Mobile air conditioning (MAC) uses moveable air conditioning units. In fact, some of them have wheels for easier portability. These MAC units do not need to be installed or fitted through a wall by professionals. These are placed on the floor of the room that you want to be cooled.
MAC units work just like other air conditioning units and refrigerators. They remove the heat from the air with the help of Freon then expel that warm air outside the building. If the warm air is not removed from the room, the air conditioning unit will not be able to cool the room well. This is why most air conditioning units have parts placed outside the building – to expel warm air.
MAC units do not have any parts that are placed outside the building. However, a 5 to 7-foot tube connected to the unit is placed through a window, door, or mail slot to force out warm air. When the MAC unit is moved from one room to another, the tube is taken with it.
MAC units are usually used in rented or temporary homes or apartments, and small offices or business establishments. They can also be used in rooms that already have air conditioning systems but remain a little too warm, such as:
- Computer server rooms
- Conference or training rooms unusually packed with people
The advantages of using MAC units are:
- No installation required
- Offers temporary cooling solution that can be put away when not in use
- Ideal for cooling a certain area or a single room in a house
- Portable/moveable – so a unit can be used in more than one area
- Can save on electrical cost because it is small and uses up less electricity
The disadvantages of using MAC units are:
- Quite noisy
- Unsuitable for large areas
- The need to leave a door or window open for the exhaust hose to pass through
- Some units manually require you to regularly empty the drain bucket
- More expensive than wall-mounted air conditioners.
Mobile air conditioning units may cost from $289.99 to $369.99. Popular brands include: Delonghi, Mistral, Hotpoint, Dimplex, Convair, and Blueway.
In buying one, choose a model that is energy efficient. It may be a little more expensive than other models, but in the long run, it will save you more money through lower electric bills.