Portable Air Conditioner - FAQs
Purchase and Installation FAQs
Q: What size Portable AC do I need to cool my room? A:
Portable AC Sizing Guide | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASHRAE BTU | SACC BTU | SQ FT | Room Size | Typical Room Size |
| 7,000 | 5,000 | up to 150 | Small | 10' x 15' |
| 8,000 | 6,000 | up to 250 | Small | 12' x 20' |
| 10,000 | 7,000 | up to 300 | Medium | 15' x 20' |
| 12,000 | 8,000 | up to 350 | Medium | 16' x 22' |
| 14,000 | 10,000 | up to 450 | Medium | 20' x 22' |
Check out our newest selection of portable room air conditioners.
Q: While I’ve been looking at Portable Air Conditioners, I see two different ratings, ASHRAE and SACC. How do I know what size I need?A: The ASHRAE rating is one that has been used for many years. In the past few years, the US Department of Energy (DOE) defined a new way of rating Portable ACs, SACC (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) and it needs to be shown on all Portable ACs. Seeing two ratings can be confusing. The best thing to do to ensure your unit is sized properly is to follow the manufacturers room size recommendations. View the Portable AC Sizing Guide shown above for our recommendations.Q: I’m interested in the Dual Hose Conversion Kit (RAP02), where can I purchase one?A: The RAP02 is available for purchase from many retailers as well as our GE Appliances Parts & Accessories website.
Q: What kind of outlet do I need to plug my Portable AC into?A: All our Portable ACs require a common 115 Volt/15 Amp outlet. The larger units will draw more current and should be on a dedicated circuit to prevent tripping a circuit breaker or blowing a fuse.
Q: What do I need to install my Portable AC?A: Everything you need to install your Portable AC is in the box.
Q: Does my Portable AC need to be vented to the outside?A: Yes, your Portable AC needs to be vented so the heat and humidity that has been removed from the room can be transferred outside.
Q: Can I extend the hose on my Portable AC?A: Your Portable AC has been designed to use the hose that came with the unit. Extending the hose will reduce the airflow and will reduce the cooling capacity and could damage the unit.
Troubleshooting FAQs
Q: I plugged my Portable AC in, but it won’t turn on, what’s wrong?A: First press the reset button on the plug to ensure it hasn’t tripped and there is power going to the unit. If that doesn’t restore the power, check your circuit or fuse box to make sure a breaker isn’t tripped or a fuse hasn’t blown.
Q: Why doesn’t my Portable AC start blowing warm air as soon as I turn it on in heat mode?A: There is a built-in delay that lets the compressor warm up the coil before the fan turns on. This ensures that you’ll have warm air when the unit turns the fan on.
Q: When in Heat Mode, why isn’t the air coming out of my Portable AC hot?A: Portable ACs operate as a heat pump when in heating mode. The air won’t be as warm as the air from a conventional portable heater, but it will heat the room under most conditions. This is normal.
Q: Why does my Portable AC shut off when in heating mode?A: When heating when it’s humid, your Portable AC might turn off because water has accumulated in the base of the unit. Under those conditions the unit will shut down and you’ll see “FL” on the control panel display. If you drain the water from the base of the unit, following the instructions in the Use & Care Manual, you can turn the unit back on and it will resume operation.
Q: My Portable AC shut off and is showing “FL” on the display, what does that mean?A: Your Portable AC removes heat and humidity from the room. Under certain conditions like extreme humidity or trying to cool multiple rooms, the AC may not be able to evaporate all the water it is removing. Make sure that the doors and windows in the room you are cooling are closed. If you drain the water from the base of the unit, following the instructions in the Use & Care Manual, you can turn the unit back on and it will resume operation.
Feature and Function FAQs
Q: What happens to the water that the unit removes from the air?A: There is a system built into the unit that evaporates the water and blows the water vapor out of the exhaust hose along with the heat that has been removed from the room.
Q: My Portable AC has a really large plug, why isn’t it a standard plug?A: Your Portable AC has an LCDI (Leakage Current Detection and Interruption) plug which is designed to prevent fires in the case of a damaged cord. You’ll notice 2 buttons on the plug, one is a test button that ensures the plug is working properly and the other is a reset button to restore the power to the AC after the test button has been pressed or the plug has tripped. Always make sure to press the reset button after you plug your Portable AC in to ensure it has power.
Q: Why is converting my single-hose Portable AC to dual-hose a good idea?A: For many rooms, a single-hose Portable AC does a great job keeping you cool. Single-hose units use air from the room to cool the unit, then blow that air outside. So some of the cool air ends up out the window and air from outside or from other rooms in the house is drawn in. A dual-hose unit takes air from outside to cool itself. This way, all the cool air stays in the room. It cools the room much faster compared to a single-hose.