Why window Air Conditioners Ice up

Why window Air Conditioners Ice up by Donald Grummett
One of the most frustrating problems with a window air conditioner is if it starts to ice up. For the owner it can be perplexing.
When this problem occurs most people immediately think it is the fault of the refrigerant gas. More often the cause is the result of other difficulties.
It is most often the result of poor airflow.
Any time the airflow through an air conditioner is restricted the cooling system becomes affected. If taken to extremes the critical pressure-temperature balance of the cooling coil can be changed. If they drop too low the cooling coils surface temperature can drop below the dew point temperature of the room. When this happens the cooling coil will begin to operate as a refrigerator rather than an air conditioner. Rather than simply cooling the air it will collect and hold moisture. This moisture will then freeze onto the cooling coil where it will appear as ice.
With this information in mind the following are a few problems that can result in your air conditioner icing up:
1. Dirty filter.
To avoid this replace or clean your filter every couple of weeks of the cooling season. If a smoker, clean every week.
To clean filter remove from air conditioner, wet thoroughly, and lay in bottom of a sink. Sprinkle cleaner (laundry detergent works well) onto filter surface. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Then add enough hot water to to cover filter. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove from water and rinse. Allow to air dry.
2. Dirty or blocked cooling coil.
An air conditioner requires regular maintenance. Usually every two or three years. Every year would be best, but this can be costly unless you do it yourself. During cleaning the cooling coil should be degreased and washed to remove accumulated dirt and debris.
Degreasing is important to remove any coatings on the coil. If not done greasy residue can trap and hold air borne particles. They will build up on the coil and affect heat transfer. If left too long this can result in the cooling coil becoming partially blocked. This will produce a lower airflow, which can lead to icing.
3. Dirty or blocked condenser coil.
The condenser coil is the one at the rear of the air conditioner. Its job is to dissipate the heat that is being removed from the room. Just like the cooling coil it too must be cleaned every few years.
Since the condenser is outdoors it becomes exposed to a lot of dirt, pollen, and smog. Since airflow direction is from inside to outside it is the inside surface of the condenser that becomes dirty. Therefore to clean this part the air conditioner must be completely disassembled. If not cleaned regularly an airflow blockage here can even burn out the compressor. Before this happens though the lowering of airflow will affect the overall operation. This can result in the compressor efficiency dropping, the internal pressure-temperature relationships being affected, and the resultant production of ice on the cooling coil.
4. Inefficient compressor.
As describe above an inefficient compressor can cause icing up. When the compressor is inefficient the cooing coil may not get cold enough to shut off the cold control. It can hover just above the cut off point. This causes the cooling coil to refrigerate, rather than dehumidify. Ice on the cooling coil will result.
If the compressor itself is at fault the air conditioner will usually be replaced. But note that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as bad compressors when they were actually one of the other faults discussed in this article.
5. Not enough refrigerant. Too much refrigerant.
Both scenarios can result in an icing condition. If your air conditioner was repaired recently suspect too much refrigerant. Mixed with an airflow problem this can be difficult to diagnose.
If not repaired recently then suspect airflow problems before considering a refrigerant imbalance.
6. Outdoor temperature too low.
Icing can occur if the outdoor temperature falls below 60 Degrees Fahrenheit. When the outdoor temperature is too low the air conditioner pressure-temperatures can be affected, causing the cooling coil temperature to fall so low that the coil will refrigerate the room air. This results in ice production.
This problem is more prevalent in the fall. If it is hot during the day, but cold at night, suspect this problem as the cause of icing up.
If this problem is suspected try running the air conditioner in the 'fan only' position. Leave the re-circulating vent open. This will circulate the room air without cooling it, while bringing in a small amount of outside air during the night.
Alternately, turn of air conditioner at night and restart next morning as day becomes warmer.
7. Oversized air conditioner.
If the air conditioner is too large for the room size icing up can result. If oversized the air conditioner can short-cycle. This condition is usually seen as the air conditioner starting and stopping every few minutes. Even though it runs almost constantly the air conditioner will give poor cooling. Use a sizing chart to determine what is the proper air conditioner size for that particular room.
8. Cold control not shutting off.
If the cold control does not shut off the cooling coil surface temperature will drop below the room's dew point and begin to refrigerate. This will allow ice to build up onto the cooling coil.
9. Cold control bulb broken or loose.
As in the previous paragraph this will result in the cold control not shutting off and ice to build up on the cooling coil. If this is suspected remove the front grille and inspect the bulb. If broken replace cold control. If bent, kinked, or not securely fastened suspect a problem here.

