How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?

"SBH" wrote in message
...
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?


Never heard anything good about them. I'd not even try using one.

"SBH" wrote in message
...
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?

The ones I have seen are very expensive and not very efficient. They are not
eligible for the governments energy star program
(http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partner...draft_v2.1.pdf

And the ones I have seen use only a single exhaust vent in the window,
so.... that means you are using your cooled inside air to be blown thru the
condenser and then vented outside to be lost. Not very efficient.

On May 22, 12:56*am, "SRN" wrote:
"SBH" wrote in message

...

How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?

The ones I have seen are very expensive and not very efficient. They are not
eligible for the governments energy star program
(http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partner...revisions/down...

And the ones I have seen use only a single exhaust vent in the window,
so.... that means you are using your cooled inside air to be blown thru the
condenser and then vented outside to be lost. Not very efficient.

From what I can see from looking at a few specs, it looks like there
isn't
a lot of difference in terms of performance. With both types I found
units
in the range of 10 to 12 EER. I agree you would think using the
inside
air to move through the condenser would make the portables less
efficient, but it may not make that big of a difference.

I think the choice of which to use usually comes down to what will
work
in the particular application. I'd go with a window unit unless there
was a reason it could not be used.

SBH wrote:
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?

My elderly neighbor has two. Efficient? They're not.

But if you need cool when the power goes out, they may be your only option.
Get the kind with two hoses (intake and exhaust).

In ,
SBH typed:
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart
window units in performance and efficiency?

Very well in our experience; we have two of the PAC types. Quick & easy to
install too. Same btu ratings as the old window units is giving us the same
comfort as always, better in some ways due to the more powerful fan settings
and built in dehumidifier.

HTH,

Twayne`

In ,
SRN typed:
"SBH" wrote in message
...
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart
window units in performance and efficiency?

The ones I have seen are very expensive and not very
efficient. They are not eligible for the governments
energy star program

Yes, they are; both of ours have the energy star sticker.

(http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partner...draft_v2.1.pdf

And the ones I have seen use only a single exhaust vent
in the window, so.... that means you are using your
cooled inside air to be blown thru the condenser and then
vented outside to be lost. Not very efficient.

What? Nooo, lol! That's a hot air output and is baffled from the
refrgerated air inside the unit. If you've seen one like that, you must be
seeing some real junk!

HTH,

Twayne`

On May 22, 9:30*am, "Twayne" wrote:
,
SRN typed:

"SBH" wrote in message
.. .
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart
window units in performance and efficiency?

The ones I have seen are very expensive and not very
efficient. They are not eligible for the governments
energy star program

Yes, they are; both of ours have the energy star sticker.

(http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partner...revisions/down....

And the ones I have seen use only a single exhaust vent
in the window, so.... that means you are using your
cooled inside air to be blown thru the condenser and then
vented outside to be lost. Not very efficient.

What? *Nooo, lol! That's a hot air output and is baffled from the
refrgerated air inside the unit. If you've seen one like that, you must be
seeing some real junk!

HTH,

Twayne`

those portables dont cool as well, all the noise is indoors, window
units put the compressor outside for quieter operation and easy
disposal of condensate

On 5/22/2011 8:30 AM, Twayne wrote:
In ,
....

... They are not eligible for the governments
energy star program

Yes, they are; both of ours have the energy star sticker.

(http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partner...draft_v2.1.pdf

....

Well, the Scope section B of that link says they're not...apparently any
unit you have doesn't meet the fit the definition of either a PTAC or
PAC if it does have the tag.

Any way, doesn't seem the link bolsters the case..

2) Scope:
A. Included Products: Products that meet the definition of a
room air conditioner as specified herein are eligible for ENERGY STAR
qualification. Specifically, the following product types are eligible:
louvered and non-louvered reverse-cycle RACs (or heat pump RACs), window
RACs, through-the-wall RACs and casement and slider-casement RAC
products.

B. Excluded Products: PTACs, portable air conditioners, and
models with electric resistance heat are not eligible for ENERGY STAR.


--

On May 21, 9:10*pm, "SBH" wrote:
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?

Go to your local library. Get the issue of Consumer Reports that deals
with those appliances. Use Google for more information.

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
...
On May 21, 9:10 pm, "SBH" wrote:
How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?

