“Wind Handler WS Large Diameter”
“Air Ventilator Orange”
“Air Ventilator Black”
“Air Ventilator White”
“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Clear”
“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Blue”
“PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear”
“Wind Handler WS”
“Wind Handler Insulated TU”
“Wind Handler”
“Tornado Flex Insulated AD”
“Tornado Flex In Sack”
“Tornado Flex”
Screw Clamps
Portable AC Hose
Table of Contents:
1. What Is a Portable Air Conditioner?
2. What Are the Different Types of Portable Air Conditioners?
3. What Flexible Hose Can I Use for a Portable Air Conditioner?
4. Can I Use PVC Hoses for a Portable Air Conditioner?
5. Tornado-Flex vs. Wind Handler Flexible Ducting
6. Should You Insulate a Portable AC Hose?
7. What Happens If You Run a Portable AC Unit Without an Exhaust Hose?
8. Is a Portable AC Worth It?
What Is a Portable Air Conditioner?
A portable air conditioner is a self-contained system designed to cool down rooms by drawing in hot air, removing the warmth and moisture from it, and recirculating cool air back into the room. They are an effective yet affordable means of cooling homes, bedrooms, and offices during hot seasons and climates. As portable air conditioners are becoming a more popular alternative for your cooling needs, there are various types and models of portable air conditioners that serve the needs of consumers. However, the most crucial attachment that makes the portable air conditioner effective is the flexible ducting. A portable air conditioner hose takes excess warm air circulated within the unit and funnels it outside, assuring that the temperature inside the room remains at a pleasant cool temperature. Without a portable air conditioner hose, your portable air conditioner will continually expel hot air back into the room, making it ineffective and ultimately wasting electricity and raising your utility costs.
What Are the Different Types of Portable Air Conditioners?
There are three different types of portable air conditioners: Single hose, Dual hose, and Ventless. Single-hose portable air conditioners are one of the most popular and cost-effective options due to their easy-to-install design and overall effectiveness in cooling down rooms. A single-hose portable air conditioner has only one exhaust hose where one end is attached to the unit, and the other is out a window, expelling hot air outside. Meanwhile, dual-hose portable air conditioners require two flex hoses to be set up out a window, where one hose pulls fresh air into the machine, and the other hose expels hot air outside. By utilizing two portable air conditioner hoses rather than one, dual-hose portable air conditioners can cool down rooms at a faster and more efficient rate. Depending on your single or dual-hose portable air conditioner, you might have to drain the collected moisture. Currently, two methods exist to drain this condensate water out of your units. The first is a manual removal where users need to periodically empty buckets that are attached to portable air conditioners. This task can range anywhere from every 8 hours to once a month, depending on your machine. The second way is to utilize a gravity drain and pump, where you would need to attach an additional PVC flex duct to the drain port and direct the collected moisture into a drain or another location. However, ventless portable air conditioners have a built-in self-evaporating system where they automatically evaporate the accumulated water out with cool air. As a result of this design, ventless air conditioners are an alternate budget-conscious option that takes up less space than traditional portable air conditioner units.
“HVAC Insulated-Flex”
“HVAC Insulated-Flex”
- Ideal for use for permanent and mobile air condition units
- Compressible and easy to transport
- Insulation maintains temperature of air inside hose
- Provides acoustical as well as thermal insulation
The “HVAC Insulated-Flex” hose is a superb choice for HVAC air duct use. These ducts for air conditioning applications are double-ply insulated flexible hoses that are made of aluminum foil and PET film layers. Each HVAC flexible duct is insulated with glass wool material. This product is beneficial to consumers because of its affordable price point. It is definitely a more cost-effective HVAC ducting option than other competing hoses. It will also look good in any setting that it is placed in thanks to the shiny silver insulation material on the outside of the hose.
The insulated nature of this portable air conditioner hose allows it to operate in both high and low temperatures. The double-ply insulated material of this HVAC air duct allows it to function well in temperature ranges between -20° F and 160° F. Whether your application involves the transfer of cold air or hot air, these HVAC ducts for air conditioning uses can maintain their structural integrity with ease. The insulated material also helps maintain the temperature of the air that is present inside the hose.
“Air Ventilator Black”
“Air Ventilator Orange”
“Air Ventilator White”
What Flexible Hose Can I Use for a Portable Air Conditioner?
