Skip Past the Hassles of Installing a Window or Split Air Conditioner! 6 Best Portable Air Conditioners in India (2021)

Skip Past the Hassles of Installing a Window or Split Air Conditioner! 6 Best Portable Air Conditioners in India (2021)

Summer has arrived and, so has the discomfort due to excessive heat. Most of us use ACs to keep our indoors cool, but what about those who do not have a proper place to install an AC? For people facing this issue, the best solution is to buy a portable AC. They are compact, can be placed inside the house, and keep the room fresh. Here are the best portable air conditioners you can buy in India.

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Why Should You Buy a Portable Air Conditioner?

  • If you are living in a rented space, you might not be allowed to install a window AC, but you can buy a portable AC for your house. They are an excellent choice because you don't need to create an opening in a renting house wall and these do not stick out of the walls creating a disturbance to others living in the same apartment.

  • They are best for small spaces. If you live in a studio or one-bedroom apartment, you can fit a portable AC comfortably in your room. You also will not have to worry about the permanent installation; simply place it where you like, and you are all set. You won't have to give up natural sunshine or air; portable AC only needs a small opening to work perfectly.

  • Buying an AC is expensive but you can buy a portable AC at a cheaper price. They work great as a central air conditioning system, which generally is very expensive as well. It helps you cut down on your unit usage also.

  • It not only cools the air but also works as a dehumidifier, which is very important for people with allergies. If you live in a city like Mumbai, you will face a lot of humidity with heat, but a portable AC works both ways. It will remove moisture and cool your room as well.

  • If you are living on the top floor, the ceiling fan won't make a lot of difference in the temperature of the room. A portable AC works great there because of the refrigerant included in the technology.

  • Don't we all love to live in our ancestral houses but these old homes were usually not built with central air conditioning in mind and installation of a window or split AC might be difficult and expensive there. Putting a portable AC is an excellent way to keep an old home cool.

  • Another great reason for buying a portable AC is that you don't need to buy expensive parts. They are low maintenance in comparison to an AC.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Portable AC

If you are planning to buy a portable AC this summer, you should read the points given below to help you find the best one for you.

  • Portable ACs come in various costs, and the costs mostly depend on different factors. If you want to buy a powerful AC which can cool a large room, then you will have to pay a little more, and if the AC is also a humidifier and a heater, then the price may go up even higher. Also, if you are buying a branded portable AC, it will cost you a little more but will work for years. When purchasing a portable AC, think of extra costs like the replacement of air filters, etc. because if it needs to be changed, then the cost will add up.

  • Size is also an important factor when buying a portable AC. You should be able to move your AC from one place to another, see if it fits in your car and can you carry it. The portable ACs is rated in BTU (British Thermal Units) per hour. ACs with higher BTU have more cooling power, therefore, look for a portable AC which is compact and has appropriate BTU.

  • You can use the given estimation for a standard room with 8-foot ceilings:

    • 8,000 BTUs will cover 200 sq. ft. (1,600 cubic feet)
    • 10,000 BTUs will cover 300 sq. ft. (2,400 cubic feet)
    • 12,000 BTUs will cover 400 sq. ft. (3,200 cubic feet)
    • 13,000 BTUs will cover 450 sq. ft. (3,600 cubic feet)
    • 14,000 BTUs will cover 500 sq. ft. (4,000 cubic feet)

  • Another thing to keep in mind is the ventilation. Portable AC vents out hot air, therefore, you will have to place your AC near a window. Most of these ACs come with a window venting kit, therefore, check the width the window kit can extend to; you can also buy an extension hose or a vent kit which will allow you to keep the AC away from a window.

  • Portable ACs are easy to maintain; you need to drain the collected moisture regularly for it to operate efficiently. You can either remove it manually or use a hose to drain it; you can also use a pump to push water up and out of the AC. The best bet is to buy an AC with a self evaporating design to avoid this whole process.

  • You do not want a noisy AC in your room when you sleep, and a machine which generated airflow will make some noise. You should look for an AC which reaches 45 dBs on its highest settings.

  • You should buy an AC with a remote control so that you don't have to walk up to the AC every time you need to change the settings. You should also look for an AC with a timer that will allow you to walk into a cooler home when you return from work. Sleep mode is another important feature to let you sleep comfortably.

Best Portable Air Conditioners You Can Buy in India

Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner is one of the best portable ACs you can buy. It comes with three operation modes, i.e., air conditioner, fan, or a dehumidifier. If your bedroom is small, you can use this portable AC without any issues as it cools up to 400 sq ft area comfortably. This AC has a carbon air filter as well as a self evaporative system that exhausts the condensate easily.

It has full thermostatic control and a 24-hour programmable timer. It also has a remote control, which lets you change the temperature without having you get out of bed every time. The best part of the Whynter Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner is that it is compact, which allows you to install it anywhere in the house without using too much space. It is an excellent buy for places where you are not able to control the heat and humidity, and you can set it up in a classroom, your workshop, a store, etc.

It cools air faster due to its cooking power and constant air pressure. It has a rolling caster so you can move it around in the house and enjoy the fresh air. You can buy this great portable AC from Amazon.

MarQ by Flipkart 1 Ton Portable AC

Another great portable AC is the 1 Ton MarQ AC. This AC is being offered by Flipkart and has a unique design. It comes with an excellent drainage system to keep the water collection in it. This AC has an efficient rotary compressor that provides maximum cooling in lesser time without using too much power.

