Portable air-conditioners require hosework in order to effectively exhaust heat and moisture. Without a portable-AC exhaust-hose, the byproducts that are formed during the device’s cooling process would dissipate into the room it is working in. Oftentimes, your portable air-conditioner will come with its own portable-air-conditioner tube, but these original hoses are commonly composed of poor-quality materials that will break down over time. For the longevity and productivity of your device, it is recommended that you invest in a superior portable-air-conditioner pipe-replacement. But how do you know what size hose to use? How do you measure an AC hose, even? Hoses, whether they are for portable ACs or not, are usually cataloged by their inside diameter. This allows for a standard system of measurement among hosework, as diameter could be interpreted as inside or outside. Hosework is also measured in terms of length as well. With so many numbers applying to the specifications of your portable-air-conditioner tube, you may feel as if replacing your hosework is not worth the risk. After all, getting one number wrong can have drastic consequences toward the efficiency of your unit. However, measuring the diameter of your portable-AC hose is a simple and easy task that will, in the long-run, benefit you and your unit.
“Air Ventilator Orange”
“PVC Flexduct General Purpose Clear”
“Tornado Flex Insulated AD”
How Do You Measure an AC Hose?
An AC hose is measured by inside diameter, as well as length. Inside diameter is the distance between two opposing points on the interior wall of your hosework. You could also consider this the width of your portable-AC hose, despite it excluding the thickness of your hose’s walls. But why would you possibly need to exclude the walls of your portable-air-conditioner hose? Suppliers of ducting will oftentimes list their hoses by their inside diameter—or ID—size in order to simplify an otherwise confusing classification process. The air-conditioner-hose diameter is objective to whoever is measuring it; do you measure diameter by the inside of the hose or the outside? This is why suppliers simply use inside diameter for size, so that customers know that they are purchasing a—say—5-inch portable-AC exhaust-hose in order to fit over an opening with an outside diameter of 5-inches. Think of it like this. The cap of a water bottle has to screw over the mouth of the bottle in order to create a seal so that the liquid cannot escape. This means that the internal walls of the cap are flush with the outside lip of the bottle. The same concept applies to a piece of hosework that is intended to fit over an opening, whether it be another pipe or vent. This is why manufacturers will classify their ducting by inside-diameter size, so that there is no confusion as to whether you need a 5-inch AC-exhaust hose or a 6-inch AC-vent hose for an opening with an outside diameter of 5 inches. Portable-air-conditioner exhaust-hose diameter is the standard by which we determine the width of our hosework, but there is also the length of the duct to consider. The length of your portable-AC vent hose can be measured in feet. Portable-air-conditioner hoses can come in a multitude of lengths and ID sizes. Such is the case of the array of ducts that are featured at Ducting.com! Ducting.com sells a vast variety of portable hoses that can accommodate a multitude of applications. Even our selection of portable-AC vent-work exhibits hoses composed of many different materials. Most of our hoses can be customized in length, and typically, ID size. For example, if you require a 5-inch exhaust-hose for portable-air-conditioner units, all of our PVC hoses come in this portable-AC exhaust-hose size, as well as in many more. If you have a unit that needs a 6-inch portable-AC hose, the Air Ventilator could be selected in this ID size. Good ductwork comes in a variety of ID sizes and lengths, ensuring that these hoses can accommodate many different devices.
What Is the Diameter of a Portable-AC Hose?
The inside diameter of a portable-air-conditioner tube will range anywhere from 4 inches to 6 inches, depending upon the unit. There are, of course, exceptions. Perhaps you do not know your unit’s exact hose-size; for portable-air-conditioner-units whose manuals may not specify their inside diameter, you can measure this yourself. You can measure the inside diameter of your portable-air-conditioner tube easily with just a ruler. However, if you want to be more precise, you can use a piece of paper and a pencil alongside your measuring device. The straightforward method of taking down the inside
diameter of your hose would be to place one end of your ruler against the internal wall of your duct. You would then notate the point at which the ruler reaches the other side of the hose at the furthest, opposing, internal point. This would be the simplest way to measure the inside diameter and determine your portable-AC pipe-size. You can also form a cylindrical tube with your piece of paper, insert it inside your hose, and mark the point on your paper where the end of your paper touches. When you pull the paper out, the sheet will unravel, and you can measure from the end of the paper to the point marked. This tells you the ID so you can determine your portable-AC-unit hose-size. Again, the diameter of your portable-air-conditioner tube will vary depending on your specific model. This means that the best way of figuring out your hose’s inside diameter is to just measure it yourself or reference your user’s manual. A common reason why people measure the inside diameter of their hosework is so that they can opt for a portable-air-conditioner hose-replacement. Or maybe they are just seriously invested in the specifications and care of their unit! Either way, it is a good idea to know the inside diameter of your hosework, especially if you plan on replacing your ducting.
