Sizing Portable Air Conditioners

There are many important factors to consider when selecting a portable air conditioner for your cooling application.

• What is the temperature surrounding the unit? Each portable air conditioner has a different optimum operating temperature range. Different units are designed to work in specific areas such as the office, computer rooms, or high heat, commercial environments.
• What forms of electrical power are available? The availability of electrical power is regularly a leading factor in unit selection. For example, in an application requiring three tons of cooling, a 3-ton unit may be the reasonable choice. However, a 3-ton portable air conditioner requires a 208-230 volt, single phase, 30-amp circuit. The same 3-tons of cooling can be achieved by using two 1.5-ton units, which can be operated from a standard plug.
• Will the air conditioner be placed inside or out of the space being cooled?
• What is the total required cooling load expressed in BTU or cooling tons?
• Is air pressure a concern in the building?
• Would an air or water-cooled unit make the most sense your application?
• Will the hot exhaust be vented into the existing duct system or will the units blow freely into the space surrounding them.
• Are there any physical restrictions in your desired space?
• Do you have availability to drain the unit of condensation, or will a tank have to be used and emptied?

These are all crucial factors in choosing the correct portable air conditioner unit, and determine if a small or large unit will be needed or if the unit will be water or air-cooled. Let Mobile Air’s expertise in cooling applications benefit you. Call Mobile Air at 888-474-4340 or contact us online and we will determine the best solution to for your HVAC problem.