What size air conditioner

What size air conditioner do I need?A larger air conditioner will not always provide more cooling. It should be sized for the room area. If properly sized it should operate long enough to remove moisture from the air. It is the moisture removed from the room which actually produces the feeling of cooling. Unfortunately many people in their rush to purchase a window air conditioner buy too large a model. Too large a unit can actually provide less cooling than a smaller, properly sized unit. This is because with an oversized air conditioner its run time is too short. Consequently it does not remove enough moisture from the room to produce a feeling of comfort. If you’re A/C seems to cycle off and then back on every few minutes and does a poor job of cooling, it is probably oversized for the room. Air conditioners are rated in BTU’s. British Thermal Units are a measurement of how much heat is being transferred form the room being cooled to where the heat is dumped out of doors. This is why the cooing coil inside the room is cool to the touch, while the part that hangs outside is extremely hot. A window air conditioner used in the average household room can be as low as 4000 BTU. While 5000, 6000, and 8000 are the most common sizes purchased. How do I determine what size A/C I need?Following is a basic sizing chart for calculating the window air conditioner needed for a room. Calculate the size of the room by multiplying the width of the room by the length of the room. Use your room size to determine what BTU's are required to cool that particular room size. ROOM IN SQ FT-------A/C SIZE IN BTU'S100–250 sq ft............5000–6000 BTU250–400 sq ft............6000–8500 BTU400–550 sq ft............8000–11000 BTU550-875 sq st...........11000–15000 BTUBased on a room occupied by two adults, having an average insulation, number of windows, and sun exposure. Which is the best room for placement of an air conditioner?Wherever it gives the most comfort is where it should be installed. If you only have one air conditioner then we usually suggest the bedroom. This is because most people find that if they can sleep comfortably during a hot summer night then their next days work will be a lot easier. Getting through a hot day at work becomes a lot easier when you know you will sleep comfortably that night. Some people do not like a cool sleeping environment so they will tend to place it in a living room or family room. Or some people will place it in the family room because the whole family can sleep there. Get out the sleeping bags and turn it into an adventure for the young ones. Beats waking up in the morning to find a dog, cat, and four kids in the bed with you. Also window air conditioner can be noisy, which may disturb sleep. Others find the drone of the fan actually promotes sleep because all the neighbourhood noises are drowned out. Some people say the air conditioner works as well as a sleeping pill But whichever room you eventually pick don’t expect the impossible from you’re A/C. It is not meant to cool more than one room or one open area. Air conditioners will not cool other rooms? This is because the blower in a window air conditioner is not very powerful. It is sized to cool one open area, not a number of interconnected rooms. Therefore once again a couple of smaller units may be better for your home than one large unit. Lastly, remember to properly secure the air conditioner in the window. Once installed a piece of wood to stop the window from being lifted up is a good idea. If you have wooden sills the simple addition of a wood screw at the top of the raised window (the one you had to raise to install the A/C) will only take a minute. Otherwise an intruder could gain access to the house by lifting the window and letting the A/C fall out. This could result in the loss of both your valuables and the air conditioner.
About the Author
Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All right reserved.Service manager of MG Appliance Repair Services in Ottawa, Canada. In the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. For more information about appliances including FAQ, Stain guide, Recycling, and Newsletter visit http://www.mgservices.ca

