7 Ways To Vent a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window

If you’re living in a small space and don’t have access to a window to vent your portable air conditioner, don’t worry. Venting a portable air conditioner without a window can be tricky. But there are still some ways to vent it without a window. 

In this blog post, we will talk about how to vent a portable air conditioner without a window. But before going directly to the topic, let’s first know; Why is it necessary to vent the portable AC?

Why does a portable air conditioner need to be vented?

A portable air conditioner needs to be vented in order to safely release hot air produced by the unit. In portable air conditioners, heat is removed by the refrigerant in the unit and then expelled through a vent or exhaust duct. 

Proper ventilation keeps your portable air conditioner working efficiently and smoothly. There are many disadvantages to not venting it properly, including:

• The air quality will deteriorate
• The risk of fire will skyrocket
• Lifespan of your PAC will be reduced
• Your unit will start making unusual noises

How To Vent a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window?

Now coming directly to the topic. Here are 7 creative ways to vent a portable air conditioner without a window. Let’s discuss in detail.

#1 Vent the unit through the door or sliding door

Venting a portable air conditioner through a doorway or sliding door is the easiest way to vent a portable AC unit without having any windows in the room. Every room has a door, be it a bedroom, study room, art room or anything else. But there are some disadvantages of venting a portable air conditioner through the wall:

• First, it may not provide enough ventilation to effectively cool the room.
• Second, it makes it easy for someone to tamper with the unit.
• Third, it can allow drafts and heat loss.
• Lastly, it can be visually unappealing.

But ignoring these shortcomings, here are the moves to vent your portable AC unit through the door:

1. Gather Tools: You will need a utility knife, a saw, a drill, a vent cover, a measuring tape, and any additional materials needed.
2. Measure your door: Take a measuring tape and measure the height and width of the door where you want to vent the portable air conditioner.
3. Mark the vent location: Use a pencil to mark the location of the vent on the door.
4. Make a hole: Use a utility knife or jigsaw to cut a hole in the door at the marked location. ideally. The hole should be slightly larger than the vent cover.
5. Install the vent cover: Insert the vent cover into the hole and use screws or adhesive to secure it, as directed by the manufacturer.
6. Connect the vent hose: Connect the vent hose on your portable air conditioner to the vent cover.
7. Test the vents: Turn on your portable air conditioner and check if warm air is properly vented through the doors. If so, then everything is alright.
8. Seal the door: Finally, to prevent drafts, it is recommended that you seal the edges of the hole with weather stripping or caulk.

Learn: How to vent a portable air conditioner through the patio door?

#2 Vent your Portable AC through the wall

Source: Wcmanet.org

If you don’t have access to a window or door to vent your portable air conditioner, or your door leads to another room, then your next best option is to vent the unit through a wall. Well in my opinion it is the best option for anyone, because:

• Venting a portable AC through the wall will increase its security,
• And, it can also improve the energy efficiency as the wall vent is more insulated and protected from drafts and heat loss. 

But it has some cons as well:

• First, it can be more expensive than other venting options.
• Second, it requires drilling a hole in the wall and it may cause structural damage to your home.

By the way, here are the steps to vent your portable air conditioner through the wall:

1. Gather all the necessary tools and materials required for installation such as drill, a vent cover, a hole saw and a measuring tape.
2. Measure your wall and use a pencil to mark the location of the vent on the wall.
3. Next, Use a drill to drill a pilot hole at the center of the location where you have marked.
4. Now, use a hole saw to cut a hole in the wall at the marked location.
5. After drilling a hole, insert the vent cover, screw it or glue it.
6. Attach the vent hose to the portable air conditioner.
7. Turn on your unit and if all is well, insulate the vent with insulation foam or fiberglass.
8. Finally, patch or paint the wall to match the rest of the wall. This is optional.

Learn: How to vent a portable air conditioner through a wall?

#3 Vent the unit through a chimney

If you are comfortable with the above option, then if your house has a chimney then it might be a good option to vent your portable air conditioner through a chimney.

It is used to vent out the hot gasses, smoke, and other by-products produced by a fireplace, furnace, boiler, or other heating appliances. However, there are some cons of venting a portable AC through a chimney:

• First, Airflow in the chimney may be limited and may not be sufficient to expel the hot air produced by the portable air conditioner.
• It can be expensive.
• May requires professional installation.
• Chimneys require regular cleaning for proper ventilation.
• You may not have a chimney in your house.

To vent a portable air conditioner through the chimney, use an HVAC duct sealant or mastic tape around the edges of the pipe so that no air escapes. You should also check for any signs of drafts or leaks in the chimney. If there are any, you should have them repaired before venting the unit. 

You should also check that the chimney is the right size for your portable air conditioner. If it is too small, the exhaust will not vent properly and may cause the unit to overheat, and overheating a unit can lead to huge issues.

To check the size, measure the inner diameter of the chimney and compare it to the size of the exhaust port on your AC unit. 

#4 Venting your portable AC through the dryer vent

Venting your portable air conditioner through a dryer vent can be a convenient option if you don’t have access to another method, such as a door, wall or chimney. 

