The difference between portable air conditioners and split air conditioners
In short
| Portable air conditioner | Split air conditioners | |
|---|---|---|
| Do I have to install the air conditioner myself? | No | Yes |
| Will the air conditioner have a permanent spot in the house? | No | Yes |
| Will the air conditioner be ready for use immediately upon coming in? | Yes | No |
| Is the air conditioner suitable for cooling large spaces? | No | Yes |
| Does the air conditioner have high efficiency? | No | Yes |
| Can I place the air conditioner in any desired room I need to cool? | Yes | No |
The differences
Portable air conditioner
As the name implies, portable air conditioners are portable, which means you can move them around. That way, a portable air conditioner provides cooling in the living room in the daytime and in the bedroom or nursery at night. It's ideal. The only thing you'll need, is a window that can be opened, since every portable air conditioner has a drain hose, which you use with a window kit to lead outside. This does mean the efficiency is a lot lower, because hot air will come in through the open window.
Features of a portable air conditioner:
- Immediately usable arrival.
- May be moved to any space.
- Cools and dehumidifies.
- Energy consumption is relatively low.
- Capacity is generally lower compared to a split air conditioner.
Split air conditioners
Split-unit air conditioners always consist of 2 elements: an indoor and an outdoor unit. You'll mount the outdoor unit to the facade, so it'll always have a fixed spot. The same goes for the indoor unit, except, of course, indoors. Once the split air conditioner has been installed, it will have high efficiency, allowing you to quickly cool a space while consuming little energy. You'll be able to keep windows and doors closed, and the temperature will be 10 degrees Celsius lower in no time. Since moisture is extracted from the space as well, any damp feeling will be gone soon too.
Features of a split air conditioner:
- Installation required.
- Fixed element in the house.
- Cools, dehumidifies, ventilates, and heats.
- Energy consumption is relatively low.
- Capacity is high compared to a portable air conditioner.
What should you pay attention to when purchasing an air conditioner?
- Energy consumption | Portable air conditioners and split air conditioners consume more energy than, for example, a fan. Going for an air conditioner? Choose an air conditioner with at least energy label A+.
- Cooling capacity | An air conditioner's cooling capacity is indicated as a number of BTU (British Thermal Units). The higher the number of BTU, the larger the space to be cooled may be.
- The space | Choose a portable air conditioner or split air conditioner depending on the size of the space. The number of BTU, as described above, will help you make your choice.