Coleman 14 Seer Air Conditioning System

The average age of an air conditioner is 10 years; some units can run longer than that, some run with a much higher cost after 10 years. If not maintained correctly it can cost you double the operating costs without reducing comfort. Today’s technology has allowed us to achieve better performance without sacrificing efficiency. In fact, today’s models are much cheaper to run than that 10-year-old model gulping up your hard earned money. I recommend to solve this problem of high energy bills is to upgrade to a Coleman 14 Seer Air Conditioning System through Yours By Design Heating and Cooling. If for some reason you want to spend more money (up to 40%) than necessary and not buy the upgrade do yourself a favor and Clean your Air Conditioner before the season begins. Foreign material on the condenser coil reduces the system's capacity to remove heat from the house so your air conditioning system must run longer, increasing energy (up to 2X) consumption. Check voltage and amperage on motors Improper voltage and amperage can reduce significantly the life of the compressor, evaporator and the condenser motor. 80 % of all air conditioner compressor failures could be eliminated if the problems that lead to the failure were corrected. Check and adjust blower components Proper adjustment, cleanliness of blower and components are necessary for adequate airflow to assure proper capacity and equipment reliability. Check condensate drain (clean if necessary) A clogged drain can create considerable water damage, as well as affect indoor humidity levels. For the full article click on http://www.ybdhc.com/faq.htm
About the Author
Daniel Gipe is President of Yours By Design Heating and Cooling, Inc. in Blaine, Minnesota.We are the best valued heating and air conditioning contractor in the north metro. We do the job right the first time. Coleman furnaces and air conditioners are by far yours by design. Visit us today; our website: www.ybdhc.com.

portable air conditioner

Small is beautiful and convenient and so is the portable air conditioner as it can be shifted from one place to the other very easily. Read on to find out all the other advantages. With the onset of the damp weather, it becomes difficult to survive without constant central air conditioning but that can prove to be quite expensive. The answer to this problem is a portable air conditioner as it has many advantages. It is easy to shift from one place in the home to another and that makes a portable air conditioner the ideal cooling system solution for your home, office or industrial site. The portable air conditioners are easy and quick to install, as they do not involve any lifting or tearing up of windowsills. Moreover it can be shifted very easily from one place in the home to the other. For taking care of the hot spots in the central air conditioning, the portable air conditioners are far more convenient than window air conditioners. It is also ideal for window shapes, which present problems for installation. There is nothing like portable air conditioners for use as a spot cooler in the home. A portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for saving money as just one unit needs to be purchased and it can be shifted easily to where you need it as it is mounted on castors and some can weigh only about 36 pounds. Moreover, as only one room is cooled at a time instead of the whole house, the total energy consumption is very low as compared to other air conditioning systems. Another advantage of portable air conditioners is the energy efficiency that they provide. The average efficiency is in the 8 to 10 range although some are as high as 15, which is 50 percent better than most older central air conditioners. The small size of the portable air conditioners is very advantageous and as such it can fit in a corner or against a wall. It functions like an effective dehumidifier if you do not vent the warm exhaust air out through a window and its size is also the same as that of a room dehumidifier. In order to reduce humidity and allergies, even the small ones remove 35 pints of moisture per day from the room air. The portable air conditioners also use the heat-exchange principle as the other air conditioners to cool and dehumidify the air. The operating principle is also similar to a window air conditioner as the room air circulates over cold evaporator coils to cool and dehumidify it inside the unit. The room air is exhausted outdoor after flowing over the hot condenser. There is no chance of already-cooled indoor air escaping outside as two ducts are now used. Nowadays, you have electronic controls in most models and you can set the desired room temperature, blower speed, start and stop timer, and operation mode (cool, dehumidify, heat). The portable air conditioners also have hand-held remote control with which you can conveniently change all the settings as per your need. The other features of portable air conditioners include a built-in air cleaner with an optional charcoal filter and oscillating louvers to distribute the cool air throughout the room. You can also switch off the louvers to direct the flow of air towards yourself, if you so desire. About the author:Get the right air conditioner the first time. Discover the advantages of different air conditioner models and which one best suits your needs by reading our free articles at: http://www.nichearticles.com/airconditioner/

