Q: What is a portable air
conditioner?
A: A portable air conditioner is a self-contained system that can be wheeled from room to
room and does not require window installation.
Q: What is maximum cooling capacity?
A: This is by far, the most important point in purchasing an air conditioner. Even the
very best air conditioner will do a poor job of cooling if not properly sized. Room air
conditioner sizes or capacities are rated in BTUs per hour (BTU/h), the smallest starting
at 5,000 BTU/h and the largest around 60,000 BTU/h. The abbreviation BTU stands for
British Thermal Unit.Q: How
is a portable air conditioner different from a window type AC?
A: A portable AC is a small mobile air conditioner unlike a window AC which must be
mounted through-the-wall. Furthermore, portable air conditioners do not require
permanent installation. All our portable air conditioners are between 29" and
34" tall and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds. Portable air conditioners also
work great in apartment situations where a window unit is unacceptable.
Q: Is a portable air cooler and a portable air conditioner the same thing?
A: No they are not the same. Air coolers use water and evaporation to cool much the same
way a swamp cooler cools. Only the direct air stream is cooled (10-15 degrees) and
generally air coolers cannot cool the ambient air in a room. Portable Air
conditioners use a compressor/freon to cool and are much more effective in cooling rooms
and at keeping the humidity low.
Q: Could you explain why and how portable AC's are vented?
A: Portable air conditioners extract hot air that must be vented. If the hot air is
not vented, the portable air conditioner will not be able to cool a room
effectively. Window and venting kits are always included with our portable air
conditioners at no extra cost. You may also vent the portable AC through a wall vent, into
the attic or drop ceiling, or even around a door! You are only limited by your
creativity.
Q: How does the window kit work?
A: The foam window kit simply is cut to fit most any slider or up-down window in your home
up to 4 feet. The window is then closed against the foam to seal the air from the
outside, the exhaust hose then is fit through a small cutout in the foam.
Installation takes about 5 minutes and this allows for easy portability from window to
window. For windows larger than 4 feet, simply purchase extra foam at the local
hardware store. As mentioned earlier, for unique window situations ( casement
(crank-out) windows), a little creativity is all that is needed.
Q: How long is the exhaust hose ?
A: The exhaust hoses are generally between 5 and 7 feet long and are made of high quality
5" flex hose.
Q: Can the exhaust hose be extended?
A: All the Portable AC's come with the standard hose length of 5-7 feet. If you need
a longer hose, they are readily available at the local hardware store but it is a good
idea to avoid hose lengths over 12 feet as well as 90 degree bends. You can also
vent through the dryer hose as long as the hose diameter is 5" or more and the
outdoor venting flap is removed.
Q: Do portable air conditioners
collect water?
A: All portable air conditioners condensate water as they are cooled, this water is then
contained in a internal water reservoir. On all our models, this water reservoir has the
auto shutoff feature so that water is never accidentally spilled on the ground. With
the unit off, the water is easily emptied into a drip pan. You can also gravity drain the
portable AC by connecting a hose to the connection on the reservoir.
Q: Are portable AC's energy efficient?
A: Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is a standard measure of efficiency for comparing
appliances and the cost of operation. The higher the EER, the more energy efficient
the air conditioner. The WA1210E has an EER of over 12. Any rating of 10 or more is
excellent. Furthermore, by cooling only one room, portable air conditioners can save
you considerable on your monthly electric bill. All of the portable air conditioners
that we carry operate on 115 Volt/ 60 Hertz (normal household standard). They generally
run on about 7-10 amps and require a regular 3 prong grounded plug found in all homes.
Select a room air conditioner with an EER of at least 9.0 if you live in a mild climate.
If you live in a hot climate, select one with an EER over 10.
Q: Are portable air conditioners used to cool computer server rooms?
A: This is one of the most common uses of a portable air conditioner! Even in small
computer rooms, a 12000 BTU unit should be purchased due to the extra heat produced.
Moreover, the portable AC will help keep the air dry and more suitable for computer
application.
Q: Where can I order replacement parts for my Sunpentown product?
A: Replacement parts can be ordered from our Customer Service Department (1-800-288-0640
M-F 10:00am - 7:00pm PST) for assistance and to ensure the fastest possible resolution to
the problem. Please have the model or type number of your product on hand. |
