You have purchased your first portable air conditioner unit. It is a 14000 BTU portable air conditioner: a 3-in-1 air conditioner, portable heater, and portable dehumidifier in one sleek body. You pull out the packing, unbox the unit. Underneath all the Styrofoam and plastic, there is a window vent kit, two tubes, a remote control, and a user manual. You are confused, because you did not realize that some units are a dual hose portable air conditioner. You do not know the difference between single and double hose units. You cannot tell the difference between the intake and the exhaust hose, nor can you figure out which vent plugs into which duct. After scrolling through installation videos from various sources, you figure out the logistics of the machine, but only after multiple hours of research. This can be the reality for some people when setting up their portable AC units; sometimes instructions are vague and directions not intuitive. Even figuring out the fundamentals of portable AC hosing can be difficult. A portable AC hose helps funnel exhaust from the back of the unit. Portable air conditioners separate heat and moisture using condenser coils and refrigerants. Hot air from a room is sucked into the unit via portable exhaust fan. The air passes over the coils and interact with the refrigerant, creating moisture and cooling down the air. The cool air is blown back into the room, while the heat and water vapor are pushed out of the portable AC exhaust hose. In this article, we will guide you through the basics of portable air conditioner hoses while answering questions such as:
• What kind of hose does a portable air conditioner use?
• Can I extend my portable air conditioner hose?
• Can you use the dryer vent for portable AC?
• Is a dual hose better for portable air conditioners?
“Air Ventilator Black”
“PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear”
“Thermoplastic Flex Medium-Duty WS”
What Kind of Hose Does a Portable Air Conditioner Use?
A portable AC unit typically uses a hose that is 5 inches in diameter or larger, and around 5 to 7 feet long. We stock hoses that can be purchased in up to 50ft lengths! Each unit has its own exhaust hose, as these hoses are specifically made for that make and model. The hose is included in the packaging, along with a window venting kit so that you may correctly ventilate your portable air conditioner. For example, there are many portable air conditioner hose alternatives that are compatible with many air conditioners. One may be a 5.9-inch exhaust hose which searched for quite often. Most likely this is mistaken for a 6” diameter hose. At its shortest, the hose is 15 inches long, and is made from polypropylene. This is a very common design for a portable AC unit with hose-parts, albeit some minor differences across different companies and models. There is no portable hose that will fit every single portable air conditioner, so using the duct that comes with your unit will be the most advantageous. If you are looking for a similar hose, Ducting.com has many types of hoses that can be used for a multitude of purposes. If you need a duct for air movement applications, the Air Ventilator Yellow Flexible Ducting is a good cost-effective option. Made from PVC vinyl coated polyester fabric, the hose is very flexible and highly compressible, making it good for use as a portable AC duct. These hoses are easy to move and transport as well. The Air Ventilator Yellow is available at 25 feet, with internal diameters ranging from 2 inch to 24 inches. They are our most affordable hose and can be used for air duct cleaning, AC ventilation, dehumidification, and more.
Can I Extend My Portable Air Conditioner Hose?
There are many different sources that claim that you should not extend your portable AC hose, as well as sites that say as long as you match your measurements, there should be no repercussions. There are even places that sell extender parts for their hoses. It seems that there is no clear answer for whether or not you can successfully and accurately extend the length of your portable air conditioner exhaust hose. However, from what we have gleaned from these sources, we do have a set of guidelines you should follow if you do indeed risk lengthening your hose. We do not endorse lengthening your portable hose, as any alterations to your unit will be done so at your own risk
If you do choose to extend your exhaust hose with a portable AC replacement hose, be warned that this may decrease the efficiency of your unit. Any sort of gap or leak in the connected venting will allow air to escape, causing your portable AC unit to work harder to compensate for the loss. In order to implement a portable AC hose replacement properly, you must have the exact measurements of your pipe. Portable ducting is usually sized by ID, or internal diameter. The internal diameter is taken by measuring the inside of the duct from one point of the internal wall to another. The ID of a portable air conditioner tube will fit over the outer diameter (OD) of the pipe that it is connected to. This makes for easy mistakes when calculating what size hose you need. Some people see that their vent is 5 inches in diameter and assume that they need a 5” ID duct. If the OD of a portable vent is 5 inches, then you will need a duct that is 5 inches ID as well. Outer diameter is taken by measuring the diameter of the hose from external point to point, including the wall thickness as well. Hoses will also be sold by length, with the number being either a whole number or a ratio. Ducting is sold by length at its most stretched; if a hose is described as 25 feet long, that is how long the hose is at its longest, most extended length. If the number is a ratio, then it is referring to how much the hose can compress. If a portable duct is catalogued at a 6:1 compression ratio, that means the hose can be compressed from 6 feet to 1 foot. These are all important things to keep in mind while purchasing a portable AC hose. If you do choose to replace your ducting, make sure to do so accurately!