Ideally, it would be best if you used a lightweight, flexible hose for a portable air conditioner. Flex hoses such as PVC Vinyl-Coated Air Ventilator Flex Ducts are a great example because they are highly compressible ducts designed for AC ventilation and air movement. With a working temperature range of -20 to +180 degrees Fahrenheit, these flexible ducts built to handle extreme temperatures and come with a standard length of 25 feet. PVC Vinyl-Coated Air Ventilator Flex Ducts also come with a cuffed end, which makes it easier to install and removes the need for installation accessories such as elbows and connectors. As a result, PVC Vinyl-Coated Air Ventilator Flex Ducts are designed to fit any portable air conditioner, and depending on your circumstances, they also come in different colors, wall thicknesses, and inside diameters (ID), which makes them ideal and suited for any portable air conditioning needs. While PVC Vinyl-Coated Air Ventilator Flex Ducts are designed for industrial air movement, these flexible ducts can be used for general residential air ventilation and even dehumidification.
“Air Ventilator Heavy-Duty”
“Air Ventilator Heavy-Duty”
- Heavy-weight duct hose
- Highly compressible and easy to transport
The “Air Ventilator Heavy-Duty” ventilation hose is a highly durable air ventilation duct that is well suited to industrial air movement applications. This flexible ventilation duct is made with a thick PVC vinyl coated polyester fabric that is reinforced with a spring steel wire helix and external wear-strip. These physical features make it ideal for withstanding the rigors of industrial ventilation ducting. The spring steel wire helix in each of these heavy-duty ventilation ducts gives them a stronger form and a degree of flexibility. It can help prevent the air hose from being crushed or deformed. The external wear-strip on the outside of this durable air ventilation hose is meant to provide an added layer of protection against physical abrasion. With these great structural components, this heavy-duty flexible ventilation duct will last for longer periods of time.
The biggest differentiator that separates these air ventilation ducts from others is its thicker and heavier PVC fabric material. Although the spring wire helix allows for easier compressibility and transport, this ventilation ducting is heavier than its standard counterparts. The thick material makes it well suited to use as industrial ventilation ducting where physical durability and longevity are a necessity. Naturally, the thicker the material, the better it can handle rough physical working conditions. It can also handle high and low temperature situations, with a working range between -20° F and 180° F. Use this ventilation hose for heavy-duty applications.
“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Blue”
“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Clear”
Can I Use PVC Hoses for a Portable Air Conditioner?
PVC flex ducts are another lightweight, cost-effective option for your portable AC hose. While they are designed for air, dust, and fume ventilation, their resistance to chemicals and moisture makes them an ideal and durable option for a portable AC hose. Adaptable and dependable, PVC flex ducts are reinforced with a steel wire helix and can withstand light physical abrasions and low and super-high temperatures for long periods. In addition to being designed for residential applications, PVC flex ducts can handle various industrial applications such as agricultural needs, automobile manufacturing, general duct cleaning, light dust movement, and pollution control. Suppose you are looking for a dependable, cost-effective, portable AC hose for your single or dual-hose portable air conditioner; in that case, PVC flex ducts are a viable and reliable option.
“PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear”
“PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear”
- Great flexibility with tight bending characteristics
- Good chemical and moisture resistance
- Good compressibility
The “PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear” is a medium-weight clear PVC wall duct hose reinforced with a spring steel wire helix for industrial air movement and fume control applications. These commercial hoses provide great flexibility with tight bending characteristics and offer good chemical and moisture resistance. This duct hose is great for applications where ventilation and flexibility are a must. PVC hose material is an amorphous polymer, which results in a transparent finish. PVC hose material is non-transparent when they are manufactured using compounding agents. Since the main chain of the polymer is made by single bonds of carbon atoms, PVC has excellent chemical resistance.
The “PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear” light-duty duct hose has a working temperature range from -20 to 160+ degrees Fahrenheit. These commercial hoses are manufactured with FDA acceptable materials that can be used in food processing, pharmaceutical, and health care applications. PVC has polar groups (chlorine) and is amorphous, therefore it mixes well with various other substances. This makes for a chemically stable flex duct. This duct hose exhibits excellent flexibility and compressibility. In larger ID sizes, it has up to a 6 to 1 compression ratio, meaning a 12 foot length can compress down to 2 feet. In addition, the smaller sizes of this hose (2.25” and below) can handle a full vacuum at 29 Inch/Hg. Please refer to the product specification guide for exact information regarding the ID size you are considering.