There are numerous options for portable-air-conditioner tube-work at Ducting.com. Hoses are sorted into categories: the Air Ventilators, the PVC hoses, the Wind Handlers and the Tornado Flexs, and the Insulated Hoses. There are so many ducts to choose from for a portable-AC replacement-hose! Our PVC hosework—from the PVC Flexduct (General Purpose) Blue, to the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear—is some of our best portable-AC ducting. Our PVC hoses are made from thick, yet light-weight, polyvinyl-chloride that is bendable and durable. These hoses are built to withstand temperatures of up to 160 °F and they are resistant to moisture and chemicals, making them ideal for portable-AC applications. The clear bodies of our PVC hoses for portable ACs also gives you the ability to see into your hosework without detaching it, allowing you to spot obstructions or blockages in your ducting with ease! These hoses, like all of our other hoses, are available in a generous sections of ID sizes and lengths. Our other portable-air-conditioner hoses are perfect for solving specific problems you might have with your unit or for being used in specific scenarios. The Air Ventilators, Wind Handlers, and Tornado Flexes are all plastic-coated, fabric hoses that can be used for portable-AC ductwork—yes—but they also function well for HVAC ventilation in tents. The long lengths and extreme compressibilities of these hoses grant them a wide reach, as well as the ability to be pressed down to a fraction of their size for convenient transportation. For set-ups that require on-the-go transportation, such as military tents or hospital tents that require air ventilation, these hoses will excel. There is a plethora of situations in which these hoses can be used, but these are just a couple examples among many! For our insulated hoses, these can be used to counteract noise and heat that may affect your portable AC. Insulated portable-AC hose-work uses insulative materials such as PET-film, aluminum, or fiberglass (just to name a few) to isolate heat and noise inside of the tube. This means that the temperature outside of the hose does not affect the temperature of air inside of the hose, and vice versa. This is great for portable ACs, as they exhaust hot air that may warm the outside of your ductwork. This, in return, can heat up the room you are cooling. Using an insulated, flexible duct for portable-air-conditioner units can stop your unit from overheating, as well as lower the sound level. At the end of the day, knowing your hose’s inside diameter is just the start of your journey into portable-air-conditioner tube-work. Again, what is the diameter of a portable-AC hose? It depends on the model. Some units have a 5-inch air-conditioner exhaust-hose, while some have a 6-inch air-conditioner exhaust-hose. Some devices may even require a 5.9-inch exhaust-hose! Either way, knowing the vent size for your portable-AC-unit hose is the first step in replacing it. You must also be educated in your options of hosework and how certain materials can offer additional support to your device!
Can I Use a Longer Hose with a Portable AC?
Yes, you can use a longer hose with a portable AC! Replacing your portable-air-conditioner tube with a longer one is a great way to extend the reach of your portable-AC duct-work. There are two ways in which you can achieve portable-AC exhaust-hose extension. One way to do so would be to utilize hose attachments to connect several lengths of hoses together. The other alternative would be to purchase an entirely-new, portable-air-conditioner long-hose. Both methods are equally useful, having specific pros and cons that might sway each person one way or another. However, an extra-long air-conditioner exhaust-hose
will typically last longer than a chain of connected hosework. If you plan on utilizing your extended portable-air-conditioner tube for a lengthy period of time, you may want to opt for a long or extra-long exhaust-hose for portable-air-conditioner units. Using a long hose for portable-air-conditioner units is an excellent method in establishing proper ventilation for your device. Many users of portable ACs struggle with maintaining adequate ducting for their unit. Portable ACs must expel hot air and moisture from their interior, otherwise the device would overheat. This hot air and moisture must be exhausted into an area outside the room in which the unit is cooling. For a portable-air-conditioner with small exhaust-hose features, reaching an adequate opening for ventilation may prove difficult. If your house has a multitude of windows that are close to the ground, a portable-air-conditioner with window hose-reach might come easily—i.e., your unit’s hose can conveniently extend to the nearest window. But for people that have high windows, or far-away doors, or do not have openings at all, venting the exhaust from their portable AC is a near-impossible task with–say–a 4-foot hose. Replacing your original duct with a long AC-exhaust-hose will help you achieve proper ventilation for your unit. Having a flexible, long, hose for air-conditioner units also allows you to bend your ductwork through the confines of your home, bending around obstacles or furniture that might get in your way. Hoses like our Air Ventilator Black Flexible Ducting and our PVC Flexduct (General Purpose) Clear are available in a size of 25 feet, among others. Ductwork like the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear and the Tornado Flex Flexible Air Ducting can even be obtained in a length of 50 feet! This is more than enough footage for portable-AC tube-extension. With over 25 feet of flexible ductwork, you can use these hoses to circumvent couches, bedframes, or desks—anything that might stand in the way of you and your unit’s ventwork. Arguably, it is easier to hide flexible ducting from sight than it is to hide rigid ductwork. With a long, portable-AC flex-hose, you can—for example—bend the PVC Flexduct Light-Duty Clear to follow the perimeter of your walls and strategically place furniture in order to hide it. This hose also features a translucent body, meaning that it will also blend in with its surroundings. By replacing your current portable-air-conditioner tube with a longer portable-AC unit exhaust-hose, extension is achieved. The answer to “Can I use a longer hose with a portable AC?” is yes! You can definitely use a portable-AC unit long-hose to extend your ductwork and properly ventilate your device.
