Mobile air conditioner without duct – a convenient solution or an imitation of cooling

Ensuring that our homes are at the ideal temperature becomes a top priority as we strive to be comfortable during the hot summers and cold winters. In the winter, insulation and heating are essential for keeping a comfortable temperature, and in the summer, air conditioning systems save the day. The market now provides a range of options, including ductless mobile air conditioners, thanks to technological advancements. These gadgets seem convenient and portable, but do they actually provide adequate cooling, or are they merely band-aid fixes?

Ductless mobile air conditioners have drawn interest due to their versatility and ease of installation. These units function independently and just need a power source and an outlet for the hot air to be expelled, in contrast to traditional air conditioning systems that need intricate ductwork. Many homeowners looking for a quick fix for cooling particular areas without the hassle of lengthy installations find this simplicity appealing.

The ease of use of ductless mobile air conditioners begs the question of their effectiveness in comparison to more conventional cooling systems. In smaller spaces, they might provide instant relief, but their energy efficiency and cooling capacity might be constrained. In larger rooms or open-plan areas, these units may find it difficult to maintain desired temperatures if there are no ducts to effectively channel hot air outside.

Furthermore, the lack of ducting in portable air conditioners may affect how well they dehumidify. Conventional systems use ducts to remove moisture from the air and distribute cool air, making the interior environment more comfortable. In humid climates where moisture control is crucial, mobile units might not be able to provide adequate cooling without this feature.

It’s important for consumers to take into account variables like room size, desired comfort levels, and climate conditions when weighing the benefits and drawbacks of mobile air conditioners without ducts. These units are portable and convenient, but their cooling capacity might not be as high as that of more conventional ductless systems. In the end, the choice depends on personal tastes, financial limitations, and the unique cooling requirements of each household.

Why you need window ducting

We advise starting by thinking about the reasons why portable coolers need to have the air vented outside of the room in order to function. Let’s take a moment to go over the components and working theory of conventional monoblock air conditioners.

The entire home climate control unit is housed in a single, wheeled body. There are the following components inside:

• 2 heat exchangers – evaporator and condenser;
• Two fans that drive air currents through these heaters;
• compressor unit;
• expansion valve;
• electronic control unit, sensors.

Compressor, expansion valve, and heat exchangers are connected via tubes that hold Freon, a unique type of refrigerant. The compressor’s pumped pressure keeps the latter circulating.

As a point of reference. The ability of freons to boil and transition into a gaseous phase at negative temperatures (-10…-40 °C) is their primary characteristic.

Every refrigerating device, such as split systems and air conditioners, uses the Carnot cycle—the process of transferring thermal energy through the evaporation and condensation of refrigerant—in its operation. How it takes place:

1. Freon in liquid state is fed to the first heat exchanger, blown by hot room air. The substance evaporates and takes away the lion"s share of heat from the air stream – this is how room cooling is realized.
2. The "energized" refrigerant passes through the compressor unit, which raises the gas pressure. This will force the Freon to condense at a higher temperature.
3. When entering another heat exchanger (condenser) blown by the second fan, the refrigerant changes to liquid state and returns the heat energy reserve. Then freon flows to the expansion valve and is fed to the evaporator again, as it is shown on the scheme.

The evaporator’s cooled stream enters the apartment. Where does the condenser’s heated air go? It is evident that throwing it back into the room will cause the air conditioning to shut off. For this reason, a large diameter hose must be used to redirect the hot air stream to the street.

Key point. The pipe that runs from the cooling unit to the outside serves as a conduit for removing extra heat energy from the space.

The traditional home portable air conditioner with a pipe is incredibly effective. In winter mode, it generates at least 300 W of heat or cold using 100 W of electricity. Additionally, there are portable versions that have two ducts that are brought outside and used to cool the condenser. View the following video for further details on the subject:

How coolers without a hose work

It has come to our attention that conventional home air conditioners are unable to operate effectively without releasing heated air outdoors. In fact, manufacturers provide us with climate units that operate on an entirely different principle.

The components of a ductless mobile cooler are as follows:

• lightweight portable housing on wheels;
• air filter;
• fan;
• water filter;
• a container filled with water;
• pump;
• tube electric heater (TEN);
• control and automation unit.

Note: The majority of models come with remote controls, based on current trends.