“Tornado Flex In Sack”
“Tornado Flex”
“Wind Handler WS”
Tornado-Flex vs. Wind Handler Flexible Ducting
Tornado-Flex Ducts and Wind Handlers are excellent flexible hose options for portable air conditioners because they are specifically designed to transfer air flow for permanent and mobile air conditioning units. Both ducts are made from single-ply polyester fabric, but Wind Handlers are coated in neoprene; meanwhile, Tornado-Flexes are coated in PVC vinyl. While the two flexible ducts are very similar to the PVC Vinyl-Coated Air Ventilator Flex Ducts, their range of customization is what makes them unique and ideal for airflow and ventilation. From customizable inside diameter (ID) sizes, flex hose lengths, colors, and end finishes, you can alter these flex hoses to suit any portable air conditioner model and type. Additionally, both flexible air ducts are manufactured with tensile flame-retardant materials, and depending on your choice of product, these air ducts offer resistance to drag, abrasion, ozone, UV rays, and moisture. In addition, these lightweight hoses can be compressed conveniently for storage and travel. While they are mainly designed for residential usage, they are also designed to handle temporary military applications such as air circulation, smoke ejection, and high-volume air ventilation in field operations and setups. These lightweight hoses can be customized for the military with customized colors such as olive drab or desert sand colors. Upon request, the type of end finish can be customized with cuffs and belted finishes, allowing these flex hoses to fit in any machine and be used for a wide range of applications. The portability, durability, and flexibility of the Tornado-Flexes and Wind Handlers make these flex hoses stand out and perfect any ducting needs.
“Tornado Flex Insulated AD”
“Tornado Flex Insulated AD”
- Ideal use for permanent and mobile air conditioning units
- PVC material resists ozone, UV rays, and moisture
- Compressibility allows for convenient storage
The “Tornado Flex Insulated AD” is an insulated hose made from two single-ply PVC coated yellow polyester fabric ply protecting insulation barrier, covered with an external wear-strip and reinforced with a spring steel wire helix. This makes for a hose that is both insulated and very durable, a unique characteristic of this product. In addition to its resilience, this flexible air duct exhibits excellent flexibility, allowing it to be used in tight or unusual installations. Unlike other rigid insulated products, this hose can easily make bends and turns in tight cramped spaces. The insulation and external abrasion resistance make this UV resistant hose ideal for permanent and mobile air conditioning units.
This UV resistant hose is constructed from flame retardant materials for added safety. The insulation and use of flame retardant materials make this flexible air duct a great choice for air movement applications in highly sensitive areas. PVC is an inherently fire resistant plastic, the only exception among the general-purpose plastics, since it contains more than 50% of chlorine. When PVC products are burned, hydrogen chloride gas resulting from thermal cracking slows down the continuous combustion reaction and prevents burning progress by warding off the PVC product surface from oxygen in the air.
“Tornado Flex Insulated AD”
“Wind Handler Insulated TU”
“Wind Handler”
Should You Insulate a Portable AC Hose?
Using an insulated portable AC hose is ideal for both permanent and portable air conditioning units because there is a less temperature loss as the air-conditioned air travels through the hose. The insulated nature of these flex hoses allows them to operate in high and low temperatures effectively. enabling them to retain the temperature when air is flowing from one end to another. This function alone makes an insulated portable ac hose perfect for climate control and ventilation for residential and commercial applications. The materials insulating a portable hose also allow these portable air conditioner hoses to exhibit overall flexibility and chemical stability, depending on your product choice. If your portable AC hose is not insulated, then you run the risk of having heat loss as the air is being ventilated into the room. Using a non-insulated portable AC hose can cause your portable air conditioners to operate up to 50% harder to generate cool air into a room. As a result, this will cause your portable air conditioner to be inefficient and ultimately raise your energy and utility costs. By having an insulated portable AC hose, you can not only effectively cool down your room, but you can also significantly reduce energy loss and waste.
“Wind Handler Insulated TU”
“Wind Handler Insulated TU”
- Good for air handling applications
- Compressibility allows for convenient storage
The “Wind Handler Insulated TU” insulated ducting is made from two single-ply neoprene coated yellow polyester fabric plies with an insulated barrier in-between and is designed for air applications. The neoprene coating is part of the synthetic rubber family that is produced by the polymerization of chloroprene. This neoprene coating exhibits good chemical stability and maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber which exhibits high tensile strength, allowing this flexible air duct to flex and compress without causing damage to the hose wall. This high temperature insulated ducting is also reinforced with a spring steel wire helix and an external wear-strip. The duct materials allow this product to be flexible and compressible while maintaining strength and durability. This insulated duct is recommended for industrial air ventilation applications that require durability.
