Can You Lay a Portable Air Conditioner on Its Side?

Portable air conditioners are easy to use cooling devices, however, their design needs special attention. A popular one is whether it is safe to place a portable AC on its side.

Concisely, a portable air conditioner should not be used or stored on its side. This may lead to internal damage and performance problems.

This article will tell you why portable AC units should be kept upright, what dangers it causes when they are laid down on their side, and how to transport or store them. It also gives advice of what to do in case a unit was laid down on its side accidentally.

The table below provides a summary of the safety of laying a portable AC on its side in various situations:

Scenario	Lay on Side?	Precautions / Notes
Operating the AC unit	No	Must remain upright during use. Running it on its side can lead to oil starvation and damage .
Transporting the unit	Avoid	Keep upright if possible. If laid on its side briefly, stand it upright for several hours (up to 24 hours) before turning it on .
Storing the unit (long-term)	Avoid	Store in an upright position. If stored on its side, allow it to sit upright at least a day before use to let fluids settle .
Brief tilting (unit off)	Generally Safe	Momentary tilting for maintenance or moving is okay if the unit is off. Always return it upright and wait a few minutes before powering on.

Why Portable AC Units Must Stay Upright

The manufacturers make portable air conditioners to be used in an upright position. When a portable AC is placed on its side, it may cause an imbalance within the unit and result in its failure. The compressor and other parts within are oriented to use vertically, like a refrigerator .

These components are not able to work when they are tilted or when they are lying on their sides. Indeed, the majority of portable AC manuals have a clear note that the unit should not be tilted or laid on its side or back in use . This is not a mere suggestion but it is vital to avoid damage.

This is mainly because of the cooling system of the unit. Portable ACs use a closed refrigerant cycle that has a compressor that circulates refrigerant and oil. The compressor is usually at the bottom of the unit and it has lubricating oil required to facilitate smooth operations.

When the unit is lying on its side, the oil may drain out of the sump of the compressor and not reach the parts which it is supposed to lubricate. When the compressor is started next, it can run without enough oil, and metal parts can grind against one another. This may cause overheating, excessive wear and even a seized or burnt out compressor in a very short period of time . That is, the sideways running of the AC deprives the compressor of oil, a situation that is likely to cause irreparable damage to the most costly component of the appliance in no time.

The other issue is the management of the condensate (water). Portable air conditioners remove moisture in the air during the cooling process which is drained in a drip pan or reused through an evaporative process. These are systems that have been designed to deal with water when the unit is upright.

When a portable AC is lying on its side, the water that condenses might not flow into the desired collection point. Rather, water may enter where it is not supposed to and may flood internal parts. This misalignment can break electrical components or sensors and can make the unit spill water outside. In units that have self evaporating technology, being on its side does not allow moisture to be removed via the exhaust hose effectively, which affects performance and may damage the fan or motor of the unit.

Risks of Laying a Portable Air Conditioner on Its Side

There are a number of short-term and long-term dangers that come with placing a portable AC on its side. The main risks of inappropriate positioning are listed below:

• Compressor Damage: When the unit is sideways, the compressor can be deprived of oil. The fact that oil is pooling out of the compressor translates to the fact that important moving parts are not lubricated and this causes friction and wear . Even a short period of working in this state may lead to collision and grinding of internal parts, which may lead to a complete failure of the compressor . When the compressor is broken, the AC will not cool and in most cases the only solution is to replace the part which is costly.
• Refrigerant Flow Problems: The refrigerant flow can be disturbed when the unit is not upright. Although the refrigerant (which is commonly known as freon) does not spill like a liquid, its distribution in the condenser and evaporator coils may be influenced by gravity. The manufacturer Meaco (through T3 Magazine) observes that a portable AC, just like any fridge, must be left standing upright for hours after transportation to allow the refrigerant to get back to its correct position . Failure to do this and running the AC on its side may result in the refrigerant and oil mixture going into the compressor in the wrong phase or at the wrong place resulting in what technicians term as slugging (liquid entering the compressor) or other inefficiencies. This may significantly decrease cooling capacity and overload the compressor.
• Condensate Leaks and Electrical Hazards: As stated, water which is normally collected safely in a pan may leak inside the unit. This could result in wet insulation, mold or even electrical circuitry contact. Electronics can be shorted or components corroded by a leak inside. In addition, any water that leaks on your floor or carpet is an undesired side effect. Having the AC upright will mean that the condensate will drain or evaporate as it should, and these spill risks will be avoided.
• Void Manufacturer Warranty: Since manufacturers specifically caution against using or storing the unit on its side, it is possible that it will void your warranty. In case of damage, the service center might not accept a repair or replacement claim, in case they suspect that the unit was used improperly (such as oil stains in the wrong places, or other signs of sideways use). The safest thing to do is to adhere to the instructions given in the user manual to save your warranty and the appliance.

