Portable Air Conditioners: Why they're bad

Finally, I ended up buying one of these suckers... Reasons: - like most people in Switzerland, I live in a rented apartment, and cannot simply install things that need holes through the wall - all windows are turning "door"-style, no way to install a window-unit there - normally, it's only a couple of weeks a year that air conditioning might be necessary (for a very heat-sensitive guy like me), most of the time, just letting the cool air in during the night and keeping everything closed will work fine - as from the point above: I got sick of a heat-wave that would continue for more than a week, so I needed some cooling right away Yes, the thing sucks, it's noisy, takes space and sucks up a lot of electricity, I'm happy that probably by the end of next week I can put it away, until the next year, or maybe the year thereafter... But at the moment, I'm happy to have it, most of the time in the living room, and moving it to the bedroom for a couple of hours in the evening. Now it's waiting until the house owners will decide to replace the gas heating with a good heat pump... And the installations (and companies/workers to install them) are available...

MrHammond

Great video! Thanks for posting!

Bill Hudgens

And now I've done it :) turned out to be pretty easy, mostly because I found the perfect bit of rubber roof flashing to fit over the side of the air con and adapt it to a 6in flexible dryer vent tube. tested and confirmed today with a fog machine that it is working as it should (outside air comes in and goes back outside, inside air comes in and goes back inside).

adcurtin

Hank Green shouted out this video on Dear Hank and John! :)

John Mertz

Thanks! I've had a portable air conditioner for a few years now; I never realized how inefficient they are. I'm going to have to look at converting my single hose unit into a dual hose unit.

adcurtin

You left out something important - condensate! All air conditioners produce water in one form or another - with window units it just drips outside, but with portables, at least the ones that don't expel the water through the big hose, the condensation collects in a tub inside the unit - which fills up very fast if its humid, turning off the air conditioner until you empty it. I solved the problem with my own portable by having the condensate water collect in a container with an automatic sump pump in it - the pump expels the water out the window through a vinyl tube whenever the water level gets high enough to turn the pump on. You should see the size of the plants under my window!

Greg Steinmayer

I dont understand it well enough to explain how it works but before the advent of solid-state coolers this same technology was also used for silent electrical refrigerators. HowStuffWorks has an article on it: https://home.howstuffworks.com/refrigerator5.htm

Simon Albinsson

I got a 2 hose system precisely due to many of those issues. I have yet to buy isulated coverings for hoses though I need to soon.

rolf redford

And if you're wanting to explore industrial cooling solutions... they're pretty neat too, although I guess it's not quite your M.O. since you can't take a cooling tower apart on your desk. But it's fundamentally the same idea of having a thing that sucks up the heat and a thing that bleeds off the heat and some substrate in the middle to move the heat, and a complicated cost/benefit spreadsheet to figure out which one makes sense to build. Those giant hyperboloid cooling towers that most people associate with nuclear power (they can be used to cool anything) for example, don't use any fans at all, taking advantage of the difference in temperature between both sides to induce a draft that naturally pulls air (and thus the heat being exchanged through pipes meshed through the cross-section) up. Those things are massively efficient, but due to the capital investment only really make sense for projects you expect to run for more than ~30 years. I'm rambling now, but yeah cooling is very, uhhhh, cool.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on mini-split units. They're similar in function to the split unit you mentioned that broke on you, but definitely much more reliable.

I have not watched this video yet because I don't need to, I know you nailed it from the title. Im am HVAC engineer and I've explained exactly what you're explaining here countless times to friends and family. Thank you for making this video

Great video and I think the Spaceship Earth shirt was cool!

Craig Kollai

We need to start a tally of your marvelous puns

Ethan Snow

I’m having to sleep with my QC35s on. How about a video about noise cancelling? That’d be fascinating.

Adam Francis Smith

Thanks... I live in southern Italy, in a top floor apartment, where it hit 38° outside today. I just gave in and went out to spend almost a month’s rent on one of these things. Then I watch this video as I’m waiting for it to cool my flat to a habitable condition, after the guy in the shop assured me it was “molto silenzio”.

Adam Francis Smith

Get a mini-split; better than portable and window A/C yet less than a whole house central A/C.

R Brooks

I loved how you arranged for my AC to kick on right when you said "...from not cooling...to cooling" (when talking about the noise). Right when you said "to cooling" I got hit with a blast of cold air. It's like a 4-D theater!!!

I have the two-hose, 12K BTU Whynter which I use when I do not need to turn on the central AC for the whole house. I figure these things only last one, maybe two seasons. They have three-year compressor warranties but what does it cost to ship 100lbs from NY to CA? In the end I figure even adding in the cost of a new unit every other year, it still saves me enough in electricity to be worth it, kind of like the Jos. Banks suit commercial on SNL, https://snl.app.link/TDgHIjytwX

Probably because houses aren't that old here so they can be designed with central heating/AC in mind. The only places I've seen wall/window mount AC by me is on cheap room extensions (garage turned into office, etc) and super old buildings that never had central air. I guess now that it's getting hotter everywhere, people are trying the smaller cheaper AC units since adding a whole-house one is darn expensive.

