Unfortunately, they can be expensive. You don’t have to fret as portable ones are readily available. We ran through some of the best on the market, so let’s look at what they are.
Top Rated Portable Air Conditioners Australia
BEST CHOICE |
Hyundai 4.1kW |
Editor’s Rating: |
PREMIUM PICK |
Dimplex 3kW |
Editor’s Rating: |
BEST VALUE |
Kogan 4.4kW |
Editor’s Rating: |
What Is A Portable Air Conditioner?
Before we dive in, let’s run through what these are. They’re air conditioners that can be carried around due to their small size. The units are much cheaper and do as good of a job as their counterparts.
They come in a range of sizes, fitting any space you want. The fact that they come with various features makes them pretty useful too.
Our Top 5 Portable Air Conditioners
1. Hyundai 4.1kW Portable Air Conditioner
Once placed, the Hyundai analyzes the room. This allows it to pick the best temperature to cool the room.
It comes with a heater as well. Like cooling, it analyzes and heats the room accordingly.
The air conditioner comes in 4 modes, and these are heating, fanning, dehumidifying and cooling modes. We have to say its dehumidifier is great. It certainly sucks the moisture out of spaces.
If you need a compact unit, the Hyundai is the one for you. Its dimensions are 38. 5 x 71. 0 x 47. 6 cm, if you’re wondering.
If you want to conserve energy, you need the Hyundai by your side. The device enables idle mode once it hits the designated temperature. This prevents excess power from being used.
Taking care of it is easy too. The air conditioner comes with a self-evaporating feature. So, say goodbye to hoses and trays.
The Hyundai conditioner can cool rooms that are 28sqm, which is a nice touch.
That being said:
Its rectangular with edges are sharp and the unit is very block-like. Aesthetically, not many may like this.
2. Dimplex 3kW DC10RC
The air released through this device will be fresh. It not only air conditions but dehumidifies as well.
It comes with a self-evaporating system too, so no hose or tray is required. This isn’t the only way the DC10RC is convenient. The device comes with a 24-hour timer. So, it’ll disable itself when you want it to. However, this is a feature seen in most portable conditioners and is nothing new.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have smart capabilities. You can use it from a distance with a remote control. Its buttons are pretty tactile, so this is a breeze.
The conditioner can cool environments up to 43 Celsius. It lives up to its claim, which is great.
With dimensions of 48.0 x 60.0 x 30.0 cm, the Dimple isn’t the smallest unit out there. If you need one for a smaller space, getting the DC10RC is not a good choice.
3. Kogan 4.4kW Portable Air Conditioner
The Kogan comes with 3 modes. It has a dehumidifying, cooling, and fanning option. These make the space more comfortable, but they’re pretty common in air conditioners.
The fan oscillates, so the coolness will spread evenly. On that note, the Kogan can cool spaces that are 30sqm. So far, this is the most impressive.
Its sleep mode helps save power. And it allows for better sleep as it slowly increases the temperature, setting its fan on. Doesn’t that sound nice?
Unfortunately, it isn’t the slimmest unit on the market. Its dimensions are 46.6 x 39.7 x 76.5 cm, so you’ll have to choose a spot for it wisely.
You get a self-evaporating system with it. We appreciate this, as not having to worry about maintenance is great.
Nowadays, many portable conditioners come with smart features. This isn’t the case with the Kogan as it just comes with remote control. So, using it is hassle-free, especially since there’s a 24-hour timer at your disposal.
4. Dimplex 2.6kW DC09 MINI
The name isn’t an exaggeration, the air conditioner is pretty mini. Its dimensions are 36.0 x 49.0 x 48.0 cm, so you can take it wherever you go. That being said, the Dimplex doesn’t look that great. It lacks the stylish look that our other entries have.
Speaking of carrying it around, it comes with castor wheels, so this is a breeze.
As the unit is so small, it can’t cool larger spaces. The DC09MINI can handle rooms that are around 15sqm.
No, it doesn’t come with a self-evaporating system. However, its vents are huge. This makes it easy for you to clean. The DC09’s large vents contribute to its unappealing appearance though.
The Dimplex can cool and heat a space. The conditioner comes with a temperature range of 17-35 Celsius. This is great, but for some, this range might be too small.
5. Vostok 4.7kW Portable Air Conditioner
We’re a fan of the Vostok’s design. It’s almost egg-shaped, giving it a futuristic look.
The air conditioner markets itself as very portable. Although easy to carry, its dimensions are 47.0 x 38.2 x 75.2 cm. We looked at units that were much easier to carry above.
The Vostok comes with reverse cooling. As a result, you can heat a space if you’re feeling too cold. Speaking of spaces, the conditioner can fill rooms of 30sqm.
Like any good unit, it comes with dehumidifying. Not just this, a fan system is present as well. So, you’ll feel wonderful.