Portable Air Conditioners Review

Portable Air Conditioners Review by Masni Rizal Mansor
When most people think of portable air conditioners, what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to portable air conditioners than just the basics.
With the onset of the damp weather, it becomes difficult to survive without constant central air conditioning but that can prove to be quite expensive. The answer to this problem is a portable air conditioner as it has many advantages. It is easy to shift from one place in the home to another and that makes a portable air conditioner the ideal cooling system solution for your home, office or industrial site.
The portable air conditioners are easy and quick to install, as they do not involve any lifting or tearing up of windowsills. Moreover it can be shifted very easily from one place in the home to the other. For taking care of the hot spots in the central air conditioning, the portable air conditioners are far more convenient than window air conditioners. It is also ideal for window shapes, which present problems for installation. There is nothing like portable air conditioners for use as a spot cooler in the home.
A portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for saving money as just one unit needs to be purchased and it can be shifted easily to where you need it as it is mounted on castors and some can weigh only about 36 pounds. Moreover, as only one room is cooled at a time instead of the whole house, the total energy consumption is very low as compared to other air conditioning systems.
How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.
Another advantage of portable air conditioners is the energy efficiency that they provide. The average efficiency is in the 8 to 10 range although some are as high as 15, which is 50 percent better than most older central air conditioners. The small size of the portable air conditioners is very advantageous and as such it can fit in a corner or against a wall. It functions like an effective dehumidifier if you do not vent the warm exhaust air out through a window and its size is also the same as that of a room dehumidifier.
In order to reduce humidity and allergies, even the small ones remove 35 pints of moisture per day from the room air. The portable air conditioners also use the heat-exchange principle as the other air conditioners to cool and dehumidify the air. The operating principle is also similar to a window air conditioner as the room air circulates over cold evaporator coils to cool and dehumidify it inside the unit. The room air is exhausted outdoor after flowing over the hot condenser. There is no chance of already-cooled indoor air escaping outside as two ducts are now used.
Nowadays, you have electronic controls in most models and you can set the desired room temperature, blower speed, start and stop timer, and operation mode (cool, dehumidify, heat). The portable air conditioners also have hand-held remote control with which you can conveniently change all the settings as per your need.
The other features of portable air conditioners include a built-in air cleaner with an optional charcoal filter and oscillating louvers to distribute the cool air throughout the room. You can also switch off the louvers to direct the flow of air towards yourself, if you so desire. The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about portable air conditioners.

Portable Air Conditioner Rentals

Portable Air Conditioner Rentals by Kent Pinkerton
Air conditioners that can be made to move from one place to another on casters are called Portable Air Conditioners. These can be as large as window units, but they can be easily transported on their wheeled casters. Portable Air Conditioners find great use in industries, warehouses, temporary businesses, and more.
Some industrial warehouses are so large that they cannot be cooled by a single central cooling unit. Such spaces rent Portable Air Conditioners for their spot cooling needs. As their workers or machines move, the air conditioners can also be made to move along with them. Several machines in factories need such spot cooling. Even places where many computers are installed require cooling for their optimum use.
Portable Air Conditioners are specially designed for rough use; hence, their capacities are higher than the usual ones. Portable Air Conditioners with cooling capacities of 3.5 to 60 tons can be rented. They are available with both Freon and evaporation technology. Air conditioners that work on evaporation principles are more expensive to rent than Freon ones.
Portable Air Conditioners are also rented by organizers of functions and events such as weddings, live performances, football matches, and more. Rented air conditioners are placed at strategic positions so that there is an average cooling throughout the place. Once the program is finished, the air conditioner can just be wheeled away to the next location.
Vehicles on the move sometimes rent Portable Air Conditioners if they require cooling - especially when there is some shipment aboard that requires cooling, such as perishable foods. Water transport vehicles such as boats and ships also find it easier to rent a Portable Air Conditioner for their cooling needs.
One can rent Portable Air Conditioners both on a long term and a short term basis. Factories require long term rentals - their rentals can extend to a couple of months or even years. But social events may rent Portable Air Conditioners for a day or so. Depending on the type of air conditioner rented and the period for which it is rented, the cost may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

