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Stay Cool with the Best Portable Air Conditioners

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Let's be honest— in hot, humid weather, it doesn't take long to feel like you're trapped in a sauna, and you'll do almost anything to get some relief. The COVID-19 outbreak and resulting quarantine reminded us all that it's not pleasant to be stuck at home without a reliable way to stay cool and comfortable. If you don't have central air conditioning or a window air conditioner (AC), a portable AC can solve your need to cool down in an instant.

The best part is you can easily move one of these units from room to room, allowing you to cool off anywhere in your home, from your bedroom to your home office. Fortunately, several excellent options on the market are designed to fit everyone's different needs. Whether you're trying to beat the heat on a budget or keep a large room cold, these portable ACs can help you stay cool.

Important Notes to Know Before Installing Your Portable Air Conditioner

The first time you install a portable AC unit, the process might look tricky. However, each model has specific step-by-step instructions on how to set it up easily and successfully. The standard portable AC will need to vent through a window to kick the hot air out of the room and keep you cool. You may also need an adapter kit that secures the exhaust hose in the window. With that being said, it's best to place a unit near a window with an electrical outlet for easy operation.

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Also, make sure the window adapter kit will fit on your window. If the kit doesn't fit, you may need to expand or trim it. Once you secure the window adapter kit and connect the exhaust hose that's included in the package, you'll be able to plug in the unit to have fresh, cold air in the room. If you don't have a window, another option is to vent the exhaust through a wall, ceiling or even door (but check to see if a portable air conditioner can work that way before purchasing it). For a better sense of how to install a portable AC unit, check out this video guide by Honeywell. Now, let's go shopping.

Low-Cost, But Still an Incredibly Powerful Portable AC

Looking for a good deal? You can spend wisely and still rest like Sleeping Beauty during hot nights with this LG Electronics 8,000 BTU Portable AC. Its price and size are small, but its performance is mighty as it blows big blasts of cold air to cool rooms up to 200 square feet. Even better, it has three impressive modes: cool mode to chill out and dehumidify, fan mode to circulate air and dry mode for those extra-wet days.

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Find the right setting for your personal enjoyment by changing the temperature, fan speed, cooling speed and timer. Too comfortable to get up to adjust the AC? No problem. Use the handy remote control to get the job done (even all the way from across the room). Plus, its installation kit and hose make setting up this unit a breeze. Say goodbye to waking up in a sweat. With this AC, you can stay cool, comfortable and in control at an unbeatable price.

This Eco-Friendly Portable AC Helps Save the Environment

If you're living the environmentally conscious life, the Whynter Elite 14,000 BTU Portable AC was created especially for you. Going green doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality (or your budget). Approved by Good Housekeeping and Consumer Reports, this conditioner will meet your top needs: protecting the planet and cooling your home down. It's also free of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and lead.

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Besides being green, this device is easy to set up and use. If you can't get enough peace and quiet, you'll be happy to know that this AC is as quiet as the dawn. And its useful features don't stop there. The unit comes with a programmable timer, digital controls, remote and wheels for effortless mobility. Its fun size and dual-hose system make it space-friendly and fast at fighting off the heat, so you have more room to stay cool and save power all at the same time.

Tackle Large Rooms with This Smart Portable AC

Cooling large spaces isn't easy unless you have the Frigidaire Gallery 12,000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Portable AC. It comes with a relatively big price tag — but even greater features and better operation. Designed for rooms up to 550 square feet, this unit features LED lighting and a modern mesh grille for extra style to complement any room.

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Tech fans will love this part the most: It connects to your Wi-Fi, so you can control your AC anytime, anywhere. Coming back home from a hike on a hot day? Use the Frigidaire app on your smartphone to turn the unit on before you strut through the doors. It's also compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, so you can ask them to schedule the time and day when you want them to switch on the device. The future is here, and we're ready for it.

Got a Small Room? This Portable AC Was Destined for It

If you have a small bedroom, office or apartment, your new best friend will be the Honeywell HL Series 10,000 BTU Portable AC, which cools and dehumidifies spaces up to 450 square feet. This unit handles business on hot days by combining a dehumidifying function, a three-speed fan and an auto-evaporation system.

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The full-function remote control makes it super convenient to operate the unit for those "sleep in bed all day" days. You get a lot of airflow for little effort. Plus, it's easy to move to different rooms and install if you don't want to commit it to only one place.

This Portable Combo Unit Is the Perfect Double Feature

During the hottest days of the year, the Black + Decker 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater delivers a premium cooling experience for rooms of about 250 to 300 square feet, dropping the temperature as low as 55 degrees. Even better, the combo unit earns its keep all year round with a built-in heater that takes rooms all the way up to a toasty 81 degrees, if desired.

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Installation is quick and easy in any room with window access, but the unit itself sits on the floor on easy-to-move rollers for convenience. It's also easy to clean and comes with a remote control to help you perfectly control the temperature in the room. Additional Fan and Dehumidify settings give you additional climate control, making this unit worth every penny of your investment.