Determine if a misting system is your best option as an outdoor air conditioner Misting systems produce billions of tiny droplets every second, which quickly evaporate outdoors. The energy required for the evaporation process is taken from the air in the form of heat. The result is a temperature reduction of up to 35 degrees. In addition to cooling down outdoor areas, misting systems offer the added benefit of dust, odor and humidity control.

I recommend:  Advanced Misting Systems offers a complete line of portable cooling units that are plug-in ready. You can select and compare the portable cooling units at Cool-Off, a company that also carries commercial and industrial lines requiring installation.

See if evaporative or portable air conditioners are your best option as an outdoor air conditioner Evaporative coolers reduce air temperature 10-30 degrees with additional wind chill cooling from air circulation. They are particularly effective in highly humid conditions and can also be used indoors in areas with no air conditioning (garages, workshops, etc.).

I recommend:  Global Equipment offers a line of portable air conditioners suited for everything from residential to light industrial use. Topp Portable Air has locations nationwide and offers two of the top lines of portable air conditioners.

Narrow down your outdoor air conditioner list to those with quality ratings Ratings for portable air conditioners are based on a variety of factors, including cooling power, durability, price and individual features. Narrowing down your selection to units with high ratings minimizes your chances of buying a lemon.

I recommend:  Portable Air Shop includes price as a rating factor in addition to cooling power and durability for several of their models. AllergyBuyersClub includes a listing of pros and cons for outdoor air conditioners.