Portable Air Cooler Means Personal Air Coolers

Portable Air Cooler Means Personal Air Coolers by Matthew Anderson
The article tells you the constructional features of portable air cooler, the controls such a cooler has, the advantages and the disadvantages of such coolers. Such coolers are different fro the swamp coolers and article will describe differences between the two.
Small Size Evaporative Coolers
Portable air coolers are evaporative air cooler with a throw of 8 to 10 feet. In some countries, the coolers have been developed with a throw of up to 30 feet, but such coolers suffer a major disadvantage of being very noisy since they have exhaust fans as air blowers in them as the moving machine for air movement.
Constructional Features of Personal Coolers
Constructional features of personal coolers are similar to the swamp coolers. There is a container holding everything, the air fan, the water pump, the container for water and the controls of the air cooler. In addition, there are castors for taking the cooler from place to place. Everything here is lightweight for easy portability. The water holding capacity of the cooler is smaller. It might be sufficient for 8 to 15 hours depending on humidity of atmosphere.
Some swamp coolers have control for maintaining the water level in the cooler basin. Since the coolers are by definition "portable", they cannot be connected to water mains for controlling water level. Water addition is by manual method only. Some of the coolers are combined with dehumidifiers and sold as personal coolers. In fact, they are air conditioners. The air conditioners are costlier than personal air coolers.
Advantages Of Personal Coolers
There are many advantages of personal coolers. Personal air coolers are placed between fans and air conditioners in performance, cost, and operating expenses.
The advantages can be listed as,
1. The initial costs are low. The cost of $100 to 200 is within easy reach of everyone. The costs of air conditioners have come down in recent past but still it is out of reach of many household.
2. The operating costs are very less. The wattage input of 100 to 150 watts is about 5% to 15% of a 2000 to 3000 watt air conditioner. Electricity bills are negligible.
3. They are noiseless machines. A person can sleep peacefully with a personal cooler operating within 8 feet. Compared to this a noise from window air conditioner might be just a little too much to bear for some persons.
Disadvantages Of Personal Coolers
Disadvantages of personal coolers are, 1. You have no control over the temperature of air you receive from air coolers. 2. Some times the water consumption can be a factor in areas of water shortages. 3. If not cared for, the personal coolers may emit a foul smell. Some times this can be a health hazard.

Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System

Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System by James C
The summer has finally hit and now you are spending more time indoors with the air conditioner on. You have the thermostat set on 75 degrees and are feeling pretty good until you realize that its getting hotter inside. Before you know it, it is 90 degrees in your house and you are calling the air conditioning repair company. Problem is that it is the busy season and they may not be able to get to you for a week. What a disaster. The sad thing is that this could have probably all been prevented with a little maintenance.To have a smooth running HVAC system, you need to have a program of regular maintenance. Before every cooling season, have an air conditioning service come check your system. It is usually a minimum charge and can save you hundreds of dollars by catching problems early. It will also prevent the aggravation of having no air conditioning.In a normal A/C service check, the company will perform the following tests. They will check the condensing unit's coils, the compressor, the belts, operating pressures, operating temperatures and the Freon level. They will typically oil any components that need oil such as the fan and condenser. The cost of the service is usually fairly cheap and most companies will also run specials in the spring. Keep an eye out for a sale flyer.There are also things that you yourself can do to help maintain your homes HVAC system. The most important thing of course is to change your air filter often. They only cost a buck or two and protect not only your air quality but also keep dirt from clogging your AC coils. Replace them at least once a month. Another simple thing you can do is to hose off your outside AC compressor. At least once a month, take a hose and rinse off the unit to clear it of dirt, dust, grass clippings and leaves. If the unit becomes clogged, it will have to work much harder to get your home cool. Lastly, do not turn your unit off completely in the summer. Instead, turn the temperature up when you leave your home. Turning it off will just mean that your AC will have to work incredibly hard when you get home to cool off your house.That's all it takes to have a reliable A/C system. Through simple maintenance and regular checkups, you can have a system that serves you well for years to come.

