PACs typically fall in the middle ground compared with the costs of other cooling options. Portable air conditioners offer a distinct alternative to complex HVAC systems and basic cooling fans. These self-contained, mobile systems cater to spaces ranging in size from dens to garages, provided you have a nearby window through which to vent hot air. Like any electric cooling solution, however, the benefits provided by PACs come at a cost. The impact your PAC has on your electricity bill depends on the size of the unit, your utility provider's rate and other factors. Energy Estimates Portable air conditioners range from compact, rolling boxes to mini-fridge-size towers. Likewise, they vary greatly in energy ratings, which are measured in British thermal unit, the amount of energy needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. This measurement translates to how much heat your PAC can remove from the room each hour. Especially compact PACs cool about 150 square feet and feature a BTU rating of about 7,500.

Mid-range models cool about 300 square feet and output 10,000 BTUs while the largest PACs cover roughly 500 square feet and run at 14,000 BTUs. Converting Energy to Cents Converting BTUs to kilowatt-hours, a measurement equal to one kilowatt of power consumption per hour, you'll find that a 7,500-BTU PAC consumes about 2.2 kWh, a 10,000-BTU unit 2.9 kWh, and a 14,000-BTU unit 4.1 kWh. As of 2014, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that one kilowatt-hour of energy usage costs about 16.18 cents in California, for instance. At this rate, running a small, medium or large PAC for eight hours a day would cost roughly $2.84, $3.75 or $5.31, respectively. For 30 days of use, these figures come to $85.20, $112.50 and $159.30. Considering the Variables In addition to BTU ratings and hours of use, location plays a major role in PAC operating cost; for example, the EIA estimates that electricity costs 21.75 cents per kWh in New York, 9.78 cents in Tennessee and 12.74 cents in the District of Columbia, with a national average of 11.88 cents.

A longer hose causes your PAC to use more energy, as it diverts hot air through the length of the hose. Similarly, MSN Real Estate estimates that a 10-year-old air conditioner is only about half as efficient as a newly purchased unit. In Comparison According to 2013 reports from the “Rapid City Journal,” running a portable air conditioner uses as little as one-eighth of the electricity required to run a central air-conditioning unit, which roughly translates to one-eighth of the cost, as well. central air conditioning units wichita ksUnlike central cooling, which cools the entire house, PACs cool only one room at a time. air handling units yorkshireIn 2013, Home Energy Pros -- “Home Energy” magazine's website -- noted that PACs offer roughly half the cooling power of window air conditioners. firebird ac unit

Duke Energy estimates that ceiling fans consume about 23.4 kWh per month, placing them at an average operating cost of only $2.78 per month, according to EIA's 2014 national averages. However, ceiling fans only provide a breeze; they do not actually cool air. References Sylvane: Knowledge Center: Portable Air Conditioners Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)U.S. Energy Information Administration Independent Statistics and Analysis: Electric Power Monthly: Table 5.6.A. Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, February 2014 and 2013 (Cents per Kilowatt-hour)Rapid City Journal: Is a Portable AC Unit Cheaper Than Central Air?Duke Energy: Electric Appliance Operating Cost ListHome Energy Pros: Warnings About Portable Air ConditionersMSN Real Estate: 27 Cheap Ways to Keep Your House Cooler Photo Credits Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images Suggest a Correction Great features- reminder to clean filter, easy to set timer, energy saver mode (admittedly the on and off nature of this featre can get annoying, but works great if youre not watching tv or something like that).

Installed this in the spring 3 years ago, and after that time and removals and re installations, it is still as quiet and as cool as the day we bought it. When it came time to replace the unit in our bedroom, I didn't hesitate to go purchase the 8k BTU model of the same unit. Little issues are the reason I didnt give 5 stars. Controlls are extrememly hard to read, especially the remote, and after 3 years I still havent memorized the button locations. The remote is also tiny, about half the size of a smartphone, it is constantly getting lost for days at a time. There are two tiny metal clamps that hold the accordian panels on the side in place- they are not attached to the panels in any way, and got lost over the last winter- I managed to fabricate something that serves the same purpose. I was happy with it's cooling capacity. It kept our bedroom cool. We bought the unit 2 years ago and kept it in the box during winter and plugged it up in the spring. 18 months later it stopped working.

