A portable air conditioner can provide additional cooling in your home or workplace, and these are compact and space-saving cooling machines that can reduce temperature efficiently in the absence of a standard wall air conditioning system. Most of them require a window for ventilation or a separate space to position the air intake pipe, meaning that no permanent installation is necessary.
No two portable ACs are the same, and they can vary by brand. Some of the most common features are; venting structure, maximum cooling capacity, energy efficiency, operating modes, programmable timers, and specialized air filters.
Here are 10 recommended portable air conditioners in Malaysia that you can use in your home or small office. (2023 Update)
Contents • Isi Kandungan
- 1. Midea 1.5HP Portable Air Conditioner
- 2. 1.0HP PH Series Portable AirCond
- 3. ACSON 1.5HP Moveo Portable Air Conditioner
- 4. Elba 1.0hp Portable Air Conditioner
- 5. Aux Portable Air Conditioner 1.5hp Am-12b4/lar-eu
- 6. MEC 1HP Portable Air Cond CAD-G09PR1B
- 7. Gree CUTEE Portable Air Conditioner 1.0HP – GPC10AI
- 8. Fujiaire 1.0HP Portable Air Conditioner FP09C3A
- 9. MEC iPort G9000 PR1C 1HP Portable Air Conditioner
- 10. Pensonic 1.0HP Portable Air Conditioner Semi-Inverter
- Selecting The Most Appropriate Portable Air Conditioner
- Portable Air Conditioner Shopping Guide
1. Midea 1.5HP Portable Air Conditioner
Product Highlights:
- 1.5HP
- Comes with Ionizer and Silver Ion Filter: Refresh the air inside your house with the advanced Ionizer technology. The Ion filter can kill harmful bacteria by destroying their inner-configuration as well as absorbing their elements in cells.
- There is a sleep mode function after certain hours of use. This way consumers can reduce electricity consumption and cost.
- Bucket-free design since there is no draining required. The condensate water will evaporate automatically.
- In case you forgot to turn it off, the machine can switch off by itself within 24 hours.
2. 1.0HP PH Series Portable AirCond
Product Highlights:
- 1.0HP (9000Btu/hr).
- Setting temperature range: 17°C – 30°C.
- Includes a remote control.
- Auto Sleep Mode function.
- R410A Refrigerant (Eco-friendly).
- Includes heat duct-out accessories.
3. ACSON 1.5HP Moveo Portable Air Conditioner
Product Description:
Apart from being energy efficient, the Acson portable air conditioner has great mobility and ease of usage. It is an ideal cooling partner for your home or office and 5 minutes is all you need to operate this AC unit. Built with 3 levels of fan speed, the AC has an interactive screen display that enables you to control the settings via touchscreen. The unit also comes with a remote control with a big LCD display. If you’re concerned about what type of gas it uses, don’t be, since it adopts the R410A Gas—which is an eco-friendly HFC refrigerant with no chlorine.
4. Elba 1.0hp Portable Air Conditioner
Product Features:
- 1.0HP
- Thermostat Range:17ºC to 30ºC
- Has a front panel LED display and a remote controller.
- Standard vertical auto swing louver and dual-speed fan control.
- You can remove and wash the air filter.
- Compact design – ideal for small living room.
- Will alert when water level if full.
5. Aux Portable Air Conditioner 1.5hp Am-12b4/lar-eu
Product Features:
- 1.5HP
- Featuring auto swing louver, compact design and break-resistant body.
- Everything is integrated to make the unit compact; for example the compressor, motor, condenser and evaporator.
- Control the settings via elegant touchscreen display on top of the unit.
- Equipped with 4 durable wheels at the bottom–so you can move it around effortlessly.
- The remote control has a coverage of around 10 meters radius.
- The compressor is claimed to be low-noise.
6. MEC 1HP Portable Air Cond CAD-G09PR1B
Product Highlights:
- 1.0HP with 3-speed fan control.
- Air Flow: 400 m3/h.
