Mobile air conditioners for an apartment: characteristics, features, connection, feedback

Climatic equipment for air conditioning in a house or small workspaces today is represented by a very large assortment: mobile air conditioners of a monoblock type, mobile split systems, monoblocks of evaporative type and split systems with one or two working units. The latter are distinguished by their shock refrigerating power, installation difficulties and considerable cost.

The easiest to install / maintain and affordable are mobile monoblock air conditioners, which are presented on the market as models with or without an air duct. This article will cover the features of both.

Air conditioners with duct

A monoblock with an air duct is a fairly dimensional technique that requires a certain amount of space in the room, and assumes a floor-standing option of placement. An air duct is a corrugated hose that removes warm air from the structure and the room to the street. It is usually taken out through a slightly open door, a balcony window, or through a hole in a room glass unit. Less often, it is mounted directly into a ventilation shaft, a hole in a concrete wall or plexiglass (then a plug is needed).

Sometimes you can find mobile air conditioners for the home with two hoses on store shelves. The second is intended for drawing in fresh air from the street. But this type of technology in Russia is not yet so widespread.

Principle of operation

All the working units of such a device are located in one housing, including a noisy compressor with a fan. The principle of their functioning almost does not differ from the essence of the split system. The room temperature is regulated by the difference in pressure of the working gas - freon. Schematically, the cooling cycle goes like this:

• the fan of the mobile monoblock air conditioner draws in the room air;
• freon absorbs its heat, and the room temperature begins to decrease;
• through the coil, the refrigerant enters the compressor, where it gives off heat energy under pressure, which is discharged through the corrugated hose;
• Condensate in this case leaves through the same hose or accumulates in a special container - a condensate trap (it must be emptied regularly).

The difference with the split system is that it does not have any hose, since the warm exhaust air is discharged by the outdoor unit.

Specifications and additional functions

Of course, mobile air conditioners make more noise, as evidenced not only by technical characteristics, but also by user reviews, although there are companies that produce relatively quiet devices. For example, BALLU for an area of ​​20-25 m² created a series of BPAM with dimensions W * H * D only 300 * 630 * 480.

But in any case, when placing, it is much more careful to think about where the blown air will go, since these units are not equipped with a super 3D or 4D flow distribution system. Exceptions can be very expensive models that cost more than some splits.

The equipment with various modes and functions does not differ much from the additional functionality of split systems: a timer, sleep mode, several fan speeds, phased air purification, restart in case of power outages - all this is available in modern devices of the described type.

The main advantage of mobile air conditioners for the home with an air duct is their portability. Firstly, they easily move around the room for the length of the hose, which is about 1.5 meters, and secondly, they can always be taken with you to the dacha, to another apartment or office when you move.

It is worth remembering that the maximum area of ​​the treated premises should not exceed 35-40 m².

Output. From all that has been said and, judging by the feedback from buyers, we can conclude that mobile air conditioners for the home with a discharge hose are ideal for small rented premises or for summer cottages.

Popular manufacturers

In Russia, mobile devices from manufacturers such as BALLU have the highest sales rating. ELECTROLUX, HYUNDAI, BORK, MIDEA and TIMBERK... In recent years, equipment from AERONIC has become in demand, BIMATEK, SCOOLE, SLOGGER and NEOCLIMA.

Mobile air conditioners without duct

Among the monoblock climate control technology, humidifiers, which are also called evaporative air conditioners, are in a special position. Although manufacturers position them as cooling devices that can completely replace a split system or a monoblock with a hose, it is still impossible to call these mobile air conditioners for the home equivalent in their characteristics.

Principle of operation

First, the design is completely different. There is not only a compressor, but also other working units through which the refrigerant circulates. The device consists of:

• water tank;
• hydro sponge filter;
• air filter;
• pump;
• fan.

Instead of freon, cold water and ice act as a refrigerant, which is frozen in advance in a separate container. In modern mobile air conditioners without an air duct, you can sometimes find helium freezer pads.

The principle of operation is that the cooling is due to evaporation. In fact, the same phase transition is used here - water passes from a liquid to a gaseous state and absorbs heat. The plus is that the device does not emit a large amount of thermal energy in this process, therefore, there is no need to install the outlet hoses, and the condensate does not collect, since it goes into the room with air, humidifying it.

