The portable AC exhaust hose is one of the most important accessories for the portable air conditioner. It may not look like much with its plain, rigid exterior, but this duct has an essential task. The exhaust hose’s main purpose is to expel the hot air and water vapor produced by the portable air conditioner. Portable ACs themselves are cooling units designed for smaller spaces. Unlike central air conditioning, these units make air conditioning portable with their compact designs and can be transported from room to room to suit your specific cooling needs. If you are constantly overheating in your home office or perhaps need a temporary air conditioning solution, portable AC units can lend a helping hand. They do more than just circulate air like ceiling fans do; they actively lower the air temperature. They also function as a portable dehumidifier by drawing moisture out of the air, which can make a space seem even cooler once it dries the sweat from your face. Portable air conditioning units are incredibly useful machines to have, but the maintenance and knowledge required to use these units may surprise you. There are many issues that might arise with your unit, spanning from technical errors to drainage problems, to venting complications. However, these are typically easy to fix once you know how to identify and address your problem. Even just the portable AC hose necessitates some insight and expertise that, with this article, we will attempt to give you. One common qualm relates to portable AC hose size. In this article, we will address that issue, and more:
• Are all portable AC hoses the same?
• What size is a portable AC exhaust hose?
• Why is my portable air conditioner hose hot?
• Can you run a portable air conditioner without an exhaust hose?
“Air Ventilator Black”
“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Clear”
“Wind Handler Insulated TU”
Are All Portable AC Hoses the Same?
No, not all portable air conditioner hoses are the same. With each type of unit, there are different types of hoses as well. As stated, a single hose portable air conditioner uses only one hose. When the AC sucks in hot air, the air is pushed over condenser coils filled with refrigerant. When the air and refrigerant interact, moisture is pulled from it, cooling down the air. The chilled air is ushered back into your room, while the water vapor and heat are funneled out via exhaust hose. This is how a single hose unit works. However, for the dual hose portable AC, there are two hoses: one to exhaust the moisture and heat and the other to draw in air from outside. This allows the unit to take in air from a source other than inside of the room. These two hoses are called the intake hose and the exhaust hose. These are the two different types of portable AC hoses that you might find. How are they different? This will depend on the unit, but exhaust and intake hoses may vary in diameter. For example, some exhaust hoses will have a diameter of 5 inches, while the intake hose will have a diameter of 4.3 inches. This .7-inch difference may not seem like that much of a discrepancy, but any amount of contrast when it comes to measurements can make a significant impact. Even if you managed to get the exhaust hose on the intake vent and the intake hose on the exhaust vent, it would not be a perfect fit. This could cause your unit to lose air through the cracks in the hosing, making it less efficient. Therefore, you should not mix and match your exhaust and intake hose. Even for single hose units—which only require an exhaust duct—sizes are not universal. There is not just one single portable AC hose that can conform to every single unit. This is why we recommend using the exhaust hose that comes with your unit, as it will be guaranteed to fit your specific portable air conditioner. Portable AC hoses will differ in length, as well as diameter.
What Size Is a Portable AC Exhaust Hose?
A portable AC exhaust hose is usually around 4-to-7 feet long and approximately 5-to-7 inches in diameter. The length and diameter of the hose will vary according to the make, model, and manufacturer of the portable air conditioner. Typically, though, exhaust hoses are no longer than 7 feet and no shorter than 4 feet in order to increase air flow efficiency. If a hose is too long, it will become susceptible to bends or kinks. Any sort of twist or turn in the hosing will impede the movement of air, causing your unit to put in more work to circumvent it. Also, if the duct is too short, there will not be enough space to vent out the exhaust from the unit. The hose must be a minimum of 4 feet long in order to maximize air flow. This is why we advise you to use the portable AC hose that accompanies your AC, as that portable AC vent size has been specifically tailored toward its according unit. The portable duct that comes with your device will be the best in terms of efficiency and air flow. However, replacing your hose does not have to be difficult, especially with the proper guidance. It can be confusing to measure the diameter of the vent of your portable air conditioner—small hose-parts may require a certain, smaller size of exhaust. In any case, all you need to know are a few basic, technical terms. Most important Is knowing your portable air conditioner duct size. When it comes to the size of the exhaust hose, it is important to make sure it is the correct length, as well as the correct diameter. There are two ways to measure the portable air conditioner hose size. Hoses are commonly catalogued by their inside diameter, or ID. ID measurements are taken by gauging the distance from one point inside the duct to another.
ID does not account for wall thickness and is meant to fit over the outer diameter (OD) of the connecting pipe. When we say that portable AC hoses are 5 inches in diameter, we mean that the length of one point to another inside of the duct is 5 inches across. OD is taken by measuring the diameter of the hose from one external point to another to include the wall thickness. These are handy terms to know just in case you need to make any adjustments to your portable ducting. Now that you know how companies measure portable AC vent/hose size, let us move on to the next common question.
Why Is My Portable Air Conditioner Hose Hot?