- 24-hour timer setting and energy saving mode.
- Small dimension (318mm x 710mm x 528mm) , perfect for small area.
- An indicator alarm when water tank is full.
- Wheels for mobility and convenience. The portable AC has a weight of around around 30kg.
- Low noise and strong wind.
- Auto swing vertical louver.
- There’s a 3-minute restart delay to protect the compressor.
7. Gree CUTEE Portable Air Conditioner 1.0HP – GPC10AI
Product Highlights:
- 1.0HP
- Offers 3-in-1 function that includes Cooling (lowest level is 16 Degree), dehumidifier and fan mode.
- There’s a stylish remote control holder on the right side of the unit.
- Simple and easy to use control panel on top with a display screen.
- Has auto water evaporation system.
- 4 wheels for easy maneuvering.
8. Fujiaire 1.0HP Portable Air Conditioner FP09C3A
Product Highlights:
- 1.0HP
- Compact design with auto swing louver. Cooling capacity is 9,000 Btu/hr (2.64KW). There’s also a 24 hours timer and self-diagnose function.
- The unit has a washable filter and self-evaporating system.
- Full installation kit is provided.
9. MEC iPort G9000 PR1C 1HP Portable Air Conditioner
Product Highlights:
- 1.0HP
- The speed of the fan is easily adjustable (high fan – low fan speed) and the temperature setting range is 17-30 Degree. There are various protection functions such as the 24 hours timer and 3-minute delay compressor restart.
- No water drainage with self-evaporating system. The filter is also washable.
- Whenever there’s an abnormality during operation or sudden power failure, the unit will automatically switch off to protect the system.
10. Pensonic 1.0HP Portable Air Conditioner Semi-Inverter
Product Highlights:
- 1.0HP
- Apart from the sleek and modern design, this unit has a decent cooling and dehumidifying capabilities. It requires no installation and the wheels will allow you to move it around easily.
- The unit has a sleep and memory function and offers a self-diagnosis function to alert users of any encountered abnormalities during its operation.
- This AC is ideal for an area between 250 to 300 sq ft.
Selecting The Most Appropriate Portable Air Conditioner
It is important that you select the most appropriate portable AC to suit your needs. For example, a unit that has lower HP could be insufficient, leaving the room still hot and uncomfortable to be in, and one that does not have a dehumidifier makes the air feel damp.
To determine an ideal size of portable air conditioner, multiply the room’s width by its length, this will total the square footage of the room and based on this value, then purchase an appropriate AC. An indication to how much heat your air conditioner is able to eliminate from the room is determined by the British thermal unit (BTU) rating. A higher BTU rating indicates that the machine has sufficient ability to cool a large room, whereas an AC with a lower rating is more suitable for a smaller room. The following shows which BTU rating is most suited for each room size:
- Up to 200 Square Feet: 8,000-BTU unit
- Up to 300 Square Feet: 10,000-BTU unit
- Up to 400 Square Feet: 12,000-BTU unit
- Up to 450 Square Feet: 13,000-BTU unit
Note that the size and weight of the air conditioner increase as the BTU rating increases. Energy efficiency is also essential to consider when purchasing a portable air conditioner, and this is indicated by the acronym EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio), the higher the EER, the more efficient the device is. It is advisable to buy an AC with a high energy efficiency rating.
Portable Air Conditioner Shopping Guide
Single or Double Exhaust Hose, which should I buy?
Portable air conditioners exist in both single and double-hosed variations, with double being able to release hot air and uptake cool air, but which should you buy? Our breakdown should help you make your decision:
Single-hose portable air conditioners: These ACs uptake the air of the surroundings, cool it, and then release most of it back into the room, thus lowering the room’s temperature. The air that isn’t released back into the room acts as a cooling mechanism to moderate the temperature of the appliance; this air exits via the exhaust hose, however, given that the appliance uses air from within the room to cool the compressor, minor negative air pressure is generated.