Thankfully we paid $65 for the 3 year warranty. The repairman told us it would have cost around $300 to repair. The computer chip went out. He said it was common for this product. Bought this Kenmore air conditioner to cool down the lower level of my house. Works like a charm and am very pleased with the purchase. Would definitely buy again if needed. My husband and i were looking for room condtioner for days nd days and we couldnt find one that fitted our budget and quality of product was the main thing for us..so after looking at diffrent stores and searching online for one we finally got to to sears and found the one that we liked and at the best price.. we actually got this item with a big discount because we had alot of points in our SHOP YOUR WAY REWARDS program and thank to this program we saved alot of money and the quality of this product was super excellent  thank you SEARS . We are definitely making this store our first choice  to shop at........ For a brand new item it don't seem to cool as good as the old one that i replaced.

100 years of kenmore contest not happy for the price doesn't cool room enough and my room isn't bigwish I would have tried a bigger one Workes more like an 8000 btu It's ok, but I feel it's a little weak, feels like an 8000, not a 10000 one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen sev one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen nineteen twenty Good unit (10,000btu model) but too loud We have had this unit since May 2012. It cools our area living area (25x15) well but is just too loud to keep it on high for long periods of time. Measured at the unit, it is between 72 and 75 dB. Seven feet away, it drops to 65. but it is still too loud to watch TV or carry on a decent conversation with anyone with hearing difficulties. I bought this unit online and picked it up at the store. It's really quiet and cools the bedroom nicely.

Purchased the Air conditioner for my mother. Easy to install and mount I purchased this air conditioner to replace a thirteen year old Maytag unit that quit cooling. Works great, is more quiet than old unit, and cools great. EXHAUST & FRESH AIR EXCHNGE. 68 NOT "78" LBS. Kenmore is made by Frigidaire, & this largest of the small a/c's still not needing outside window brace really cools & reviewers say pumps humidity out too. Box says 68 not "78" lbs, but it's a 2-person lift. Chosen for hard-to-find vent to exhaust stale/hot air or also draw in fresh air when cool outside (I wish bigger hole & less brittle potentially breakable control), this has many features inc nice remote, timer & sleep settings, 3 fan speeds & a Fan Only setting good to exhaust/exchange in cool autumn/winter/ spring. Hope brittle plastic hinges of removable not "tilt out" filter cover last to clean out bugs & add add'l better cut-to-fit washable filter mesh from home improvement stores. It's Filter Reset Light is a must for me to keep air clean & coils from freezing over.

Sears protection during mfr wty period than home improvement stores, this 1-yr mfr wty does not cover power surge but this a/c is eligible for good buy Sears Master Protection Agreement $65 full service inc annual maintenance costs little more than lower BTU mere Replacement Plan. Online Help rang up Sears installation $110, & all w/ promo & SYW Rewards discounts it was a good buy even before. Ask installer to look over all pieces & directions/photos before installing (some of mine not right by "quick & dirty" plumber dad & leaving too much to apprentice son). I am very happy with this air conditioner. It was the easiest air conditioner I have ever installed. I absolutely love this 10000 BTU AC unitIt is easy to install, cools the room really well, *************, I absolutely love this 10000 BTU AC unit. It?s the best yet!!! Quiet, powerful, efficient, and I'm in line for a rebate. I can't believe I waited this long to update my 17 year old air conditioner. Some people say they ain't built like they used to be--well good riddance!

This new AC is so far superior to my old one, I really don't care if it lasts 17 years. It cools the whole place better, is quieter, has a remote, is more compact and lighter, and it has energy saving features. I couldn't be more pleased. I got it with the 5 year home protection agreement and it was installed in a a snap. much quieter than previous AC it has some nice features such as the in and out vent tab if ya want a breath of fresh air you can get it! This wonderful air conditioner. Cooled our entire ranch still home in a matter of 2 hours we could feel the difference. Sears is always a excellent go to for all home related items. This is a very nice window air conditioner. The sales person was excellent and helped me pick the right model for our area. I was able to install it myself. Not too much in weight or size but very powerful. We have a 100 yr older house and the floor plan is broken up but now we are able to sit in the living room again and enjoy evening TV.