R.E. Williams Contractor Inc. - Portable Air Conditioner FAQ's

Frequently Asked Portable Air Conditoner Questions:

Can I just plug this in and turn it on? Yes and no.  First, you can plug these units into any standard 115
VAC 60HZ household outlet.  However these units do require a vent.

Do These Unit Require A Vent?  Yes, portable air conditioners remove hot air from the room they are cooling,
this hot air must be vented out of the room.    Running a portable A/C unit without a vent will do absolutely no
cooling.

Do I have to vent this through a window?  These units are designed to vent through either vertical or horizontal windows.
We have heard of people also using sliding glass doors, or even through a wall or drop ceiling.  These systems are not
set to fit casement windows (crank open/close), but with a little ingenuity, anything can be done.

How long are the exhaust hoses?  The hoses are between 4 and 7 feet long.  The hoses are plastic reinforced with metal.

Can I extend the hose length? We would not recommend this.  The greater the increase in exhaust hose length, the less
cooling you will have.  Hoses that are angled or bent will decrease the efficiency of the unit.

Can I use a dryer vent to exhaust the A/C unit?  The exhaust need to flow freely, the damper on a dryer will cause the
unit to decrease efficiency and lose cooling power.  We suggest if you do use this method of ventilation, that you
screen the vent.  Again, we do not recommend this or endorse this method of operation.

Do I have to empty a bucket from inside the air conditioner?  When conditioning the air, these unit dehumidify and
collect water.  The option is to either manually empty the bucket, or add a drain line to the back of the unit for
continuous drainage.  For the Soleus units, there is an optional pump to accomplish this if the drain line needs to
go up, or is extended for a long distance.

What size air conditioner should I get?  We have suggested room sizes listed in sq. ft for each unit that we sell.  Remember,
homes with many windows, pets, people and electronic machines (computers, monitors, etc.) will increase the need for a
larger capacity air conditioning unit.  Also, homes that are poorly or not well insulated will lessen the cooling effect of these
units.  Ask these questions:

• How large your home is and how many windows it has;
• How much shade is on your home's windows, walls, and roof;
• How much insulation is in your home's ceiling and walls;
• How much air leaks into your home from the outside; and
• How much heat the occupants and appliances in your home generate.

An air conditioner's efficiency, performance, durability, and initial cost depend on matching its size to the above factors.

R.E. Williams Contractor Inc. - Portable Air Conditioners