To conclude, it is safe to always have a portable air conditioner standing straight when using it. The internal design just does not fit sideways orientation. According to one of the HVAC expert sites, an AC used on its side may cause oil depletion and failure to manage condensate, which causes performance failure or even the entire system failure .

There is no serious damage that will be done simply by laying it down sideways with the power off the serious damage is done when you run it or start it in that position or before fluids have resettled.

Manufacturer Guidelines on Unit Orientation

Almost every manufacturer and HVAC expert will say the same thing: make sure the unit stands upright and in case it has been lying on its side, leave it standing upright for some time before operating it. As an example, one manufacturer of portable AC (GE) recommends that, in case a unit was shipped on its side or back, it must be stood upright at least as long as it was on its side before turning it on.

In case it stayed sideways one day or more, GE advises to leave it standing up at least 24 hours before using it . This enables any spilled oil and refrigerant to relocate to their rightful positions. When the tilt is just a short one (to reposition or clean the unit), a shorter upright wait, as in GE guidance, of just a few minutes, may be adequate.

Most portable AC user manuals have a warning that the unit should be left standing up before using it or after transportation. One of the general rules is to wait approximately 12 to 24 hours in an upright position in case the unit was delivered or transported on its side . This is usually emphasized by a warning tag on the box or the instructions.

The aim is to make sure that all the compressor oil which could have leaked out is returned to the sump of the compressor. One of the Amazon products FAQs was blunt: “You are not supposed to store anything that has a compressor on its side… When you do, stand it up 24-48 hours before connecting it up, to allow the oil in the compressor body to settle back to the bottom, before it runs” . Not waiting long enough and starting the AC too early may lead to the burning out of the compressor motor due to insufficient lubrication .

Concisely, the manufacturers of all portable air conditioners discourage the use of the device on its side. Transport and storage ought to be upright wherever feasible. In case of orientation, they always advise a settling time (a few hours to a whole day) to allow all the things to settle down internally before it can be used.

It is important to follow these guidelines in order to prevent unnecessary damages.

Transporting a Portable AC: Tips to Prevent Damage

When relocating or shipping a portable air conditioner, you should intend to maintain it as horizontal as possible. The best method of carrying a portable AC is vertically and upright as it is when in use. This is regardless of whether you are carrying it across a room, to a new floor or home after buying it in the store.

Strap the unit in your vehicle so that it does not tip over. In case you still have the original box and packaging foam, it is prudent to use them because they are meant to hold the unit in an upright position.

There are occasions though, when you may be tempted to place a portable AC on the floor of a car or in a narrow passageway. In case you have to transport the unit on its side, then you should keep the time the unit is on its side to a minimum. Immediately you arrive at your destination, straighten the air conditioner.

Do not switch it on right after a side-lying transport. Rather, wait to use: a thumb rule is to leave it standing up as long as it was lying down, or at least several hours . Most of the experts are on the side of caution and recommend waiting 24 hours to be on the safe side, particularly when the AC was on its side longer than a brief period of time . This idle time is meant to enable the compressor oil to settle at the bottom.

Not waiting and turning on the AC early may lead to that loud grinding sound or even a broken compressor.

Be also careful about the condensate during transportation. Make sure that the drain plug is tightened and that any water in the unit (left over) is drained before relocating the unit. Otherwise, the laying down of the unit might lead to spillage of water inside. When transporting the portable AC, it is always advisable to empty the water tank or pan on it especially when you are aware that you will need to tilt it.

Proper Storage Orientation for Portable AC Units

When storing your portable air conditioner in a cooler period or long-term storage, you should always keep it upright. Handle the unit as you would any refrigeration appliance; an example is that you would not store a refrigerator on its side and therefore you should not store a portable AC on its side.

The manufacturers usually specify that the unit should be stored in an upright position . This eliminates the possibility of oil trickling out of the compressor with time. Leaving it on its side for weeks or months may permit a lot of oil to migrate in the system such that when you finally put it upright and start it, the compressor may run dry at first .

