For sure you need a portable with two hoses. The single hose models are very inefficient.

Do you mean two exhaust hoses to the window? What is the difference between two and one hoses? Why are two exhaust hoses more efficient?

with two hoses, one is an inlet and the other is an outlet. With a single hose, one is an outlet. Inlet air comes from the room. My Sharp works like this.

By and large, portable units are less efficient than window units of the same BTU rating.

If you have a regular vertical sliding window (not a casement window), I would recommend a normal window unit over a portable. It will be cheaper. You'll also need to keep the central unit turned off, or turned to a higher setpoint. A programmable Tstat might be of some use here.

It should work. Right now I am cooling my house with borrowed window units because my central system is on the blink and I won't throw in a hasty replacement system.

I agree that the window units are more efficient. You will need to get something large enough to cool the LR and Kit, but don't buy one too large. It seems like all these modern window units run the blower constantly. If they short cycle, you will get high humidity.

You will probably switch off or turn up the t-stat on the main system and turn on the portable unit in the AM and shut the doors to the unused areas. All the window unit needs to do is keep it cool. Toward evening, you turn on the main system and shut off the window unit. The air circulation and mixing will even the temp out pretty quickly. If the rooms are still too warm at bedtime, you know that have to fire up the central a little earlier next time.

I admit the window unit is cheaper and more efficient. It even has an energy star moedl. However, it does not look good comparing with the portable air conditioner that can be placed on the floor. More important, the portable unit is easy to install without damage wall or anything in the house. You just place a hose to the window and thatÂs all. That is why I consider the portable instead of window unit. But, I may need a efficient portable air conditioner. Since you suggest two hoses better, do you know the brand name or any more efficient portable air conditioner in the market?

Costco has a dual hose model made by Haier on their website, but the reviews are mixed. FWIW, if you were to get one there and end up hating it, the return policy is really good.

Here is a link that might be useful: cosco dual hose a/c

I am not a Costco member. I saw two 12,000 btu portable air conditioners, the Danby Premier at Home Depot and LG LP1210BXR (has not known which store sells it). The Danby Premier has two hoses with an EER of 9.35. I do not know the LG. Does anyone know those two unite?

Compared to central air, that EER is not competitive. A portable unit will contribute heat to the room because of the heat generated by the components irrespective of the exhausted air thru the hose.

I knew it is not comparable in the EER between the portable air conditioner and central air conditioner. I wonder whether the portable air conditioner can truly save the energy, especially you may just want to cool a living room only. If so, what is the most efficient portable air conditioner in the market?

Portable air conditioners will prevent cash and lower your energy bills, however provided that you're strategic in however use it. Okay, currently that we tend to got the cliff-notes answer out of method, let's dive a touch deeper into however you'll use a conveyable air-con unit to avoid wasting cash on your monthly energy bills. that does not mean that you simply cannot use this kind of air conditioning to assist you economize and lower your energy bills. If a conveyable air conditioning is such an energy hog, then however can it save money? If you propose on moving a conveyable air conditioning from space to space, these area unit powerfully suggested. what proportion cash does one assume you've got lost, by cooling rooms that do not really want to be cooled? Instead, attempt setting your thermostat at an inexpensive, nonetheless still comparatively snug, temperature, so use a conveyable air conditioning to quickly quiet down the foremost vital rooms. It's true that they're not the foremost energy economical air conditioning accessible, however if you're clever in however you utilize the device, there's little question that it will prevent quite little bit of cash and lower your energy bills.

Priyanka Sethi: Check the dates on the original post before you respond.

Leaving your central AC off during the day will make for very uncomfortable sleeping conditions.