The “Wind Handler Insulated TU” insulated ducting is made to order in custom lengths. This hose comes in yellow and features the black external wear-strip. The flexible air duct features standard cuffed ends, and belted finishes are also available for an additional charge. Available ID sizes for this insulated duct range from 4 inches to 24 inches and custom sizes up to 48 inches are available upon request. This product is great for use in air applications such as use in A/C ventilation, HVACs, mobile cooling units, plastic bag machines, shipyard work, and tent cooling.
What Happens If You Run a Portable AC Unit Without an Exhaust Hose?
If you run a portable AC unit without a portable air conditioner exhaust hose, then your unit will be ineffective and will not cool down your room. Without a portable air conditioner exhaust hose, all the excess warm air and moisture collected within your unit will be expelled back into the room and negate all the cool air your portable air conditioner has produced. If you have a single or dual-hose portable air conditioner, you must use a portable hose for exhaust; otherwise, the unit will become meaningless and waste energy and generate high utility costs. The only time you do not need to use a portable air conditioner exhaust hose is unless you own a ventless portable air conditioner that utilizes a self-evaporating feature. In that case, you have nothing to worry about unless you need to control humidity. Whether using a portable air conditioner for residential or commercial needs, a portable AC hose is vital to cool a room effectively. If your portable air conditioner needs new ductwork, there are various options readily available that can suit and fit your portable air conditioner.
“Wind Handler”
“Wind Handler”
- Ideal for moving large volumes of air in portable or permanent ventilation/exhaust systems
- Highly compressibility
- Retractibility allows for convenient storage and easy transport in a fraction of its fully extended length
- Listed as UL 94 V-0 flame retardant
The “Wind Handler” flexible air duct is a single-ply neoprene coated polyester fabric hose designed for air applications. The neoprene coated duct materials give this product good chemical stability and allow it to maintain flexibility and compressibility over a wide temperature range. This air ventilation hose is reinforced with a spring wire helix to provide extra strength to the duct. The hose is very compressible which allows for easy storage and mobility in tight spaces. This ventilation duct has a 12 to 1 compression ratio, which means a 25 ft length will compress down to just over 2 feet. This lightweight and transportable product is perfect for applications on the go!
The duct materials that the “Wind Handler” is made from are listed as UL 94 V-0 flame retardant. These materials have been officially tested and results show that they stopped burning after being exposed to a flame within 10 seconds, thus earning it a UL 94 V-0 rating. This flexible air duct has a temperature range of -65 degrees to +250 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the flexible air duct to be used in and around machinery that may emit above ambient temperatures.
“HVAC Ventilation-Flex”
Is a Portable AC Worth It?
Ultimately, portable air conditioners are an excellent, cost-effective means for cooling a single room or space and serve as a convenient and viable option for people with technical or general trouble with central cooling systems. However, if you choose to go with a single or dual-hose portable air conditioner, then you must have at least a portable hose or two so that all the collected warm air is vented out of your room. An insulated portable hose will be the most efficient for heat ventilation and airflow. However, products such as PVC Vinyl-Coated Air Ventilators flex ducts, Wind Handlers, and Tornado-Flexes are viable options that can be considered for their durability and adaptability. Whichever product you choose for your portable AC hose needs, you must pick one that is not only best suited for your air conditioner’s spec requirements but also considers external factors such as humidity and the natural temperatures of your climate. If not, it can ultimately affect how your portable air conditioner operates and how effective it can be.
“HVAC Ventilation-Flex”
“HVAC Ventilation-Flex”
- Compressible and easy to transport
- Provides acoustical as well as thermal insulation
The HVAC Ventilation Flex is a high-quality and affordable ducting hose which provides an excellent option for customers looking for air movement solutions. These durable HVAC ducts are designed specifically for the transfer of air, and they excel in applications including air conditioning duct work. The HVAC Ventilation Flex is a versatile and flexible HVAC duct which can be used in a range of different settings, from residential use to industrial applications.
These HVAC ducts are made using a combination of materials, including PVC, aluminum and a layer of PET film. The outer layer of the Ventilation Flex is a tough, gray-colored PVC, with a wire helix winding through it to provide additional strength and support to the body of the hose. On the inside of the hose, the inner walls are covered with silver aluminum.
The HVAC Ventilation Flex ducting is made to be used effectively in either mobile or permanent installations. These HVAC ducts are easy to handle due to their excellent levels of compressibility. The hose – which is available in standard lengths of 25 feet – has a 5 to 1 compression rate, allowing it to be reduced down to a fraction of its fully-stretched size. This makes it especially easy to transport or store. Customers can get the HVAC Ventilation Flex in a variety of diameter sizes too. It is offered with inner diameter measurements of 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12”, with some additional custom sizes available depending on the order.