Congratulations: you just bought your first portable air-conditioner! Designed to bring cool air into your home, the portable AC is the perfect, supportive tool or replacement for centralized AC. These units often come with a set portable air-conditioner hose. While this may seem like the best fit for your device, the portable-air-conditioner exhaust-hose that accompanies your unit is typically composed of inexpensive, fragile materials. Sure, it is convenient to have an AC-exhaust hose that comes with your device, but opting for a portable-AC replacement-hose will benefit you in the long run. The portable-air-conditioner tubing that is paired with your unit is cheaply made, making it susceptible to damage. Fragile hosework can tear or rip, causing your unit to leak exhaust—decreasing the overall efficiency of your portable air-conditioner. Purchasing a portable-air-conditioner-hose replacement will promote the safety and well-being of your unit. But with so many options in portable-AC-hose replacement, how do you know which hoses to choose from? You may be wondering, “What is the best ducting for portable air-conditioner units?” and “Are all portable-AC hoses the same size?”. The line of questioning that comes with replacing your portable-air-conditioner venting may seem daunting, but fear stems from not knowing the basics. We will lead you through the details of portable-air-conditioner duct-work and help you find the best portable-air-conditioner-hose for you!
“PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear”
“Thermoplastic Flex Medium-Duty WS”
“Wind Handler”
Are All Portable-AC Hoses the Same Size?
No, not all portable air-conditioner hoses are the same size. Depending upon your unit, your air-conditioner hose-size will differ. There are two different measurements that determine the size of your portable-AC exhaust-vent: inside diameter and length. Length is how long your hose is from end to end. The length of your hose can be measured in feet and inches, or by meters if you are using non-US-made machinery. On the other hand, inside diameter is the distance from one point on the inner wall of your hose to an opposing, internal point. This differs from the external diameter of your hose because inside diameter excludes the thickness of your hoses’ walls. The inside diameter of your hose will fit over the outer diameter of the fixture you are placing the hose on. This is why portable-AC hose size is measured by its inner diameter. If you are purchasing a piece of ductwork, it will often come in measurements of ID, otherwise known as inside diameter. It is common for a portable air-conditioner to use a 5” portable-AC exhaust-hose or a 6” portable-air-conditioner-hose. Conversely, portable-air-conditioner hose-size depends on length as well. A portable-aircon replacement-hose can come in virtually any length! Having a portable-air-conditioner long-hose can be of benefit if you are having trouble reaching windows or doors to ventilate your unit. A longer hose will extend the reach of your portable AC, allowing you easier access to open areas. As a portable air-conditioner requires ventilation outside of the area it is cooling, a portable AC with long-hose features will allow you more options in the placement of your device. Again, portable-AC hoses come in different inside diameter sizes and lengths depending upon the unit. There are even some machines that may require a 5.9-inch exhaust-hose! If you are planning on replacing your ductwork, you will have to figure out your portable-AC exhaust-hose size. You can do this by locating the number within your unit’s instruction manual or measuring the vent yourself. All you need is a ruler in order to measure one point from the internal wall of your hose straight across to another, interior point.
Determining your portable-AC vent size will help you find replacement hosework that will support your unit. Ducting.com has many options of portable-AC hosework in a multitude of lengths and inside diameters. For a standard, 5-inch AC-exhaust-hose, our line of PVC, flexible hosing will be the perfect fit for your unit! If you—perhaps—have a unit that requires a 6-inch exhaust-hose for portable air-conditioner-units, any of our portable-AC hoses, from the Air Ventilators to our Insulated Ducts, can accommodate such a model. As mentioned prior, hosework can also be measured in meters if your unit comes from overseas.
Finding hosing that can fit a metric-sized device may be difficult, but Ducting.com has an entire series of metric hoses that can solve your problem! Our metric hoses can accommodate a piece of machinery that is measured in meters, providing the perfect fit for any internationally-made unit. If you, perhaps, need a 130mm air-conditioning-hose, we can accommodate that! As portable-AC hosework comes in a variety of lengths and inside diameters, it is important to determine your unit’s precise measurements and find fitting, quality hosework to accompany it.
Can You Use a Foil Hose for a Portable Air-Conditioner?