Can I Use a Smaller Hose on a Portable Air-Conditioner?
Yes, you can use a smaller hose on a portable air-conditioner, as long as you have the correct attachments. For example, Ducting.com’s Wind Handler and Tornado Flex hoses can be customized with funnel cuffs, which can be fitted onto openings with a larger OD—or outside diameter. However, using a smaller hose when ducting air increases the amount of pressure inside of the hose, which can cause it to tear. This is why it is typically recommended that you use a portable-air-conditioner tube with the proper ID size for your unit. If you, perhaps, needed a smaller-diameter hose in order
to accommodate a scenario where you have limited space, we can certainly provide you with a hose that can fit your situation! Some of Ducting.com’s fabric hoses, such as the Wind Handlers and the Tornado Flex hoses, offer a selection of specialty ends that can be used for such purposes. Our other ducts come in a variety of ends—those commonly being plain, cuffed, or belted-cuffed ends. Enlarged, funnel cuffs can be attached to any of our Wind Handler or Tornado Flex hoses. These are similar to the cuffed ends in the sense that the steel-wire helix that reinforces the hose stops where this material starts. That means that the cuff can be easily clamped or adjusted to fit over openings. The funnel cuff can be used to accommodate an opening with an OD size of up to 2-inches larger than the ID size of the hose. For example, a 4” ID Wind Handler Flexible Air Duct with funnel cuffs could be attached to a 6-inch portable-AC hose-opening or a 5” air-conditioner exhaust-hose-opening. The funnel cuff features a belt that is used to cinch the end of the hose onto the other opening—whether it be another hose, vent, or fitting. If you are trying to minimize the amount of space your portable-air-conditioner tube is taking up, using a smaller-diameter hose is possible. However, if you were to use—for example—a hose with a 4-inch ID for a portable air-conditioner that requires a 6” air-conditioner exhaust-hose, the amount of air that is ducting through the hose will remain the same. Because the volume of air that is moving through the duct is the same despite the inside diameter decreasing by 2 inches, this means that there will be an increase of pressure inside of the portable-air-conditioner tube. This increased air-pressure could compromise the structure of your ductwork, causing your hose to tear or puncture. If you are wondering, “Can I use a smaller hose on a portable air-conditioner?” the answer “yes” is only possible with the correct attachments. Ducting.com offers specialized ends on our hosework in order to connect hoses of a smaller diameter size. However, you can run into complications with internal air-pressure, which is why it is typically preferred that you use a, say, 5” exhaust-hose for portable-air-conditioner units that require a hose with a 5-inch ID.
Knowing the measurements of your portable-air-conditioner tube will allow you to modify the hosework for your unit. Even if you are a portable-air-conditioner vent/pipe aficionado, it is always a good idea to know the specifications of the device you are using. Knowing the inside diameter of your hose will allow you to make modifications to your unit, like portable-air-conditioner tube-extension. Extending your hose can be achieved by connecting multiple lengths of hosework together, or by simply replacing your duct with a portable-air-conditioner extra-long hose. For some people, using a portable-AC-unit with small-hose capabilities makes proper ventilation nearly impossible. This is why having a portable-AC-unit with long, exhaust-hose features is beneficial—and is only made possible by first knowing your hose’s inside diameter! Perhaps you desire a hose that takes up less space. It is possible for you to decrease the ID size of your portable-AC tube with proper connectors. The funnel-cuff ends available on Ducting.com’s Wind Handler and Tornado Flex hoses make it possible for you to use a smaller hose with your portable air-conditioner. At the end of the day, knowing the measurements of your hosework is important for keeping your portable-AC efficient. Many of your problems, whether it be overheating or decreased productivity, can be solved with an excellent, portable-AC hose. Measuring the inside diameter of your hosework is one of the first steps towards taking care of and getting to know your unit.