In the middle of summer, having an air conditioner makes living with the heat much more bearable, and with portable options available, you don’t need to go without.
For many, installing a fixed air conditioning machine on the wall of their residence may not be possible, especially if:
- Installing a large, fixed unit isn’t in the budget
- Your home isn’t well designed for a fixed unit to cool it effectively
- You’re renting and your landlord won’t allow you to install one
- You’re in a portable dwelling, or temporary living quarters
Buying a portable air conditioner is a great option if a large fixed air conditioner isn’t feasible. And, regardless of whether you’re buying one new or second-hand, with appliance spare parts readily available online, you can rest assured that you can service and maintain a portable air conditioner without the hefty repair bill.
Benefits of buying and maintaining a portable air conditioner yourself
Portable air conditioners are affordable
One of the key benefits of buying and maintaining a portable air conditioner yourself is affordability. A large wall mounted air conditioner can cost thousands, plus there may be additional costs associated with installing the external unit if you can’t get it close enough to be considered a “back-to-back” installation.
A portable air conditioner is much cheaper and have no installation costs. And once your portable unit is out of its warranty period, appliance spare parts from a wholesaler are an affordable servicing and repair option, to keep the cost of maintenance down.
Portable air conditioners are mobile
A key benefit of a portable air conditioner is its mobility; you can move it to any room that you need to cool, whether it be the lounge, bedroom, kitchen, home office, hallway or anywhere you need cool air. And in winter, don’t forget you can use it to heat a room too!
The only thing to consider is that a portable air conditioner will create condensation. Some units have water tank inside them, which will collect any water created while it’s creating cool air; you’ll need to empty this regularly. This is something that may need servicing as the machine ages – if you see that the unit is leaking despite the water tank being empty, then get in touch with an appliance spare parts wholesaler to source a replacement water tank or tray.
Alternatively, it may have an external exhaust hose so the condensation can be released. If this is the case, you’ll need to position your portable air conditioner close to a door or window, so the condensation can be released. Over time, the external hose may get damaged or crack, but these are readily available from appliance spare parts wholesalers online.
Portable air conditioners don’t need installation
Portable air conditioners don’t have the installation requirements that fixed air conditioning units have. With fixed wall units, the installer needs to drill holes in the wall where it’ll be mounted, to get the power cables and hoses through the wall to the external unit outside. To install a portable air conditioner:
- Unpack the box
- Put the unit where you want it
- Plug it into the wall
- Enjoy cool air!
Need spare parts for your portable air conditioner?
As your portable air conditioner ages, there will be some servicing and maintenance requirements, and you can readily get appliance spare parts from online wholesalers to help you do this at home. Here are some of the parts you may need to replace:
- Filters: all units have filters, which can be removed and washed, but they should be replaced periodically
- Drain hose: the drain hose will need to be cleaned at times, and replaced if it gets cracked or damaged
- Water tray: replacement water tanks and trays can be purchased if yours is showing signs of age, or if your unit is leaking (as mentioned earlier)
If you notice your portable unit getting noisier over time, or using more power than it should, this may indicate something is awry with the internal motor. This may be something to get a service repair provider in to look at, or to ask your appliance spare parts wholesaler to give you advice on. Most wholesalers stock both the main brands plus generic parts, and can give technical advice on servicing and looking after your portable air conditioner, as well as other appliances in your home.