Prepare the unit before storing it: drain all the water, clean or replace filters, and hose clamps. After cleaning, allow the unit to dry completely (to prevent mold) and then store it standing upright somewhere.

Put it somewhere it can not be knocked over. It is prudent to wrap the unit with a sheet or tarp loosely to prevent dust but be sure that the unit is not in danger of lying on its side under clutter.

In case you have to store a portable AC on its side because of the lack of space, be careful when reactivating it. When you need to use it again, place the unit upright at least 24 hours before switching it on . This allows the oils and the refrigerant to relocate to their respective positions.

According to one HVAC service, in case, due to any reason, the system is lying on its side even after some time, it is a good idea to keep it in the upright position at least one day before switching it on. By adhering to this recommendation, it will be possible to reduce the possibility of compressor damage due to the abnormal storage position. Generally, however, do not use sideways storage at all, if possible.

What to Do If Your AC Was Laid on Its Side

Things go wrong, perhaps your portable AC tipped over, or maybe you got the unit delivered by a delivery service and it was on its side in the box. In case a portable air conditioner has been lying on its side (particularly, in case it could have been used in this position without knowing about it), do the following to safeguard it:

1. Switch it off at once: In case the unit was operating when it was sideways or upside down, switch it off and unplug it immediately. It can easily get damaged when running it in that state, and therefore, one should stop operating it immediately they realize the problem.
2. Place the air conditioner upright: Place the air conditioner upright on a flat surface. Hold it in this normal upright position henceforth. The fewer the jostles the better, you want the internal fluids to re-settle naturally.
3. Look for leaks: Look around the unit to see whether there is any spilled oil or refrigerant (but the latter is unlikely to be visible) and, in particular, water. When you notice water dripping out, then most probably it is condensate that has leaked out of the collection pan. Clean any wetness and unscrew the drain plug of the unit to drain out any left over water and then seal it again.
4. Wait before turning it on again: Do not switch the AC on immediately. Leave the unit to stand and stay undisturbed after a considerable amount of time. In case the unit was lying on its side for a short period of time (less than one hour), a couple of hours of upright resting may be enough. When it has been lying on its side, several hours or you are not sure, then you should be on the safer side and wait at least 24 hours before switching it on . This idle time allows the compressor oil to drain back to the bottom and any refrigerant which has migrated to re-distribute itself.
5. Turn on and test with caution: Once the waiting time is over, plug the unit and turn it on. Be attentive to the way it goes during the first 10-15 minutes. Pay attention to the abnormal sounds of the compressor (such as loud knocking or grinding). Also make sure that it is cooling normally. It may take a few minutes to begin cooling but the cooling process should commence after a few minutes.
6. Check the performance: In case the AC appears to be working well and cooling properly, it probably did not suffer severe damages. But keep on checking it on the first day of use. In case you experience poor cooling, frequent shutdowns, or unusual sounds, it is possible that the sideways episode left its traces.
7. When to call a pro: When the portable AC does not cool after it is righted and set down, or when it turns off because it is overloaded (most compressors have a safety shut-down in case they overheat or are subjected to internal pressure), you may have to call in a technician. In other instances, operating an AC on its side may lead to permanent damage on the compressor. A professional will be able to determine whether the compressor is faulty or there is oil clogged where it is not supposed to be. Remember to tell the technician that the unit was either run or moved on its side because this tip will help him or her in the diagnosis.

Using these steps, you provide your portable AC with the best opportunity to overcome an incorrect orientation. In many cases, when the unit was not powered when it was sideways (or it was powered only a few seconds), it will be okay after a day of rest. It is all about patience, it is not easy to wait in a hot room, but turning on the AC too early might result in an even worse situation.

Never forget about the health of the appliance, as you do not want to turn a small inconvenience into a huge repair.

Conclusion

To place a portable air conditioner on its side is usually not safe to the unit. Portable ACs are designed to work upright. When turned on its side, the lubricating oil drains out of the compressor and the water does not drain properly and this preconditions the possibility of damage .

The manufacturers recommend that these units should always be kept upright and in case any of them ever gets into a sideways position, it should be allowed to rest in the upright position for several hours before it is switched on. Practically, care of your portable AC should be similar to that of a refrigerator, i.e., handle it with care, and it will serve you longer and at its best. To conclude, a portable AC should not be run on its side. It should be used and stored upright and adhered to the guidelines given and you will have your portable air conditioner working well in many years to come.