A portable air conditioner without hose can be a life savior when the summer heat comes and the traditional air conditioners are not available. These ventless units (usually evaporative coolers or swamp coolers) offer cooling relief without the necessity to exhaust hot air through a window.
They are perfect in dry climates and in cases where you cannot fit a window AC or a big exhaust hose.
In this guide, we will compare 5 of the best hose-free portable ACs in the market today
How Ventless Portable ACs Work (and How They Differ)
It is necessary to know what a portable air conditioner without a hose is before getting into the best products. Ventless units cool the air by evaporation unlike the standard portable AC units, which require the use of refrigerant and have to vent hot air through a hose.
They usually have a fan to pull in warm air and blow it through a wet cooling pad and emit a cool mist or breeze into the room. This evaporates moisture and reduces the temperature of the air, particularly in dry heat regions.
Evaporative coolers are much easier to carry around the house and do not need special installation as they lack an exhaust hose. They also use much less energy than compressor-based ACs, frequently only 50-150 watts compared to 800+ watts of a conventional system, and are therefore less expensive to operate.
They are also quieter to run and do not have the compressor kicking on and off.
But it has certain trade-offs. Ventless coolers usually cannot cool a room as well as an AC and they are most effective in low-humidity (usually less than 60 percent humidity). Their cooling effect is not so great in very humid climates, as the air is already saturated with moisture.
Moreover, they increase moisture in the air rather than taking it out of the air as a dehumidifying AC. This is good in dry areas but not so much in humid areas. Evaporative coolers are also suggested to be used with a little airflow (such as an open window or door) when used inside.
This will avoid excessive humidity in the room and escape of hot air.
To conclude, a portable AC (evaporative cooler) without a hose is a great option when it comes to spot cooling under the right circumstances, it is convenient, portable, and saves energy but it is not going to substitute an AC in every situation. These are some of the differences to consider as we examine the best ventless models below.
Top 5 Best Portable Air Conditioners Without Hose
1. Dreo 43-Inch Evaporative Air Cooler – Best Smart Tower Design
The Dreo 43-inch Evaporative Air Cooler is a new tower cooler that is ideal in bedrooms, living rooms or offices. This slim unit is approximately 3.5 feet high and swings 85 o to circulate cool air throughout a medium-sized room.
It employs a water-saturated honeycomb pad and comes with ice packs to provide a cool breeze, and this does not need any vent hose or installation. The Dreo is ultra-quiet, thanks to its bladeless fan design and careful engineering, which is perfect for light sleepers who still need their room to be cool without the loud compressor noise.
Regarding performance, users claim that the Dreo cooler gives a significant coolness in dry heat, so it seems like a cool mist fan. It will not compete with a compressor AC during the hottest days, but it will be the best at increasing comfort when you need a light cool air flow.
Pros: Slim, space-saving design; extremely quiet; handy smart controls and oscillation
Cons: It is not designed to be used in high humidity climates; the water tank will have to be refilled frequently when used over a long period. On the whole, the Dreo 43” is among the finest portable air conditioners without a hose that you can purchase as a tech-savvy consumer in the arid areas.
2. Hessaire MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler – Best for Small Outdoor Spaces
The Hessaire MC18M is one of the best options in case you require serious airflow in a garage, workshop, or patio. It is a high output compact proven swamp cooler.
The MC18M is able to cool up to 500 sq. ft. with a strong fan that blows approximately 1,300 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air, which is much more than most other hose-free models. Even though it has high performance, it is completely portable and needs only water and electricity to operate (no vent hose whatsoever).
This Hessaire model has been used by many users to ensure that outdoor parties or garages that are stuffy during the summer heat are comfortable.
The Hessaire MC18M is best at blowing a cool air in hot and dry weather. It is not as smooth or silent as the indoor-oriented models, but it is more powerful in terms of cooling capacity than many.
Pros: Very efficient cooling considering the size; durable and easy to use; can be used both indoors and outdoors provided that it has ventilation.
Cons: Extremely simple features (no remote or timer); can be excessive in small rooms; will not perform well in high humidity. In general, this unit can be considered as the most powerful ventless portable air conditioner in the arid climates
3. VAGKRI 2100 CFM 8-Gallon Evaporative Cooler – Best for Large Rooms & Garages
VAGKRI 2100CFM Air Cooler is a portable heavy duty air cooler that is used to address large cooling tasks. Having a high airflow rating (2100 CFM), this unit can be used to cover up to approximately 600-700 sq. ft. and thus it can be used in open-plan living areas, oversized garages, or even light commercial applications.
