Portable air conditioner in the apartment: mobile floor air conditioner

A rented stuffy apartment, the owner of which categorically forbids changing anything, is not at all a reason to deny yourself the needs of cooling and ventilating the room. The way out in this situation will be a mobile climate device. Let's see what a portable air conditioner is and how effective it is compared to stationary solutions.

A mobile (portable, floor-standing) air conditioner is a compact item of climatic equipment, an alternative to a stationary split system, consisting of external and internal units and requiring installation. This device is called mobile because it can be relatively easily moved, transferred to another room, transported to another apartment without dismantling and mounting.

This does not mean that the system has very modest dimensions, the weight of such equipment usually ranges from 40 kilograms: the greater the performance of the device, the greater its mass. Often, wheels are attached to the bottom platform of a floor-standing air conditioner to facilitate its movement.

To start the operation of a portable air conditioner, you do not need to carry out complex configuration and installation of equipment; you can use it almost immediately after purchase. And since there is no need to mount the device, there will be no damaged walls.

Modern floor air conditioners cannot spoil the design of an apartment with an unaesthetic appearance.

Specifications

The technical characteristics of a mobile air conditioner are the same as those of stationary split systems. The device cools the air, ventilates it. In some models, there is an additional feature - air dehumidification, i.e., reducing the level of humidity in the room.

The mobile air conditioner consists of the following main parts:

compressor;
air ejection fan;
air intake fan;
capacitor;
evaporator;
water pump.

The device has two air holes, one of them receives heated air from the room, through the other the purified and cooled air that has passed through the evaporator and filter is fed back.

Modes

A multi-level filtration system destroys mechanical impurities, bacteria and heavy odors.

The ventilation mode ventilates the room and cleans it.
Night mode allows the device to work almost silently, so you can not worry about extraneous sounds during sleep.
The self-cleaning mode keeps the air conditioner clean.
The self-diagnosis mode allows you to identify the malfunctions that have arisen and notifies the user about this.

In most cases, the system has an auto-restart function that allows you to restart the device in case of network outages.

Control

The most accurate way to master the knowledge of the operation of the device is to read the instructions that come with the kit. But, if you are “on you” with the technique, you can understand the principle of managing it on an intuitive level. A special remote control with a clear information screen will help with this.

Most modern models of mobile air conditioners are equipped with a built-in timer, thanks to which you can set the start and end times of the program.

Air conditioners are equipped with protection and control systems for compressors and air supply.

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Devices with and without air duct

There are two types of mobile air conditioners by the presence of an air duct:

With duct system. Such an air conditioner is similar in principle to a standard split system: heat is removed from the room using a flexible pipe-air duct. It must be placed outdoors, leading out of a window, window, balcony, vent or door.But at the same time there is a gap through which warm air enters the room. To get out of the "vicious circle" and use the purchase for its intended purpose, it is worth buying a plug for slots.
Without air duct. This system runs on water. Air is forced through a water-soaked filter. When water evaporates, it takes heat from the air.

A floor air conditioner without an air duct creates an area of cold around itself, and the room feels fresh from the flow of moist air, but in fact the temperature of the room remains the same.

Water must be added often enough, as it evaporates. Such a system only humidifies the air, and in order for the air to cool at least a little, it is recommended to keep the water for the device in the refrigerator. In fact, this is a “cold” type humidifier. If indoors humidity above normal, this type of device is completely contraindicated.

Types by design

I also distinguish two types of floor air conditioners based on their design:

Mobile air conditioner can be presented:

monoblock, all parts of which are under one body;
split system, which is divided into outdoor and indoor units, connected by a cable and pipes with freon.

The most common design of a mobile air conditioner is a monoblock. The incoming air passes through the device, being cooled, and thus cools the room at the exit.

Advantages of mobile monoblock air conditioners:

There is no need for installation.
Doesn't take up much space.
Possibility of installation in any room.
Possibility of movement.
The tubes through which freon circulates are hidden inside.
Low power.
There is no need for an outdoor unit outdoors.
It is possible to choose the appropriate design.

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Disadvantages of mobile air conditioners-monoblocks:

Low performance.
The area of the refrigerated room is not more than 50 square meters.
The need to bring the duct outside the room.
Air duct heating up to 50-60 degrees.
The price is higher than that of a split system.
The need for location near the window due to the length of the duct (1 m).

Advantages of mobile split systems:

Doesn't take up much space.
Possibility of installation in any room.
Possibility of movement.
Low noise level due to the removal of the compressor outside the room.
The heat is removed from the room to the outside thanks to the outdoor unit.

Flaws:

More complicated installation due to the need to mount the outdoor unit.
Low performance.
The area of the refrigerated room is not more than 50 square meters.
The need for location near the window due to the length of the freon line.
It is necessary to remove the condensate from the tray.

Maintenance of floor air conditioner

Maintaining the device is easy, but necessary.

It is necessary to change the filter in the air duct within a certain period of time specified in the operating instructions.
It is important to ensure that the air duct hoses are not pinched, skewed or damaged.
When filling to a certain level of the container with water (in case of untimely draining), the device will turn itself off, so you should carefully monitor the level of filling of the tray.

What to look for when choosing a mobile air conditioner?

When buying a device, use the following tips:

The energy efficiency of a floor air conditioner must be taken into account. For apartments, the most successful option is equipment of classes A and A +, as they consume a minimum amount of energy.
The quality of the air conditioner, both portable and stationary, directly depends on the correct choice of device: the performance must correspond to the size of the room.
You need to purchase climate equipment from official dealers of the company.
It is better to opt for models with a large capacity for collecting moisture.The larger the container, the less often you have to drain the water.
Do not think that expensive means high quality, you need to familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of several devices you like and compare them to choose the best one.
The most optimal and popular option for mobile climate control equipment are medium-sized air conditioners.

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Andrey

I bought a similar unit for my retired mother. In summer it is very hot here due to the steppe climate, and the installation of a classic split system is impossible, because in the so-called family nest, from which it stubbornly refuses to move, clay walls. They will definitely not survive such a design. Especially considering how much rigmarole there was when we screwed on new baguettes for curtains. I found the device I was interested in only in an online store (it was about 2-3 years ago). Comparing different models, I settled on Symphony Diet 8i. Of the minuses, I can single out only noise and inconvenience if you want to see the water level. Otherwise, it completely suits us - it cools the room better than any fans, it is mobile, it does not require installation. I can’t say that it is on the same level as the split system, but it’s quite a good alternative.

Answer

Popova A.I.

I live in a private house, open windows do not help. Therefore, at the family council, they decided to purchase such an air conditioner. Expensive, but great stuff! The volume of the residential refrigerated space is not very large, the monoblock does an excellent job. Cons, to be honest, not noticed. Does not interfere underfoot, you can always move and move if necessary. Even the noise is not a hindrance.