TOP 12 Best Portable Air Conditioner For 500 Square Feet Of 2023

Choosing the right portable air conditioner for your home is not a simple task. You will need to take into consideration several factors like size, energy efficiency, cooling capacity, noise levels, and more.

In this article, we will share some of the most important things to consider when buying portable AC units.

Hose Configuration

Portable air conditioners come in two basic types:

With a direct drain hose: which is usually located on the back of the unit;

Without a direct drain hose: which requires an external bucket or pan for drainage.

While both types are easy to use and maintain, consider whether having a direct drain hose will be more convenient for you or not. If so, go ahead and purchase a portable air conditioner for sliding doors with this built-in feature.

Energy Efficiency

The government has set energy efficiency standards for all products sold in the United States including portable air conditioners. The higher the SEER rating number (between 13-16), the more energy efficient it is — meaning it uses less electricity to perform its job than other models with lower SEER ratings (10-12).

Air Filter

The air filter is crucial in ensuring that your home is free from dust, pollen, and other allergens.

The three main types of air filters are:

HEPA Filters: HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air”. These filters remove 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns or larger in diameter.

Washable Pre-filter: This is a great feature for people who have pets and kids. The filter can be cleaned anytime you want, so you don’t have to worry about the health of your family members, such as The Whynter ARC-14S.

Activated Carbon Filters: Activated carbon filters are used to remove odors from the air by reducing the size of the molecules. They can also remove some gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.

Operational Mode

There are four modes of operation for portable air conditioners:

Auto: The auto mode is the default setting, automatically adjusting the temperature to achieve a consistent room temperature. This is ideal for rooms with multiple occupants who like different temperatures.

Cool: The cool mode will lower the temperature in your room by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're looking for a quick way to cool down a small room, this is the best option.

Heat: If you live in a warm climate or want to use your unit as a heater during winter months, then this mode is perfect for you. Heat mode can raise the temperature by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dehumidifier: If you want your portable air conditioner to remove excess moisture from indoor air, then dehumidifier mode is right for you. This feature allows users to choose how much moisture they want to be removed from their home's environment (i.e., normal humidity levels or completely dry air), such as The Airo Comfort Portable.

Noise Level

Your apartment may not be so big but it is still important that you consider the noise level of your portable AC unit. The reason is that if it makes too much noise, then it can disrupt your daily life and even cause health problems due to stress caused by loud sounds. So make sure that you choose one which has low noise levels so that you can enjoy peace and quiet even after using it for hours together.

Air Flow

This is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) which tells how fast the current passes through an area or object. So look for a portable AC unit which has high CFM so that it can cover a large area quickly and easily without any problem whatsoever!

Questions and answers about portable air conditioner for 500 square feet:

Can I use a portable air conditioner to cool a room that’s larger than 500 square feet?

You can use a portable air conditioner to cool a room larger than 500 square feet, but you will need to purchase multiple units to do so. If your home is over 2,000 square feet, consider investing in an entire central HVAC system instead of using multiple smaller units.

My house is only 800 square feet, but it doesn’t have central air conditioning. Could I use a portable air conditioner instead?

Portable air conditioners are not designed for homes without central air or other cooling systems installed in the house. You will be better off installing central HVAC if possible because portable systems are not as efficient and may be too expensive to run all day long just to keep your home comfortable.

Is there any problem with using a portable air conditioner for 500 square feet in a small room?

Yes, there is a problem. Portable air conditioners are designed to cool one room at a time. If you have several rooms that need cooling, then you will have to buy another portable air conditioner for a large room. You must also remember that the size of the room matters most when choosing an air conditioner.

That concludes our top Best Portable Air Conditioner For 500 Square Feet recommendations. As long as you stick within the 500 square feet target size, any one of these units should prove to be sufficient. We recommend that you choose a unit with a remote control, however, which will let you turn the unit on or off without having to walk over to it.