A dryer vent, often referred to as a clothes dryer vent, is a pipe that is usually made of metal and is used to vent the warm, moist air produced by a clothes dryer. It usually runs from the back of the dryer to the outside of the building. 

There are some drawbacks to this method as well. 

• First, the vent needs to be large enough to fit into the exhaust duct of the AC unit. 
• Also, vents should be well sealed so that warm air from inside the home is not drawn back into the unit. If hot air is drawn back in, it can cause higher energy bills.
• Another possible issue is that the dryer vent may already be in use for another appliance, such as a clothes dryer. If so, then you will not be able to use it to vent your portable AC. 
• Lastly, This option may not be suitable for all homes because most homes do not have a dryer vent installed.

#5 Vent your portable air conditioner through ceiling

Source: Precisionairrental.com.au

Venting your portable air conditioner through the roof is one of the best and my favorite methods for venting a portable air conditioner without a window.

It is mostly used in small offices and other small places which do not have access to vents, walls and chimneys. Like other venting options, it also has its pros and cons, let’s talk about the pros first:

• It can improve air circulation in the room and provide better cooling.
• This can help reduce drafts and heat loss, which can take your unit’s energy efficiency to the next level.
• Venting a portable air conditioner through the roof can be less unappealing than other venting options.

And the cons are:

• Installing a vent for a portable air conditioner through the roof can be difficult if you are a novice and may require professional help.
• This can be more expensive than other options, as it requires a larger hose and some extra materials.
• It can lead to leaks.

Now, to vent your portable air conditioner through the ceiling, you’ll need to purchase an adjustable ceiling register and a venting hose that should be of the proper size.

And it is recommended that the exhaust hose especially for this option should be made of rigid aluminum or semi-rigid plastic material. The end of the venting hose should fit tightly into the adjustable ceiling register and be secured with a metal clamp.

#6 Venting through a crawl space

Venting through a crawl space is a second last option if you don’t have access to windows, doors, walls, chimney or dryer vents.

A crawl space is a type of foundation found in most older homes. It is an unfinished area located below the first floor of a house. It is usually high enough for anyone to crawl through, that’s why it is called “crawl space”. 

You can install a special vent that extends through the crawl space to the outside of your home. This method requires drilling a hole in the wall and then inserting a vent hose. This requires drilling a hole in the wall, doesn’t mean it’s like venting the PAC through the wall.

Think about it, you need to drill a hole in your wall to get it into the crawl space. Of course, there are some disadvantages to venting a portable air conditioner through a crawl space:

• First, crawl spaces are often moist and damp, which can create moisture and mold problems if not properly ventilated.
• Second, these types of spaces are also susceptible to pest infestation, such as rodents and insects.
• Lastly, insulation in crawl spaces is limited and may not be sufficient to prevent drafts.

But despite these cons, it is still better to vent a portable through a crawl space if you do not have access to other options. Be sure to use proper safety gear, such as a hard hat and protective eyewear.

And make sure the place should be well ventilated. If there is not enough ventilation, this can cause the temperature in the space to get too hot and create a risk of fire.

#7 Venting through casement windows

A casement window hinges on one side and opens outward like a door. It usually has a crank mechanism that is used to open and close the window. These windows can be a great way to vent your portable air conditioner without the need to install a window kit. 

The main advantage of this method is that installation does not require raising or lowering the unit. Casement windows open outward and can easily be used to vent hot air from a portable AC unit. But it has some disadvantages as well and they are:

• Venting a portable air conditioner out through a window can make it difficult to access and maintain the unit.
• Windows can be visually unappealing.
• May allow drafts and heat loss.

Anyway, to vent through a casement window, the window opening must be large enough to fit both the exhaust duct and the window panel insert. You also need to make sure that the window is completely sealed when it is closed. 

Use a flexible hose to connect the portable AC unit to the window insert. And make sure the hose fits securely and is clamped tightly to avoid any leaks.

FAQ: How To Vent a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Window? 

In this FAQ guide, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about how to vent a portable air conditioner without a window. Keep reading!

My final thoughts: How to vent a portable air conditioner without a window?

A portable air conditioner needs to be vented so that the hot air produced by the unit can be removed from the room and should not be ignored.

The most common way to vent a portable AC is through a window, but if you don’t have a window, it becomes tricky to vent it, but still there are some other ways to vent the unit. I have mentioned above 6 ways to vent a portable air conditioner without a window.

More from us:

• Effective ways to reduce noise from a portable air conditioner
• Top rated quiet portable AC units
• Cheap portable AC for camping
• Why my portable air conditioner is not turning on?
• Causes of blowing hot air from my portable air conditioner

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David Jack

David Jack is a veteran when it comes to air conditioners, he love helping people find solutions to their problems with AC units. His specialty is helping people find the right Air-Conditioner for their needs, whether that means replacing a broken unit or adding on to an existing system. He is also great at diagnosing problems and fixing them quickly. He learned this from my father Jack Smith who was an air conditioner repairer, he has 2 years of experience in this field.

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