Ambient Air

What Is a Portable-AC Hose Made Out Of?

What Is a Portable-AC Hose Made Out Of? - PVC Flexduct General Purpose Clear
What-Is-a-Portable-AC-Hose-Made-Out-Of_PVC-Flexduct-General-Purpose-Clear

Portable-air-conditioner tubing comes in a variety of lengths, sizes, and materials. Depending on the application of your portable-AC tube, there are certain types of hoses that work best in different applications. For example, a short, portable-AC duct may be more advantageous for a unit with a lower BTU than one with a higher BTU. And obviously, a device that uses a hose with a 5-inch ID should have a portable-air-conditioner hose 5-inch ID size. For most cases, the size and length of a portable-AC exhaust-hose will differ depending on the make and model of your unit. Some people use, for their portable air-conditioner, 4-inch exhaust hosework while others might use a hose with a 6-inch ID. Length will also range, depending on the specifications of your device. The only characteristic of a portable-AC tube that remains consistent despite the power, size, or diameter of hosework required of your unit, is that all portable ACs necessitate flexible and durable ductwork. A flexible hose for air-conditioner units that is composed of good-quality materials will last much longer than one that is not. So, what is a portable-AC hose made out of? What kind of material works best for hosework?

“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Blue”

$24.36$442.50
Lead Time 4-6 Weeks Some Sizes Out of Stock Temperature Range: +20°F to +160°F Sizes I.D. (in.): 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 12

“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Clear”

$24.36$442.50
Lead Time 4-6 Weeks Some Sizes Out of Stock Temperature Range: +20°F to +160°F Sizes I.D. (in.): 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 12

“PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear”

$66.25$1,819.00
Lead Time 4-6 Weeks Temperature Range: -20°F to +160°F Sizes I.D. (in.): 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, & 18

“Smooth-Tube PVC”

$89.88$922.00
Temperature Range: +20°F to +160°F Sizes I.D. (in.): 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 12

What Material Is Air-Conditioner Hoses Made Out Of?

Portable air-conditioner hoses can be made from plenty of different materials, but the best portable hose will be composed of PVC or coated-fabric. Some portable-AC hoses that may come with your unit are also made of polypropylene; however, this is a poor-quality plastic that will not benefit your portable AC whatsoever. It is important to use a portable-AC tube that utilizes superior-quality materials. Portable-air-conditioner tubing made of PVC or coated-fabric will be inherently flexible and resistant, ensuring the longevity of your unit. PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is a thermoplastic that is commonly used for all sorts of hosework. PVC is known for its cost-efficient yet versatile characteristics. PVC is durable and lightweight, featuring good resistance to chemicals, moisture, and UV-radiation. Polyvinyl chloride can also be used successfully in applications where moisture is present, making it perfect for conducting portable-AC exhaust. While PVC cannot handle nearly as high of temperatures as metal can (aluminum can manage temperatures up to 400 °F), PVC can still operate in temperatures of up to 160 °F. This is still more than enough resistance to heat, as a portable AC’s exhaust should not be exceeding temperatures of this level. Portable-AC duct-work also features fabric hoses that are coated in a variety of materials. Commonly, polyester is dipped in PVC or—on some occasions, neoprene—in order to make these fabric-hoses durable as well as incredibly flexible. Neoprene, unlike PVC, is a rubber. Hoses coated in neoprene exhibit higher tolerances to temperature than hoses coated in PVC. For example, the neoprene-coated, Wind Handler WS can handle temperatures between -65 °F and 250 °F—an impressive range for a fabric hose. Similar to PVC, neoprene is bendable and resistant to moisture, chemicals, and UV-rays. In comparison to these products, polypropylene is a cheaply-synthesized plastic that does not have nearly as many resistances as PVC or neoprene. Polypropylene is susceptible to UV-radiation and oxidation, and even has a high level of flammability. Having a portable-AC unit exhaust hose that is prone to degradation in the presence of water is especially adverse, as these hoses must handle moisture. A hose made of polypropylene would be liable to break down over time due to oxidation, flex-fatigue, or a number of other issues. So, it is clear that hoses made of PVC, PVC-coated fabric, or neoprene-coated fabric are better suited than ducts made of polypropylene and are the superior materials for your portable-AC tube.