The MarQ portable AC works wonderfully in a room up to the size of 90 sq ft and has an automatic power cut off system. Therefore, you will not have to turn it off manually in the middle of the night. It also comes with an auto-adjusting system for temperature control to maintain a comfortable environment while you sleep.

You can buy this AC for Rs. 21,999 from Flipkart.

Super General 1.5 Ton Portable AC

The Super General 1.5 Ton Portable AC is another good portable AC available in the market. This AC comes with a 1.5-ton capacity, which cools a room of about 120 to 180 sq ft efficiently.

The AC provides a powerful airflow to keep the temperature of your room balanced, and it can be moved from one room to another without any problems. The Super General portable AC is made to be an air conditioner, fan, and a dehumidifier; therefore, you can enjoy a cold room without excessive humidity in the air. It has a 2-liter tank and also has a LED display, which helps you control the temperature at night without turning on the lights.

The filter in the AC is an anti-bacterial filter to keep away microbes, dust, and dirt from entering it, which makes it easier to clean whenever you want. You can simply clean the filter by putting it under the faucet. It comes with a 1-year warranty on the product and a 5-year warranty on the compressor. You can buy The Super General 1.5 ton portable AC for Rs. 32,840 from croma.com.

Blue Star Portable Air Conditioner

If you are looking for a great portable AC at an affordable price, then buying this Blue Star portable AC this summer will be a good choice. It is one of the best ACs for small places, and it cools a room for about 90 sq ft without any hassles.

This Blue Star portable AC comes with a built-in accumulator in the compressor to give you maximum cooling without using too much power. It also comes with Hydrophilic Golden Evaporator, a fin that prevents the accumulation of water, which results in effective cooling. While using a regular water cooler, you might feel excessive humidity in the air, but with the Blue star portable AC, you can run it on dry mode and enjoy a cooler room as it removes the moisture from the air and keeps it dry.

The AC comes with a full tank alarm, which sounds when the tank is full of condensate water; it also has a troubleshoot or error code displayed on the AC itself to let you know of any issues arising with the AC. One of the best features of this AC is that it restores the original settings after a power cut.

The filter of the AC is anti-bacterial and has dust silver coating to avoid the collection of dust, microbes and prevents the growth of bacteria. It also comes with sleep mode to let your sleep at night while it keeps a consistent temperature throughout the night The Blue star portable AC comes with a one-year product warranty and a 5-year warranty on its compressor. You can buy this AC for Rs. 25,969 from Flipkart.

Honeywell MN12CES Portable Air Conditioner

Honeywell Portable AC comes with 12000 BTU, which cools an area of about 400-550 sq ft. The AC comes with a digital thermostat system and remote control for you to control the settings from across the room. The feather touch lighted control panel lets you see the settings clearly.

It also comes with a self evaporating system and is equipped with a fan and dehumidifier, which enables you to use without clear it over and over again. The filter in the Honeywell portable AC is washable, therefore, all you need to do is to clean it and store it in a dry place when not in use. The Honeywell portable AC is available for purchase on Amazon.

KORYO Lifestyle 1.2T Portable Air Conditioner

KORYO Lifestyle 1.2T Portable Air Conditioner works as an air conditioner, dehumidifier, and a fan and comes with an anti-bacterial filter. You can simply wash the filter when you need to. It has a front panel display and comes with remote control for you to change the settings without getting up from your bed quickly. KORYO Lifestyle 1.2T Portable Air Conditioner comes with a Hitachi compressor and uses about 1650 W of power.

The AC has a one-year product warranty. You can buy this AC from Amazon, and it will be delivered to you after amazon restores its services.

Taking Care of Your Portable Air Conditioner

If you want to use your portable AC for a long time, you will need to take proper care of it. Taking proper care of your portable AC will let it work efficiently and will consume less energy. Here are a few tips on how to maintain your portable AC.

  • You should keep the exterior of the AC clean at all times. You can clean it with a damp cloth, but remember not to use detergent or other soaps on it.

  • If you are using a portable AC which uses a carbon or HEPA filter, you should remove it instead of cleaning it. You can readily buy these filters online.

  • You should remove the water which is collected in the AC. You can use a drain pump or a hose to remove this water from an internal tank and clean the detachable pipes and hoses with a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar. After cleaning, run the AC on fan only mode for around 30 minutes to reduce the smell of vinegar.

  • If you use the exhaust hose to its longest limit, it may bend and will not let your AC work efficiently as well as reduce the cooling. Use a short hose and keep it straight to avoid moisture buildup. If there is moisture buildup in the hose, it might leak back to the unit and create problems.

  • You should clean your portable AC twice a year, i.e., at the beginning of summer and the end of the season. Drain the leftover condensed water and remove the lower drain plug. Run the AC for 30 minutes on fan only mode. Remove and clean the air filter, if you want you can reinstall it after it dries up. Disconnect the window installation kit; Remove the plastic hose, window bracket, and adapter, etc. Make sure to store it in a dry place and keep the AC and its parts in a way so that they don't bend and break.
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From our editorial team

One Crucial Feature to Look for in a Portable AC

One crucial feature you should look out for when buying a portable AC is the fan speed. Your AC should allow you to adjust the speed of the fan as per your need. It should come with a drip tray to make it easy to remove the collected water or simply buy one with a self evaporating system.