Until this video “evaporator” made no sense to me, now it does, thanks!

Until this video

oooOOOhhh... I thought that the condenser was kinda sitting in the drain pan a bit so that it would pool around it and just naturally boil off... but I suppose that wouldn't really work that well. I've yet to have the LG unit give me any trouble, but it's used very occasionally and this is only year 2. We'll see how the Menards one fares, though my hopes aren't that high. Then again, it was only $219 so at least it was cheap!

Technology Connections

I have 2 of them (locations are unsuitable for a window A/C). One thing that irks me about them is the condensate disposal... Both of them are "self evaporating" types, but that's a curse in itself... In case you don't know how that works, it's just a drain pan under the evaporator with a pump in it that pumps the condensate up to a spray nozzle pointed at the condenser... That pump and nozzle both have a tendency to plug up, and when they do, you're screwed... Other units don't do that, and instead you have to hook a hose up to them... PITA either way...

Brad Wilmot

Out of curiosity, why aren't wall-mounted air conditioners as popular here in the States? I've rarely seen them here, but they are extremely popular in India for some reason.

Sonic the Anonymous Hedgehog

Interesting video as always. I already understood the basic of standard heat pumps that you explained (i.e. compressor+refrigerant...), however, I thought I'd mention one mechanism for pumping heat that I came across a long time ago and that I never really grasped... When I was younger, my parents had an RV and the fridge in that RV could operate on electricity or gas! (Yes, you had to light a fire to cool the fridge!). I don't believe the heat pumping capacity of this system is very high, and I'm sure the efficiency is horrible, but if you are out camping and only have access to propane, then it makes sense... I haven't been in a RV in a little while, but last time I checked, they still use these type of fridge...

BrianL

Interesting, I don't have an A/C unit, but was thinking about buying something easy for only the few days I would need it. I knew they were much less efficient, I always thought that was only due to the heat-generating components being inside, but never realised that they need to be cooled with inside air which will be blown away outside...

MrHammond

I'd love to see more videos exploring the technical and physical aspects of air conditioning!

Dealing with the condensate can be a real pain also!

Will Latinette

There's a little tank that collects it that you need to empty once in a while...

Kilrah

What does the portable unit do with the humidity extracted from the air during the cooling process? I'd like to see you explore the similarities to a dehumidifier.

Michael Steeves

The inner hose would have to be be very well insulated and probably wouldn't be flexible at all anymore. My exhaust hose is super hot to the touch, without insulation it would just heat up the incoming air and make it even worse. Side by side hoses and a resonably insulated exhaust one though...

Kilrah

Definitely do a video on portable air coolers - While it rarely gets hot here in Ireland, those evaporative air coolers are useless when it gets warm and clammy. They are heavily advertised here in Ireland during warm weather, often falsely described as ductless air conditioners! Here's an example: https://www.vikingdirect.ie/en/igenix-evaporative-4-in-1-air-cooler-ig9704-p-3597147 My portable ducted AC uses R290 refrigerant. These tend to have much higher dehumidification capacity for the same BTU rating (my 7000BTU unit is rated 1.8 litres/hour and uses ~600 watts), which does a great job at getting rid of the humid stickiness feeling, especially when exercising. As the condensor side evaporates the moisture out the tube, it does not get as warm either. However, I definitely agree these should either be double duct as standard or at least have a mounting bracket to easily upgrade to a second duct.

Seán Byrne

It's great to see people taking matters into their own hands. Unfortunately my air conditioner is that same stupid curvy shape as the one in the video so it'll be a little more fun to fix.

So now in my spare time (HA!!), I will convert it to a 2 hose and replace hose with insulated duct.

I had to quickly purchase one of these to cool the Fuller dome for all the work we had to do before I could finish installing the heat pump. I was amazed to see that a stupid single hose unit was the only thing immediately available. The only one that I had previously seen up close was a 2 hose and I assumed they all would be. Pulling in all of that outside air also means it produces a lot more condensation, which is another place for energy to go, and a fluid to manage.

Very good Alec. I learned a lot from that.

Stephen Bell

Can I say, the Spaceship Earth T-Shirt is outstanding, Alec. And again, every day is a school day. We used to use those portable aircon units when our comms room split system aircon failed. I had no idea why they were so inefficient - thank you! Also, why couldn't they create a concentric hose? Where the outside air gets pulled in through the outer edge, and then the warm air is ejected through the inner hose (or vice-versa) - this would give the benefits of a single hose size with twin-hose functionality.

Mark Wayt

I needed one of those for the couple of weeks per year where it gets unbearable in my apartment, but the obvious efficiency issue also drove me crazy so I made this and route 2 more hoses outside, obviously making sure the hot exhaust is shooting away from them: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2436427

Kilrah

I have a couple older units. I’ve already employed my father in law to help convert it to a dual hose unit. I can send some pics if I ever actually get it done.

