How to Vent a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window

If you are looking to get a portable air conditioner but lack a window, you may wonder how you can properly vent it outdoors.

If you’re wanting to vent your portable air conditioner without a window, you can choose from options such as side wall, ceiling, dryer, door and chimney vents.

Below you’ll find out exactly how to use these venting options to vent your portable air conditioner even without a window.

Let’s get started.

5 Ways to Vent a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window

1. Side Wall Vent Option

If you can’t vent your portable air conditioner through a window, you can vent it through the wall.

Most rooms aren’t going to naturally have a 6-diameter hole (standard measurement, but yours may be different).

You’re going to want to make the hole yourself so you can vent your AC unit through it.

All you need is a power drill, and to measure the diameter of the hose, the vent will fit and match it to the wall.

Keep in mind that this method can only be used for a single-hose portable AC unit. If you have a two-hose portable ac unit, you will need more than one hole.

While the two-hose units are more energy-efficient, not everyone likes drilling holes into their wall. You have to weigh the pros and cons and see if it’s worth it to you.

Usually, if it’s the only option to cool down, it’s worth an extra hole, mainly since it’s much better at cooling than single house counterparts.

Another thing to keep in mind for this type of project is the type of wall you have.

For example, if you have a reinforced steel wall, you are going to want a professional to take over the project for you you’ll need special tools to cut through the wall.

Also, try to choose a thin portion of the wall in your room; it will be a lot easier.

If you don’t like to attempt DIY stuff like this, an HVAC professional can help you with the project.

2. Door Vent (Sliding door even better)

While some rooms lack a window, there are no doorless rooms.

You can easily vent your portable air conditioner through the door. Of course, this depends on where your door leads.

It’s going to be beneficial if you have sliding glass doors to vent the portable ac unit outside.

If your door leads to another room or a hallway, it’s not going to be ideal to vent the AC into other parts of your house (unless no one lives there, like a garage).

Depending on the room you have without a window, you may want to consider installing a sliding door.

3. Ceiling Venting

Another option is to vent your portable air conditioning unit via a drop ceiling.

Usually, modern homes don’t have these, but office buildings and older homes sometimes do.

Drop ceilings are normally in a high-ceiling older house or older building.

If you plan on installing the ceiling venting yourself, you will need a special drop ceiling vent kit.

These can allow the hose length to extend at least another 10 feet and are typically universal and fit most portable air conditioner units.

4. Dryer Vent

There is no difference between the dimensions of a portable ac vent and a dryer vent.

If you’re going to use a dryer vent, you can use the same hole when installing a vent and hose for a portable air conditioner with no window.

This usually isn’t the recommended route, so be sure to work with an HVAC professional to ensure there isn’t a more suitable solution for your house.

Dryer vents can be a source of problems in the summertime, so you must be aware of all the risks before making this decision.

If you’re having trouble finding a way to vent your portable AC unit, using your dryer vent is an option. Just be sure that it’s cleaned and in good condition before using it.

5. Chimney Venting Method

This method is one of the last methods you should use, just like the dryer vent route.

If you do vent with your chimney, be sure that it is unused. Installing a hose through a chimney can be a little tricky.

It’s best to work with a professional to install the chimney vent.

It can be challenging to find the right opening and seal everything up tight to avoid air leakage.

Can I Use a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window?

You can use a door vent, ceiling vent, chimney vent, or another method.

If none of those work for you, another option is to install sliding doors and vent through that or your wall.

Keep in mind that if your room doesn’t have a window and you’re using one of these other methods, it’s not going to be able to cool properly.

Window installation is always the best way to go, but these other methods can help cool down your room in a pinch.

What happens if You Don’t Vent Portable Air Conditioners?

If you don’t vent your portable AC unit, the hot air created when making cool air will simply recirculate around your room.

If you don’t vent your portable air conditioner, then it won’t cool down your room whatsoever.

Make sure you consult with an HVAC technician before attempting to vent your portable AC unit if you aren’t sure of the best plan of action.

Is There a Portable Air Conditioner That Doesn’t Have to be Vented Outside?

You won’t be able to find a true portable air conditioner that doesn’t need to be vented.

With physics at play, you need to create energy to cool down a room.

With that in mind, you won’t be able to physically cool down a room without creating hot air that needs to be vented.

There are other options like evaporative coolers, but they don’t work best indoors and aren’t going to be suitable to cool down a room like you would want it to.

Unfortunately, these are the issues you need to deal with when working with air conditioners.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t have a window, you can use a few other methods to vent the AC unit.

Though a window is the most efficient option, you can get portable air conditioners to work enough to provide comfort to you and your family.

You can also look into upgrading your existing portable air conditioner or make your portable air conditioner colder.

About Heather Burdo

With almost a decade of experience with digital marketing, Heather Burdo has gained diverse experience across a multitude of industries. You can reach her at [email protected]

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