Best Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioners – Complete 2022 Round-up

There are numerous benefits to owning one of the best self-evaporating portable air conditioners besides hardly emptying the water tank. However, you’ll need to know what aspects to look out for and how to compare prices with value.

This article will guide you through the different selection processes and show you some of the top products available on the market.

Comparison of the Best Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioners

Aspects to Consider Before Buying a Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner

Self-evaporating portable air conditioners are excellent for maintaining room temperatures while reducing the need for drainage. There are several factors you should consider before blindly purchasing one.

Size

The air conditioner’s size directly relates to its performance and power. A factor often ignored by customers is the room’s size, as you’ll need to make sure that the device’s British Thermal Units (BTU) are capable of effectively cooling or heating the room. 

For instance, an 8,000 BTU air conditioner will work in a space of up to 200 sq. ft. On the top end, you can grab a 14,000 BTU unit for up to 500 sq. ft.

Placement

When the self-evaporating portable air conditioner cools a room, it needs to exhaust the hot air out of the house. Some devices have a window, depending on the model. 

You’ll need to evaluate which window you’ll use and see if the kit will work in your home. Additionally, make sure the air conditioner can cover the entire room from that position.

Maintenance

The components will wear down over time, and you’ll need to make sure to clean them regularly while removing any filters that may be present. The exhaust hose may also need some maintenance or replacement over time. 

Check how much maintenance will be needed for the unit you’re looking at and how much it will cost you in the long run. You may also want to assess how much the replacement costs are per part.

Efficiency

Maintenance cost isn’t the only expense you’ll suffer. Air conditioners are notorious for being some of the largest culprits of high monthly utility costs.

Fortunately, some manufacturers consider energy-efficiency for this exact reason. Look at the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) to ensure low monthly running costs.

Noise

One of the worst things you can do is buy a noisy portable air conditioner for your bedroom. You’ll struggle to sleep, or it may even keep your children up at night, leading to an unpleasant morning the following day.

There are plenty of powerful products on the market that have silent performance. The noise levels are measured in decibels (dB), so compare this category among the air conditioners you are eyeing.

Review of the Best Self Evaporating Portable Air Conditioners 

It’s time to look at our selection of the best self-evaporative portable air conditioners available. Please keep in mind that we have selected these products based on specific criteria, and you’ll need to evaluate whether they’ll fulfill your needs.

Why Does Water Collect Inside Portable ACs?

Air conditioners provide cool air by first drawing in warm air. This air has moisture within it, which is cooled until it turns into liquid form.

The water collects in a pan or bucket within portable air conditioners, usually at the bottom. In standard models, you either need to empty the tray every few hours, or the device drains it through a pipe to the outside.

The same applies to dehumidifiers. To remove the excess water from the air, it uses condenser coils to cool the air before returning warm air to the room, lowering the high humidity levels.

How Does a Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner Work?

A self-evaporating portable air conditioner works in almost exactly the same way as a standard one.

It extracts warm air, cools it inside to remove the heat and moisture, and returns cold air into the room.

However, the condensed water doesn’t collect in a bucket or pass through a drainage hose. Instead, the air conditioner evaporates the liquid through a heating process that passes the warm air through a hose to the outside. 

That’s why most self-evaporative portable air conditioners have window kits so that you can keep the openings closed and the heat outside while the device cools your home.

Why Do I Need a Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner?

The number one reason to obtain a self-evaporating portable air conditioner is so you don’t need to spend your day worrying when you need to empty the bucket again. You can go about your life knowing that the device will deal with it for you.

Of course, the portability means you can move it around your house. With the installation kit, you can place it anywhere in your home where there’s a window.  

Top Brands in the Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner Space

You’ll notice that we selected specific brands for our best self-evaporating portable air conditioner reviews. While some have excellent products, others stand out more due to the name that signifies durability and performance.

Here are some of the top brands in the industry and why they stand out.

Honeywell

Honeywell has received an excellent reputation in the HVAC industry. It doesn’t merely supply dehumidifiers and purifiers but also self-evaporative portable air conditioners. 

Established in 1885, Honeywell had come a long way from humble beginnings when it invented the first furnace regulator. Today, it sells several components for HVACs, and it’s a house-hold name known for reliability and durability.

Black & Decker

Established in 1920 in Towson, Maryland, Black & Decker is a company that provides many household products. Some of the categories include power tools, lawn and garden, home cleaning, small appliance, batteries, and accessories.

Of course, it also has a hand in HVAC systems, delivering some of the most potent self-evaporating portable air conditioners on the market. It’s also gained a reputation for outstanding customer service and quality components.

LG

Formerly known as Goldstar, which started in 1958, LG Air Conditioning Technologies is a division of LG Electronics that has been an HVAC industry leader for several years. Its VRF Multi V product line has won several awards for ductless and ducted units.

LG has an extensive range of self-evaporative air conditioners for residential and commercial properties. Most customers turn to them for exceptional cooling and heating solutions for the most complex homes.

Pros of a Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner

While we’ve discussed the pros and cons of each recommended self-evaporating portable air conditioner, you should also know the benefits as a whole. 

We won’t be looking at general aspects, such as price and durability, but rather some of the more specific elements that make these devices stand out.

Low Maintenance

You won’t need to spend excess time and money cleaning and maintaining these devices. In most cases, they have filters that you can wash, and the components don’t suffer as much wear and tear as whole-house air conditioners.

