Air conditioners are meant to keep you cool and comfortable during summer. They’re great all year round if you’re in the tropics. It can be rough when the heat and humidity are too much for you to bear. With how hot it gets due to the worsening climate, having an AC is more of a necessity rather than a luxury.
Summary
As we tested different products, it became clear to us that the two best portable air conditioners without hoses were Frigidaire and Hessaire. In terms of runner-ups, Hessaire and hOmeLabs were the clear runner-ups as the best brands offering ventless air conditioners.
We’ll also take a look at the following:
- What to look for
- The different types
Continue reading
And now that more people are working remotely, it’s important to keep cool in your home. You can boost your productivity and avoid heat-related illnesses!
It’s important to buy one that’s efficient and worth the price since they ramp up electricity bills upon use. Just like how you’d only buy the extension cord out there, you should also invest in a cost-effective unit.
In this article, we will talk about the best portable air conditioners without hose. Additionally, we also present some ventless exhaust options.
Yes, we have many articles. It includes ones on stationary 15,000 BTU units as well. However, that’s not what we’ll be focusing on here.
A good one worth the money is something that can do its job anytime, anywhere. It is exactly what a portable model is!
Why you can trust us & how we picked
You can trust us because we tested all the portable air conditioners without a hose listed on this page. We picked products with different capabilities so that we could find products serving all needs.
Best Portable Air Conditioners Without Hoses
With all the brands in the market, picking a trustworthy brand will be quite a maze for you. Here’s a list of some of the trusted brands that offer high-quality and sturdy appliances that can last for a long time. Here are the best portable air conditioners without hoses.
| Brands | |||
| Hessaire | Frigidaire | hOmeLabs | Honeywell |
Frigidaire
- It’s no secret that Frigidaire is the master when it comes to energy-efficient devices, such as ACs and coolers. After decades of producing and designing numerous types of appliances, you’ll find a high-quality model among Frigidaire products. It will suit your needs perfectly.
Hessaire
- Hessaire is a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing ventless coolers. It’s been providing great solutions for years. They have many portable options and mini-split models that allow you to enjoy a refreshing breeze at home. Check out Hessaire MC37M, which is their most popular model.
hOmeLabs
- Homelabs is a genius designer of various product lines, portable evaporative coolers, and dehumidifiers. They also make purifiers and refrigerators. This brand has been the go-to of many homeowners due to its good service and the affordability and quality of its appliances. We’ve also featured this brand in our other articles. It’s a testament to how great of a brand hOmeLabs is!
Honeywell
- This brand provides a lot of environment-friendly and cost-efficient appliances. Honeywell has a wide variety of products to choose from. They have affordable units that can handle a bedroom of around 100-250 square feet. Some more heavy-duty units can handle bigger areas of up to 850 sq. ft.
Factors to consider
When you’re buying a portable air conditioner without a hose, there are factors to consider. We’ve listed them below.
Cooling capacity
The cooling capacity of the different units differs significantly. If you want a stronger unit, getting one with 12,000 BTU is a good idea!
Energy efficiency
Some units are more efficient than others. Look at the brand to see what certifications they have and show off.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the air conditioner isn’t always fun. Read the reviews to see if a previous customer has said anything bad about the maintenance of the unit.
Price
Units with higher BTU cooling power usually come at a higher price. However, make sure that you’re comfortable with the price you’ll be paying for the unit.
Brand reputation
Getting a cooling unit from a reputable brand is a great idea. It ensures there’s customer support if you need it.
Portability
Some units are more portable than others. Make sure to check out how much it weighs before you hit “buy.”
Water tank capacity
The greater the water tank capacity, the less frequently you’ll have to empty the unit. It makes it less of a hassle to keep the space cool!
How much do they cost?
As we tested the different products, we found that portable air conditioners without a hose usually cost between $160 and $600.
Tools and guides that you may need
Sometimes, mishaps cannot be avoided. A warranty cannot cover everything for appliances. It’s better to have tools on hand whenever you need them, especially if you already know your way with electrical appliances. Why spend money on easy electrical work if you can do it yourself? In line with this, here are some guides that can help you with your daily handy work:
- MIG vs. TIG welding – A quick yet comprehensive article on MIG and TIG welding.
- SAE to Metric Conversion Chart – All types of home renovation need accurate measurements! Make sure to convert measurements properly by using this chart.
- Amp wire size guide
I hope this buying guide has helped you decide which option is the best pick among countless others in the market. As mentioned, consider that an evaporative cooler cannot convert hot air as true ACs do.
