As scorching temperatures continue to grip many regions, portable air conditioners have become a popular solution for keeping homes cool. However, a scientific expert has identified a major design flaw in these units and shared a simple DIY hack that can dramatically improve their performance.
The Design Flaw in Single-Hose Air Conditioners
Michael Le Page, a senior reporter at New Scientist, explained in a TikTok video that single-hose portable air conditioners have a fundamental issue. These units draw warm air out of the room and expel it outside through a hose, but the single-hose design causes inefficiency. The machine pulls in hot, humid air from outside, which it must continually cool, wasting energy. Le Page compared this to "mixing mud into laundry detergent," noting that the hotter and more humid it gets, the less efficient the unit becomes.
Heat Loss from the Hose
Another problem is that the hose itself becomes very hot during operation. If the hose is inside the room, some of that heat radiates back into the space, undermining the cooling effect. Le Page recommended covering the hose with a towel or blanket to minimize heat loss.
The DIY Hack: Converting to a Dual-Hose System
Le Page suggested that the best alternative is a dual-hose portable air conditioner, which uses an extra hose to draw in outside air for cooling before expelling it. Some manufacturers sell conversion kits that can increase cooling power by three times. If no kit is available, Le Page demonstrated a DIY approach: using cardboard to seal off the rear of the air conditioner where hot air enters, so that air is drawn from outside rather than from the room. He noted that this hack has dramatically improved his unit's performance, allowing it to cool the entire house instead of just one room.
Call for Regulatory Changes
Le Page urged the UK government to update energy labeling regulations to clarify how portable air conditioners operate and to mandate dual-hose systems over single-hose models. He also highlighted that split-unit air conditioners, with one unit outside and one inside, are much more efficient and could save money in the long run despite higher upfront costs.
