> 1. How to pick a portable air conditioner using proper BTU rating?
> 2. Can I run the portable air conditioner without a vent?
> 3. Is exhaust required?
> 4. What is Self-Evaporating Technology?
> 5. What are the differences between single hose and dual hose?
> 6. How to install window kit for portable air conditioner?
> 7. How to pick an energy efficient portable air conditioner?
> 8. What are the differences between air cooler and air conditioner?
> 9. What is LCDI (Leakage-Current Detection and Interruption) plug?
> 10. A few suggestions for your unit to run more efficiently
> 11. How to clean and maintain your unit?
BTU is an energy unit
and represents the unit's cooling capacity. Pick the proper BTU
rating to select the right air conditioner. Portable air
conditioners are rated in BTU. The greater the BTU of a unit,
the more cooling power it has. Please note that there is no
direct comparison of the cooling capacity of the portable unit
with that of window air conditioning units. Here are the general
guidelines for room sizing selecting portable air conditioners:
7500 BTU: 150 square
feet
9000 BTU: 200 square
feet
10000 BTU: 250 square
feet
12000 BTU: 350 square
feet
13000 BTU: 400 square
feet
Note: When selecting a
Portable Air Conditioner, there are other factors to take into
consideration other than the BTU and the suggested square
footage. If the space you're looking to cool has one or more of
the following factors, it is strongly recommended to go one or
two size up:
1) Heat source such as
computer servers, major appliance, skylight, direct sunlight,
etc.
2) Higher floors.
3) Lots of windows,
especially those facing the West.
4) Poor insulation,
such as garage, sunroom, mobile home, etc.
Note:
For Garage or Sunroom application, please
call us for more information. The considered area that can
be cooled should be 30% smaller because of the direct sun
light and poor insulation.
No, portable air
conditioners are designed to operate with a vent. If you do not
vent the hot air to somewhere, the portable air conditioner will
not be able to cool very effectively. The only area getting cold
would probably be right in front of the where the cooling air
outlet if no venting for hot air. Window venting kits are always
included with our portable air conditioners at no extra cost.
You may also vent the portable AC through a wall vent, into the
attic or drop ceiling. For the casement windows, you can cut a
panel with Plexiglas to cover the window and open a hole to vent
the hose.
All portable AC units
require exhaust hose installation. This is for removal of hot
air which has been used to cool off the compressor. Standard
installation includes venting through a sliding window or
through the wall, by cutting a hole. Sunpentown AC units are
supplied with the necessary accessories for either installation:
flexible hose (extends up to 5'), window kit and wall adapter.
Portable AC units are
equipped with an advanced condensation removal system:
Self-Evaporating Technology. When running AC mode, this
technology recycles the water condensation to cool off the
cooling coils, then evaporates the water out with the exhaust
air. This results in increased energy efficiency, cooling
performance and reduces the need to empty the water tank. Under
extreme humid conditions, the water condensation may collect
faster than the unit can recycle. Should the built-in water tank
becomes full, the compressor will automatically shut-off and
water full indicator will blink. At this time, water should be
emptied, which is a simple process.
Single Hose - draws
indoor air for both front cold air output as well as exhaust air
(used to cool compressor).
PROS:
1) Fresh air is
exchanged within the room.
2) Higher energy
efficiency.
CONS:
1) Percentage of the
air taken in is used to cool the condenser. As this air is
exhaust out, it creates a negative air pressure. Air is
continuously seeping in from adjacent rooms to replace the
exhausted air.
2) Slower initial cool
down.
Dual Hose - draws
indoor air for front cold air output and draws outdoor air for
exhaust air (used to cool compressor).
PROS:
1) If outside
temperature is lower than indoor temperature, compressor can be
cooled down faster and produce colder front air output.
2) No negative pressure
created within the room
3) Initial cool down of
room is quicker than single hose.
CONS:
1) Same air circulating
within the room, which will decrease in oxygen and increase in
carbon dioxide.
2) If outside
temperature is high (>90??F) or when humidity is high (>80%),
compressor cannot be cooled and results is increased temperature
of front air output. In such cases, the second hose should not
used to prevent the compressor from overheating.
