Comparing 2 Hose vs 1 Hose Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners have soared in popularity in recent years. This is hardly surprising, considering the level of convenience they offer. But convenience aside, deciding on the right one for you and your home can still be a tricky task. Portable air conditioners come with a wide variety of different features and options, so it can seem challenging to figure out which one will best suit your needs. 

One common sticking point is the issue of whether to get a portable air conditioner that has one hose or two. Many buyers are unsure of the difference or even how it can have this feature can impact on the suitability of the unit for them. It’s important to understand this seemingly small discrepancy to better inform your purchase. This article will be comparing 2 Hose vs 1 Hose Portable Air Conditioners, so read on to find out more.

One Hose Portable Air Conditioners

The most obvious point here is that these units have one hose. This single hose acts as both the intake and exhaust hose for the unit. Warm air is sucked in from the room, cooled within the unit, and sends the warm air and excess moisture outside, which keeps the cooler air indoors. Single hose portable air conditioners are often cheaper and smaller than their two-hose counterparts, meaning they are more affordable and take up less space within the home.

One of the challenges with this unit design is that it creates negative pressure, which can suck more warm air in from outside if windows and doors are not properly sealed. This can cause the unit to run less efficiently and need to work harder to produce the desired cooling effect. Another concern is that cooling larger spaces is not generally the forte of this unit. The one hose designed is better suited for smaller rooms.

Two Hose Portable Air Conditioners

This unit, again obviously, features two hoses instead of one. One hose acts as the intake, while the other performs the exhaust function. The intake hose sucks warm air in where it’s cooled within the unit, and the exhaust hose pumps warm air out which prevents the air conditioner from overheating. This is a far more efficient process than the one hose system and is considered the preferred choice for cooling larger rooms and spaces. The two hose portable air conditioner also does not present the same negative pressure issue that comes with the one hose design.

The main drawback of the two hose portable air conditioner is that it tends to be more costly than the one hose version. While it can be argued that the reduced running costs thanks to its improved efficiency offsets its higher price, this is where customer needs really come into play. The two hose version also uses more electricity, which is an ongoing cost that bears consideration.

So, Which One Is Best for Me?

Your two biggest deciding factors when tossing up between the one hose or two hose portable air conditioner will be your budget and the size of the space you wish to cool. If you primarily want to use your portable air conditioner within a very small space, then there is little point in paying additional money for the larger, two hose version. Likewise, the two hose units tend to be larger in overall size, so they may become less convenient in a particularly small area.

However, if you will mainly be wanting to cool a larger room, then you owe it to yourself to consider the two hose portable air conditioner. While the two hose unit does use more electricity, the efficiency with which it cools larger areas compared to the one hose version, which may offset this additional cost. As always, it’s important to consider your individual budget and needs before making any final decisions.