At Ducting.com, we have a wide arrangement of flexible air ducts that can be used with your exhaust vents. Whether it is a fabric hose, or an affordable PVC hose, we can match internal diameters of, say, 5 or 6 inches and lengths of, say, 12 or 25 feet. These will be ideal choices to extend the range of your portable air conditioner tubing. Opt for our Smooth-Tube PVC Flex Ducting hose, which is a clear, flexible hose that is very durable and cost-effective. They can be used for moving air, light materials, and dust, and can be used for your portable air conditioner or more applications.
Can You Use the Dryer Vent for Portable AC?
No, you should not use the dryer vent to duct portable air conditioning units. Dryer vents are ducts built into the wall of your laundry room that allow exhaust from your clothes dryer to ventilate outside. Because it essentially has the same function as the portable AC exhaust hose, that must mean that it is possible to run your hose through it. Wrong! This may seem like an ideal way to ventilate the exhaust from your air conditioner without having to use windows or drill holes into your wall, but the dryer vent is not the correct size to match a portable AC hose. A dryer vent is around 4 inches in diameter, which is too small to accurately fit the typical 5-inch diameter exhaust hose. This amount of leeway will let air leak out of the gap between the two hoses, resulting in an entirely inefficient system of ventilating. Therefore, no matter how tempting it may be, do not attempt to vent out of a dryer vent. There are other methods of ducting that do not require the use of a dryer vent.
The preferred way of getting rid of your portable AC exhaust is through a single or double hung window. These are your traditional house windows that slide up and down. These windows allow for easy placement of a window vent kit, which creates a sealed partition so you can vent your hose outside. Ducting through other types of windows are possible but may require some modification of the kit. Other venting options include using doors, going through walls, or using drop ceilings. There are many different ways to exhaust your portable air conditioner. Connecting your AC unit hose to window openings is not so difficult—all it takes is time and creativity to figure it out!
Is a Dual Hose Better for Portable Air Conditioners?
Yes, dual hose portable AC units are more efficient than their single hose counterparts. However, each type comes with their own advantages and disadvantages, so only you can determine which one is the best portable air conditioner for you. Single and dual hose units both lower temperatures by intaking hot air from a room and cooling it using condenser coils and refrigerant. Single hose portable air conditioners utilize one hose to exhaust hot air and water vapor outside the unit. One of the drawbacks of having only one hose, however, is that negative air pressure is applied to the room. Negative pressure is forced upon the area because of the constant sucking of air out of the room. Because there is a consistent flow of air out and no air in, the unit must draw air from other sources such as cracks in windows or walls, gaps in doors, or vents. Having your room door open can help with this negative pressure greatly, but it might also let the cold air out. This is no problem for the dual hose unit, which expels and draws in air through its double duct system. The exhaust hose serves as portable ventilation to remove hot air and water vapor from the unit. The intake hose is designated to extract air from the outside, in order to cool the condenser coils. Because this second hose sucks in air from sources other than the room, there is considerably less negative pressure. The room is not the only point of air supply for the portable AC.
Due to its double ducting capabilities, the dual hose unit is more efficient and more powerful than the single hose air conditioner. However, this larger cooling strength does not come without its drawbacks. Dual hose portable ACs are more expensive because of their marketed superior productivity. Usually better for larger rooms that require quicker cooling, dual hose ACs are also less portable and compact due to having twice the amount of ducting than a normal unit. Having more moving parts also make these ACs harder to set up, resulting in a more difficulty assembly. Their more efficient design also allows for louder operation.
This—of course—depends on the make and model of the unit, but dual hose portable air conditioners generally make more noise than their single hose equivalents. If you are looking for an air conditioner that is suited for small rooms and temporary air conditioning, and is more affordable, compact, and quiet—then the single hose air conditioner would be ideal for you. If you are searching for something that can cool a large area and you do not mind the noise, the dual hose AC will be the perfect unit for you. Each type of portable air conditioner has their own pros and cons, but it is possible to find the right fit for you.
So far, we have learned what a portable AC hose is, along with how it works and how it should be vented. A portable exhaust hose ushers out the hot air and water vapor produced during the cooling process. It is important to use the exhaust hose that comes with your air conditioning portable unit, as these are going to be the best fit for your AC. These hoses are manufactured to work accurately and efficiently with their unit and will provide the best air conditioning productivity. We have also gone over the basics of single versus dual hose units, and how each can accommodate different requirements of your cooling needs. Overall, this knowledge on portable AC hosing and ventilation is important for knowing what your portable air conditioner necessitates. Having a long-lasting unit will make for a cooler, happier home.