3) Uses two internal
fans and consumes more energy due to added hose.
All the portable air
conditioners come with window kit. The window kit is designed
for easy to use and takes less than few minutes to install. The
window kit is to provide hot exhaust vent and to seal the
sliding window opening. It includes a window panel and a hose.
Usually, the window panel is 7" (width) and 60" (height). The
hose usually is 5 feet and 5" in diameter. If you need an
extended hose, you can buy it from hardware stores.
The energy efficiency
of the air conditioner is measured by energy efficiency rating
(EER). The higher the rating, the more efficiency of the units
is. When the EER rating is higher than 10, the unit's energy
efficiency is above average. Here is a formula to calculate the
monthly electricity cost per EER:
{Capacity (BTU)/EER x Cooling Hours per month/1000} x Electric Rate= Monthly Operating Cost
{Capacity (BTU)/EER x Cooling Hours per month/1000} x Electric Rate= Monthly Operating Cost
They are very
different. The portable air coolers are designed to cool your
personal space and are not true air conditioners. Air cooler
uses the evaporation of water to cool the air. The heat in the
air was absorbed by moisture evaporation. It can bring down
about 10F from the direct air stream. It is a good way to cool
the dry area. Air cooler does not require vent like air
conditioner.
Air conditioner uses
compressor to cool air, and it is a lot more efficient and can
bring down temperature based on the thermostat. It removes hot
air to outside, and therefore cools the inside air with the
refrigerant in the system. However, air conditioner requires the
venting kits. Also, air conditioners remove the moisture from
the air and keep the humidity level low.
Overall, air cooler is a low cost alternative to air conditioner.
Back to Top
1) Keep the exhaust
hose as short and straight as possible.
2) Heat is emitted back
into the room as hot air travels through the hose, try
insulating the hose.
3) If unit is to be
operated throughout the day, turn on the unit early, before the
noon heat hits.
4) If unit is to be
operated at night and outdoor temperature is lower than room
temperature, first open windows to allow air exchange. After
15/20 minutes, close windows.
5) When unit is turned
on, set fan on High to allow air circulation. After 30 minutes,
set fan to Low. In low fan, air is allowed to pass through the
cooling coils over a longer period of time, thus the air output
will be colder than High fan.
6) For units with
Self-Evaporating Technology, it is always suggested to not use
continuous drainage in cooling mode. Allowing the water to
collect and recycle helps cool down the cooling coils, which in
turn produce colder air output.
HOUSING (as needed)
1. Wipe with soft, damp
cloth.
2. Do not use strong
chemicals, detergents or chemically treated cloths.
FILTER (once a week)
1. Remove filter frame
from unit, tap lightly to remove loose dust and dirt particles.
2. Remove activated
carbon filter (if applicable) from filter frame.
3. Rinse the white
filter under running water (no hotter than 104??F). Dry
thoroughly before replacing.
** Do not wet the
active carbon filter
AIR INTAKE VENTS (once a week)
Using a handheld vacuum
or with slender attachments for large vacuum cleaners, vacuum
the air intake vents thoroughly.
THOROUGH CLEANING
(once a month or when odor/mold is present)
1. Remove and clean
filter frame.
2. Spray acidic
solution directly onto the cooling coils. (For 13K & 14K units,
coils are located behind the top filter frame).
3. Allow solution to
settle for approximately 15 minutes.
4. Replace filter
frame.
5. Turn unit ON and run
in AC mode for 6 ~ 8 hours.
6. Turn unit OFF and
drain water.
** For acidic
solution, we recommend using Citric Acid Cleaner mixed with
water. Citric Acid Cleaner, which is natural and harmless, can
be purchased from any local grocery market. You can also use
lemon/lime juice or vinegar mixed with water.
END OF SEASON STORAGE
** If you plan not to
use your portable AC unit for a period of time, it is absolutely
necessary to follow the instructions below to prevent mold and
mildew growth.
1. Unplug unit and
drain the water tank.
2. Clean the filter and
intake vent.
3. Turn unit ON and run
in FAN mode for 2 ~ 3 hours. This will allow the interior to dry
completely.
4. Store unit in a dry,
cool place ¡§C away from direct sunlight or major heat source.
