Portable Air Conditioner Venting Through Wall

Are you thinking of buying a portable air conditioner but not sure how you’re supposed to vent it?

Or maybe you’ve already got your eye on one but you still want to know all of the portable air conditioner venting options available so you can make sure it will work.

Perhaps, you’re even asking yourself the question, “Do portable air conditioners work without a window?”

If you’re looking for answers about portable AC units, you’ve come to the right spot.

We’ve got everything laid out for you right here in this article. We’ll even tell you how to vent a portable air conditioner without a window.

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The Importance of Venting Portable Air Conditioners

You’re probably wondering why venting a portable air conditioner is so important to begin with. Does it even matter if you don’t vent it?

What’s the worst that can happen?

Well, to tell you the truth, if you don’t vent your portable AC unit then the machine won’t do you any good.

Here’s why.

The purpose of a portable air conditioner is to cool down a room, but in order to do that, it must extract heat from the air.  

If the AC unit is not vented outside or into another room, the hot air will remain locked-up inside the space.

This will not only prevent the room from cooling but will actually make it hotter.

Venting a portable air conditioner is also important because it removes moisture from the air.

The less humidity inside a room, the cooler it feels. If you don’t vent the portable AC unit, then the moisture will continue to build up and neutralize the cooling effect of the air conditioner.

As you can see, venting is a very important part of staying cool and maintaining an efficient air conditioner.

Up next, we’ll get into the various ways in which you can vent a portable air conditioner with and without a window.

If you’re looking to compare the top portable air conditioners, make sure to check our portable air conditioner review guide. It shows you how to choose the perfect machine for every size room.

If you’re more interested in saving money on a unit, take a look at our best cheap portable air conditioners list.

Portable Air Conditioner Venting Options

Venting Portable Air Conditioners Through Windows

The easiest and most common way to vent your portable air conditioner is through a traditional window in your home.

So much in fact, that it’s standard to receive complimentary window and venting kits with your machine upon purchase.

If you want to find out how to vent a portable air conditioner with a window kit, keep reading.

Otherwise, skip to the next section that explains how to vent a portable AC unit without a window.

First things first, if you’ve decided to go the route of venting your device through the window, it’s important to ensure that the vending kit is properly installed.

If not, obviously, the portable air conditioner won’t be able to remove hot air during operation.

So, follow these steps:

  • Set up the unit relatively close to a traditional window
  • Attach the exhaust connector to the unit
  • Fit the exhaust hose into the exhaust connector
  • Fasten the window kit to the venting window kit adapter
  • Slide window kit through the window, after which, close the window on the kit
  • Connect the exhaust hose to the venting window kit adapter

Granted, this is just a general guide, as depending on the portable air conditioner you purchased, installing a window kit may follow a different procedure.

Always check the instruction manual provided before making any installations.

Venting Through Casement Windows

Casement windows aren’t like your traditional windows – they open like doors – however they are another possible medium that can serve as a vent.

For this reason, you can’t use a standard window kit to install an exhaust tube as you would normally do with regular windows.

However, some homeowners are able to find an ingenious way to make a vent out of these windows.

Essentially, you remove one of the window panes and replace it with a layer of Plexiglas, after which, you make a hole big enough for the exhaust hose to fit through.

And there you have it, a makeshift vent.

Venting Through Sliding Doors and Sliding Windows

In both cases, you would have to install window brackets in such a way that they facilitate ventilation.

Sliding windows tend to be a bit trickier as the bracket needs to be able to fit whatever opening has been created for the vent.

In any event, you can always fill in whatever excess space which appears after installation with either Plexiglas or wood.

See all of Amazon’s Best Selling Portable AC Units

Venting Portable Air Conditioners Without a Window

The fact that you’re reading this guide likely means that you’re looking for the answer to this question, “Do portable air conditioners work without a window?”

And the answer is a resounding yes!

If you’re interested in knowing how to vent a portable air conditioner without a window or where exactly you can vent your portable AC unit, the following tips will be your guide.

Venting Through a Wall

One option which seems to be preferred by some people is actually using a wall vent to remove hot air from a portable air conditioner.

You can use this method to vent your portable AC unit to the outside or into another room such as a laundry room, storage area or garage.

Essentially, to make a wall vent, you have to carefully cut a hole in a wall which is big enough to accommodate the AC unit’s exhaust hose.

Once the installation is completed, you can cover the circumference of the hole with a sealant such as silicone caulk. That way, the exhaust hose stays put.

Venting Through a Drop-Ceiling

This ventilation technique involves adding or reconfiguring a drop or panel ceiling into a ventilation zone.

This method is used quite often in computer server rooms because these areas usually aren’t equipped with windows, meaning that alternative sources of ventilation need to be implemented.

To vent your portable air conditioner through a drop-ceiling, just cut a hole in a ceiling panel that can accommodate the exhaust hose.

Add some sealant around the connection joint, and you’re done.

Venting Through a Dryer Vent

While this is not a method we technically recommend and neither do manufacturers, it’s worth pointing out since some people have been successful in using it to vent their portable air conditioner.

The reason for caution against this technique is because most dryer vents tend to be smaller in diameter in comparison to portable AC unit exhaust hoses.

For this reason, air might not be able to filter out of the vent as well as it can through a traditional vent.

Tapping into a dryer vent often involves consistent testing in order to maintain safe use of your portable air conditioner.

Nonetheless, using a dryer vent as a source of eliminating hot air from a portable air conditioner is still possible if you can connect your portable AC unit exhaust hose into it.

The Options for Venting Portable Air Conditioners are Endless

As you can see, if you’re looking for portable air conditioner venting options, you won’t ever be at a loss.

The fact that portable air conditioners can work without a window makes them very versatile machines.

Even the best small room air conditioner available can be adjusted to work with any of the methods outlined above.

You can also choose a portable air conditioner without access needed if you want the most convenient solution.

Besides, as long as you know how to vent a portable air conditioner without a window, you won’t ever be stuck for options.

The tips offered above are just a starting point for you to try.

Hopefully one of those methods will work for you, but if not, use your imagination and creativity to vent your AC unit in a way that’s practical for you.

We hope that this guide was able to teach you some interesting facts about portable air conditioners and maybe even encourage you to purchase one if you haven’t already done so.

You don’t have to resign yourself to a life of perpetual heatstroke inside your very own home.

Get a portable air conditioner that will make your life a whole lot cooler.

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About David Morrison

David is an Air Quality & Comfort Technician. He has expert knowledge on the technology and design of air purification, air conditioning, and heating systems. His main role is to write content that helps people get the most value out of their air purifiers, air conditioners, and heating units. (See Full Bio)