The best portable air conditioner might just help you survive the coming summer months, especially if you have an antiquated unit and no way to install a new wall- or window-mounted air conditioner. With some predictions of above-average temperatures, a cooling fan may not cut it, meaning we’ll need all the cooling products we can get.
Portable air conditioners are generally considered less effective and less efficient than traditional AC units. However, they do have value to the right user. According to Jonathan Berkson, owner of SuperCoolNYC, portable ACs are “best when you don’t have a window that a regular window AC can be installed in. Like a basement or a crank-open window.”
They can be a great supplement to your existing setup, too, and can be moved easily around the home to cool down the space that needs it most. Lane Dixon, vice president of operations at Aire Serv Heating and Air-Conditioning at Neighborly, said that they’re also “ideal for targeting individual rooms without lowering the temperature of the whole home [and can be] a good option for renters, as no structural changes are needed.”
So, if your living conditions don’t allow a proper air-conditioning unit, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck sweating it out all summer. I tested eight highly rated portable air conditioners currently on the market to find one that’ll keep you comfortable, whether you’re an apartment dweller, a nomad who constantly moves from city to city or someone with a struggling HVAC system.