Can You Use a Foil Hose for a Portable Air-Conditioner?

Technically, you can use a foil hose for your portable AC, but it is not a recommended portable-air-conditioner hose replacement. Foil hoses that are entirely composed of foil are not nearly as durable and resistant as PVC or coated-fabric hoses that should be utilized for portable air-conditioning. Thin-foil hoses, which are typically used for ventilating your clothes dryer, are not even recommended for usage with those products as well! Venting a dryer is very similar to venting a portable AC; a hose must expel the heat and moisture from the unit in order for it to function. You would, in this vein of thought, assume that you could use the same dryer vent/hose for portable-air-conditioner units as you could for a dryer. However, dryer exhaust is—on one hand—hotter than portable-AC exhaust, meaning that dryer hoses should be able to handle higher temperatures. This is why most dryer hoses are composed of metal. Second of all, thin-foil ducting is not even recommended for use with your dryer. This is because thin-foil hoses come with a plethora of disadvantages that make them ill-suited for dryer and portable-AC usage. Their foil exterior is thin, less resistant to abrasion or external force than a PVC or coated-fabric hose. This means that it can puncture or tear, allowing air to escape from the hose.

HVAC Ventilation_Double Hose Shot

Its thin body means that it can also be crushed easily, impeding air flow and forever altering the structure of your hosework. Even if you can bend it back into place, it will still retain the damage from being crumpled—just like a piece of paper that has been wrinkled. Foil hoses also contain a multitude of ridges that allow for its flexibility; however, this excessive amount of ribbing slows the movement of air. Think of the ridges like speed bumps—the more bumps on the road, the slower you go. With all these disadvantages, why would you want to use a dryer hose for portable-air-conditioner units?

Perhaps you are wondering, “Can you use a foil hose for a portable air-conditioner?” because you want insulation for your portable-AC tube. If this is the case, there is no need to result to cheap and ill-fitting options of metal hosing that simply damage your unit. At Ducting.com, we have a wide selection of insulated, portable-AC hose-work that can accommodate your unit much better than a thin-foil, dryer hose can! For example, our HVAC Ventilation-Flex Ducting utilizes aluminum foil much like a dryer hose does, but includes layers of PET-film and PVC as well. The PVC exterior of this hose grants it flexibility on top of durability, making it the perfect long-lasting, insulated portable-air-conditioner hose. The aluminum and PET-film interior are the main insulators of this hose, allowing it the insulation of heat as well as noise. This is advantageous for portable ACs, which are notorious for producing noise. With so many working components inside of your unit, it is no wonder these devices can stir up a racket. Having a portable-air-conditioner insulated-exhaust-hose minimizes the amount of sound your unit produces, saving you the headache. Insulation also prevents the heat from your exhaust inside the hose from leaking to the outside. A portable-AC hose hot enough can warm up the room that your unit is in, counteracting the cooling process. Ironically, it is common for your portable AC to heat up, warming the very room it is attempting to cool. Because portable air-conditioners are machines, their internal components become heated when in use. This is why the portable-AC tube must ventilate out all the heat and moisture that is produced inside of the unit. However, if the hose is not insulated, the exterior of the portable-air-conditioner exhaust-hose gets hot as it vents the exhaust. The heat radiating from the portable-AC tube consequently warms the room and your unit must work harder to combat its own exhaust. This cycle can be prevented by utilizing an insulated hose for portable-air-conditioner units. If you are thinking about using a foil hose for your portable AC, simply opt for a better-quality hose instead! There are many great options of portable-AC hosework to choose from, all of which are available at Ducting.com.

What Kind of Hose Is Used with a Portable Air-Conditioner?

You should use a flexible, durable hose with a portable air-conditioner. A portable-AC tube that is both bendable and is resist to abrasion, flex-fatigue, and moisture will allow you to utilize your hosework for just as long—if not longer—than your unit itself! As mentioned prior, PVC and coated-fabric hosework are such examples of flexible and durable ducting that make the perfect, universal, portable-AC hose. For example, our PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear Duct Hose and our Air Ventilator Black Flexible Ducting are ideal options for your portable air-conditioner. Both of these hoses exhibit flexibility and durability, but each hose features slightly different strengths due to their composition.