We offer the floor air conditioner operating algorithm as stated by one of the manufacturers:

1. The electric fan blows air through 2 filters – a coarse filter and a water filter.
2. A water filter is a material with fine cells that is wetted by means of a pump. Passing through the cloth, the air stream is cleaned of dust and moisturized.
3. The second function of the water filter is cooling, which occurs due to the phase transition of water from liquid to gaseous state. In contact with hot air, it vaporizes and takes away a significant part of the heat, lowering the temperature of the flow by 5-7 degrees.
4. Properly placed in the room, the cooler creates a cushion of air that prevents cooled air from escaping to the outside through an open window opening or balcony.
5. In the "winter" mode, the air is heated by an electric heating element.

The manufacturer advises using the mobile air conditioner with the window open and without an air duct, as well as adding gel thermocells, also known as cold accumulators, to the tank. You don’t need a hot air outlet pipe. Watch the manufacturer’s video to see how it actually appears, but don’t take it personally:

Credibility of air conditioners

Let us now examine the credibility of the data displayed in every item on the list:

1. Fan-driven air injection and two-stage filtration are indeed present. At the same time there is humidification of the flow.
2. Cooling the air environment by 5-7 °C by evaporation is a myth. Flow with a temperature of +30 … +40 ° C is unable to heat water to 100 degrees and turn it into steam.
3. Heat energy input from the street through an open aperture can limit (but not exclude) the flow of air by a fan!) only an air curtain. A cooling unit without a hose does not create this, so the air cushion claim is not true.
4. Heating during the winter period from the heating element takes place.

To be clear. The moisture-saturated material is simply torn apart and carried away by the air stream that is passing through it. The operation of conventional humidifiers and climate systems is comparable.

In actuality, floor air conditioners without ducts are only used for cleaning, heating, and humidifying the home; they are not used for cooling individual rooms. In the instruction manual, the manufacturer expressly states that opening a window is required for the device to function; it should not be used in a closed space. This makes sense because overwatering will make the residents stuffy rather than cool.

Regarding indoor comfort, there is an ongoing discussion regarding the efficacy of portable air conditioners that do not have ducts. Convenient cooling solutions without the hassle of installation are promised by these stylish, ductless units. However, there is still debate among homeowners regarding their effectiveness. Supporters emphasize how portable and simple they are to operate, but detractors doubt their capacity to effectively cool an area. Are these ductless wonders really a cooling solution, or are they just comfort illusions? In the pursuit of indoor comfort, we can determine whether mobile air conditioners without ducts are a wise investment or simply a fad by looking at variables like cooling power, energy efficiency, and general convenience.

Positive and negative sides of the product

Floor models of air conditioners without a street outlet are primarily disadvantageous because they essentially only moisturize the air rather than cool it. However, if you have already purchased one of these devices, don’t rush to be disappointed; instead, let’s look for the actual benefits of the item:

• complete lack of installation – to start the household appliance is enough to plug it into a socket;
• high mobility – the unit can be easily moved around the apartment or private house;
• low weight in comparison with freon "brothers";
• economical consumption of electricity (until the TEN is turned on);
• affordability – the price of the device is about 20% lower than a full-fledged cooler;
• quiet operation – the design provides for one fan instead of two.

Note: The combined energy consumption of the air conditioner’s fan and water pump is as low as 200W, literally pennies. However, you must activate the heating mode; otherwise, the heating element will begin "winding" 2-3 kW on the meter each hour.

We have to acknowledge that the products under consideration are functionally up to date and have a modern design. For example, the fan and pump have multiple operating modes, the heating temperature control is controlled, the display is digital, and so on.

Now let’s talk about the drawbacks of using a mobile air conditioner without an air hose:

1. No pipe – there is no channel for removing excess heat to the street. Summer heat, which has penetrated into the apartment from outside, remains inside, no matter how much the climate unit works in maximum mode.
2. The device does not have a function of maintaining the temperature of the cooled room. It is not surprising – the conditioner does not produce cold. Only the heating temperature is controlled.
3. The feeling of coolness occurs in the first 10-30 minutes after switching on. Then the air is saturated with water vapor and becomes stuffy. It is not for nothing that the manufacturer recommends opening the windows.
4. The internal tank needs to be refilled with water, preferably with very cold water. Even better – put ice or gel thermoaccumulators, previously frozen in the refrigerator, in the container. Which will also release heat into the room – it"s a circular process.
5. Heating mode loses to conventional split-systems in terms of efficiency – TEN converts electricity into heat with 99% efficiency (one to one kilowatt). Split takes heat from the outside and transfers it inside the room, spending 1/3 of the electricity.