The cooling cycle is as follows:

• from a special reservoir, under the influence of a pump, water enters the sponge hydro-filter;
• air at this time passes through the air filter and is cleaned of mechanical inclusions;
• when the porous water filter is well saturated with water, the evaporation process begins - the air gives off its heat to the liquid;
• at the outlet, the air flow is already cooled.

If we recall physics from the school course, then we can understand that, as such, a normal decrease in temperature cannot be achieved with this device. Why?

During evaporation, a large concentration of vapors accumulates, part of the consumed energy also goes into heat (although managers and distributors deny this in every possible way), it becomes stuffy. If you use a cold condenser, then ice for it must be frozen in the refrigerator. You can imagine how much heat the freezer will release in this case, and at the same time will eat up energy. Open a window? Yes, the stuffiness will go away, as the humidity will decrease, but there will be an extra influx of heat, and all the efforts of a small mobile air conditioner will come to naught - the efficiency will simply be reset to zero.

From this it is concluded that a monoblock without an air duct is more of a humidifier, but not a cooling device.

You can use it to reduce the temperature in the room by a maximum of 5-7 ° C, but again, you should take into account the peculiarities of the environment. A room with large heat gains from people, equipment, walls, roofs, windows, such equipment is not capable of high-quality processing purely physically.

According to users in their reviews, mobile air conditioners without an air duct are bought if a person needs good humidification, coupled with a little coolness. In this case, this is ideal.

Specifications and additional functions

The positive aspects of evaporative monoblocks cannot be ignored. They are:

• can operate in several modes - cooling + humidification, rapid cooling, heating, ventilation;
• have multiple fan speeds;
• have the ability to change the direction of the air flow;
• consume little energy in cooling mode - 85 W maximum;
• reduce the temperature gradually, so that drafts are not formed;
• they work quite quietly - for most, the noise level does not exceed 45 dB;
• have compact dimensions and low weight.

If we compare their characteristics in terms of noise and compactness with the parameters of a monoblock-type mobile air conditioner, then the advantages are exactly on their side. As a rule, the dimensions of the floor-standing evaporating units are 10-12 cm smaller in width, height and depth. Their noise level rarely exceeds 45 dB, while monoblocs with air duct operate at the standard 50-56 dB.

For those wishing to have a small and quiet mobile air conditioner in the bedroom, floor standing water air conditioners are the best choice. They can also be placed in a study, children's room or small office.

Of course, when compared with a split system, it is difficult to call a water mobile air conditioner quiet, but there is not always a need for expensive two-component installations on freon.

Control is carried out either from the body panel, which is mechanical and touch, or from the remote control.

If the choice fell on just such a model, it should be borne in mind that for its normal operation, a constant small flow of air is required. In completely closed rooms, such equipment cannot be installed, since moisture must go somewhere, and this is ensured by changing air masses.

You will also need to regularly fill the fluid tank with water. Some units require daily top-up, while others are refilled a couple of times a week. As a rule, a special indicator signal indicates a lack of fluid.

One of the features of the devices is their dependence on ambient temperature. The higher its performance, the more intensively the air is cooled. If you add ice to the water, the result will be even better.

As users note in their reviews, mobile air conditioners without an air duct are not able to reach temperatures below 23 ° C.

Output. Summing up, we can conclude that the evaporative monoblock is suitable for people who often move from place to place and want to maintain comfort in any room. It will be ideal for small living rooms and offices. For asthmatics, this is a godsend, because it does not dry the air like a split system, but, on the contrary, moisturizes and refreshes.

Popular manufacturers

Among airless devices, the leading positions in the market are held by devices from VEKTOR, BALLU, MIDEA, HONEYWELL and ELECTROLUX. SYMPHONY evaporators and Russian monoblocks are becoming well-known KIBOR.

Choosing a mobile air conditioner for an apartment

In order for the device to work properly and satisfy all the needs of the user, you need to know how to choose a mobile air conditioner for a particular room:

