Portable Air Conditioner Vs Air Cooler (differences compared)

As soon as the weather starts to warm up we all start looking for ways to cool down. This inevitably leads to an online search for some sort of device to make our homes feel more comfortable.

Even if you can put up with that stifling heat during the day, sleeping at night can be a far bigger problem. 

Once you get online you’ll start to notice a huge discrepancy in the prices of certain air coolers. The differences in price can be quite substantial, and there’s a good reason for that.

It’s because some are portable air conditioners while others are air coolers. If you’re confused between the two, you’ve found the right place.

Because in this article we’ll look at the differences between air coolers and portable air conditioners and point out the advantages and disadvantages of each device.

What’s The Difference Between A Portable Air Conditioner And An Air Cooler?

So let’s look at the air cooler and the portable air conditioner in more detail and get some idea on how they work and then look at the benefits of each device and compare them with the drawbacks associated with each as well.

What Is A Portable Air Conditioner?

A portable air conditioner is a self contained unit that is basically two radiators in a box and works in a very similar way to a refrigerator. Even down to the fact that a portable air conditioner relies on a refrigerant to cool the air that passes through the system.

How Does A Portable Air Conditioner Work?

Inside a portable aircon unit there are two radiators which are connected by copper piping in a continuous looping circuit. The copper pipe is filled with the refrigerant which travels between the two radiators.

The cold refrigerant absorbs heat from the room which heats the refrigerant slightly. It then passes through the compressor which heats it up more through pressurisation. 

Then it travels to the condenser where the heat is removed via the exhaust hose. This cools the refrigerant down and it then passes through the expansion valve which returns it to a gaseous state and the process starts again.

For a more detailed explanation of how a portable air conditioner works click here.

What Are The Pros Of A Portable Air Conditioner?

Now that we have an idea how a portable air conditioner works, let’s have a look at the advantages of owning one. The main advantages of a portable air conditioner include;

• Ease Of Installation
  Compared to a central A/C, a portable air conditioner is easy to install. All you need to do is place the exhaust hose to an outside  window and plug the unit into a plug socket.
• Ease Of Movement
  Portable air conditioners are relatively easy to move from room to room, their only requirement is access outdoors for the exhaust hose and a plug socket. 
• Cheaper To Run Than A Central A/C
  As a portable air conditioner can be moved from room to room, they only cool the space that you need to be cooled.
• Dehumidifies The Air
  A portable air conditioner removes humidity from the air as well as heat.
• Actively Cools The temperature Of The Room
  A Portable air conditioner actually removes heat from the room and so actively cools the room down.
• Can Be Preset To Cool To A Precise Temperature
  Unlike an air cooler, a portable air conditioner unit can have a preset temperature selected. This means that once the desired temperature has been achieved, the unit will cut out.
• Cools A Far Larger Area
  Compared to an air cooler, a portable air conditioner can cool a much larger area. Coolers don’t tend to be effective in rooms larger than 30m², sometimes less depending on the model.

What Are The Cons Of A Portable Air Conditioner?

As with anything in life, it’s not all good news, portable air conditioners do have a few drawbacks which include;

• More Expensive To Buy
  Portable air conditioners will cost far more to buy than air coolers. This is due to the internal components present in an air conditioner compared to the minimalistic design of an air cooler.
• Less Environmentally Friendly
  There are a few reasons why portable A/Cs are less environmentally friendly than air coolers which include; portable air conditioners use more energy, they also contain a refrigerant and even though modern refrigerants are more environmentally friendly than those of years ago, they are more damaging than those appliances that don’t use them.
• Limited Areas For Installation
  A portable A/C unit needs to be sited close to a window and a plug socket.
• Noisy
  There’s no getting away from the fact that portable air conditioners are noisy. Some models are quieter than others, but none are silent.
• Cost More To Operate
  Due to all of the internal components, a portable aircon unit will cost more to run than an air cooler.

What Is An Air Cooler?