It is normal for your portable air conditioner hose to feel hot, as it is in charge of venting hot air and water vapor to the outside. This task of moving warm air naturally means that your hose will feel hot, but how do you know when it is too warm? If your exhaust hose is feeling particularly hot and is accompanied with problems such as low air flow, then there may be a problem with your unit. Low air flow will prevent the exhaust hose from properly moving air through the duct, causing the unit to work harder to force movement. This can cause your AC hose to heat up, due to the larger forces at work. But how can you prevent your exhaust hose from getting too hot? The first thing you should do is make sure your portable air conditioner is vented correctly. This means making sure you have a standard portable AC hose, preferably the one that came with your unit. The duct should not have any bends or kinks in it, as these will hinder air flow. If you need to bend the AC hose, do so gradually, instead of bending it into a sharp angle. The hose should maintain a smooth, straight line to ensure proper air movement. Also, make sure to check the external port of your hose (the end that leads to the outside) to make sure nothing is blocking it. It is common for objects such as plants, or furniture to obstruct your portable AC exhaust hose. For portable air conditioner flow to be efficient, you will need to make sure there are no obstacles in the way of your portable vent. If the exterior of your portable ventilation looks accurate, you may need to assess the interior for blockage. This is where having a clear duct would be of benefit. Ducting.com sells clear PVC hoses that allow you to identify a clog or obstacle in your duct without having to look inside it. A scan over our PVC Flexduct (General Purpose) Clear hose will tell you whether or not your air flow is being impeded by any obstructions. The PVC Flexduct is a flexible and cost-efficient hose that can be used for air, dust, and fume applications, including portable AC!
The exhaust filter is another important player in venting portable AC exhaust. This filter works to sift out airborne particles such as dirt, dust, and any other allergens you may not want to be inhaling. If you live in a particularly dusty or pet-heavy home, your filter may be teeming with debris that is clogging up air flow. Luckily, it is pretty easy to replace carbon filters, or clean reusable ones; no portable duct cleaning equipment is required. If your filter is washable, remove it and rinse it off with some water and mild detergent. Let the mesh plating dry fully before returning it to the unit. If your filter is replaceable, find a new one according to your manufacturer’s instructions. If all these steps have failed—if there are no physical deterrents to your exhaust hose and you are worried about the heat from your duct warming up your room—then you can always insulate your AC hose. Insulating your hose is technically a modification of the hose that does not manipulate the ducting itself, making it safe and efficient for your portable air conditioning unit. Hose insulation comes in options such as sleeve covers or spiral duct wrap. The sleeve cover is a fabric cover that is best for temporary insulation. It can be washed and is easy to install. A sleeve cover will adequately prevent heat from seeping out into your room and will also soften any noise coming from the hose. Spiral duct wrap consists of many layers of insulated bubbles and polyethylene. The product can be wrapped around ducting to eliminate heat radiation.
Spiral duct wrap is just as easy to apply as a sleeve cover but is not as reusable. Either option is capable of insulating your portable AC hose, but if you do not want to waste your time insulating your ductwork, why not purchase an insulated hose itself? We have a wide selection of insulated hoses perfect for HVAC and air-related duties. The Air Ventilator Insulated Ventilation Ducts are one such example of insulated hoses that we offer at Ducting.com. The Air Ventilator Insulated is composed of PVC fabric layers with a layer of PET-film for insulation. It is compressible, good for high and low temperatures, and perfect for air ventilation.
Can You Run a Portable Air Conditioner without an Exhaust Hose?
There is no point in running a portable air-conditioner without exhaust-hosing. The task of a portable AC exhaust hose is to expel hot air out of your room. By getting rid of the AC hose, you are getting rid of the unit’s ability to blow hot air outside. The AC will instead vent the hot air and moisture out the back of the unit, blowing it back right into the room. There is no point in causing a needless cycle of hot and cold air running through your home, so it is best to just leave the portable hose on your unit or purchase a new one if your current one is in disrepair. Your energy bill and AC will thank you, as they will not have to put in unnecessary work to achieve essentially nothing. However, if you are looking for a portable air conditioner without exhaust, you may need a ventless portable air conditioner. Ventless portable air conditioners utilize evaporation in order to lower the temperature of a room. Water is stored in cooling pads inside of the unit. When the portable exhaust fan sucks hot air inside of the AC, the air crosses over the cooling pads. Heat interacts with the water, causing it to evaporate and cool down the air. The chilled air, heavy with moisture, is sent back into the room. This way of cooling air generates no exhaust, as the heat is eliminated through the changing of liquid to gas. This method of cooling is very convenient for those who may not want to utilize a portable AC hose and also need a portable humidifier. Ventless ACs are easier to move than normal portable air conditioners, as they do not have any hoses to unlatch or haul around. They are also perfect if you are trying to cool a room with no windows. However, the only downside of a portable ventless air conditioner is that they can really only be used in hot, dry climates. Because ventless ACs are constantly pumping water vapor into the air, if there is already a lot of moisture, then the AC cannot work properly. The pressure gradient of water in the air cannot be exceeded, just like the maximum capacity of a building should not be surpassed. Ventless portable air conditioners will not work well in very humid environments because there is already a lot of moisture in the air.
If you are looking into purchasing a ventless unit, make sure to check the humidity of your area to ensure that this unit will work for you. Also, note that these coolers are not truly ventless, as most people who use these units nevertheless employ ductwork. These users, rather than using ducts to exhaust hot air, use ducts to direct the cool air that their units generate. You can connect your evaporative cooler to your home’s ducting system, allowing the cool air that your unit generates to spread throughout your home.
Hopefully, we have answered any pressing questions you might have had about the portable AC exhaust hose. You have learned about the discrepancies between exhaust and intake hoses, and how each differ depending on the specific portable AC unit. You also know that exhaust ducts usually span from 4-to-7 feet long and can have inside diameters of approximately 5 inches. (Inside diameter and outside diameter measure different aspects of a duct. Confusing the two can result in purchasing an ill-fitted hose.) We have gone through troubleshooting in the case of your exhaust hose being too warm, and how to insulate as a last resort. And last, but not least, we have talked about the ventless portable air conditioner and how using a normal unit without an exhaust hose will not be beneficial to you or your unit. Portable ACs require general knowledge and education in order to properly maintain. We hope that with this information you will be able to have a long-lasting unit.