It’s not as easy as converting shoe sizes! If you want a powerful model that doesn’t require an exhaust hose, try looking at ductless options. Good ones include split-type ones. These rely on a pair of indoor and outdoor units, eliminating the need for ductwork.
If you need more guide articles to make home living easier, feel free to check out the blog’s main page! And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, leave a comment down below so we can help!
But this should not be an obstacle between you and a room with a cold atmosphere.
If you follow the advice given above, you may reduce your suffering from excessive heat.
Portable units
A portable air conditioner is a free-standing, compact, self-contained system that can cool you down anytime. Unlike most in-room options that are heavy and bulky, these have a lightweight and ergonomic design. It makes installation a breeze. All you need is enough space on the floor to situate this stand-up air conditioner.
You need a power outlet or extension cord of the right wire size and a nearby window to install its venting system. They have added features that make handling easier, such as wheels and handles. You can reinstall it from one room to another with little to no fuss!
There are even small or mini models that you can carry around for your camping needs. Install in your RV if you’re trying to take some load off your engine to avoid malfunctions in the idle air control valve.
This is the perfect addition to a solo room with one window to spare, capable of cooling your room without taking up too much space. Suppose your sole window is too narrow to accommodate a venting system. You can opt for a casement or vertical window option, which can fit into narrow openings and sliding windows!
But what if your room’s sole window is inaccessible, preventing you from installing the exhaust hose? What if there are no windows at all? Would you still be able to use a portable one in a windowless room?
Do all portable units have to be vented out a window?
Air conditioners can remove hot air and produce cool, dehumidified air. These units evaporate the heat and dissipate it through an exhaust hose via the venting system. In a nutshell, this is how it works:
- An AC takes in hot temperature air from the room and condenses it into a liquid to evaporate the heat out of the air.
- The resulting cooled-down liquid is processed to become cool air, then released into the room.
- The heat goes into the venting system and is released outside through an exhaust hose.
The venting system is installed separately in a window for floor models like portable ones. On the other hand, window and through-the-wall models both consist of only one whole unit. They have their vents facing outwards of the window.
All types can only function properly and eliminate heat if a functional venting system is in place. This system is an integral part of the hot-cold air exchange outlined above. If it is not vented properly, it will not do its job.
If all air conditioners must be vented outside a window, what are these so-called “ventless air conditioners”?
What is a ventless unit?
In truth, they can’t truly be “ventless,” not even portable models. Most of the time, these devices that people mistake as ventless are evaporative coolers. These devices differ from portable ones regarding machine structure and mechanism.
It became the norm to dub them “ventless air conditioners” because they look quite similar to portable models. They’re all portable and free-standing units that aim to cool you down amidst the heat. Imagine a portable model without its window vent kit—that’s what an evaporative cooler looks like!
Since both terms are used interchangeably in the real world, we’ll do so in this article as well. Just don’t forget that what we’re referring to are evaporative coolers!
Pros
- We managed to install it quickly and easily, no complicated procedures are necessary.
- This device added $20 to our electricity bill, it has low operation costs
Cons
- It is not efficient in environments with high humidity.
- Circulates the same air in the room, making it a ventilation problem.
Do they work well?
These devices create a cool airflow by harnessing and automating the process of evaporation. That’s where they got the name “evaporative coolers.” All of these do not require venting, unlike theirs. The system generally consists of a water tank and a water distributor.
They also have a thick evaporative pad and fans. First, the evaporative pad absorbs the cold water from the reservoir. A fan draws hot, dry air and passes through the wet pad into the unit. The hot air triggers the evaporation of the water molecules in the pad, which generates cool air.
When water turns into a gas, the highest energy particles leave the water first. It causes a drop in temperature inside the cooler, thereby generating cool air. Finally, the fan blows the resulting air into your room.
In a nutshell, they use cold water and the evaporation process to generate cool air. There is no need for the hot-cold air exchange within units that require venting. But if you want to know all the differences between vented and ventless air conditioners, take a look at the table below.
| AC Type | Requirements | Pros | Cons |
| Vented | Nearby window; Window AC kit; Hose | Fewer installation requirements; Requires less energy | Not ideal for humid areas; Needs more maintenance |
| Ventless | Water tank topoff; Periodic cooling pad replacement | Higher cooling capacity | Will need more installation parts and space; More energy-intensive |
Unlike true ACs, these all have the same capacity of 0 BTU. Meaning the cooling effect they have solely relied on the gust that they produce from the cold water in the tank. They cannot remove heat or dehumidify the air.