Air Conditioner Filters Tutorial

Air Conditioner Filters Tutorial by Raymond Burton
Copyright 2006 Raymond Burton
One of the most important things to maintain on your new cooling unit is the air conditioner filter. Dirt and debris in the filter will reduce the air flow and thus the effectiveness of your conditioning unit. Once your air conditioners filtering unit becomes very clogged with dirt and debris, those dirt particles will bypass the filter and start messing up the air quality along with the machines working parts.
While some air conditioner filters can be cleaned and reused, some need to be replaced altogether. If the filter on your cooling system can be replaced, it should be done or at least checked every month or two. Just like in any machine, the frequency that you change your air conditioning filters depends on the external operating conditions. Dusty environments combined with heavy use will speed up the need for a cleaning or replacement of your systems filters.
Traditionally most simple air conditioning unit filters were made from foam, fiberglass or another washable screen type material. These air conditioner filters collect particles via a sticky surface of oil or similar substance. One draw back with foam units is that there is a risk of small foam particles mixing into the expelled air. The second is that foam air conditioner filters wear out quicker than some more modern conditioning unit filter types.
The newest type of air conditioner filter is the electrostatic mesh. Electrostatic filters are neat in the way that they filter air compared to the old "sticky grab" method. The movement of air across the air conditioners synthetic weave of fibers creates a static charge that collects the dust on the filters surface. A side benefit to this electric charge on the filters surface is that is creates ozone which helps to kill bacteria and unpleasant odors.
You should change your air conditioner filters at regular intervals because when your filter is new, it grabs up to 10% of the dust and particles that cross over its oil filmed surface. As time passes more dust gets trapped in the filter, which is a good thing, but all those extra particles will cause less air flow to get through. By keeping your conditioning unit inspected and maintained at regular intervals will not only save you money in electric bills and repairs but also keep you air quality supremely conditioned.
What is the best make of air conditioner filter? As with all types of consumer products, there will varying opinions and lots of marketing to deal with. Often when trying to find a new product the best thing to do is ask the opinion of others. Air conditioner filters are no different. There are several websites and forums where you can go and look through the consumer reviews and make a better decision as to what air conditioner filter would best suit your needs.

3 Great Reasons to Buy a Portable Air Conditioner

3 Great Reasons to Buy a Portable Air Conditioner by Sam Streubel
1. Oprah said so.
2. It looks like the robot from "Lost In Space".
3. Brad and Angelina are adopting one.
For those of you who make your decisions based on real information, here are some cool portable air conditioner facts.
A goldmine of enlightening information can be uncovered by visiting forums. For instance, when I wanted to tap into the experiences of actual portable air conditioner owners, all I had to do was Google "portable air conditioner forums" and Voila!, I had instant access to pages of relevant information from 3 different forums.
I encourage you to try this technique. Just substitute any generic product or service description for "portable air conditioners" plus the word "forums".
What I uncovered was concerns over energy consumption, how energy consumption impacts circuit load, noise level, venting, the disposal of water from the dehumidifying process, and of course, price.
Portable Air Conditioner Energy Consumption In the United States, the average air conditioner runs 750 hours each year. Since air conditioners use a lot of electricity, their efficiency has become a public issue. The EER, or Energy Efficiency Rating, is the ratio of the Btu's per hour to the number of watts the unit draws.
EER ratings of 7 or 8 are at the low end of energy efficiency. Many units have ratings around 12 which are good. The highest rated portable air conditioner I could find was the Amcor AL10000E . It has an awesome EER of 16.6.
Portable Air Conditioner Circuit Load Before you start your search for a portable air conditioner, check your breaker box for the number of amps available to the room you want cooled. If you buy a unit that draws 14.5 amps on a 15 amp circuit, you'll have the additional but unintended cooling effect of sitting in the dark while enjoying your new portable air conditioner.
How Noisy Is A Portable Air Conditioner? Most portable air conditioners that deliver 14,000 Btu's or less have a noise level around 50 decibels. This is comparable to the loudness of most refrigerators. At 60 decibels, a 16,000 Btu unit is slightly noisier. Think of what it's like to watch TV in the kitchen while the fridge is running.
Portable Air Conditioner Venting There is some controversy as to whether a dual hose unit is superior to the single hose configuration. On one hand, a single hose unit will exhaust from the room some portion of the cool air it just produced.
On the other hand, a dual hose unit eliminates this problem, but the warmer unconditioned air used to cool their compressors results in slightly less efficiency. They also use two internal fans which result in slightly higher energy usage.
Another hot topic at the forums that people are venting about is having to wrap insulation around the hose of their single hose unit. This is done to prevent the hot exhaust hose from adding heat back into the room. Personally, I can't think of anything better than duct tape wrapped around insulation to brighten up a room.
Water Water Everywhere Portable air conditioners offer three methods for disposing of the water extracted by the dehumidifier component.
The most convenient is auto evaporation which eliminates the need for drains or reservoirs. The reliability of this method varies from unit to unit.
The second method is direct drain using a hose attached to the unit. This can be problematic unless the unit is located near a floor drain. Not much chance of that, so you'll have to use a bucket.
And finally, you get to empty the pan yourself. Just make sure the pan is large enough so the air conditioner doesn't shut off in the middle of the night when the pan fills up.
Price I think price is a secondary consideration to efficiency. As usual, a higher priced unit that operates more efficiently will always end up costing less in the long run than a cheaper, less efficient model.
Portable air conditioners are much less efficient than comparable window units and cost roughly twice as much. What you're paying for is the flexibility to roll it from one room to another or into a closet for easy storage.
Another Option to Consider For the price of a portable air conditioner you might be able to buy a window air conditioner AND a new window to put it in.