Dual-Hose portable air conditioners: Similar to the single-hosed variation, the double hosed AC sucks in air from the room via one hose, this air is then cooled and fed back into the room. However, during this process, the AC heats up, as a result, another hose uptakes air from outside, and this same air is released via the second exhaust hose to cool down the appliance.
Unlike single-hosed models, no negative air pressure is produced in the room from a dual-hose portable AC, and evidence suggests that a dual-hosed unit may be more efficient, considering that it needn’t operate as vigorously to cool the device. However, a slightly weakened efficiency may ensue, given the use of warmer, unconditioned air which is used to cool the compressors of a dual-hose portable AC. In addition to this, slightly higher energy usage may also develop since dual-hose units may utilize two internal fans as opposed to a single fan.
Ventilation
Portable ACs should be kept close to a window as they discharge hot air from the room. For this reason, most portable air conditioners are accompanied by a window venting kit and instructions explaining how to set the unit up to ensure maximum efficiency of the product. Conveniently, portable ACs are easy to move around the house, considering that they are relatively straightforward to set up.
Energy Efficiency
You can save on your monthly electricity bill by purchasing a portable AC as they tend to be energy efficient. The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a measure of efficiency for portable ACs, the more efficient models have higher ratings, with 10 being the maximum rating.
Electrical Outlet Requirements
A typical household power outlet of 120-volts should suffice for most portable ACs, and there is no need for additional wiring. Yet, some more powerful and industrial-scale ACs require a higher voltage to be powered up and therefore may require special outlets. The power requirements of each unit are displayed on the product descriptions and specifications. You must read this information in order to select a portable AC that is suitable for you.
Noise Level
Portable air conditioners use motorized fans and compressor systems which are used to cool and circulate the air – this generates noise and is a cause of concern for some appliance owners/customers. In contrast, others regard it as “background noise” and to an extent, find it somewhat comforting. Portable ACs with noise minimizing features are available to purchase for those concerned about the noise. Other variants of portable ACs offer features such as a programmable timer, multiple fan speeds, and a Sleep mode to minimize the amount of noise produced. Customers should also be aware that the decibel rating is normally displayed on the product’s specs. It is also important to understand that factors such as the position of the AC, the presence of carpeting, the fan speed and the type of furniture that you own can all affect the sound level. Some of these factors may amplify the sound while others may reduce the amount of noise produced.
Installation
The installation process is generally straightforward. If it weren’t, then the title “portable” wouldn’t be appropriate. Yet, the primary cause of concern regarding to installation is attaching the window kit for ventilation. However, a clear instruction guide should accompany your AC which should explain how to complete this process. For those with general household DIY experience, this process should be far from problematic. If DIY expertise is something that you are lacking, then a simple calling for the assistance of a friend should get the job done. Reading customer reviews will also indicate how complicated the installation process is.
Ease of Use
Portable air conditioners are made to be simple to use; however, how much effort to operate an AC depends on various factors. Starting with the controls; if the controls can be operated with ease, then that is already a positive. Another factor is maintenance – does the unit require minimal effort to clean? Is it guaranteed that debris won’t be collected in the exhaust? If so, then this is another positive sign.
Aesthetic
Given that your portable air conditioner will offer a visual presence in your home, it is important to some customers that the product looks visually attractive. There are a variety of colours, shapes and styles of portable ACs which you should be able to identify with a little bit of web browsing, as opposed to the standard AC which comes in the usual plain colours, such as black and white. This is more relevant to those who are more/equally concerned with the appearance of the product as opposed to its function.
Maintenance
Maintenance is usually simple, with most systems needing very little if any maintenance. However, it is better to conduct some form of maintenance routine to ensure a longer product lifespan; these includes:
1. Cleaning the air filters when necessary (usually a maximum of once or twice on an annual basis).
2. Ensuring correct installation to guarantee complete efficiency.
3. Draining your portable AC prior to storage.
4. Referring to your warranty for more information on the services and parts covered.