Advice: Check out the computation in the manual for building a DIY air conditioner to determine how much ice is required to cool the space.

Feedback from users on forums

When the benefits and drawbacks of water conditioners are added together, the result is an ugly picture: for 20% less than a traditional cooler, you get an air heater, purifier, and partially functional humidifier with no control over relative humidity. According to user feedback, we can read the following:

Valentin Volgodonsk, a man.

I purchased a similar "conditioner" last year; it was really hot and had a smoke haze. Instead of dealing with installation, I wanted to find a quick solution to the issue. As a result, the gadget produces noise, hums, and offers no heat protection at all. There is a silver lining: minimal electricity usage. I made contact with the office regarding split-system installation.

Although I purchased a model KIBOR-25, I was unable to test it out. The appliance began beeping every ten minutes after it was turned on, indicating a problem with the cooling function. Even so, the air that emerged from the grille was cool. Returned it, believing it to be a factory defect.

D. Pervomaysk, Igor.

I was initially drawn to it because it was inexpensive for a home appliance and lightweight, making it portable and pipe-connection-free. The vendor clarified that the air conditioner is only referred to nominally and that the gadget is more closely related to cold generators. I filled it with water, turned it on, and waited for calm at home. I opened the balcony window since it was stuffy at first, even though I liked it. Actually, it didn’t get any colder because the unit couldn’t handle the hot wind coming from the balcony. I installed a standard air conditioner this year.

Not very knowledgeable about the laws of physics and not fully cognizant of how the cooler operated. I purchased it, set it up, and everything works well for me. You won’t get sick from the fan’s cold air. A few cold accumulators were thrown into the container along with the desired cooler. The cost is fairly equitable.

Final conclusions

Prior to closing, the following manufacturers of air conditioners without an external duct connection are briefly listed:

• Vektor;
• Honeywell (nothing to do with the American brand of the same name, which offers piping and radiator fittings);
• Kibor.

In technical terms, a climate unit that is placed on the floor is unquestionably an air conditioner. Recall the definition: the process of achieving a desired air quality is known as air conditioning. Cleaning, heating, cooling, and humidification/dehumidification are all included in this.

One issue is that these gadgets saturate the air with moisture instead of cooling it. The purchase point is gone because a regular humidifier is far more affordable, smaller, and comes with air humidity control in many models.

Finally, no respectable brand—not even Chinese ones—will begin producing air conditioners without a drain pipe. This is a compelling case for the traditional split systems. If you’re looking for a floor model, get one that has an indoor unit that is fixed above the baseboard.

The selection of cooling systems available can be bewildering when it comes to keeping our homes comfortable during the summer’s intense heat. Among the choices available, ductless mobile air conditioners have become a popular and practical choice for many. The promise of cooling provided by these portable units comes without the trouble of installation or ductwork requirements. Still, it’s unclear if they can actually cool our homes or if they’re just imitations of conventional air conditioning.

The portability of ductless mobile air conditioners is one of their main advantages. These portable air conditioners provide focused cooling where it’s most needed, unlike window units or even conventional central air conditioning systems. Because of their adaptability, they are a desirable choice for homeowners or renters who might not be able to install permanent fixtures or who wish to save money on the cost of a complete HVAC system.

Nevertheless, in comparison to their ducted counterparts, mobile air conditioners without ducts frequently lack the cooling capacity. They can be difficult to use to cool larger areas or poorly insulated rooms because they rely on hoses to vent hot air out of windows or doors. They might also have a limited ability to cool, which makes them less appropriate for regions with exceptionally high temperatures.

Moreover, there may be disagreements regarding the energy efficiency of ductless mobile air conditioners. Compared to other cooling options, they can still be relatively inefficient, even though they might use less energy than central air conditioning systems. Over time, heat infiltration from the outdoors may result from the constant need to vent hot air outside, which could lower overall efficiency and raise energy costs.

In summary, although ductless mobile air conditioners provide a versatile and easy-to-use cooling option for numerous homes, their efficiency might not always match that of conventional air conditioning systems. They are attractive in certain scenarios, like cooling individual rooms or areas without ductwork, because of their portability and simplicity of use. However, in larger areas or in areas with intense heat, their efficacy might be restricted. The choice to purchase a mobile air conditioner without ducts ultimately comes down to a number of variables, including the size of the room, the local climate, and the convenience and efficiency levels that the buyer finds appealing.

Video on the topic

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