Obviously, the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear is composed of PVC walls and reinforced with a steel-wire helix to maintain its structure. PVC is a chemically-stable material, which means it has great resistances to chemicals, moisture, and abrasion. This hose also displays good flexibility and compressibility. For example, a 12-foot PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear can be pressed down from 12 feet to 2. However, if you are looking for a highly flexible and compressible portable-AC tube, the Air Ventilator Black is ideal for you. This hose is a PVC-coated, fabric hose that features an incredibly tight-bend radius and a compression ratio of 9-to-1!

The PVC-dipped fabric is resistant to chemicals, moisture, and abrasion, but not as much so as the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear. On the other hand, the Air Ventilator Black can be bent and compressed at a higher rate than a PVC hose can. Depending on your applications, either of these hoses can accommodate for your needs. So, if you need a highly-flexible duct, the Air Ventilator would be your top choice. If you require an incredibly-durable hose, you might want to opt for the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear. With whichever hose from Ducting.com you choose to utilize for your portable AC, all of our flexible, portable-air-conditioner hoses are made from superb-quality materials—ensuring the longevity of your hose and the benefit of your unit! The answer to “What kind of hose is used with a portable air-conditioner?” would be: a flexible, durable hose composed of quality materials.

Can You Put an Extension Hose on a Portable Air-Conditioner? 

Yes, you can put an extension hose on a portable AC! You can reasonably extend your portable-AC tube to the length you need. For a portable-AC hose extension, you could simply opt to replace your original portable-air-conditioner hose for a longer one. The typical hose for AC-unit can be anywhere from 4 feet to 8 feet long, though there are bound to be exceptions. Hosework from Ducting.com certainly exceeds these limitations! If you are looking for an extra-long portable-AC exhaust-hose, our hoses are stocked in standard lengths of 12.5, 25, and 50 feet—depending on the hose. We also offer customization on our ductwork, and can accommodate for any length of ducting under 50 feet that you might require! Take the Air Ventilator White as an example. This duct, identical to the Air Ventilator Black in every way except for color, comes in a standard-size of 25 feet. You could choose to customized the length of this hose to, say, 17 feet long. You could even choose a special end for the duct as well! A great characteristic of the Air Ventilator series is its belted-cuff ends. These are fabric endings that come with a belt that can be cinched onto any connector, protrusion, or fixture that you require. This eliminates the need for clamps. Just like its namesake, the belted-cuff merely needs to be tightened onto a fixture in order to create an airtight connection. This is another method by which you could extend your ventwork: by attaching multiple hoses to one another via belted-cuffs or attachments.

Air Ventilator White_Coil Shot

Air-conditioner hose-extender attachments consist of clamps and connectors that work in unison to connect pieces of ductwork together. A connector is a metal band over which two hoses are pulled. Clamps hold the hoses’ mouths in place to the connector and ensure that they do not slip off. Through these accessories, you can achieve an air-con. unit hose-extension. So, can you put an extension hose on a portable air-conditioner? The answer is yes, if you have the right attachments, or if you opt for a new, longer tube for portable-air-conditioner units altogether!

If you are wondering what material is air-conditioner hoses made out of, then you should now have a clear answer to that question. The best portable-AC tube is made from PVC or coated-fabric and exhibits great flexibility and resistance to chemicals, moisture, and abrasion. These hoses are durable and will last you a long time, eliminating the need to replace your portable-air-conditioner discharge-hose on multiple instances. If you are using a portable-air-cond. hose made entirely out of polypropylene or thin foil, these are not ideal choices for your hosework and will result in an inefficient unit. Polypropylene does not have the same, excellent durability and flexibility that PVC and coated-fabric hoses exhibit. Thin-foil hoses, similarly enough, are easily crushed or torn, and their ridges impede air flow. Polypropylene and thin-foil hoses—common choices of portable-air-conditioner hose-work—are not composed of long-lasting materials that will benefit you and your unit. With a PVC, PVC-coated, or neoprene-coated hose, your portable air-conditioner not have to suffer from inefficiency. Your durable and flexible air-conditioning hose will save you the effort of having to replace your ductwork time and time again!