How to Save Money with a Portable Air Conditioner

When temperatures creep up, so do those dreaded electricity bills, especially when you are running a central air conditioning unit all day. Fortunately, there are five easy ways to save energy and money by utilizing a portable air conditioner. These convenient, small, portable AC units can either supplement or replace your existing central HVAC system. 

Discover five key ways investing in a portable AC unit will save you money every month.

1. Save Money and Electricity by Cooling One Room at a Time

It doesn’t matter if you live in a studio apartment or a large home; a portable air conditioner can reduce your cooling costs by targeting just the room you’re using, instead of keeping your whole home at that same level when no one is in the other rooms anyway. In a small apartment or secondary space in your home, a portable AC unit can even take the place of central air conditioning. If you are in a larger building, a portable unit can easily be moved from room to room as it is needed as a supplement to central air conditioning.  

Consider, for example, utilizing a portable AC unit in your bedroom at night to keep you comfortable while you sleep. When the sun rises, simply move the portable air conditioner down to your home office or other living space. Cooling just one room at a time is both environmentally friendly and a great way to save you money, especially since these smaller units run on a fraction of the energy as your central air conditioner.

2. Use a Portable AC Unit to Piggyback on Your Central AC Unit

There are two main reasons you might consider running a portable air conditioner in addition to your central HVAC: 

• Reducing the amount of time you run your central unit, allowing you to save money and keep your energy bill more manageable all year long. 
• Portable AC units provide extra cooling for those rooms that get more direct sunlight than the rest of the rooms in your home. 

If you live in a warm climate and run your air conditioning unit all year-round, you are likely very interested in discovering ways to save electricity and money every month. One of the biggest things that can cause your central unit to work harder is having a room that receives more direct sunlight than others. This can be especially problematic in a living area or converted porch that has a whole wall of windows. With the addition of a small, portable AC unit in those warmer spaces, you can reduce the workload of your central unit and save drastic money on the electricity bill.

3. Portable ACs Can Serve More Than One Purpose

Cooling a single room of the home isn’t the only way to utilize a portable air conditioner. Many of the makes and models of small, portable AC units available serve double-duty as both a portable air conditioner and a heater, making them appropriate in both the hot and cold months. Plus, when you’re looking to save money, purchasing one unit that serves multiple purposes is a great way to stretch a dollar.  

Other portable air conditioner models are designed to function like a dehumidifier to help remove moisture from your indoor air and improve home health. If you live in an area that experiences a variety of seasons, you may want to consider investing in a portable air conditioner unit outfitted with these additional features.

4. Save Energy with A Portable ACs Built-In Smart Features

The little gadgets and accessories associated with a portable air conditioner do more than give techies another toy to play with; they can actually help you save money on cooling your home. Some of these smart portable air conditioners even allow you to control the unit remotely from your smartphone. 

Take, for instance, a programmable timer. There are many portable air conditioner models that come equipped with a programmable timer to help you manage the way your portable AC unit runs throughout the day. Much like a programmable thermostat, this feature allows you to program the AC unit to automatically start cooling during times you are home, but turn-off while you’re away because there’s no reason to consume all that electricity if no one is home to benefit from it.

5. Portable AC Units as An Alternative to Central AC 

If you’re mulling a decision between a central or portable air conditioner, consider that the cost of installation alone for a larger HVAC unit can be shockingly high. In a historic home, installing a central unit can become a massive undertaking, as new duct work and electricity may be required. Getting permits for the required changes can be a challenge in themselves for any home, especially if your home is on the historic register. In some areas, central AC may not even be an option.

This leaves you with having to consider some sort of a cooling alternative, such as a portable, ductless, or window unit. While these portable air conditioners have their own set of pros and cons, they can all be a money saving alternative that can help you cool your living space, regardless of whether you live in a smaller apartment or larger home. 

Not only do some of the best portable AC units save you money by cooling only the rooms that are necessary, portable air conditioners are also a lot less expensive to install than a central AC unit, resulting in a much lower initial out-of-pocket expense. 

If you’ve converted a room that wasn’t originally part of your central system, adding a portable air conditioner to the space can be much easier than working the new square footage into your central unit. Adding a small, portable AC unit to the garage or converted porch can even be done same-day.

Additional Benefits to Portable AC Units 

Saving money is important, but it’s not the only reason to consider using portable air conditioners. There are many benefits to finding the best portable AC unit for your space. 

• Small, portable AC units don’t require professional installation. 
• Portable ACs are easy to move from one room to another. 
• No structural changes to your home required!

Choosing the Best Portable Air Conditioner

Once you’ve decided to use a portable AC unit in your residential or commercial space, it’s time to choose the best portable air conditioner for your needs.

Shop by Room Size 

As you shop, consider how big of a room needs to be cooled. You can narrow down your search for the best portable AC unit by those approved for small spaces, medium spaces, and large spaces.

Type of AC Unit

You also need to decide what type of air conditioner makes the best choice. Select a window air conditioner unit, a mini-split air conditioner unit, a portable air conditioner, an air conditioner and heater combo unit, or a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC).

Consider BTUs 

All portable air conditioners are rated for British Thermal Units (BTUs). Basically, these numbers indicate how large of a space the portable air conditioner can cool. The smaller the number, the smaller the square footage of the room it can cool. The larger the number, the larger the room it can serve.  

The number of BTUs also correlates to the amount of electricity saved or used. The higher the BTUs, the more electricity it uses per hour. The lower the BTUs, the more energy saved. The key to getting the best portable AC unit is to choose one that’s large enough to efficiently cool the room without purchasing one that’s too unnecessarily big for the space.

Choose Your Plug Type

The different models of portable air conditioners may feature different plug types. Consider where you’re using the small portable AC unit and choose a plug that’s appropriate for the outlets you have nearby.

Is a Portable Air Conditioner Right for You? 

The decision to go portable for your air conditioning needs may prove to be exactly what you’re looking for. In addition to being a convenient cooling alternative, these portable air conditioners may actually save you money.

You can use them to either replace or supplement your existing system. Thanks to technology, there are many AC units that come equipped with cost-saving tools, such as a remote control or programmable thermostat. There are even portable air conditioners that can heat and dehumidify your home. To lower your monthly utility bills without jeopardizing the comfort of your home or business, consider adding a portable air conditioner. It’s not the best choice for everyone, but it may be for you.