Frequently Asked Questions for Whynter Appliances | Whynter (2024)

What is a portable air conditioner?

A portable air conditioner (PAC) is an air conditioner that is mobile. Unlike window, through-the-wall, or central air conditioning units, PACs do not require permanent installation. The included window kit, connectors, and exhaust hose can exhaust heat from a space to lower the temperature and dehumidify.

Portable air conditioners are great for specialized applications where central air or conventional window air conditioners are unfeasible or too expensive.

Homeowners can use PACs to cool single rooms, dorm rooms, small offices, computer server rooms, and garages.

Our PACs are compatible with standard 115 Volt/60 Hertz household outlets.

Is a portable air conditioner the right choice for me?

Portable air conditioners as an alternative to central air or conventional window air conditioners are great for specialized applications. If you have an area that needs cooling, but conventional air conditioners won’t work for you, a portable air conditioner could be the answer you are seeking.

Also, a portable air conditioner is a cost and energy-saving alternative to conventional central air systems as it cools one room instead of the whole house.

How does a portable air conditioner work?

Hot air from the room or outside is pulled into the portable air conditioner through the filter or the intake hose (dual hose system) to cool off the compressor and condenser coil. The cool air pushes from the air vent to the room, and the compressed hot air expels the exhaust hose.

Do portable air conditioners require outside venting?

Yes, all portable air conditioners need to vent the hot air they remove from the room. They include a window venting kit to install to a standard window. However, venting using a window is not required; sliding glass doors, through a wall, or into a drop ceiling (the method most offices use) are also suitable venting solutions. These applications may require a custom modification, and the vent hose may require extending.

Can a portable air conditioner run without a vent?

If unable to vent hot air outside the room, the unit will blow cold air from the front and hot air from the back. This scenario does not change the room temperature; the air stream will be cooled but, once circulated with the exhausted compressed heat, the room temperature will remain the same.

Can a portable air conditioner be vented to an attic?

If your building has sufficient space in the attic, venting the portable air conditioner into it should not be a problem. Please note that you will be introducing humidity into the attic. If you prefer not to have extra humidity in the attic, you can remove the drain plug of the air conditioner and set up continuous drainage.

Do portable air conditioners collect water/need to be drained?

As portable air conditioners cool the air, they also dehumidify it. The water they condense out of the air is dripped into the internal reservoir or exhausted out the exhaust hose. The self-evaporative or auto drain feature helps evaporate the collected condensation automatically in most environments. If the environment has high humidity, the unit may require draining. Some of our PACs have an upper drain port for optional continuous gravity draining.

Are portable air conditioners energy efficient?

Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) shows the energy efficiency of the air conditioner. The higher the EER, the more energy-efficient the air conditioner. To get the EER, divide the unit’s BTUs by the wattage (BTU power/wattage).

What is a BTU?

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. A BTU is the amount of energy needed to cool or heat.

How much space will these units cool?

What is a dual hose portable air conditioner?

A dual hose portable air conditioner comes with one air intake hose and one air exhaust hose. The air intake hose pulls air into the portable air conditioner from the outside to cool off the compressor and condenser coil. The hot air generated from the air conditioner expels out the exhaust hose.

Operationally, a dual hose portable air conditioner has two main advantages over a single hose unit. A dual hose portable air conditioner will cool a room faster and will help minimize negative air pressure situations in the room. If the outside temperature is much higher or more humid than the room, you can cover the intake hose with the included cover, and it will function as a single hose unit.

How do I use the window venting kit? Does it fit my window?

The window venting kit is essentially a “filler” kit to allow the end of the exhaust hose to vent out the window without allowing hot air from the outside around the vent hose. The window vent kits fit most windows that slide to open (vertically and horizontally). If the window kit is larger than the window, it may be trimmed to fit. For larger windows, you may purchase an additional window kit to connect and cover the open space. Alternatively, you can make a custom modification using PVC plastic, Plexiglas, or plywood.

What is an exhaust hose?

The exhaust hose is the tubing that connects to the window kit to remove the compressed heat from the room. The exhaust hose can be removed in some modes but must be attached when cooling/heating (applicable models). The length of the exhaust hose will vary by model but is extendable if necessary. We do not recommend extending the exhaust hose to longer than 9 feet.

What is an intake hose (dual-hose models only)?

The optional air intake hose pulls air into the portable air conditioner from the outside to help cool off the compressor and condenser coil, along with the air pulled from the filter from the room. The hot air generated from the air conditioner expels out the exhaust hose.

Operationally, a dual hose portable air conditioner has two main advantages over a single hose unit. A dual hose portable air conditioner will cool a room faster and will help minimize negative air pressure situations in the room. If the outside temperature is much higher or more humid than the room, you can cover the intake hose with the included cover, and it will function as a single hose unit.

Is a portable air cooler the same thing as a portable air conditioner?

No. An air cooler, also known as an evaporative cooler, is not the same as a portable air conditioner. An air cooler uses water and evaporative cooling to lower the temperature of its airstream. The cooling level is often by as much as 12°F. However, air coolers will not reduce the temperature in a room — they only make it feel cooler in the airstream provided by the unit. Additionally, you must add water to evaporative coolers for maximum effectiveness, and they do not require venting.

Can I use a portable air conditioner to cool my server room?

Although these are not industrial machines, this is an excellent use for a portable air conditioner. Even with central air, computer server rooms have more robust cooling needs than other sections of a building tend to require. A portable air conditioner works well to boost the cooling in a server room.

What is dehumidification?

The process removes excess moisture from the air and is accomplished by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner.

Why are dehumidifiers used?

