Window AC

A window air conditioner is a portable air-conditioning unit that attaches to the side of a window. It comes in different sizes from small units that can cool one or two rooms, up to large units capable of cooling an entire house. A wall-mounted air conditioner is a larger unit found on the outside of your home.

Though it has a similar design and capacity as a window air conditioner, it’s typically less expensive and takes up less room on your property compared to having a free-standing air conditioner built into your home’s construction.

For most people, however, it’s usually difficult to install new windows in their homes especially if they are older structures. In some cases, homeowners might think about demolishing a small wall to make space for a window AC or just moving an existing window that is close enough to the ceiling of the room where the air conditioner will be installed.

This can easily solve the issue of air circulation and room cooling requirements but there’s still one problem. Since you’ve blocked open space with an air conditioner on top of your previously-existing windows and since your home already has its own circulating system and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system which operates using its own airflow to cool down your entire house, then chances are there will be some overlapping.

As a result, you might end up in an uncomfortable hot room because the cold air coming from the AC doesn’t pass through properly due to less air circulation or vice versa.

Portable AC

A portable air conditioner is a convenient appliance that can also provide you with adequate room cooling. It’s highly recommended for homes that are located in areas where weather is fairly constant and without intense heatwaves compared to those living in places with intense summer heat and freezing conditions during winter.

A portable AC has similar features to a window AC except it doesn’t need additional space like its stationary counterpart does since it is self-sufficient and comes with all the components and devices needed for proper functioning including an internal blower, condenser coil unit, evaporator coil inside the air conditioner’s control panel, connecting tubes and more.

What makes this type of AC more convenient than any other standard kind of heater or air conditioner is that it isn’t as complex as the latter units. A window or wall AC has its own HVAC system and requires an in-depth installation process, unlike a portable air conditioner which only needs to be plugged into an existing electrical socket for it to run.

Also, moving this type of AC from one room or area of your home to another is considerably easier than installing a new unit in the house.

The main difference between this standard AC device compared to other types available in the market is that when you buy one for your home, you won’t need any additional construction that will affect your property’s overall look or design exterior at all.

Which one is quieter?

Noise is one of the most common considerations when buying an air conditioner.

Window ACs are by far the noisiest kind of ACs; they utilize a Whisper Cooling technology which serves as noise insulation and minimizes sound levels for better room cooling. This innovative technology has been designed to allow you to hear your favorite television shows or music with less interference and more comfort and privacy even if there’s a window air conditioner right outside your home’s windows.

Portable ACs on the other hand, don’t come with such features – there aren’t any special devices that will minimize noise levels like in window units so sound can be heard easily especially during times when these appliances run at maximum power consumption rates (e.g. when the indoor and outdoor temperatures are different.)

Energy efficiency of both types

Energy efficiency is one of the most important considerations when choosing between the window or portable ACs.

Window air conditioners are very energy efficient compared to their smaller counterparts because they utilize a unique design that is capable of cooling down your entire room’s area rather than just cooling the space where it’s located at. With this feature though, comes higher running costs since these kinds of appliances are powered by electricity 24/7. This translates into higher utility bills even if you use them for small indoor spaces only.

Portable ACs have lower power consumption rates so they cost less to maintain in terms of electrical costs compared to window units but they can’t match up with window ACs concerning interior room coverage per unit capacity, so you might need more than one appliance to cool down the entire space.

Do these ACs have heaters?

Yes, both window and portable air conditioners can come with heaters for colder indoor temperatures.

You should only buy a heater to go with your air conditioner if you want to save money once winter season comes so that you won’t have to turn on your home’s furnace as much as usual.

Moreover, a lot of other benefits are also included when choosing a heater for an AC – these advantages include having better control over room temperature compared to using traditional central heating systems, preventing frozen pipes that may lead to water damage claims against you from your insurance provider, lower energy consumption rates during the coldest months of the year and more.

Do they have a remote control?

Window ACs are provided with remote control units so they can easily be operated from afar even if you’re in the next room or outside your home.

Portable air conditioners usually don’t come with this feature, although more expensive models might include one or two that can be used for additional convenience.

Are they both Wi-fi enabled?

One of the newest features of window air conditioners is their ability to connect with your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Only select brands and models offer this capability which allows you to control them remotely using your smartphone or other internet-ready devices like tablets, laptops, desktops, etc.

This feature can be very useful especially if you’re not at home but wish to set the temperature inside your house or keep your pets cool without having to carry any remote control units around.

Portable air conditioners do not have this capability, however. Even if you’ve purchased the most expensive units available in the market, they still won’t be compatible with your home’s Wi-fi system.

Are they both smart?

Wall-mounted ACs allow you to auto-set their airflow speed and temperature levels using a thermostat/timer function. When it’s on, these units will automatically adjust their fan speeds as well as cooling power to maintain a room’s optimal comfort level throughout the entire day or night.

This feature is also called “smart control technology” since it allows for less energy consumption while providing faster room cooling rates which translates into saving more money from utility bills compared to those that use preset buttons or manual adjustments all the time.

Which one is better for summer and winter?

Window units are the best choice for cooling down small spaces since they have better interior coverage per unit capacity. Because of their larger sizes, you’ll only need to install one window air conditioner in order to cool an entire room or several rooms at once if they are placed outside of your home.

Portable ACs on the other hand, can be more difficult to use especially during summer seasons because they are designed for small areas like offices, bedrooms, and studios/apartments which don’t need chilling that much.  

Also, portable air conditioners might not be able to match up with wall-mounted versions concerning noise levels during operation hours, so this must also be taken into consideration when making your final buying decision.  Some models might be louder than others but wall-mounted air conditioners are better in this regard.

Which brand is better?

Both types of air conditioners offered by top companies like LG, Daikin, and Toshiba are made with innovative designs to make them more convenient to use while still having lower power input rates for energy-saving capabilities.  

High-end models have smart functions that let you turn them on or off remotely using your smartphone or any other internet-ready device during emergencies where the power goes out which can’t be done with standard ACs that don’t have Wi-Fi connections.

More expensive window ACs will also have larger capacities so they’ll even cool down bigger rooms at once without the need for additional appliances placed outside your home.

Portable ACs on the other hand are more compact than window units so it’s easier to carry them around if you travel a lot or go camping with friends and family during the summer months. They can also be set up in minutes which is really useful especially when the temperature outside is scorching hot and there’s no power available to use your wall-mounted AC.

Portable air conditioners don’t come cheap though, so expect to pay quite more for these units than their window counterparts.

Final word

Window units are slightly more expensive than portable air conditioners but they also offer better features that should be taken into consideration before making your final buying decision.