Living in tropical weather conditions can be frustrating to some. This is especially true since there are times our local weather gets unusually hot. Which is why it has become a common sight for most households these days own at least a set of air conditioning unit in order to stay cool. But not everyone agrees to the idea of purchasing a conventional type of air conditioning unit, particularly since you need to set it up permanently in a single location. Thankfully, you can always opt for another alternative in the form of a portable air conditioner or an evaporative cooler. They may look the same but they actually have unique characteristics of their own. Keep reading as we reveal 8 Differences You Should Know About Portable Air Conditioners And Evaporative Coolers.
Portable Air Conditioners
- Unlike the conventional air conditioning unit where you have to affix it at one location, portable air conditioners give you the flexibility of moving them around from one room to another. Besides, they also make it easier for you with the help of casters (wheels) attached to the bottom.
- The purpose of a portable air conditioner is similar to the air conditioning unit: to help cool down the temperature of your indoor space. But as mentioned above, the biggest difference is portable air conditioners require no permanent installation. A portable air conditioner generally works by installing a duct or vent hose on the back of a hose connector or adapter. The main function of a duct is to expel the hot air out of your portable air conditioner in order to cool down. You are required to extend the duct close to the window and connect it to the supplied window kit. A portable air conditioner also has its own internal water reservoir that helps collect the water vapour during the cooling process. Then again, you might need to place a bucket behind the unit in order to drain the overflowing internal tank. This is especially true if your indoor space happens to be extremely humid. Once you manage to install it properly, you are basically good to go. All you have to do is simply plug in the socket, adjust your preferred settings and start cooling your indoor space.
- However, the major disadvantage of owning a portable air conditioner is the limited area that you can use. That means you have to make sure your indoor space has a window to vent your unit.
- Depending on the model that you end up buying, some portable air conditioners tend to be noisier than the others. This is because portable air conditioners contain both a compressor and a fan. It would be wise to find a unit that has an acceptable decibel rating between 48 to 55dB range.
Evaporative Coolers
- You can say that evaporative coolers are like a poor man’s version of portable air conditioners. They are generally more affordable than the latter, which usually costs RM1,000+ and above. And unlike portable air conditioners, evaporative coolers are particularly cost-efficient and energy-saving since they use less electricity. They also have casters attached on the bottom like portable air conditioners that allows you to wheel them around easily.
- Although the general design between the evaporative coolers and portable air conditioners might look similar, the overall function is more straightforward and less complicated. The good news is, you don’t really need a window to place your evaporative cooler since no venting of duct or host connector is required to exhaust the hot air. An evaporative cooler uses a simple evaporation system through a combination of inner fan and cooling pads to draw out cool air.
- Evaporative coolers are also useful to add moisture to the air, particularly if you live in dry climates. This will help prevent your furniture from warping out due to dry heat.
- However, it is worth noting that not every place is suitable to use evaporative coolers. This is particularly evident if you live in a humid climate or humid space. Put it this way: the lower the humidity, the greater the benefit you will get from an evaporative cooler. But the same cannot be said with high humidity levels. It basically renders your evaporative cooler less efficient and also practically useless. If that’s the case, you’re better off using a fan or save more money to purchase a portable air conditioner/air conditioning unit instead.
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