Only air conditioners can fully convert hot air indoors into cool, dehumidified goodness. But this does not mean that ventless coolers cannot help you with the heat! All you have to do is pick one that stays true to its name. An evaporative cooler with high airflow and an ice tank for a water source can effectively cool you down!
Although they have the advantage in cooling power, they have the upper hand operating well. They even work in windowless rooms. Since these devices do not rely on actual conversion, you do not need to vent them at all.
What’s even greater is that they are much more affordable and are incredibly portable. That’s why they’re mistakenly called ventless portable AC! Just like PACs, you can situate it anywhere on the floor. That is, as long as it’s near a power outlet.
Opt for a portable evaporative cooler if you want an affordable and ductless device to carry anywhere with you. You can beat the heat anytime without having to worry about tedious installation processes and vents!
Factors to Consider
As mentioned, there are some features that a portable cooler must have for it to be worth your money. With the crazy number of in-store or online options, picking the best portable ventless model can be quite daunting. To help speed up your canvassing, let’s outline some of the features you must look out for.
| Things to look for | |
| Airflow | Water and ice tank |
| Tank capacity | Noise |
| Filter features | User-friendliness |
| Energy-saving |
Airflow – the higher, the better
A ventless cooler relies on the air that it pumps out to lower the temperature. It’s a given that a unit with a higher airflow can deliver a much more effective sensation. Look for a ventless portable model with at least 500 CFM capacity.
But if you want a model that can cover more area, pick a unit with a higher capacity. The Luma Comfort one can cover up to 650 sq. ft. due to its high airflow capacity of 1,650 CFM.
Water and Ice Tank – the colder, the better
The cooler generates cold air via the water from its tank. The colder the water is, the colder it feels. Some units have reservoirs that can only handle water, while some have tanks to house both water and ice. Pick the latter for a more refreshing burst of soothing, cold air! An example of an evaporative cooler with an ice water tank is this portable air cooler by hOmeLabs.
Tank Capacity – the bigger the capacity, the longer the operating time
Once the tank runs out of water or ice, the air it will produce will no longer be as cold. Maybe you want one that has a long runtime and is guaranteed to last through your sleep. Pick a unit that has a capacity of around 5-10 gallons.
You’ll also notice that ventless portable models with high tank capacities have higher airflow. They include Hessaire’s model, which boasts 3,100 CFM and 10.3 gallons tank capacity.
Large tank capacities can be quite bulky and heavy, so bear in mind that this somehow lowers the portability. But we find that the perks outweigh the cons of the weight. You don’t usually move it around once it’s operating already. If you want one that’s neither too big nor bulky, pick a model with a mid-size capacity. Get one around 2-5 gallons.
Low Noise Operation – the lower the decibel, the better
One annoying downside of some units with high airflow is that they can get quite noisy. It isn’t ideal if you’re using it in your bedroom or office. There are a lot of models out there that have both low-noise operation and high flow rates.
Brands continuously aim to achieve the best balance between noise level and airflow. Nowadays, some units maintain low-noise operation even at the highest fan setting! To ensure that you can preserve the quietness of your room while cooling down, pick one that has a noise level of 65 dB or less.
Investigate if the advertised decibel level is not exceeded by the cooler when it’s running at the highest speed. Some brands lure buyers into thinking that theirs can operate quietly. They only note the unit’s noise level when it’s at the lowest fan setting.
Filter
It’s important to find evaporative coolers that filter out harmful particles before releasing them. Comfort and safety must be your top priority, so it’s a must to have cool air! Pick one that has a filter so that you can prevent respiratory diseases or asthma attacks caused by allergens and dust.
To save money, opt for a unit that has a reusable filter. You can remove the filter whenever you need to clean it, eliminating the need for new filters monthly. This would lower your monthly cost and carbon footprint!
User-friendliness
Many of them nowadays have advanced, smart settings and user-friendly interfaces that make operation a lot easier. Pick a model that has user-friendly settings, such as auto-shutdown and adjustable fan controls.
Look for a timer and filter indicator. These eliminate the need for tedious stuff like waking up in the middle of the night to turn it off. Avoid getting out of your seat to change the settings when you’re busy with work.
Energy-saving – higher rating, the better
It’s no secret that adding another appliance to your home will ramp up the bills. It’s especially if you’re using one that consumes a lot of energy. Although standard models consume more energy than ventless coolers, the latter can still add quite a bit to your electricity bills.
It will be best to pick a unit that is energy-saving and efficient. Look for a brand or model that is Energy Star certified. It is efficient and consumes the lowest amount of energy possible. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient it is.
