Written by Mascha
Edited on
18 February 2025
·
12:56
The difference between portable air conditioners and split air conditioners
During the summer, it's usually hot in the house. That's why you're looking for an air conditioner. Will you choose a fixed cooling element, or rather a portable version? Together, we'll go looking for the best air conditioner system for you. How? By comparing the differences between portable air conditioners and split air conditioners.
In short
| Portable air conditioner | Split air conditioner | |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need to have the air conditioner installed? | No | Yes |
| Will the air conditioner have a permanent spot in the house? | No | Yes |
| Will the air conditioner be ready for use immediately upon coming in? | Yes | No |
| Is the air conditioner suitable for cooling large spaces? | No | Yes |
| Does the air conditioner have high efficiency? | No | Yes |
| Can I place the air conditioner in any desired room I need to cool? | Yes | No |
The differences
Portable air conditioner
As the name suggests, portable air conditioners are portable. This means that you can move them around. That way, a portable air conditioner provides cool air in the living room in the daytime and in the bedroom or nursery at night. That's ideal. All you need is a window you can open, as every portable air conditioner has a drain hose that has to lead outside with a window sealing kit. This does mean the efficiency is a lot lower, because hot air comes in through the open window.
Features of a portable air conditioner:
- Use it right away when you receive it..
- Move it to any space.
- Cools and dehumidifies.
- Energy consumption is relatively low.
- Capacity is generally lower compared to a split air conditioner.
Split air conditioner
Split air conditioners always consist of 2 elements, an indoor and an outdoor unit. Mount the outdoor unit to the facade, so it'll always have a fixed spot. The same goes for the indoor unit, but indoors. Once you've installed the split air conditioner, it'll have a high efficiency. This allows you to cool a space fast. YIf you keep windows and doors closed, the temperature will be 10°C lower in no time. Since it extracts moisture from the space as well, any damp feeling will soon be gone as well.
Features of a split air conditioner:
- Installation required.
- Fixed element in the house.
- Cools, dehumidifies, ventilates, and heats.
- Energy consumption is relatively low.
- Capacity is high compared to a portable air conditioner.
What should you pay attention to when purchasing an air conditioner?
- Energy consumption | Portable air conditioners and split air conditioners consume more energy than a fan, for example. Want an air conditioner? Choose an air conditioner with at least an A+ energy label.
- Cooling capacity | The cooling capacity of an air conditioner is indicated as a number of BTU (British Thermal Units). The higher the BTU number, the larger the space to be cooled may be.
- The space | Choose a portable air conditioner or split air conditioner depending on the size of the space. The BTU number will help you make your choice, as described above.
Article by Mascha
Air Conditioner Expert.
