How Long Does A Portable Air Conditioner Take To Cool A Room?
Over the years I have used many portable air conditioning units to cool both apartments and houses and even experts agree that you can usually experience a cooler temperature fairly quickly.
Most portable AC units will cool a room by 5 degrees in less than 20 minute, but the time it takes for a portable air conditioner to cool down a room depends on the size of the room, the size, age, and BTUs of the air conditioner, the surrounding temperature, and the level of insulation in the room.
Read on to learn how long it takes a portable a/c to cool a space.
How long does a portable air conditioner take to cool a room?
Struggling with a hot room and want to use a portable AC unit to cool it down quickly?
Most portable units will cool a room by 5 degrees in less than 20 minutes. The amount of time your portable AC will take to cool the room largely depends on the kind of unit you’re using and the size of the room. Other factors like room temperature, draftiness, and insulation also affect the time.
Portable ACs are an affordable appliance. They also have the advantage of portability that you don’t find with other a/c options. They are easy to install and move from one room to another. You can easily store them when not in use.
Portable air conditioner Cooling time by room size
The size of your room will also determine how long it takes a portable air conditioner to cool it down. Are you trying to cool a small bedroom or a high-ceilinged family room? Size matters when it comes to cooling.
To cool a room effectively, you need to match the room size to an appropriate portable AC unit size. The smaller the room’s square footage, the smaller the unit you can purchase. Portable air conditioner units range from 8,000 to 14,000 BTUs. This cooling output can cool up to a 700-square-foot room.
| Room size | BTU required |
|---|---|
| 150 sq. ft. | 5,000 BTU |
| 250 sq. ft. | 6,000 BTU |
| 300 sq. ft. | 7,000 BTU |
| 350 sq. ft. | 8,000 BTU |
| 400 sq. ft. | 9,000 BTU |
| 450 sq. ft. | 10,000 BTU |
| 500 sq. ft. | 11,000 BTU |
| 600 sq. ft | 12,000 BTU |
| 700 sq. ft. | 14,000 BTU |
How to help your portable air conditioner cool a room faster
We only use our portable AC at night to cool our bedroom. I turn it on 20 minutes before we are ready to hit the hay. That way, the room is a perfect 70 degrees, while the rest of the house spaces are five or more degrees warmer.
The result?
Perfect sleeping temps without turning the central air super low.
Keeping the portable air conditioner unit out of the sun, closing the doors and windows to the room, and using fans to circulate cool air can speed up cooling.
Ready to purchase a portable AC unit? Here are a few tips to cool your room down fast:
- Make sure your portable AC unit’s exhaust hose is properly vented during installation and not leaking back into the room
- Use curtains or blinds in the room to prevent the heat from the sun from penetrating through.
- Place the unit where direct sunlight doesn’t reach it. Too much heat from the sun will make the work harder.
- Put away heat-inducing appliances that are close to the thermostat.
- Keep doors and windows closed while cooling.
- Consider using fans to distribute the cool air throughout the room.
- Insulate the room well.
- Do regular maintenance and keep your unit clean and dust-free.
- Seal the windows and doors to prevent heat from coming in through the holes.
What temperature should a portable air conditioner be set at?
A portable air conditioner should be set between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency.
If the unit is set too low, the compressor will work harder than necessary and could eventually fail. If it is set too high, the unit will not be able to remove enough humidity from the air and may start to drip water.
Factors that determine how long it takes a portable air conditioner to cool a room
Each room’s unique circumstances can affect a portable a/c’s cooling rate.
The factors that determine how long it takes a portable air conditioner to cool a room are the air conditioner size, the room size, temperature, humidity levels, and the number of heat sources in the room.
Air conditioner size & age
The size of the portable air conditioner will affect how long it takes to cool a room.
A portable AC model with a bigger cooling capacity will cool your room faster than that with a smaller cooling capacity. Cooling capacity is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). Air conditioning systems list their BTU rating on the box so you can choose the correct size for your room.
A BTU is the “quantity of heat required to raise one pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit at the temperature that water has its greatest density.” This unit of energy measurement allows us to compare different types of energy.
In layman’s terms, a BTU is a measurement that expresses how much energy your unit is using to remove heat from your room.