Although air conditioners remove some excess moisture from the indoor environment, sometimes it isn’t enough. Rooms with condensation on the windows, wet stains on the walls and ceilings, mold, or musty scents may have a humidity issue. Ignoring these issues may lead to structural damage to the home and its contents, allergic reactions, respiratory problems, and other health issues may arise.

How does a dehumidifier work?

The dehumidifier pulls air through the filter from the room. The refrigerant cools the air, which causes the moisture in the air to condense. The moisture collects in a tray under the evaporator and condenser, then directed into the unit’s bucket for manual removal through the continuous gravity drain hose or the pump line (for applicable models). Dry air blows from the output vent back into the room.

Where are dehumidifiers used?

Homeowners can commonly use dehumidifiers in basem*nts, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces. These spaces tend to be on the lower levels of the home, where humidity is usually the highest. These areas have constant contact with the moisture of the surrounding earth, making them more susceptible to moisture problems. Homeowners should use dehumidifiers in any room where moisture and humidity levels are high enough to lead to issues.

What is Relative Humidity (RH)?

The relative humidity is a percentage of how much water vapor is in the air relative to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature.

What is an ideal humidity level?

Generally, maintaining a 45-50 percent relative humidity level is ideal. Levels greater than 50 percent create an environment where mold, dust mites, bacteria, and sometimes even pests thrive. Environments that have odors and any staining on the walls may accelerate decaying to a home’s structure.

In turn, relative humidity levels below 30 percent can also cause damage. Low-humidity environments may lead to cracked ceilings, separated wood floors, and more. People sensitive to low humidity may also experience respiratory irritations and dry skin.

How is the moisture removed?

The collected moisture is removed by manually dumping the bucket, using continuous gravity drainage, or a pump (in applicable models).

How does the drain pump work?

One of the critical features of this dehumidifier is that it has a water pump that pushes water up or over a longer distance. Using this feature will enable your unit to run maintenance-free.

What is the difference between a Thermoelectric Wine Cooler and a Compressor Based Wine Refrigerator?

A Thermoelectric Wine Cooler uses cooling plates instead of a compressor to cool. Unlike compressor-based units, thermoelectric wine coolers do not use refrigerants and usually cannot reach lower temperatures and hold a smaller bottle capacity.

How does a Thermoelectric Wine Cooler cool?

Thermoelectric Wine Coolers use the Peltier effect to cool. When two different metals are attached, a current runs between them. Heat draws out of one metal into the other. In a thermoelectric cooler, there is a series of small metal fins called a heat sink. The cool side is inside the cabinet of the cooler. With the help of a fan, it circulates the cold air. The hot side of the Heat Sink sticks out of the outside wall of the cooler. There the fan disperses the heat outside the cabinet.

Benefits of a Thermoelectric Wine Cooler:

Energy Efficient: Thermoelectric cooling uses fewer moving parts and requires much less power and energy to operate.

Quiet Operation: Thermoelectric cooling requires little movement from internal parts, so as a result, it generates very little noise when in operation.

Vibration-Free: A thermoelectric wine cooler does not vibrate or disturb the wine within.

Cost-Effective: Thermoelectric Wine Coolers are generally less expensive than Compressor Based Wine Refrigerators.

Drawbacks of Thermoelectric Cooling:

Smaller Cooling Capacity: Thermoelectric cooling is not as powerful as compressor cooling, making it only suitable for small-capacity wine coolers.

Ambient Temperature Sensitive: Thermoelectric cooling is not the best for unstable or extra-warm, or cold environments. A high or low ambient temperature will significantly hinder the cooling capacity.

Freestanding Application: Thermoelectric Coolers must be freestanding with sufficient clearance and circulated airflow around the rear vents, making them unsuitable for built-in spaces.

How does a Compressor Based Wine Refrigerator cool?

In the refrigeration cycle, there are five essential components: refrigerant; a compressor, which controls the flow of refrigerant; the condenser coils (on the outside of the fridge); the evaporator coils (on the inside of the refrigerator); and an expansion valve.

The compressor sends hot compressed refrigerant gas through the condenser coils. As it passes through the coils the heat dissipates into the air.

Once the hot compressed refrigerant gas reaches the expansion valve, the gas expands and turns into a liquid.

As the now liquid refrigerant continues to flow through the evaporator coils, it absorbs and removes heat from the items inside the cabinet and flows back into the compressor, and the cycle repeats itself.

Benefits of a Compressor Based Wine Refrigerator:

Powerful Operation: Compressor cooled wine refrigerators have a much more powerful cooling capability, reaching lower temperatures than thermoelectric wine coolers, which is why most built-in units use a compressor.

Large Capacity: Because of its powerful cooling, compressor cooling can handle wine refrigerators with large wine bottle capacities.

Adapts to Environmental Stress: Compressor cooled wine refrigerators can better adapt to varying temperatures and extra heat loads, keeping a stable internal temperature despite environmental conditions.

Commonly Designed for Built-In Application: Compressor cooled wine refrigerators are usually designed for the built-in application, although some freestanding compressor-based models are available.

Drawbacks of Compressor Based Wine Refrigerators:

Small Vibrations: Because a compressor has many moving parts and can cycle on and off, compressor cooled wine refrigerators sometimes vibrate slightly.

Slight Noise Output: Again, because of the moving components and flowing refrigerant, compressor cooled wine refrigerators will give off noises such as:

• The high-efficiency compressor may make a pulsating or high-pitched sound.
• Rattling, bubbling, or gurgling sounds and slight vibrations result from the refrigerant circulating through the cooling coils.
• Cracking or popping sounds are caused by the cooling coils or plates expanding and/or contracting.
• Water running from the evaporator to the water bin may make a splashing sound.
• As each cycle ends, you may hear a gurgling sound due to the refrigerant flowing in your wine refrigerator.
• You may hear air being forced over the condenser by the condenser fan.