Air Conditioners For Greater Energy Efficiency

Air Conditioners For Greater Energy Efficiency by Steph Winston
Are you aware of the fact that around one sixth of the total electricity produced in the United States goes in air conditioning buildings? The U.S. Department of Energy has therefore increased the minimum energy efficiency rating for air conditioners on 23rd January 2006. The increased energy efficiency ratings would be useful for all, as it would help in reducing the energy bills as well as pollution.
Do you know how efficient your air conditioner is? One way you can easily find it out is through SEER, i.e., an energy efficiency ratio measurement. The SEER, or seasonal energy efficiency ratio, is used for setting a basic standard of machines that are friendly to the environment. It rates an air conditioner on the basis of the amount of energy it can effectively use. If the number of SEER given on the conditioner is high, it goes to say that the energy efficiency of the machine is also high.
Since the concerns about the environment have increased, the amount of the SEER on air conditioning machines has also gone up. Whereas in 1992, the minimum SEER standard was 10, the new law passed in January 2006 has made all rumors true by stretching up the minimum SEER to 13. This rise in the SEER from 10 to 13 means that the efficiency of a particular air conditioner has improved 30 percent more.
However, a machine with a higher SEER would mean that its price and the installation costs would also mount up. But this does not really seem to affect most people as they presume that a higher initial investment would ultimately be cost effective in the long run, and they would be able to save on their energy bills this way.
If you are impressed by the fact that one sixth of the United States' electricity goes in air conditioning, you would be all the more pleased to know that The Department of Energy assumes that by 2030, the energy and SEER laws will be further changed. The energy that they would thus save would actually provide enough electricity for 26 million homes for an entire year!
So the best way you can save energy is to bring home a good quality air conditioner. The most vital thing is to regularly maintain the cooling unit of your machine. You can ensure a maximum efficiency of your conditioner if you change the filters and verify the functioning of the machine from time to time. If it's not already too late for this advice, get a qualified technician to install your air conditioner.

