright, now that you’re familiar with what portable ACs offer in terms of performance, let’s talk about what they require in terms of logistics. Compact portable units like the one mentioned above are portable in the fullest meaning of the word. That model is battery-powered and completely autonomous. All it needs is charging from when the battery goes flat.
All that being said, if you decide to get a larger unit, it will most likely come with a different set of requirements. For one, larger pylon-type portable ACs have an exhaust tube that you need to route to the outside. This is usually done by modifying the window to accept the exhaust bracket, or by simply finding another way to run the hose to the outside.
Another byproduct of the fact that you have an exhaust to deal with, is limited mobility. Most larger portable ACs aren’t very mobile. They are much more flexible than static, wall-mounted units, but it would be a massive stretch to call them truly mobile. Instead, they are merely portable. Because of that, you should carefully plan where you plan to use the AC and how it’s going to be used.
Effectiveness of Portable ACs
Contrary to popular belief, portable ACs are effective. After all, they run on the same principle as any other AC system. The only real downside to going with a portable AC is efficiency and noise. The trade-off for limited mobility is increased power consumption. A portable AC will use more energy to achieve the same or similar results as a wall-mounted unit.
Additionally, since everything is packed into a smaller package, manufacturers have to use smaller fans that can still push a significant volume of air. Smaller fans working hard means noise in some situations. This isn’t to say that all portable ACs are noisy, but many of them can be once you push them towards the redline.
At the end of the day, there are many awesome brands and models out there for you to choose from. Unfortunately, you’ll have to do research of your own in order to find a unit that best fits your needs. Focus on quality brands that have a proven track record of reliability and performance. Also, keep in mind that with ACs, just like many other things in life — you get what you pay for.
https://www.upscalelivingmag.com/how-to-stay-cool-and-refreshed-during-hot-and-humid-summers/,
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