Portable ac comes with many benefits, but sometimes venting hot air becomes an issue. So, is there an alternative of making a hole in the wall to vent the air? Can you install the vent through your attic? This article will provide a detailed guide about venting a portable ac into the attic.
Venting a portable ac into the attic
You can vent the portable ac into the attic, but there are several things to consider. The attic should have a proper ventilation system so that the hot air does not overheat the attic. The attic also should not have gaps or leaks that can bring hot air inside the room.
The name portable ac suggests that the ac is portable, but often the ac is not easily portable as a venting point is needed if you want to set up the ac in a different room. Making portable ac vents in a separate room can be a lot of hustle. So, can you vent the hot air in your attic?
The answer is yes, you can. The attic can help you get rid of the hot air. But there are some requirements for venting the hot air into the attic. Let’s discuss the requirements of venting ac air into the attic.
The fact is, hot air is thinner than cold air. As cold air is heavy, it tends to stay at the bottom and puss the hot air upwards. (thanks to the physics). Hot air goes up, so it does not usually come back into the room. That’s why it is possible to vent the hot air into the attic with proper ventilation.
But you need to make the system separate. Hot air can enter the room again if the attic has big holes or gaps. That means your home and attic work as a single system if air can come back into the room.
That’s why you need to ensure two things: the attic has a proper ventilation system and does not have significant gaps and holes. Ensure that your room will trap cold air and your attic will work ar outside of your room.
There are other complications too. If you make multiple vents in your attic, you must block all the other vents when the portable ac is connected with one. Or else the hot air can enter your house and reduce the efficiency of the portable ac. However, you can easily block the other vents by adding a lid.
There are other things to consider to set up ac vents in your attic. If your ac self evaporates ac, it removes the humidity of the air through the air vent. That can cause issues in your attic. If your attic has particle board stuff or similar products that can go bad in humidity. If you have them in the attic self-evaporate portable ac vents may not be suitable for you.
You can face different issues in different seasons. In the winter, hot air will make the roof of your house hot, melting the snow from the top. But what is the problem with that? The problem is the melted snow will fall on the gutter and turn back to the ice, blocking the gutter.
In the summer, the hot, humid air from the vent can create an ideal place for molds and bacteria, which can be problematic for your health and the condition of your house.
To install the vent in your attic, you need a long hose, but usually, the hoses are 6-7 feet. That will not make it to the attic. You can buy an extended hose to install the vent in your attic.
The type of your ac also matters. There are two types of portable ac. One is single hose portable ac, and the other is double hose portable ac. Single hose portable ac sucks the air from the inside, cools it, and removes the hot air. The dual hose portable ac collects the air from outside a vent and releases the hot air from another vent.
If you use double hose ac, you must make two holes in your attic. It’s also not efficient and worth doing.
Is it safe to vent a portable air conditioner into an attic?
Generally, it is safe to vent a portable air conditioner into an attic. It should not affect your health or property if done correctly. Let’s talk about what can cause an issue and how you can fix it.
Self-humidifier AC is unsuitable for venting into the attic, especially in summer. It will cause mold growth, and wooden stuff can damage your attic. But for standard AC, it should not be an issue.
Ensure the hot air passes comfortably and the vented air is not making your attic too hot. Your attic should have two or more ventilators that can pass the air. However, the size of your attic also matters.
Extensive attics are better for venting portable AC air. But a small attic may have overheating issues.
Melted snow can turn into ice inside your gutter in the winter season. So, sometimes you may need to clean the gutter.
How far can you vent a portable air conditioner?
Most portable AC comes with a 6-7 feet hose. But can you extend the vent hose? Yes, you can add an extended hose to the portable AC hose. You can find them easily in the market. But will there be any issue if you make the hose long?
Generally, no. You need 4-5 feet of extra hose to reach the attic, but it can cause an issue if the whole vent hose is longer than 12 feet.
The hose should be as straight as possible to maximize the performance. More than a 90-degree bend can reduce the performance of your portable AC.
How to vent a portable air conditioner into the attic?
An attic is a place that people usually use as storage. The attic is a better storage space than the basement as it does not have humidity and mold issues. But a portable AC vent can make it the opposite. Here are the steps to properly vent a portable air conditioner into the attic.
Check your portable AC:
First, you need to know your portable AC type. Venting in the attic will not be a good option if you have a double-vent portable AC. The AC will suck the hot air from the attic and release hotter air in the same place. It will put pressure on your AC and also reduce the performance.
If your portable AC is a self-humidifier, it can cause mold in the insulation.
Inspect your attic:
Before setting up the vent in the attic, you should prepare your attic first. Remove wooden or particle board stuff from your attic. Heat and humidity can damage them.
Make holes in the attic:
Follow the user manual of your portable ac to learn the proper way to set the hose with a hole. Make the hole properly with the right tools.
Extend the vent hose:
You will need to extend the vent hose to reach the attic. Measure the hose size and determine how long hose you need to reach the attic. Buy the extended hose from the market and connect that with the ac hose.
Attach the hose to the attic:
Attach the hose with the attic and ensure the connection is appropriately sealed. The hose should not bend more than 90 degrees.
What happens if you vent portable AC in the attic?
Portable ac can vent into the attic, but some problems can come with the setting. Here is what can happen if you set up a portable ac vent in your attic.
Work perfectly:
If your attic is big enough and has a proper ventilation system, the attic can work without any issues. If your portable ac does not remove all the moisture and release it in the attic, you don’t need to worry about mold and property damage.
Mold issue:
If your portable ac releases hot and humid air in the attic, you may have a mold issue.
Less efficiency:
If hot air can enter your house from the attic, it will cause less efficiency of your ac.
Final Thoughts
The attic can be an option to vent your portable ac, but it’s not the best option. It can cause overheating and mold infestation in your attic. Make sure your attic has a proper ventilating system. If you think the attic is not a good option, you can consider windows as a venting point.