South Africa is home to warm temperatures about seven months out of the year, with the summer months reaching an excess of 38 degrees Celsius most of the time. If you are out in the heat for an extended period of time, your body will lose the precious water you need to stay hydrated, which could cause heat stroke, fatigue or even death if not treated carefully.
It’s a good idea to take a break for at least 15 minutes out of every hour you’re exposed to high temperatures, either in the shade or indoors where it’s cooler. Wearing a hat can help prevent sunburn and water evaporation and loose, light clothing will help deflect the light that makes your body temperature rise. If you have an electric outlet where you are resting, whether inside or out, having a portable air conditioning unit can literally be a life saver when you’re hot and tired.
Portable air conditioners are a cheaper alternative compared to window units or installed central cooling systems and can be taken just about anywhere there’s a working energy source to power it. If you’d like to learn more about PAC systems you can read our FAQs section here.
Portable units can be taken anywhere. Not only can these mobile aircons be moved from room to room when need be, but it’s a great option if you’re going be outside or in a garage, anywhere there might be oppressive heat and low ventilation. Window units are a great alternative to central air conditioning but not all windows are made to have an aircon installed, leaving you with limited choices. You also don’t have the option of taking your window unit with you when you leave, a significant drawback for rooms that need air conditioning the most.
The great thing about portable air conditioners is your ability to easily transport them wherever you go. They weigh significantly less than traditional window units and some even have wheels built right into the aircon, while others are situated on casters installed on the bottom. Whether rolling it around or physically picking it up, a portable air conditioner is made to be just that – a mobile aircon system for the ultimate in cooling portability.
Units come with a removable air filter. Let’s face it, our air is not the cleanest thing in the world, yet we breathe it in all the time. Cigarette smoke, carcinogens, smog, dust mites – all of these factors can lead to allergies or a hard time breathing, especially if you’re indoors for a long period of time. Most portable air conditioners come with an air filter that traps most of the unhealthy particles that cause us to be sick, and can be removed and cleaned with water when it becomes clogged or extremely dirty. Window units often don’t have this feature, and filters for central air systems are often expensive and need to be changed often.
There is a built-in dehumidifier. South Africa is no stranger to dry, humid climates during the sweltering summer months and it can seem impossible to stop the sweat from rolling, even indoors. That’s when a dehumidifier comes in handy as it literally sucks excess humidity from the air, causing you to feel cooler, sweat less and relax easier knowing your portable air conditioner is hard at work.
Portable aircons come with many features. When was the last time you were able to control your air conditioning system with the touch of a button? Having that function usually means there’s a high cost involved, but a remote control is almost always included with these types of mobile aircons. As long as you’re within range of the air conditioner, you’ll be able to choose the settings, turn it on and off and adjust the temperature as needed.
Most portable air conditioners also come with a timer, so you run it only when you need it the most. That’s a specialty function not available on central air conditioning systems and most window units, which makes owning a portable air conditioner the affordable choice for indoor cooling when you need it most.
Storing portable aircons is surprisingly easy. While they’re nice to have when it’s hot outside, what do you do with a mobile aircon unit when it’s not in use? The good news is that these units are often slim and small, making it easy to slip in a closet or beside the dresser. They tend to take up no more than 18 inches of floor space, which means storage is a snap. Make sure you have enough head space for the unit, though, as they can be up to 30 inches in height. Storing it in a cramped area can cause the unit to malfunction the next time you need to use it, as it might damage the external parts.
There are many benefits of owning a portable air conditioner, and these are just some to get you started. To really get the maximum use of your new mobile air con, make sure you measure the room that will need to be cooled; a small unit in too large of a room might cause spot cooling and not actually lower the temperature of the entire space. Take note of the entire area then compare it to the BTUs on portable air conditioner units for sale; the higher the BTU the larger the area that can be cooled. Unless you’re in an exceptionally large room, like a warehouse or conference space, you can get the job done with just one mobile aircon unit.
GMC Air conditioning CC has been a cooling industry leader in South Africa for the last two decades, and our experience means you’ll be getting the absolute best portable air conditioner for your money, guaranteed. Our technical support is comprehensive and comes backed with thousands of satisfied customers, making your mobile aircon investment the smartest move you can make when it comes to portable cooling solutions. We’d love to hear from you so please do contact us and we’d be happy to help with any questions you may have. You can also read more about us.