Go to your local library. Get the issue of Consumer Reports that deals
with those appliances. Use Google for more information.

Here's a report from 2008:

http://174.129.132.250/home/2008/06/...ndition-1.html

On May 22, 10:09*pm, "SRN" wrote:
"Joe" wrote in message

...
On May 21, 9:10 pm, "SBH" wrote:

How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?
Go to your local library. Get the issue of Consumer Reports that deals
with those appliances. Use Google for more information.

Here's a report from 2008:

http://174.129.132.250/home/2008/06/...ndition-1.html

That's interesting. They CR is reporting getting half the EER of
window units. Yet if you look at the specs of the portable units
the EER the manufacturers list is similar to the window units,
ie around 10 or better. I wonder what accounts for the
difference? Must be different testing methods, but you would
think the EER would be measured in some fair and standard
way.

On May 23, 7:01*am, "
wrote:
On May 22, 10:09*pm, "SRN" wrote:

"Joe" wrote in message

....
On May 21, 9:10 pm, "SBH" wrote:

How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?
Go to your local library. Get the issue of Consumer Reports that deals
with those appliances. Use Google for more information.

Here's a report from 2008:

http://174.129.132.250/home/2008/06/...ndition-1.html

That's interesting. * They CR is reporting getting half the EER of
window units. *Yet if you look at the specs of the portable units
the EER the manufacturers list is similar to the window units,
ie around 10 or better. *I wonder what accounts for the
difference? *Must be different testing methods, but you would
think the EER would be measured in some fair and standard
way.

Well in a window unit the motor and heat exhaust are already outside,
so they cant add to the heat load of the room/

These drag around have all that noise and heat producing stuff
indoors, just that alone would cut efficency.......

Cool when the power is out? How's that?

Might be able to use one stealth style in a condo that
prohibits window AC. Make it look like a dryer vent.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"HeyBub" wrote in message
news
My elderly neighbor has two. Efficient? They're not.

But if you need cool when the power goes out, they may be
your only option.
Get the kind with two hoses (intake and exhaust).

You mean that window or central AC *don't* have built in
dehum? Might want to check on that concept.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Twayne" wrote in message
...
In ,

Very well in our experience; we have two of the PAC types.
Quick & easy to
install too. Same btu ratings as the old window units is
giving us the same
comfort as always, better in some ways due to the more
powerful fan settings
and built in dehumidifier.

HTH,

Twayne`

On May 23, 7:43*am, bob haller wrote:
On May 23, 7:01*am, "
wrote:





On May 22, 10:09*pm, "SRN" wrote:

"Joe" wrote in message

....
On May 21, 9:10 pm, "SBH" wrote:

How do portable AC units compare to their counterpart window units in
performance and efficiency?
Go to your local library. Get the issue of Consumer Reports that deals
with those appliances. Use Google for more information.

Here's a report from 2008:

http://174.129.132.250/home/2008/06/...ndition-1.html

That's interesting. * They CR is reporting getting half the EER of
window units. *Yet if you look at the specs of the portable units
the EER the manufacturers list is similar to the window units,
ie around 10 or better. *I wonder what accounts for the
difference? *Must be different testing methods, but you would
think the EER would be measured in some fair and standard
way.

Well in a window unit the motor and heat exhaust are already outside,
so they cant add to the heat load of the room/


These drag around have all that noise and heat producing stuff
indoors, just that alone would cut efficency.......- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I understand all that. But the EER is supposed to be the cooling
output divided by the energy used. And one would think that there
would be a uniform method to calculate it as it's the core of the
energy efficiency ratings.

On May 23, 8:13*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Cool when the power is out? How's that?

You store the portable AC in the freezer until the poser goes out,
then you take it out and it cools the room old school.

R

With all that freon in the unit, bet it works great.
Everyone knows freon gets cold.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"RicodJour" wrote in message
...
On May 23, 8:13 am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Cool when the power is out? How's that?

You store the portable AC in the freezer until the poser
goes out,
then you take it out and it cools the room old school.

R

On Mon, 23 May 2011 13:37:28 -0700 (PDT), RicodJour
wrote:

On May 23, 8:13*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Cool when the power is out? How's that?

You store the portable AC in the freezer until the poser goes out,

Until the poser goes out? Yeah, that'll do it. ;-)

then you take it out and it cools the room old school.