The VAGKRI is fully portable, even though it has an impressive cooling area, and operates on standard 115V power without the need of an exhaust hose. It is a high capacity with modern convenience, electronic controls and a remote.
The VAGKRI is ideal to those who require cooling a large space but do not want to install several AC units. It is able to reduce the perceived temperature significantly in dry heat and make a stifling space into something more comfortable.
Pros: Good cooling power and airflow; huge water tank to last a long time; easy to use remote and oscillation.
Cons: Oversized (occupies more floor space); more noisy on the highest fan mode; just like any swamp cooler, it needs dry ambient conditions to operate at its best. This VAGKRI model is probably the finest portable air conditioner without vent in large spaces in which a hose-based AC is not an option in the right climate.
4. Honeywell 2.6-Gallon Indoor Evaporative Cooler – Best for Small Rooms
To have a well-known brand and a convenient fit in a compact area, the Honeywell 2.6-Gallon Portable Evaporative Cooler is an excellent choice. Honeywell has been producing evaporative coolers since many years and this model (also commonly known as its model number TC10PEU) is specifically designed to cool a small room or a personal space.
It is a small tower (approximately 2 feet high) that can be placed in a corner of the bedroom, den or kitchen to give cool breeze without any window vent. Its uncomplicated, easy to use design and silent operation make it a favorite among people who prefer a hassle-free cooler of a well-known brand.
The strengths of the Honeywell are reliability and ease of use. It is not attempting to cool an entire house, but in a bedroom or a home office it can remove the sting out of the heat quite well. It is easy to move it around since it is lightweight and on caster wheels.
Pros: Small and contemporary design; well-known brand with a good customer service; silent and powerful in small rooms.
Cons: Small cooling area (it is designed to cool a single room or a person); it does not work well in humid conditions; the plastic construction is lightweight (it is not as durable as outdoor equipment). This Honeywell evaporative cooler is a high-end product that offers a good balance between performance and cost in case you live in a dry area and have to cool one room without a window vent.
5. Arctic Air Pure Chill 2.0 – Best Personal Portable AC Without Hose
There are times when you only require a very small and personal cooler and that is what the Arctic Air Pure Chill 2.0 was designed to do. This small cube (approximately 6 inches on each side) is basically a mini evaporative cooler that is supposed to be placed on your desk, nightstand or coffee table to blow a cool breeze right in your face.
It is not going to cool a whole room, but as a personal space cooler, it is a runaway hit.
As a matter of fact, this model has tens of thousands of reviews on Amazon by users who needed a simple plug-and-play device to cool down quickly. It is completely hose free, even filter free, and only requires water (or ice water) and a small fan to produce a cool air stream wherever you aim it.
The Arctic Air Pure Chill 2.0 is as portable as it can be, there is no hose, no heavy lifting and no high power draw.
However, remember its boundaries. Advantages: Highly portable; cheap; ideal to use at home or on the road; no installation or configuration.
Cons: Extremely small cooling capacity (not enough to cool down a whole room); requires regular water/ice replenishing in order to be used; average durability. Nevertheless, when you need a fast cool off at your desk or a breeze when you are sleeping, the Arctic Air is a nice little device to have in hot weather.
Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Ventless Portable AC
When you are out to buy the best portable air conditioner without a hose that suits your needs, you should take into consideration the following factors in order to make the best decision:
- Room Size and CFM: Compare the amount of airflow (CFM) and recommended coverage of the cooler to your space.
- Water Capacity: The larger the water tank, the more time you have before cooling stops. The small tabletop units may only last a few hours before they require a refill, but an 8-gallon cooler can last all day. Think about how frequently you want to put water (and ice) in and whether a hose connection to keep the water flowing is feasible to you.
- Noise Level: Swamp coolers are quieter than compressor ACs but some of them (high-CFM models) can be loud when the fan is set to high.
- Extra Features: The new evaporative coolers may include such conveniences as remote controls, timers, oscillation, and multiple modes (e.g., a nature breeze mode that changes fan speed). Smart features (app or voice control) are less common but can be found on models such as the Dreo. Pay attention to the quality of construction as well reputable brands (Honeywell, Hessaire, Dreo) can be more durable and have a better support.
- Climate: Evaporative coolers are most effective in arid climates. They can be miraculous if you are in the Southwestern U.S. or any other arid area.
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