Portable air conditioning units have come a long way in their 35-year history. Since it first hit the market in 1983, portable a/c has gained legitimacy as both a quick fix when the power goes out in the summer to a permanent solution in situations where a normal a/c unit might not do the trick. Designed to be movable, spot coolers, as they’re often called, have been spotted in a wide array of interesting applications: sporting events, outdoor concerts, air hangars, greenhouses, and even emergency situations — like dehydrating mausoleums after Hurricane Katrina.
Despite these opportunities, many contractors and consumers still rely on portable a/c as primarily a quick fix — albeit one that leads to both short- and long-term use. From temporary relief for seniors or those with medical conditions while the air’s being fixed, to more permanent uses like dehumidifying an ammo room or the ever-increasing need to cool servers and IT equipment, portable a/c continues to evolve to meet the changing versions of the age-old quest: comfort on demand, for as long as it’s required.