Cheap Portable Air Conditioners
One of the best ways to beat the heat this Summer, while also cutting costs on your monthly electric bill, is by investing in one or two portable air conditioners. Small and lightweight, these economical units provide the cooling benefits of a regular window unit or central air conditioner at a fraction of the cost. In fact, cheap portable air conditioners are one of the best ways to help cut costs and stay cool at the same time.
What Is A Portable Air Conditioner?
Similar to a window air conditioning unit, a portable air conditioner works by pulling in warm air and releasing it through an exhaust hose that is run to a window in the room or an adjacent room. The unit reserves a portion of the air which is run over a series of refrigerated coils, significantly decreasing the temperature before it is blown back into the room. The unit also acts as a dehumidifier, helping to remove the moisture in the air, since humid air tends to feel warmer than it actually is. The unit simply plugs into a standard wall outlet and the exhaust vent can be run through ay window.
How Can I Get The Cheapest Unit Possible?
The main key to get the best unit for the least amount of money is by correctly picking the strength of the unit you need. Portable air conditioners are designed to cool rooms up to 350 square feet, depending on their BTU, or British Thermal Unit, rating. By correctly measuring the room you will primarily use the unit in, you can avoid buying a unit that is more powerful, and therefore more expensive, than needed. You can also look at the various features the units include such as digital temperature readouts and the ability to run as either a cooling unit, a fan, or a dehumidifier. While the added features may be beneficial to some people, they often increase the price of the unit.
Also pay attention to the units energy rating. While you may be tempted to opt for a cheaper unit with a lower energy rating, this may not always be the best idea. In the long run, a portable air conditioner with a higher energy rating will use substantially less electricity, reducing its usage cost. In this case, it is usually recommended to pay the higher price upfront in order to save money on each monthly electric bill.
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