Air Conditioner Maintenance

Off Season Air Conditioner Maintenance: Why Should You Keep It Covered? by Jackie Kent
Although the air conditioners are built strong enough to endure snows, winds, heat, rains or biting cold, it needs regular maintenance like all things good or bad. The filters, the coils, fins, hoses et al must be kept in a fine condition to help the whole unit run smooth and easy all around the year for as long as you have it. Especially the coil of the condenser needs better maintenance since it's exposed out in the open, unlike the coil in the evaporator. The exposed condenser coil gets dirty far too often due to the dust and pollution or because of trees near or above it. Anything coming in contact with the coil can have an insulation of sorts--dust particles, grease, dirt, soot, dry leaves, seeds, corrosion, bugs and even microorganisms like bacteria can be an impediment to the much needed heat transfer from the refrigerant to the outside air. Unwanted heat needs to be given out from the refrigerant.
The amount of refrigerant used in an air conditioning unit determines whether the makers would get the highest SEER level of efficiency or not--the lesser, the better. The units are designed in perfect balance, and so the slightest hindrance to the heat transfer usually conks out the balance and deteriorates the functioning of the unit. If dust or dirt accumulates on the coils, the right amount of heat doesn't go out, thus increasing the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant going into the compressor to abnormal degrees. Consequently, the compressor stresses itself to work more on the cooling of the 'abnormal' refrigerant, thereby drawing more amperes of electricity. As a result of this fiasco, the cooling capacity of the air conditioner obviously dwindles and the mechanical parts wear out. So a dirty coil simply boils down to three things--insufficient cooling, fagged out machine parts and a higher cost for functioning.
Over time, if you keep the coils unclean, they get choked with seeds and dirt and restrict proper airflow. And if the airflow is impeded on a hot day, the head and cylinders of the compressor automatically gets too much hot. Next, the oil will start breaking down and fail to lubricate. This fosters decay and allows contaminants into the air conditioning unit. If that happens, the pistons, rings and cylinders indispose and as a result, the compression lowers, valves leak, metal debris float in the oil. Finally, total failure of the compressor nears. Air conditioners function in a closed circuit system. It is not at all an easy and simple procedure to replace the full lubricant. The oil used in air conditioning units is originally quite resilient but impurities in it or into the system and regular neglect accelerate the end. The result is same as trying to drive a car without changing its engine oil for a decade. In an air conditioner, when the compressor stops working, there's no way out other than to throw it away and replace it with a new one. And this of course means opening the system, removing the refrigerant and the oil, and filtering dryers to tidy up the unit. Moisture and acid sets in as you open the system or when the system fails. Evidently, this is a very time-consuming and expensive process. And the worst news is that, many air conditioners, at this point, are not in a condition that's worth the trouble.
The advantages of cleaning the coils regularly are as follows:
*More heat gets out of the room, cooling is faster and the system functions at quite a low temperature.
*Electricity costs remain low as a clean system always draws minimum amperes.
*The compressor can operate stress-free, at ease and with optimum efficiency.
*All the components remain healthy and thus ensure more reliability and a longer life for the unit.
For all these reasons, it is always advised to keep the coils free from dust and dirt with the help of an air conditioner cover when you are not using it, like in the winter months.

Solar Cooling

Solar Cooling: What Is It Anyway? by Andrew Preston
The words 'solar cooling' sure sound like a contradiction, but it's nonetheless true that the same solar energy that provides heat in winter can also give a lot of cooling in the summer months.
There have been quite a number of passive cooling systems developed and tested in recent times. They function quite simply--there is a coolant that absorbs heat and then dispels it outside. Even a water tank or water-contained trough on the roof can act as a coolant, absorbing heat from the house and then dissipating it while it automatically evaporates under the sun.
Apart from these simple methods, there are also some passive solar cooling systems which are more sophisticated and a bit more complex. They have a solar collector which remains shaded through the day. And the storage medium in it gathers all the heat during daytime to release it later after sundown. At night, the shade of the solar collector is removed to bring it in direct contact with the cool night air and thus enabling it to dispel the collected heat.
For shading the solar collector, a retractile sunblind can be put up or an extended shade can be hung over. As this arrangement isn't permanent and will change to just the opposite in the winter season, it is imperative that you keep the shade in a way that will help you to expose the collector easily to the sun as and when required.
For operating the conventional air conditioners, solar panels can be one fine option. As you perhaps already know, days when the heat remains the highest, are the best times for producing electricity by means of photovoltaic cells. So if you use solar panels to yield enough electricity, you can use your air conditioner totally free of cost.
Yet another highly potential option is solar cooling which does not depend on technology. History holds it that the Romans had a fine system of using running water to cool the walls of their houses. As you can guess, the water evaporates under the sun, thereby dissipating heat and soothing the inner temperatures. This same arrangement can be put up at your house--on the walls and even on rooftops.
To the majority of households, cooling and heating are two primary concerns in their yearly expenses. Hence the usage of solar energy to both heat and cool the house can really help your budget breathe and can be ecological too. It is always a positive move to stop using fossil fuels for heating and cooling, because these are deterrent to a clean and healthy environment.