The device comes with an energy-efficient, high-quality load. Your utility bill won’t take a beating either. The fact that it comes with a 24-hour timer helps too. You won’t have it running unnecessarily, as a result.
We have to say that the Vostok has one of the easiest UI on our list. Its LED panel is bright and easy to use.
How Do You Pick A Portable Air Conditioner? BTUs And KWs
With that out of the way, let’s run through everything you should keep in mind when looking for a unit.
The Size Of The Room
You want a unit that can cool a space completely. It’ll do this depending on the square footage it can cover. In general, the more BTUs it has, the more room it can cover.
- 000 BTUs covers 200 sq. ft. (1,600 cubic feet)
- 10,000 BTUs covers 300 sq. ft. (2,400 cubic feet)
- 12,000 BTUs covers 400 sq. ft. (3,200 cubic feet)
- 13,000 BTUs covers 450 sq. ft. (3,600 cubic feet)
- 14,000 BTUs covers 500 sq. ft. (4,000 cubic feet)
The Size Of The Unit
They’re small. However, you may need one to fit a tight space. You’ll have to look at the conditioner’s dimensions, comparing them to the space you have in mind.
Energy Efficiency
If you want to be energy-efficient, you need a portable air conditioner that has a high EER rating. The higher it is, the less energy that’s used per KW. This can be hard to figure out unless you ask or take a look at the machine’s packaging.
Appearance
Once placed, it will become a staple of your room. This is why its design is important as otherwise, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb.
Features
It comes with a range of features. The best would be self-evaporating, and dehumidifying. Australia can get pretty damp, so dehumidifying is a must.
FAQ
Before you head to the store, you may have a few questions. We’ll be answering them below!
How Often Do You Need To Drain A Portable AC?
This depends on the model you get. But in general, it’s anywhere between every 8 hours, to once a month. How often you’ll have to drain it also depends on the humidity of where you live.
Do All Portable Air Conditioners Have To Be Vented Out A Window?
If you know anything about portable air conditioners, you know that they have to be vented out of a window. This takes place through an exhaust tube connected to the outside.
It extracts hot air from the room. This is how it cools it down. The air has to go somewhere, so it’s directed out of the ventilation pipe.
The pipe can be tricky to install, depending on the model you get. Thankfully, it’s become easier.
You don’t have to attach it to the outside of a window. Anything that leads outdoors would do, such as a celling or even a door.
It’s hard to find a unit that doesn’t come with its own ventilation kit.
Can Portable Air Conditioners Cause Fires?
All air conditioners can cause fires. They deal with hot air, so they can overheat. If they fail to cool down, they can burst into flames.
The thing is, this is less likely to happen with larger, fixed AC units. Portable air conditioners are small. This makes it harder for them to handle the heat.
Before you get nervous, remember that situations like this are rare. Most of the time, short-circuiting causes them to overheat, not you overworking the machine.
These aren’t the only ways a portable air conditioner could burst into flames. If there’s a fluctuation in current, it could catch fire.
Of course, the better the model is, the lesser the chances of this happening. So, be wise.
What’s Better: Window Or Portable AC Units?
They both come have pros and cons. If you get a window unit, you’ll save cash as they’re more energy-efficient. Moreover, they’re larger, so they can cool down more footage. Window units are easier to find, and they’re what everyone goes for, after all.
When it comes to portable AC units, you have the freedom of mobility. They’re also cheaper. One of the biggest advantages is that you won’t get into trouble. Window units have a compressor outside. Some home associations have banned them.
Don’t forget that you can easily mount a portable air conditioner. For a window unit, you’ll need a team. This could be an added expense.
So, what’s the verdict? Portable air conditioners take the cake.
Do You Have To Empty Water From A Portable Air Conditioner?
This depends on what you get. The majority of the units we mentioned have a self-evaporating system. So, they take care of the water themselves. If the unit you’re interested in doesn’t come with this feature, you’ll have to drain its water out. As we both know, this can be quite a hassle.
Can You Leave A Portable Air Conditioner On All Day?
Technically, you can keep the machine on all day, but you might not want to. The unit would be eating up a lot of energy. Over time, this would skyrocket your utility bills.
You’re also increasing the risk overheating. Although low, the unit may not be able to cool itself, bursting into flames.
Even if you want it to work all day, you might not be able to do this. Some portable air conditioners go on idle mode when the temperature you want has been reached. This is done to save energy.
Are Portable AC Units Any Good?
Without a doubt, portable AC units are good. They’re easy to work with, take no time to install, are portable, and look better than having a large AC mounted on your wall. Of course, they’re cheaper than their window counterparts, so this makes them more appealing.
Which Is The Best Portable Air Conditioner?
From our list, we’d crown the Hyundai as the best. Not only did it have great features, but it also has a great price tag.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a portable unit, you’ll be making the right choice. They’re cheaper, easier to install and look better compared to their larger counterparts. The fact that the Hyundai has so many features means it rivals some of the best fixed conditioners out there.