No Need to Drain

Thanks to the technology that makes self-evaporating air conditioners unique, the condensed water is air-dried back out through the main exhaust pipe into the air outside. You won’t need to check every few hours to see if a bucket needs emptying.

Easy Transport

Manufacturers design portable air conditioners for easy transport. You can uninstall the unit from the window bracket, move it to a new room via wheels, and reinstall it. You can also take it with you in your vehicle to a new home or on vacation.

Auto-Restart and Shut-off Functions

You may feel comfortable leaving your device on since you don’t need to drain it. However, the air conditioners have auto-restart and shut-off features to protect themselves from damage. Also, you can set these timers to save you electrical costs.

Excellent Cooling Capacity

You’d be surprised how well these self-evaporating portable air conditioners cool large homes. You can buy a 14,000 BTU for a 500 sq. ft. home, or you can buy a smaller unit for your apartment. The one common factor is that you’ll feel the cooling effect even on sweltering days.

Includes Dehumidification

Since the air conditioner removes moisture from the air and pumps it back outside, it includes a dehumidification function. Sure, it can’t compete with actual portable dehumidifiers with larger capacities in PPD, but you’ll still have lower humidity levels.

Cons of a Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner

Of course, there are also some disadvantages you should consider before buying a self-evaporating air conditioner. Fortunately, the pros outweigh the cons.

Hoses Limit Portability

The downside to having hoses for evaporation is that they slightly limit transport. While it shouldn’t take you long to uninstall and reinstall, it’s still more effort than is needed with standard air conditioner units. 

The other issue is if you take the air conditioner with you on vacation. You have no way of knowing whether the conditions at the destinations are suitable for the unit unless you’ve tested it beforehand.

Constant White Noise

The one liability of owning a powerful self-evaporative portable air conditioner is the constant hum at high settings. Unless the device has something to dampen the sound, that exhaust air will be pretty loud.

Of course, you might get used to it over time and find yourself sleeping through the night. The other option is having it at a low setting when you want to count sheep.

Larger Units Consume More Power

If you have a large space you need to cool, expect to pay more on your electrical bill. All that power requires energy, and some air conditioners are hungry and consume loads of electricity.

Price Points of Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioners

Of course, you’ll find different price ranges that speak to performance, durability, and quality. You can’t always judge an air conditioner by the price, but it’s a good measuring stick if you want to compare options.

Here’s a quick look at some price ranges and what you can expect.

$100 – $200

Self-evaporating portable air conditioners that fall in this bracket have the lowest BTU for cooling and limited features. You may find a remote and control panel, but there will be few modes and functions. You may even have to buy the installation kit and hose separately. Expect to use these in small spaces.

$200 – $500

These devices have higher BTUs, more durability, and better performance. You’ll find a few more functions included, and there will be installation kits for window frames. You might even see some of the top brands in this range, and they’re suitable for medium-sized rooms.

$500+

There’s no limit to how high this price can go. You’ll generally find air conditioners over 12,000 BTU that are made for larger spaces with improved reliability. The cream-of-the-crop accessories and functions will also be available, with several hose-size options.

Who Should Not Buy a Self-Evaporating Portable Air Conditioner?

Now that we’ve looked at the practical application of self-evaporative portable air conditioners, it’s time to highlight in which situations you shouldn’t use these devices. It’s vital that you’re aware of these factors so that you don’t waste money. 

When Cooling the Entire Home

It should be obvious that a portable air conditioner can’t be used to cool the entire house. When it comes to the self-evaporative variety, this fact is even more evident. It’s more cost-effective to purchase a whole-house air conditioner rather than putting a strain on your small device or budget.

In High Humidity Regions

Since the device is drawing in the warm air, cooling it down, and then evaporating vapor back into the air, the last thing you want to do is return moisture into your room if it suffers from high humidity. Sure, some of these air conditioners have a dehumidification function as well, but they don’t have the same performance as full dehumidifiers.

Homes With Incompatible Windows

While most self-evaporating air conditioners have installation kits, it doesn’t mean that they’re compatible with all windows. Some older houses have designs from a past era when there was no such thing as air conditioners.

In these situations, you may want to look at standard portable air conditioners with the bucket collecting water at the bottom.

Restrictive Spaces

Yes, you can find small BTU units that will cool down your apartment or the room you rent in a communal home. However, your space may not be compatible, and you’ll struggle to move around the place if it gets in the way.

You also need to remember that there needs to be open space for effective air circulation. You won’t feel the effect of the cool air if there’s a blockage in the airflow.

For Mold and Water Damage

The idea that the air conditioner draws in air and partially acts as a dehumidifier may lead you to believe that it can reduce mold or water damage. Unfortunately, only full dehumidifiers were built for this purpose.

Conclusion

Self-evaporating portable air conditioners are ideal if you need cooling and ventilation, and you don’t want to continuously drain the tank. We’ve given you the list of the best options we recommend, and now you have a better idea of what to look for. 

We hope you can now make the right decision and are more enlightened as to how these devices work. Remember to make 100% sure that this HVAC type is exactly what you need before you purchase it.

People Also Ask

You might have some questions that our article has left unanswered, or you’re not in the mood to read through it all. Here are some quick FAQs to help you out.