Yes, you can use a foil hose for a portable air-conditioner. However, this is not the best choice for portable-AC ducting. Foil is a thin, fragile material that can be easily torn, thereby compromising the efficiency of your portable air-conditioner. Foil hoses are inexpensive hoses composed entirely of aluminum that can be adequately used to duct air at extremely high or low temperatures. This does not mean to say that the application of reflective metals like aluminum or similar insulation is redundant for a portable-AC unit with exhaust-hose-work. In fact, insulation is beneficial to portable ACs because of the way they protect the temperature of the air inside the hose from the air outside. The AC exhausts heat that, while warm, can still affect the temperature of the air inside the room it is cooling. However, because the portable-AC-unit tube is made entirely from thin sheets of aluminum, it is easy for these hoses to become twisted or crushed. The structure of thin, foil hoses cannot withstand outside force and will crumple or tear. This will compromise your ductwork, causing your unit to work inefficient. You should also reconsider using foil hoses for portable-air-conditioner with hose/vent-work because they can create clogs inside the hose due to their ribbed interior design. A foil hose is similar to an accordion in the fact that they are hoses that contain a multitude of ridges in order to be expanded and retracted. This may be beneficial for easy manipulation and shaping, but it is not good for conducting air flow in the long term. The ribs in the foil are natural canyons for dust, lint, and other materials that are sucked into your portable air-conditioner and then exhausted out of the air-con. ducting hose. Lint, dander, and other particles can collect in these ridges, creating blockages that can hinder the flow of air inside your hosework. It can also present a fire hazard as well. Obstacles, as well as tears, in your ductwork will slow the movement of air that is being exhausted from your unit.
This will decrease the overall efficiency of your portable AC. But how can you ensure that the duct hose for portable-AC units such as your own is safe from any physical harm it might encounter? If you desire a hose that can be wielded in a similar manner as a foil hose, Ducting.com’s Air Ventilator White is a PVC-coated, fabric hose that can be easily flexed and compressed. This hose features a compression ratio of 9 to 1, meaning that this 25-foot hose can be pressed down to just over 2 feet long! Because this hose is made of fabric, it can be as easily manipulated into twists and turns as a foil hose.
Unlike hoses that are entirely composed of aluminum foil, the Air Ventilator is resistant to physical abrasions due to its plastic-coated exterior. It also features an external wear-strip, which protects the steel-wire helix from harm. The Air Ventilator White will not be torn or crushed as easily as an aluminum-foil hose will! This hose even features a belted-cuffed end, meaning that it can be easily attached to any pipe, hose, or opening. Instead of having to clamp the ends of your hose to whatever opening you are trying to attach it to, the Air Ventilator White has a belted end that allows for quick and easy attachment. At the end of the day, can you use a foil hose for a portable air-conditioner? Yes, foil hoses are great at reflecting heat, but their flimsy structure means that they will not do nearly as good of a job as other, alternative portable-AC replacement-hose-work!
What Is the Best Ducting for Portable Air-Conditioner Units?
The best ducting for portable air-conditioner units will be a hose that is made from durable, flexible, and resistant materials. A PVC hose is one such example of an ideal, portable-AC replacement-hose. PVC is a versatile plastic that can be used ideally in a variety of applications because of its durability, flexibility, and chemical resistance. As mentioned prior, a common disadvantage of lots of portable-AC air-duct-work is their inferior material-composition. A multitude of air-con. hose-work is made from polypropylene, which is a cheap material that will not ensure the longevity of your air-conditioner portable-tube. Polypropylene, while cost-efficient for the companies producing your portable-AC replacement-hose, is susceptible to UV degradation, high temperatures, and moisture. As a hose that handles air-conditioner venting, duct hose-work should be able to resist certain levels of moisture in the air.
Portable air-conditioners exhaust water vapor as well as heat, meaning that a polypropylene hose will break down over time. PVC hosework that can be found on Ducting.com exhibits great chemical and moisture resistance so you will not have to worry about your hose breaking down! The PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear is the ideal portable-AC replacement-hose. PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is a synthetic plastic that is extremely versatile. Its resistance to chemicals and corrosion makes it a desirable product for applications that involve ducting hazardous fumes and fuels.
