7 Best Ventless Air Conditioners (April 2023 Reviews)

7 Best Ventless Portable Air Conditioners

I now present you with the 7 best ventless air conditioners, reviewed, and compared for your pleasure. I would urge you to take your time reading through this list, but the longer you take, the more you’re going to sweat.

What To Look For In Ventless Air Conditioner? A Buyer's Guide

Before you head out and just pick up any old ventless air conditioner, there are several things you need to consider to ensure ventless room AC removes warm air and provides cold air.

Below I offer you a brief buyer’s guide to help you understand the various conditions and features you need to think about. Then, once you know what you are dealing with, you can pull out your wallet.

Climate Conditions

Your region’s climate will play a big part in how efficient ventless air conditioners can be. High humidity and high heat areas will have the least efficient use of these fans.

However, they will help out with the heat and humidity a lot. The issue here is that in hotter climates, the ice melts faster and the water warms up, so you will need to change it out more frequently.

For the humid areas, condensation will accumulate much faster, causing you to need to empty the drain pans on a more regular basis.

Coverage Area

Each air conditioner will have a specific amount of coverage area, so it’s a good idea to get the right size for your space.

This is measured in square feet, which should match or exceed the size of your room.

You can get the room’s square footage by measuring the length and width of the room and multiplying the two numbers together.

You should also take into consideration the ceiling height, number of windows, and how much direct sun the room gets daily.

All of these factors reduce the effectiveness of the portable ventless AC units and will require more effort on your part to keep them running in peak condition.

CFM Airflow

Airflow is the measure of the amount of air the fan can move in a given time. Airflow itself is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

While a higher CFM is generally a good idea, you can overpower a room by using a fan that is too large for the space.

While it may seem like a good idea to get the biggest, most powerful ventless portable AC, if it is too much fan for the room, it will actually cost you more to operate it than it would to get one designed for that size space.

Ice Compartment

Not all best ventless fans have a separate tray for ice. Even the best portable air conditioner units will have a water tank only, or a tray for either ice or water. Water will work well to cool the air, but ice is even better.

Even when the ice melts, it leaves behind cold water that can prolong the use of the fan and reduce the number of times you need to get up to change it out.

Looking for a ventless AC unit that has an ice tray is a good idea. If you can’t find one, read the manuals for the others, and you will find that a lot of them can use ice in the water trays.

Water Tank & Runtime

Like the ice trays, most ventless air conditioners will have a tank. Some will use water only, while others can use gel packs. The gel packs, kind of like those first aid packs you put on your ankle when you twist it running to the refrigerator, will last longer than water, but take longer to freeze and set up.

The water tank capacity is important, though, as you don’t want to run these swamp coolers dry if you can help it. If you plan to use the portable air conditioner overnight in the bedroom, make sure the tank and reservoir are large enough to accommodate.

Helping with power consumption, some ventless air conditioners will have automatic shut-offs or limited runtimes as well.

This is an important thing to consider, both on the good side that you will most likely leave your house with the unit still running and on the bad side.

The bad side is that it can shut off in the middle of the night (or afternoon) when you need it the most.

Related Article – How Long Can You Run a Portable AC?

Extra Features

Not every air conditioner (air cooler) will offer additional features. Some remove add-ons to save costs and keep prices lower. Others will add features at the expense of raising the price, hoping they offer something you can’t live without.

Ease Of Use & Cleaning

As I mentioned earlier, these aren’t the lowest maintenance fans around. However, that extra amount of work on your part will keep these guys working at their best. Overall, maintaining and cleaning this portable air conditioner isn’t difficult.

Once you remove the filter and clean it or replace it, empty and wash the ice and water trays, it is only general maintenance that is left.

Clear out or drain any condensation, wipe down the body and vents and remove any dust from the room exhaust ports and you are good to go.

Related Article – Guide to Cleaning a Portable Air Conditioner

Price & Warranty

Finally, the cost of ownership will play a part in your decision. Your budget will dictate which range of prices you should shop in, and I highly recommend you stay in that range (so does your husband or wife).

The cost to bring the unit home is only part of the price. You also need to consider the power consumption and usage times and factor that into your monthly budget as well.

Then, you can think about the warranty (if any) that the manufacturer offers. These will protect your investment in case you get a defective unit (it does happen) and against unforeseen failures in craftsmanship, motors, or cooling abilities.

What to Expect from a Ventless Portable Air Conditioner?

Free standing ventless room air conditioners don’t require an exhaust hose and have a level of expectation that needs to be met to fully enjoy the purchase.