• First, they are determined with the type of device: with or without an air duct. In this case, the presence or absence of air inflows and the volume of available heat inflows are taken into account.It is better to cool mobile air conditioners with a discharge hose - this is said not only by manufacturers, but also by user reviews. If the choice fell on such a unit, they think about where to mount the corrugated pipe;
• The volume of the room is taken into account and determined with the cooling capacity. You should always leave a small margin of 20-30%;
• Pay attention to additional functions and basic modes of operation. Do you need, for example, heating or night sleep;
• The technical data sheet looks at the dimensions and noise level. The houses take measurements and outline the place where the unit will stand. For bedrooms and children's rooms, it is better to take quiet mobile air conditioners with a noise of no more than 45 dB. When measuring, take into account that evaporative models are placed 15-20 cm from the wall, and monoblocks with a sleeve are placed closer to a window or door;
• Be sure to look at the volume of the condensate collector, since the sump requires regular cleaning. In extreme cases, moisture removal can be done through a separate hose, which is then thrown into the outlet corrugated pipe;
• When choosing a mobile air conditioner, the popularity of the brand is taken into account. It is better to take equipment from well-known manufacturers that provide long-term guarantees;
• The estimated frequency of movement may also be a determining factor. Still, it is easier to carry evaporative monoblocks from one place to another;
• When thinking about which mobile air conditioner to choose, take into account the presence of small children. The heat dissipating duct is heated up to 60 ° C - enough for a burn.

Before making a final decision, they type in the search engine "mobile air conditioners for the home" and read all the information provided. If you like a particular model, you can search for customer comments specifically about it. Advice and descriptions given by the common man can be more valuable information than half-biased data from the manufacturer.

Is it possible to heat with a mobile air conditioner in winter

Oddly enough, but for heating in winter, a mobile air conditioner is much more suitable than a split system. Many monoblocks with an air duct are equipped with a built-in heating element, thanks to which, in cold weather, the device heats the air in fan mode. The outside of the hose is closed with a plug. The only drawback of using a mobile air conditioner for heating in winter is high energy consumption. Heating in this way is very expensive.

An all-weather device is a mobile split system, for example, from the MIZUSHI company. It is equipped with two heating systems: heating element and HEAT PUMP, which make the mobile air conditioner function in winter for warmth in any frost.

Installation

Do-it-yourself difficulties with installing and connecting a mobile air conditioner should not arise. To install evaporative monoblocks, you just need to read the instructions, pour water into the tank, freeze the ice and plug the power cord into the outlet.

To install a mobile air conditioner with your own hands, if you have an air duct, you will need to follow some rules and steps. This article will consider the option of placing a hose in a double-glazed window with a lintel, since it guarantees the highest quality sealing of all joints.

So, to place and connect a mobile air conditioner you will need:

• dismantle the old glass unit;
• install a plastic lintel that divides the window into two parts;
• put a new double-glazed window of the required size in the upper part;
• for the lower section, a sandwich panel is prepared by cutting out a round hole of the required diameter in it;
• mount the finished sandwich panel into the window;
• connect the corrugated hose to the hole in it through the connecting flange, which is fixed with self-tapping screws or liquid nails;
• the drain hose is inserted into the air duct, and it is attached to the exhaust outlet of the device;
• from the street side, a protective decorative grill is installed so that birds and animals do not damage the device.

The most important condition in the question of how to connect a mobile air conditioner is to ensure free access to the plug and use only a grounded outlet. Do not use an extension cord.

It is worth remembering that you can lift the hose no higher than one meter, otherwise it will be easily damaged. It is not recommended to increase the length of the sleeve in any way - this deteriorates the quality of cooling.

If a person is not sure that he can install the mobile unit well with his own hands, it is better to contact a specialist.

Testimonials

Whatever “stuffing” the manufacturers of mobile air conditioners “stuffed”, the reviews about them are very contradictory. Most buyers point out two main disadvantages: noise and duct placement. Many users note that the slightest violation of the tightness of the connecting joints during installation guarantees a decrease in the quality of cooling, and sensitive people cannot sleep at night under the noise of 50-55 dB.

It would seem that there is a small mobile air conditioner without an air duct and with a reduced noise level of up to 40-45 dB, but here buyers are also not entirely satisfied. What do they dislike most about floor standing monoblocs of evaporative type?

First of all, these are "troubles" with water, which must be constantly topped up. But even more discomfort is the freezing of ice. To cool off tomorrow, you need to stock up on them today. But where to freeze it in such quantity?

Many negative reviews have earned mobile air conditioners without ductwork for the short-term cooling effect. Most users noticed that the coolness lasts for a couple of hours, and then it becomes simply stuffy due to the waterlogged air. Some generally consider such an air conditioner to be a fiction and a well-thought-out advertising campaign, since, judging by the effect of the work, these devices humidify the air well, but do not reduce the temperature in the room.

conclusions

There is no way to say that mobile air conditioners are the best invention for cooling a home or work area, and this is proved by the reviews of people who have experience using this type of climate technology. If you need a high-quality, long-term and silent lowering of the temperature, then it is worth buying a split system.