Portable Air Conditioner Key Terms

Investigate key terms for portable air conditioner options

By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN

These days, portable air conditioners are getting a lot of attention from small to mid-sized businesses. Small retail spaces in particular use portable air conditioners to provide comfort for customers in hot weather, and the great thing about these devices is that they can throw a lot of cold air without the hassle of installing them in windows or throughout a building. A business looking at utilizing portable air conditions for a space can get better informed with a look at some of the most common terms for portable AC types and features.

BTUs

BTUs, or British Thermal Units, are measurements of temperature change for heating or cooling. These are important for figuring out the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner.
Try: Find out about BTUs and what they measure at WiseGeek. Read more about BTU rating for air conditioners at Essortment.

Spot coolers

A spot cooler is a term for any small air conditioning unit that cools a specific small area. With new technology for these precision devices, they are now present in a lot of small retail spaces and other areas.
Try: Find out more about spot coolers at WiseGeek.

Server cooler

A server cooler is an air conditioning unit, either portable or permanently installed, that cools a server setup. Many data centers and servers are located in specific "server closets" or other closed areas to keep them cool and away from other elements.
Try: Find out more about server coolers at Air & Water.

Self-evaporating AC

Where lots of traditional air conditioners had condensation trays and other gear for dispensing water that accumulated, some newer models include self-evaporating features. Self-evaporating AC is when the unit takes care of dispersing condensation on its own, making maintenance less labor-intensive.
Try: Find out about self-evaporating AC models (point 17 under "features") at HouseHoldChoice.

Venting

Portable air conditioners each have their own venting requirements. Venting means getting the resulting hot air away from the areas that need to be cooled.
Try: Find out about venting for portable air conditioners at A.J Madison's Guide.

Dehumidifier

If humidity is part of the climate equation a business is trying to change in a space, a dehumidifier can help. These machines take moisture out of the air.
Try: Get a definition and much more info on the dehumidifier at How Stuff Works.