Can You Vent A Portable Air Conditioner Up A Chimney?

For many people, portable air conditioners are a convenient and essential addition to the house. If you’re unable to afford a permanent solution or you’re unable to have one fitted, then portable units are the next best option. However, the only problem is finding a suitable location to vent the hot air from the hose.

Finding the Best Location

Depending on the size of your house, there may be several areas where you can use the hose to vent the hot air. However, there are other things that you should be aware of before you decide.

Electrical Socket

It might sound obvious, but having the air conditioner near an electrical socket is the safest option. Using an extension lead can lead to other issues such as a trip hazard, and the lead must have the correct rating to cope with the air conditioner’s power needs. 

Excessive Moisture

Although air conditioners collect moisture from the air, they are not able to cope with excessive moisture to their electrical components. Make sure that the unit is not near water or where there could be a risk of the unit getting wet.

Self-Contained Area

Portable air conditioners are great for placing where you need them the most. They do have their limitations, however, and are best suited in an area that can be closed off to allow the room to cool. If you place them in an area that is open to the outside, they will have to work harder, produce more water, and be less efficient.

Best Places to Vent a Portable Air Conditioner

Ideally, you want to be venting the hot air from the air conditioner to the outside, otherwise, you can get a build-up of moisture, and reduce the efficiency of the unit. These are some of the best places to vent the hot air hose.

Windows

Arguably the most common position for the hot air vent is out of the window. This gives direct venting to the outside air and they are a convenient option. One thing to remember is that you need to stop the hot air from coming back into the room. To solve this, you can buy window kits that air conditioner vents fit into which seal the gap so no hot air can return. 

The Ceiling

Some people choose to fit the vent into the ceiling so that the hot air can go into the attic space or a false ceiling area. This is a good idea for those areas that don’t have windows, but other problems can arise. If there’s no ventilation in the attic or the false ceiling, then it can lead to a build-up of moisture which can cause damage. If you are unsure, then hiring an experienced HVAC technician will be a wise choice. 

Exterior Wall

Venting through an exterior wall is a good option to prevent any hot air from returning into the room. You will need to make a hole in the wall and fit an exhaust port to attach the vent pipe. However, this will permanently fix your air conditioner to one location, so you need to be sure before you proceed.

Up a Chimney

Many older houses will have a fireplace that may no longer be used.  So can you vent a portable air conditioner up a chimney? This is an ideal location to place the vent pipe, but you will need to use a window kit or some other means to seal the fireplace before you attach the hose. If you simply run the hose up the chimney, the hot air won’t be able to circulate effectively and may return into the room. You should also ensure that the chimney is cleaned before you use it, in case there is loose soot that can get into the duct and damage the air conditioner.

Portable air conditioners are a convenient way to get cool air anywhere in your home. If they are placed in the best location and the hot air vented correctly, they can be a highly efficient and versatile solution.