On Mon, 23 May 2011 08:14:48 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

You mean that window or central AC *don't* have built in
dehum? Might want to check on that concept.

Not all do, no. The dehum runs the temperature of the coils at a lower
temperature (less air, AFAIK) so they are below the dew point. You're not
pulling any water out of the air if they're above the dew point. It's less
efficient that way but takes less energy. ;-)

wrote
http://174.129.132.250/home/2008/06/...ndition-1.html

That's interesting. They CR is reporting getting half the EER of
window units. Yet if you look at the specs of the portable units
the EER the manufacturers list is similar to the window units,
ie around 10 or better. I wonder what accounts for the
difference? Must be different testing methods, but you would
think the EER would be measured in some fair and standard
way.

I wonder if the testing is done under lab conditions with the hose for the
vent not used. On a tabletop, they may both be the same, but adding all that
extra venting would sure lessen efficiency.

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Cool when the power is out? How's that?


Portable generator, with which you can keep ONE room cool but not the whole
house.

My generator puts out 2x20 amps, but my main AC pulls 2x25. The window unit
pulls about 1x12.

On May 24, 12:52*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:
Cool when the power is out? How's that?

Portable generator, with which you can keep ONE room cool but not the whole
house.

My generator puts out 2x20 amps, but my main AC pulls 2x25. The window unit
pulls about 1x12.

When I got central AC i kept one window unit, put it in ccloset for
emergencies. It will run off my generator and is big enough to cool my
bedroom. I plug it in once a year for a 1/2 hour so its good to go if
needed

"bob haller" wrote

When I got central AC i kept one window unit, put it in ccloset for
emergencies. It will run off my generator and is big enough to cool my
bedroom. I plug it in once a year for a 1/2 hour so its good to go if
needed

Smart move. Handy to have if the big AC goes down for a couple of days
anyway. Sooner or later it will.

On May 24, 10:42*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" wrote:
"bob haller" wrote



When I got central AC i kept one window unit, put it in ccloset for
emergencies. It will run off my generator and is big enough to cool my
bedroom. I plug it in once a year for a 1/2 hour so its good to go if
needed

Smart move. *Handy to have if the big AC goes down for a couple of days
anyway. *Sooner or later it will.

yeah everyone should do this, of course I like backups. I have 2
washers, 2 dryers, 2 vans, etc etc.

I am a service tech for roll laminators and fix much of my own stuff,
but want to be able to take ,my time. Although I dont like working on
vehicles, but do like having a backup van

A spare window AC is just part of my backup plan.

Heck I carry a loaner for the machines I repair, arrive at customer
dont have parts needed

Sorry your machine must go back to shop But I will gt you a
loaner...... how long will that take? Oh about 15 minutes must get it
from van

Customers love this its the instant guaranteed fix

Where I am (NY State, USA) every AC I've seen has drawn
water out of the air. But, it's humid where I am. Perhaps
some drier parts of the world don't support AC
dehumidifying.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


wrote in message
...
On Mon, 23 May 2011 08:14:48 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

You mean that window or central AC *don't* have built in
dehum? Might want to check on that concept.

Not all do, no. The dehum runs the temperature of the coils
at a lower
temperature (less air, AFAIK) so they are below the dew
point. You're not
pulling any water out of the air if they're above the dew
point. It's less
efficient that way but takes less energy. ;-)

Portable generator can run window AC. I've done it. Needs
good quality extension cord. And lots of gasoline.

Portable generator can also be wired into furnace for heat.
I've done that several times. Mine, and other peoples
furnaces.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"HeyBub" wrote in message
m...

Portable generator, with which you can keep ONE room cool
but not the whole
house.

My generator puts out 2x20 amps, but my main AC pulls 2x25.
The window unit
pulls about 1x12.

On Thu, 26 May 2011 08:33:27 -0400, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Where I am (NY State, USA) every AC I've seen has drawn
water out of the air. But, it's humid where I am. Perhaps
some drier parts of the world don't support AC
dehumidifying.

It's a matter of degree. ;-) You can't pull water out of the air if the coils
are above the dew point. Want to pull more out? Drop the temperature of the
evaporator. It costs some efficiency, but that can be made up by setting the
temperature higher and you'll still be more comfortable.