As your portable air-conditioner should only be venting heat and moisture, this is no problem for the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty. The thick, PVC exterior of this hose is also resistant to physical abrasions as well, meaning that your PVC Flexduct Light-Duty will not tear under flex fatigue or excessive, physical force. The flexibility of this hose allows it to be utilized in tight spaces. It can even be compressed at a ratio of 6 to 1 for convenient transport. PVC is one of the best ducting materials for a portable-AC replacement-hose due to its all-around, excellent nature.
Can I Use a Dryer Hose for a Portable-AC Unit?
No, you should not use a dryer hose for a portable-AC unit. A dryer hose typically has an inside diameter of 4 inches, which is not compatible with most portable ACs. Even if your portable air-conditioner does have an ID of 4 inches, using a dryer vent for portable-AC-units is not recommended because of the fact that it is composed of metal, which is a corrosive material. Because portable ACs ventilate heat and moisture, using a dryer hose is not a good idea. You should instead opt for a non-corrosive, resistant material such as PVC, or a plastic-coated fabric for your portable-AC replacement-hose. Using a dryer hose is not recommended for your portable AC because—again—many units use vents with a 5-in. air-conditioner-hose. Why should it matter whether or not you use a vent with a 5-inch AC-hose or a 6-inch AC-hose? You should use an exhaust hose with an ID size that matches the outer-diameter size of the pipe you are trying to fix it to so that your unit can function productively. Using a portable-AC replacement-hose with the correct inside diameter size will ensure that your unit is performing at its best. This is because the hose is creating an airtight seal around the fixture to which it is, indeed, fixed. Exhaust will not be lost in the spaces that will be created if you use a hose with a larger ID size. Think of it like wearing a pair of pants a waist-size up, without a belt. You will not be able to walk fast or move well, because your pants will be in danger of falling down. The extra space that is created from wearing a size too large is a physical hinderance for your normal activities. On the other hand, if you attempt to put on pants that are a waist size too small, you may not even be able to put them on. The same concept applies to ill-sized hosework!
Purchasing a 5-inch AC-vent-hose to fit your 5-inch OD opening will ensure productivity, as well as ensure the well-being of your unit. Air will flow through the exhaust hose efficiently and will not leak through any open spaces. Concurrently, if your pipe is too small, you should not attempt to force it. Forcing your pipe into an opening may cause it to break or tear, compromising the body of your hose and lowering its efficiency. Again, using portable-AC dryer-vent-work may seem like a good idea if they happen to have the same ID size. However, because dryer hoses are made of metal, they will not be ideal to use as a portable-AC replacement-hose. Portable air-conditioners draw the heat from air by forming condensation. The heat, which can never be fully destroyed per the laws of nature, is vented out of the exhaust hose along with the water vapor. Metal, while being resistant to chemicals, will eventually corrode in the presence of water. This makes dryer hoses a less-than-ideal fit for portable-AC hosework.
It is important to purchase a portable-AC replacement-hose that fits your unit. Ducting.com has many selections of portable-AC hoses that come in a variety of ID sizes. With a plethora of ductwork material options, as well as a selection of ID sizes, it is not only affordable, but accessible and convenient to purchase a portable-AC replacement-hose. If you are wondering, “Can I use a dryer hose for a portable-AC unit?”, the answer is no. For portable air-conditioning, having a durable, resistant, and flexible hose will be the best option.
When selecting a portable-AC replacement-hose for your unit, there are many characteristics you must consider. The type of material that is being utilized, as well as the inside diameter and length must align for you to have the best portable-AC hose for your unit. The portable-AC hose that typically comes with your unit, as well as some of your replacement hose options, are commonly composed of polypropylene. Other, easily-accessible options include aluminum and other metal-foil hoses. These hoses are composed of cheap, fragile materials that are susceptible to degradation in the presence of water. These poorly-made hoses are not a viable choice for a portable-AC-hose replacement and will not benefit you or your unit in the long-run. On the other hand, PVC is one of the best materials that you can use for a portable-AC replacement-hose. Its flexibility, durability, and resistance to moisture make it ideal for using to exhaust your portable AC. The versatility of PVC-plastic makes it one of the greatest materials used in a plethora of applications, especially in ventilating your portable air-conditioner!