Quinton Wilson

I feel like it would be impossible to keep it from pulling its exhaust air back in if doing a coaxial hose, and so it's always going to have to be two separate hoses

Technology Connections

I saw a casement style unit on sale at Menards, so you might want to look again! No idea what the capacity was, just remember that it was there

Technology Connections

The Haier dual-hose unit I showed on Amazon can function as a heat pump, so I'm sure a window unit could, too. PTACs used in hotels are increasingly getting heat pumps. I imagine the cost of the reversing valve often isn't worth it, especially in a climate like mine where that sort of heat pump would only be useful for a few weeks per year.

Technology Connections

In the case of my LG unit, the compressor lives within the path of the exhaust, so the heat it generates is also carried outside. I can't quite see it in the Menards one, but I would expect it to be in the same vein. I thought about including the heat load of the compressor itself, but I figured just comparing the efficiencies of a window unit to a portable one would prove the point well enough

Technology Connections

Sadly these inefficient air conditioners are just speeding that along...

Technology Connections

I had always thought that the outdoor hose in these units must be bifurcated to put intake/exhaust into the same hose. I had _no_ idea that they were this bad!

In the Seattle area, air conditioners are rare and rarely needed... except on the occasional really hot day, which is becoming more common, thanks to climate change

Wrenly Bewick

How difficult would it be for manufacturers to make a single hose within a hose system, preferably with at least a thin insulating layer between them. That's actually what I initially assumed the model shown here had. Then you explained how it sucked room air thru the condenser and I wondered how it could cool any room at all. Perhaps if you got some flexible duct insulation and wrapped it around the hose it would increase efficiency somewhat.

Mark Hesse

This was a very good video, with great points - they only thing you left out was, as far as efficiency, is on the portable units, (which you smartly remembered the hose heat loss into the room) - here are the two you missed: the heat generated from the compressor itself and that heat emission is now inside (this is big) and the heat emission from the condenser fan's motor which is now also inside (this is small because it's being blown outside). - Oh one more thing you might mention, that is true for ANY A/C system, whether a split system, potable unit, window unit, whatever - they are all far more efficient if positioned or shaded in such a way that direct sunlight never falls on the condenser - thereby avoiding adding additional heat load from the sun!

Bill Basch

Half question, half possible topic: AC vs heat pump? AFAIK, they're the same thing with a reversing valve thrown in to swap the hot and cold sides, right? If that's the case, is there anything stopping window or portable units from also being functional heaters as well?

Rich Jeanes

Suuuper off topic. I’m going to try to find where to buy that shirt.

Heh literally just finished settings one of these up (albeit a dual hose) when I saw this video come up.

Francis

I know they're horribly inefficient, I only have one for two reasons. HOA's are notoriously bitchy about window a/c units, and because you do not want to be without an a/c unit in Texas heat. I bought mine because I've had many a time where an a/c unit went out and I've needed a temporary fix. I do wish the double hose ones were more readily available.

Kajico

Sadly in France we don't have window unit, i think it just don't work well with our window so noone sell them. I had to get an AC for my desk because it have a server rack in it, and the portable unit is really bad. Hot tube, impossible to seal, and lot of dust because of the under pressure room. I hop i could soonish get a real AC installed.

Vlycop

The small split designs are getting popular here in Florida where some rooms have been added on and don't have ducting going to it. Or small houses like my own that don't have central heat and air, and don't need a lot of power. My wall unit is perfect and efficient.

Rabon Kyle Ragan

I use one of these because previously we had a special casement window style air conditioner, but it died after a couple years and the manufacturer had stopped making it :(

Jamie Magin

So, I’m going to comment before I watch the video but hang with me because it’s relevant. I think that the reason I find the early access for Patreon to be the least compelling reason for me to contribute is one of laziness on my part. While I use my phone for my primary email access and managing my Patreon account (like leaving this comment, etc), my primary interaction with YouTube is through my laptop, which doesn’t isn’t currently configured to do the same sort of “one click” interfacing my phone is. Between having a toddler, the (admittedly low) bar of using my laptop, and just the small size of a phone screen makes a a striking difference in being able to see the complex workings of whatever is being explained. Great content though, and I look forward to seeing it tomorrow or whenever I bother to pull it up on my laptop.

alphawhiskey

I just bought one of these because I like my bedroom super cold at night and didn't want to put all that work on my central air conditioning system. I put far too long of an exhaust hose on it at first and it actually warmed the room instead of cooling it.

Jason McMillon

Before I watch this I want to say I will be disappointed if there's no cutscene from the window AC going nuts in brave little toaster.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Single-hose portables are one of my biggest gripes too! I'm surprised you didn't also mention that the compressor motor itself dissipates a lot of heat generated by friction and electrical resistance. When the unit says it takes a kilowatt of electricity, that's like starting with a 1-kW *space heater* in your room that you have to offset before you can even begin cooling the room.

Matt Whitlock