First, you will need to understand that ventless air conditioners are not central air conditioner replacements. They aren’t going to drop the temperature in your home several degrees.

What you will get is a room fan that can cool air and keep it moving. You also need to realize that there is extra maintenance involved with these ventless air conditioners, compared to portable AC units, fans, and window air conditioners.

They will accumulate condensation, which will need to be drained. The ice and water trays need to be washed and dried to prevent mold and bacteria growth, and the overall cleaning takes longer.

With that all out in the open, what you get in return is a lower temperature of a smaller room done effortlessly by an device better than a fan can.

It is a trade-off worth making, and when used in conjunction with other AC units, they can help make the entire system more efficient.

What's the Differences Between Ventless AC Unites Window, Vented & Ventless Portable AC Units Explained

When it comes to cooling your dorm, office, or room, you have options. You can choose a ventless portable AC, a vented portable AC, or a window air conditioner. Which one do you pick?

A lot will depend on the size of the room and your climate. Window air conditioners are ideal for humid areas that get warm air. Because they actually help dehumidify without overflowing, they can drain directly outside while keeping almost any size room cooled off.

They are harder to install than the other options and can cost a lot more (depending on BTUs and features). However, since they are an actual air conditioner, they cool a lot better.

Vented portable air conditioners need a window to vent the exhaust from, and most hoses are between 4 and 6 feet long. This limits where they can and cannot go, making the portable aspect a little less portable.

For rooms without venting windows (crank close, for example) or without windows at all, ventless portable air conditioners are the ideal solution.

They cool without requiring a window and can be transported to any room of the house at any time. There is a little set up with the water and ice, of course, but they require no installation. Fill the tank or tray, plug the ventless air conditioners in, and off you go.

Related Article – How to Vent a Portable AC Without a Window

Ventless Portable AC Units Compared

Common Ventless Air Conditioner Questions

Do they make ventless portable air conditioners?

Ventless portable air conditioners are also known as evaporative coolers, swamp coolers, or water fans. Instead of refrigerant and compressors, they use high-speed fans to blow air over ice and cold water. The air temperature drops like a portable air conditioner but without the added noise, exhaust venting, and installation.

Related Article – Swamp Cooler Vs Air Conditioner Explained

Where does the heat go on a ventless air conditioner?

There isn’t a mechanical heat transfer with a ventless portable AC. Air is cooled by being blown over ice or cold water. The ice or water absorbs the heat from the air, resulting in a more cooling breeze. Once the ice melts or the water gets too hot to be effective, you simply drain and replace it.

How much is the cost of running a ventless AC?

The actual cost of running a non vented air conditioner is determined by your amount of use, the power consumption of the air conditioner you purchase, and the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in your area.

On average, the best ventless portable air conditioners will cost about $2 per day to run on the high end. This is less expensive than a central air conditioner or window air conditioner unit but more than a box or tower fan.

When is a ventless air conditioner a good option?

Are portable air conditioners worth it? Ventless freestanding air conditioner units are good options for any occasion or reason. However, they are best suited for rooms where you cannot access the window for a window AC, or you need to move them to different rooms frequently and don’t want to mess with vent hoses.

How long can I expect a ventless AC unit to last?

Most ventless portable air conditioners come with a 1 to 3-year warranty. However, with proper care, regular maintenance, and not over-using these systems, ventless stand alone air conditioners can last you several years beyond the warrantied period.

Where is the best place to buy this type of air conditioner?

Looking to buy a ventless air conditioner and heater? Your best bet is to shop online at either Amazon or Sylvane, where you can find better prices and options for expedited shipping, free shipping, first-time customer discounts and extended warranties. You also get to choose from older ventless air conditioners at significant savings over the current air conditioner found in stores.

You can also pick up evaporative coolers in any home improvement store such as Home Depot, Lowe’s Tru-Value, etc. However, these stores will be limited to carrying only current or latest ventless air conditioners and lower stock quantities.

Conclusion

When you need to cool a room quickly and efficiently, there are several methods you can choose form. One of the most efficient and easiest is an evaporative cooler or ventless portable AC.

With a tray or tank to hold ice and water, these air conditioners will chill the air and move it around the room to keep you cool and comfortable on hot days.

If you aren’t sure which AC unit you should pick, I recommend that you take a good, long look at the top pick. The Honeywell CO30XE is ideal for small and medium-sized rooms and has enough features to keep you comfortable and in control for hours on end.