From the outward appearance, an air cooler looks pretty similar to a portable air conditioner. However, that’s where the similarity ends, air coolers basically consist of a large water reservoir and a fan. 

Which means there are far fewer components than a portable aircon unit plus an air cooler uses much less power.

How Does An Air Cooler Work?

Inside an air cooler there is a fan and wet pads which are soaked in water. The fan draws in warm air and hurls it at the wet, water soaked pads which cools it down.

The air is then projected into the room. The air cooler works by cooling the air using evaporation in much the same way as your skin does when you sweat on a hot day.

You will need to keep replacing the water that the wet pads absorb and then gets blown from the unit.

Air coolers, also known as swamp fans, consume on average 75% less electricity than portable air conditioners.

What Are The Pros Of An Air Cooler?

The main advantages of an air cooler include;

• Low Running Costs
  As there are far fewer working parts in an air cooler compared to a portable A/C it will use far less electricity and therefore cost less to run. The only working parts in an air cooler are the fan and the water pump. The average air cooler uses between 200 to 400 watts of power which makes them a far more economical way to cool a small room.
• Less Maintenance
  Apart from washing the pads and refilling with water, an air cooler needs little maintenance.
• Better Air Quality
  Unlike portable aircons which need to operate with all doors and windows closed, an air cooler can operate with a window open. This allows you to benefit from fresh air. Plus if you position your air cooler correctly you can enjoy fresh cool air on even the hottest of days.
• Increase Moisture Levels
  If you live in a hot, dry climate, an air cooler will help to rehydrate the air.
• More Environmentally Friendly
  As an air cooler uses less energy and contains no potentially harmful refrigerant gases, it is more environmentally friendly than a portable aircon unit.
• Portable
  Air coolers can be placed anywhere in any room (although it’s not advisable to site an air cooler too close to an electrical appliance due to moisture content).

What Are The Cons Of An Air Cooler?

The disadvantages of an air cooler include;

• Can Use A Lot Of Water
  If the temperature is very hot and the air cooler is running constantly, it will need to be refilled with water quite often.
• Can’t Be Set To A Preselected Temperature
  Unlike a portable aircon unit, an air cooler cannot be set at a preselected temperature, it always relies on air temperature.
• Can Only Cool A Small Area
  Air coolers are not suitable for cooling large areas. This can mean that an air cooler is not capable of cooling a large room to the desired level.
• Can Be Noisy
  Like all fans, an air cooler can be noisy when running.

Which Is Better: A Portable Air Conditioner Or An Air Cooler?

As can be seen both of these appliances have their pros and cons. Deciding which one is best for you is dependent on many factors; the climate in your area, the air quality, your budget and how much space you have in your home.

If you don’t want to pay too much extra on your electricity bill and environmental issues are a huge priority for you, then an air cooler will probably suit you best.

However, if you want to cool the actual room and dehumidify the air, then a portable air conditioner will almost certainly be your best bet.

Air Cooler Vs Portable Air Conditioner Price Comparison

So far, we’ve covered how each appliance works and the main pros & cons. Let’s have a quick look at the price of each appliance. This is where the biggest difference will be seen.

Air Cooler Price

Air coolers are the less expensive of the two, with a desktop air cooler costing anywhere from £30 and a stand alone unit costing anywhere between £100 to £250.

Portable Air Conditioner Price

When it comes to the price of a decent portable air conditioner, you can expect to pay anywhere from £250 to £300 and if you go for a top of the range model, it will set you back anywhere between £900 to £1000.

Should I Buy A Portable Air Conditioner Or An Air Cooler?

As we said earlier, if you live in an area where it’s hot most of the time and you can afford it, a portable air conditioner will probably suit you best.

However, if you live in an area where heat waves are few and far between, and you don’t want to spend too much money, then an air cooler will probably be a better buy.

SEE ALSO: Best Portable Air Conditioners (top UK aircon units reviewed)

PLUS SEE: How Much Does It Cost To Run A Portable Air Conditioner? (UK prices)

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