Portable Air Conditioners

A portable air conditioner is a standalone cooling system that you can move from room to room, giving you flexibility that central air just can't match. These units sit on the floor and usually vent hot air out of a window through a hose, making them a breeze to set up. They are basically the best solution for renters or anyone who wants to cool a specific spot without a messy installation. If you are ready to stop sweating and start relaxing, check out the deals below and shop for a cooling solution at The Brick.

How Portable Air Conditioners Work

Portable air conditioners are self-contained refrigerant-cycle cooling units that sit on the floor inside the room being cooled. They draw warm room air across an internal evaporator coil, which extracts heat from the air, and return cooled air back into the room. The extracted heat is transferred to a condenser coil and expelled outside through an exhaust hose connected to a window kit. Most portable AC units also dehumidify the room air as a byproduct of the cooling process. Because the unit and all its components stay inside the room, no external brackets or permanent installation are required — the window kit is the only modification needed, and most kits seal against the window frame without tools.

For air movement without refrigerant cooling, our fans collection covers pedestal, tower, and desk models. For whole-home cooling or heating, our main appliances page includes additional climate control options.

Single-Hose vs Dual-Hose Units

The hose configuration is the most important technical distinction between portable AC models. Single-hose units use one exhaust hose to expel hot air outside. Because the unit draws both cooling air and condenser air from inside the room, it creates a slight negative pressure in the space — warm air from adjacent rooms or from outside seeps in through door gaps and building envelope leaks to equalize the pressure. The unit must then cool this incoming warm air in addition to the existing room air, which reduces overall efficiency. Single-hose units are well suited to smaller, well-sealed rooms where this effect is less pronounced.

Dual-hose units use one hose to draw outside air in for condenser cooling and a second hose to exhaust that heated air back outside. The room air used for cooling is returned to the room rather than expelled, which avoids the negative pressure effect. Dual-hose models cool a given space faster and maintain more consistent temperatures, particularly in larger rooms or during periods of sustained high outdoor temperatures. They require a window kit that accommodates two hose connections rather than one.

BTU Sizing: Matching the Unit to the Room

Selecting the correct BTU rating for the room is essential for effective cooling. Natural Resources Canada's guidance is 200 BTU per hour for each square metre of room space — approximately 20 BTU per square foot. The table below provides approximate sizing for common room sizes at a standard 8-foot ceiling height:

Rooms with high sun exposure, poor insulation, high ceilings, or large open-plan layouts with adjacent uncooled spaces benefit from selecting the next BTU tier above the calculated minimum. Under-sizing a portable AC will result in the unit running continuously without reaching the set temperature.

Understanding BTU Ratings: SACC vs ASHRAE

Since October 2017, portable air conditioners sold in Canada and the United States are required to display a SACC (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) BTU rating, established by the US Department of Energy. SACC accounts for real-world factors including varying outdoor temperatures, humidity levels, and — for single-hose models — the effect of infiltration air drawn into the room. The older ASHRAE testing standard rated units under controlled ideal conditions, producing higher numbers for the same unit. A unit that was rated 14,000 BTU under ASHRAE might carry a SACC rating of 10,000 BTU. When comparing product listings, confirming which standard the stated BTU figure uses ensures an accurate comparison between models.

Portable Heat Pumps

A portable heat pump uses the same refrigerant-cycle mechanism as a standard portable AC but includes a reversing valve that allows the cycle to run in both directions. In cooling mode it operates identically to a standard portable AC. In heating mode it extracts heat from outdoor air and transfers it into the room. Portable heat pumps are effective for supplemental heating in mild to moderately cold temperatures and provide a single unit that covers both seasonal needs. Their heating efficiency decreases as outdoor temperatures drop below approximately −5°C to −15°C depending on the model, at which point a dedicated heating appliance is more effective.

Shopping for Portable ACs at The Brick

The most useful details to confirm before purchasing are the room's square footage and ceiling height to calculate the required BTU, whether SACC or ASHRAE BTU is stated in the product listing, whether single-hose or dual-hose configuration suits the room size and sealing, and whether heating mode is needed year-round. Current availability and delivery details are best confirmed on the individual product page.

FAQ About Portable Air Conditioners

How does a portable air conditioner work?

A portable air conditioner draws warm room air across an internal evaporator coil, which removes heat from the air and returns cooled, dehumidified air to the room. The extracted heat is transferred to a condenser coil and expelled outside through an exhaust hose connected to a window kit. The refrigerant cycle runs continuously until the set temperature is reached, then cycles on and off to maintain it.

What is the difference between single-hose and dual-hose portable ACs?

Single-hose units expel hot air outside through one hose, drawing both the room air for cooling and the condenser air from inside the room. This creates negative pressure that draws warm outside air in through gaps in the building envelope, which the unit then also has to cool. Dual-hose units draw outside air in through one hose for condenser cooling and expel it through a second hose, avoiding the negative pressure effect and cooling the room more efficiently — particularly in larger spaces or during sustained high outdoor temperatures.

What does SACC BTU mean on a portable AC?

SACC (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) is the DOE-mandated BTU rating system for portable air conditioners introduced in 2017. It produces a weighted average of cooling performance across varying temperature and humidity conditions, and accounts for infiltration air in single-hose units. SACC ratings are lower than the older ASHRAE ratings for the same unit. When comparing models, confirm whether the listed BTU figure is a SACC or ASHRAE rating, as mixing the two standards when comparing makes the comparison inaccurate.

What size portable AC do I need for my room?

The Canadian federal guideline from Natural Resources Canada is 200 BTU per hour per square metre of room space — approximately 20 BTU per square foot. A 250 sq ft bedroom needs approximately 8,000 BTU (SACC); a 450 sq ft living room needs approximately 12,000 BTU (SACC). Add one BTU tier for rooms with high sun exposure, high ceilings, or poor insulation. The BTU figure used in the product listing should be SACC for an accurate comparison.

Can I use a portable air conditioner in an apartment?

Yes. Portable air conditioners are a common choice for apartments because they require no external brackets or permanent installation. The window kit seals against the window frame to accommodate the exhaust hose without structural modification, which makes them compatible with most apartment building regulations that restrict window-mount or wall-mount units.

What is the difference between a portable air conditioner and a portable heat pump?

A standard portable air conditioner only cools. A portable heat pump uses a reversing valve to run the refrigerant cycle in both directions, providing cooling in summer and supplemental heating in winter from a single unit. Heat pump heating efficiency decreases as outdoor temperatures drop below approximately −5°C to −15°C depending on the specific model.