A Portable Air Conditioner
Can Transform Your Outdoor Event

You really do need an enclosed area for a portable air conditioner to be most effective. Otherwise that nice cold air drifts away and you don't get much cooling benefit from it.

But that doesn't mean air conditioning has to be confined to the home or office.

Almost any enclosed structure that doesn't have access to conventional air conditioning can benefit from a portable air conditioner.

Special events like weddings, parties and receptions use tents that benefit tremendously from portable air conditioning. Trade shows, conferences and temporary offices are often limited in terms of cooling, yet impressing clients and customers and providing for their comfort is often a sign of a company's care and attention to detail. Expectations of comfort are often high for these kinds of events and portable ac can meet those expectations.

Climate control is critical in the broadcast booths of sports and other events. The electronics can get so hot they'll stop working (and so can the technicians)! And maintaining an aircraft, or even a boat on a hot day can be a miserable task.

No other outdoor cooling method can protect electronic equipment in a booth, grounded aircraft or boat like a portable air conditioner because they can reduce humidity in the area they are cooling. Most other outdoor cooling solutions either can't provide enough cooling to combat the heat generated by electronics, or use evaporative cooling -- water -- that can damage electronics.

No other method will chill the air as well and keep humidity low, making conditions ideal for man and machine in even the muggiest of environments.

Add to that the facts that dry air feels cooler than humid air, inhibits mold growth and eases allergy symptoms.

Even a gardener's shed and a child's playhouse can get unbearable in hot weather, but a portable ac can make that shed comfortable and that playhouse fun again.

If you have a more open outdoor area that needs cooling, consider an outdoor fan, a misting system, outdoor shades, or even a combination of these. Take a look at our comparison page to get an idea of when and where to use each of these cooling methods and learn which is best for YOU.

In some ways portable air conditioners are the most extravagant of all outdoor cooling methods. The idea alone seems pretty extravagant. But their cooling is extravagant -- on average they can cool an area by 15 - 25°F / 8 - 14°C. Surprisingly they aren't always the most expensive way to cool an area. And their reliability in cooling an area so dramatically can make up for their cost.

Being cool feels so good we often forget it's more than a matter of comfort. It's also a matter of health and safety. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), air conditioners are the best protection against heat-related illnesses. Click here to read more about how outdoor cooling can help prevent heat stress and heat stroke.

If there are outdoor activities you've avoided because of hot weather, a portable air conditioner can make them safe and enjoyable.

Outdoor structures that have access to electricity make the setup of a portable air conditioner little more than plugging it in, positioning the exhaust hose and turning it on. If your area doesn't have access to electricty and if usage is only temporary, consider whether an outdoor-rated extension cord is all that's needed. Make sure its amperage rating is the same or more as your portable air conditioner. Perhaps a generator would make more sense if the distance is too far for an extension cord. If you'll need it set up permanently, ask an electrician to set up the wiring for you.

HOW AN AIR CONDITIONER WORKS

Some people see the exhaust hoses on portable air conditioners and figure the setup must be complicated so they don't investigate any further. But don't be intimidated by the looks of those hoses. They can look rather alien, but they are really very simple to use, and make perfect sense once you know the basics of air conditioning.

Portable air conditioners work in the same way as refrigerators. They use a refrigerant to provide more cooling potential than most other outdoor cooling solutions.

Freon may still be the most commonly known chemical refrigerant, but it is being replaced with much more environmentally-friendly refrigerants. It is such a memorable name that many consumers refer to refrigerants in general as "freon" instead of, say, "R-410A".

Liquid refrigerant goes through an "expansion valve" where it evaporates to become a cold, low-pressure gas. The cold gas runs through a set of coils to absorb heat while a fan blows cold air away from the coils and into to the room to cool the room. The cool gas refrigerant goes through a "compressor" to compress it into a hot, high-pressure gas. The hot gas runs through a set of coils to dissipate its heat and turn it back into a liquid while a fan blows the hot air from these coils away from the room to be cooled.

Warm air from the room is continually removed and replaced with cold air from the air conditioner.

If the air conditioner is positioned inside the room, that alien-looking exhaust hose directs the hot air away from the room being cooled. The exhaust hose is directed through a window, an opening between panels of a tent or booth, or an opening in the wall, ceiling, or floor. (If you don't like the look of the unit in your area you can simply place a decorative screen in front of it.)

Sometimes the portable air conditioner is positioned outside the area to be cooled and the cooling nozzles and hoses lead into the area, keeping the unit out of site.

Basically pretty simple.

SELECTING A PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

• Selecting a portable air conditioner depends on 3 basic factors:
• The air conditioner, itself: What kind is it? How much cooling capacity does it have? What are its features?
• Installation: What kind of power supply does it need? How quiet is it? Operating limits and safety ratings will influence how and where it can be installed.
• What are the costs? Is it better for you to purchase or rent? Cost to purchase or rent? Costs to operate? Also consider maintenance, warranty and repairs.

One of the most helpful tools are the technical specifications. This is where you find actual helpful numbers, instead of just general sales descriptions. Look for BTUs, decibel ratings, weight, electricity requirements and more.

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