The larger a room, the more BTUs it takes to cool it down. The older your air conditioner system, the more time it will take to cool.
There are several online BTU calculators that can help you choose the correct size unit for your individual needs. You can customize insulation type, sun exposure, and climate. It’s always best to have more BTUs than not enough, so size up if in between sizes. Here’s an example:
Important note about portable a/c units and BTUs: Portable a/c units were traditionally rated on BTUs using the same standard as other types of air conditioners (ASHRAE). In recent years, manufacturers have started using a seasonal rating (SACC) which is more suitable for a portable unit. The SACC BTUs will be lower than traditional BTUs but more representative of the true cooling capacity.
Temperature & humidity
Where you live and the location of your room can affect room cooling.
If the heat and humidity levels outside a room are higher, it will take the portable air conditioner extra time to bring the temperature down. A room getting direct afternoon sun will take longer to cool than one in the shade. An area with high humidity levels will take longer to cool than one located in a dry area.
I live in the hot, humid south. We use a portable air conditioner in our bedroom for this reason. Our central unit will run all day long on 95-degree days and still not cool down our room to my liking. A portable a/c can cool it down to a comfortable level in as little as 20-30 minutes.
Insulation level/air leaks in the room
Are your windows drafty? Do you live in an older home? The construction of your room can affect cooling, too.
Poor insulation allows heat into your room. Air leaks around windows will allow cool air to escape out of the room. Both of these issues will cause the portable air conditioner to work harder and take more time cooling the room.
Adding additional insulation in the walls and sealing off any cracks will increase the efficiency of your air conditioner and your comfort level.
Unnecessary heat sources
Do you have a lot of electronics in the room you are trying to cool? This can have a negative impact on the time it takes to lower the temperature.
If the room you’re trying to cool has several heat sources, it will take the portable air conditioner longer to reduce the temperature. People, light sources, and electronics will increase the heat level in a room.
Reducing the number of warm bodies, turning off the lights, and powering down electronic devices will help your unit run more efficiently.
Portable air conditioners vs window AC units – which cools faster?
Window units work best to cool a single room.
A 15’x15′ feet room will feel noticeably cooler after 20 minutes of run time.
Window air conditioners are more effective than central air conditioners because they are used to cool down one area as opposed to the entire house. Their cooling time is similar to that of a portable a/c unit. However, the unit is fixed in place.
A window unit use less electricity than portable units, but sometimes installing a unit into a window isn’t possible. You are limited by the size and style of your windows. These units also produce condensation, which can accumulate around the window casing or on the floor.
Portable Air conditioners vs Central AC units – which cools faster?
Many homeowners prefer central air conditioners. They cool the entire house instead of just individual rooms and they typically include more features such as heating, moisture control (dehumidifier), and self-cleaning.
Newer central air conditioners will take 18 minutes on average to cool a house by one degree. Age is a big factor that determines the amount of time the unit takes to reduce temperatures. The older the unit, the longer it will take to cool.
Central units take regular maintenance to cool effectively and efficiently. According to Energy.gov, today’s air conditioners use 30-50% less energy than those of the 1970s.
Summary of “How long does a portable air conditioner take to cool a room?”
Portable air conditioners are a great choice and they don’t require a big home improvement project to cool a room like installing a window AC unit would!
The time it takes for a portable unit to lower the temperature depends on several factors. To cool down a room fast, buy a unit that has sufficient BTUs for the room’s square footage. On average, it takes 15-20 minutes to reduce the temperature by 5 degrees.
The temperature and humidity of the surrounding area, the presence of air leaks, and the lack of sufficient insulation can affect the time it takes to adequately cool a room.
Let us know how we’re doing!
Did this expertly prepared resource answer your question?
Do you have another question about home maintenance, home improvement projects, home appliance repair, or something else?
Get more information, send in questions and keep the discussion going by contacting the I’ll Just Fix It Myself company customer service team at at 1-800-928-1490 or Email us at [email protected]
Let Us Know How We’re Doing!
Did this expertly prepared resource answer your question?
Do you have another question about home maintenance, home improvement projects, home appliance repair, or something else?
Get more information, send in questions and keep the discussion going by contacting the I’ll Just Fix It Myself company customer service team at at 1-800-928-1490 or Email us at [email protected]
