Portable air conditioners are a great way to cool a room during those hot summer months. They are easy to move from room to room and are easy to store away when the weather turns cool.
But one problem people find with portable air conditioners is finding a suitable place to vent the warm air.
So below we’ll answer whether you can vent a portable air conditioner through a screen along with some other helpful do’s and don’ts when it comes to portable AC units.
Looking for a quick answer? In short, yes you can. Just make sure there is a tight seal with the rest of the window frame. Use a portable air conditioner vent kit to make the job much easier.
Do All Portable Air Conditioners Need To Be Vented?
Yes, if it’s a standard portable air conditioner it will need to be vented to the outdoors or outside of the room being cooled.
An air conditioner removes excess heat from a room and that heat needs to be vented somewhere. If the warm air is not vented, it just goes back into the room being cooled.
The most common option for venting a portable air conditioner is through a nearby window.
Venting A Portable Air Conditioner Through A Screen
In some cases, the window needed for venting an air conditioner will have a screen that cannot be removed. It may be a permanent part of the window, or it may be needed to keep out insects or animals.
This type of window and screen can still be used to vent a portable AC unit, but there are some things to consider.
1. The screen should not be too dense
The screen needs to still allow air to freely pass through it. Any mesh that is too dense could cause the AC unit to overheat or not run efficiently.
Most standard window screens should be fine, but denser materials used in some settings may not be adequate. If the mesh of the screen is too dense, you’ll have to remove it.
2. Properly seal the AC vent and window with a vent kit
An inexpensive portable air conditioner vent kit makes this job a lot easier.
We recommend the highly rated one by Gulrear.
It will come with all the materials needed to get a tight fit.
The screen in the window will cause a slight amount of pressure to build up, which can leak out the sides of an improperly sealed vent.
So using a kit along with the included foam inserts will prevent any of the warm air being vented outside from coming back into the room being cooled.
3. Keep the screen clean and free of dust
Another issue with a screen is that the finer mesh will allow dust to build up and restrict the airflow over time.
This can cause your portable AC unit to overheat or start to run less efficiently.
Make sure to check the screen for signs of dust or dirt build up. Use a vacuum or other method to clean if you notice a build up that’s blocking air flow.
Venting A Portable Air Conditioner Through A Screen FAQ
Do I have to remove the screen before venting a portable air conditioner?
No. In most cases, you can leave the screen up. However, for optimum venting and efficiency, you should remove the screen if it is possible to do so.
When the screen is removed, you will need some other material to cover the area not taken up by the event. For this, it’s recommended to use a vent installation kit.
Is there a ventless portable air conditioner?
Traditional air conditioners will all need a vent to get rid of the warm air and blow it outside.
There are other types of cooling systems that don’t use a vent. These include a swamp cooler, which is a type of evaporative cooler which uses no vent.
Next, there are mini-split units. These split the air conditioner into two parts, and only a small hose connects the two. So the part that would normally need to be vented is already outside.
A small pipe is run to the unit inside the room, and no venting out of a window is needed.
Mini-splits do not require any venting, but they require installation, so they are not as portable as a traditional air conditioner on wheels.
Can I run a portable air conditioner without a window?
Yes, if there is another suitable place to vent the warm air created by the air conditioner.
This can include a sliding door near the portable air conditioner, which can act similar to a window for venting.
Another option is to use a fireplace if the room has one.
Then the warm air is simply vented up the chimney and no further venting is required.
Next, a drop ceiling can be used as a vent depending on the attic and the area above the roof. If this area is suitable, then venting through the ceiling is an option.
Can you vent a portable air conditioner into another room?
You can, but the other room will become very warm and uncomfortable. So this setup would only be suitable in certain specific situations.
You would also want to consider how many walls that room shares with the one being cooled.
As that room warms up, it will raise the temperature in the room.
So while venting into another room will work, you need to consider a few factors to make sure you can still adequately cool the room you want to be cool.
Final Thoughts On Venting A Portable Air Conditioner Through A Screen
If you’re using a portable air conditioner and need to vent through a screen, you should have no problems doing so. This can work and most screens allow plenty of airflow.
Just follow the helpful tips in this article to make sure the rest of your venting setup for your portable AC is working well and sealed and you should be able to enjoy cool temperatures all summer long.