ACHR News
search
Ask ACHR NEWS AI
cart
facebook twitter instagram linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
ACHR News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • New HVAC Products
    • Featured Products
    • Manufacturer Reports
    • HVAC Data
    • Legislation
    • ACHR NEWS Centennial
  • RESIDENTIAL
    • Air Conditioners
    • Furnaces
    • Residential Heat Pumps
    • Ductless
    • Residential IAQ
    • Testing, Monitoring, Tools
    • Components & Accessories
  • COMMERCIAL
    • Air Handlers
    • Rooftop Units
    • Chillers and Cooling Towers
    • Commercial Heat Pumps
    • Boilers and Hydronics
    • VRF/Ductless
    • Commercial IAQ
  • REFRIGERATION
    • Refrigerants
    • Refrigerant Regulations
    • Leak Management
  • CONTRACTOR PRO
    • Geothermal
    • Homeowner Study
    • VRF and VRV Ductless
    • Unitary Trends
  • EDUCATION
    • Training and Education
    • Business Management
    • Service and Maintenance
    • Continuing Education
    • Market Research >
      • HVAC Brand Awareness Report
      • VRV, VRF, VRVZ Report
      • Unitary Trends Report
      • Water Heat Professionals Report
    • Webinars
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eProducts Info
    • White Papers
  • EVENTS
    • HVAC Contractor Forum
    • Industry Events and Webinars
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • AHR Expo 2025 Videos
    • Podcasts >
      • ACHR News Podcast
      • HARDI Podcasts
      • AHR Expo Podcasts
      • ACCA Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Quizzes
    • eBooks
    • HVAC Talkback
  • HVAC GROUP
    • ACHR NEWS >
      • Current Issue
      • Digital Edition
      • Subscribe
    • Distribution Trends
    • SNIPS NEWS >
      • Join SNIPS NEWS
    • Engineered Systems News >
      • Join ES News
    • HVACR Directory
    • Contests
    • Newsletters
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • My Account
HVAC Residential MarketHVAC Commercial MarketRefrigerationAir ConditionersAir Handlers

What’s New in the Portable World of HVAC?

These six products are the some of the latest to hit the market

By Maria Taylor
Portacool Jetstream 250 - ACHR

PLUG-AND-PLAY: The Portacool Jetstream™ 250, a portable evaporative cooler, provides powerful cooling with 8,500 cfm for up to 2,125 square feet.

July 2, 2018

Once considered a temporary solution, portable heating and cooling units continue to evolve as consumer demand calls for new units and new uses.

“Historically, portables have been used solely in hot locations where more permanent solutions could not be provided,” said Brittany Calderon, product manager at Friedrich. “Today, we are seeing increasing use of portables as a primary means of cooling for areas, such as home offices, server rooms, and in homes that don’t have central air and only need cooling a few months out of the year.”

Here’s a look at some of the latest products on the market for portable air conditioning and heating today.

 

PORTA COOL

The Portacool Jetstream™ 250 is a portable evaporative cooler that provides powerful cooling with 8,500 cfm for up to 2,125 square feet. It is equipped with Kuul Comfort™ evaporative media to provide maximum cooling relief, and it has built-in handles and heavy-duty casters for easy mobility for a variety of work and spaces.

“Ultimately, we find that contractors want a product that is truly portable, easy to use, and that can be adapted to multiple applications throughout varied job sites,” said Shane Cupp, director of sales at Portacool LLC. “With a standard 115V, it is easy to plug a Portacool portable evaporative cooler (like the Jetstream 250) into a generator and feel confident about achieving a cooler, safer workspace with energy-efficient consumption.”

FRIEDRICH

Friedrich’s ZoneAire Compact portable unit - ACHR

THREE IN ONE: Friedrich’s single-hose, 115V ZoneAire® Compact portable unit serves as an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, and a heater.

For small spaces or areas where dual-hose venting may not be an option, Friedrich Air Conditioning Co. released the single-hose ZoneAire® Compact portable unit, a 115V unit that serves as an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, and a heater. A mere 17 inches wide, it’s designed to accommodate personal cooling or heating needs, according to the company: think bedrooms, dorm rooms, garages, and home offices.

The ZoneAire Compact features a large LED display, a rotary dial four-speed fan, and temperature adjustment controls, along with an easy-to-install, easy-to-secure hose attachment; swivel casters; and a built-in hose storage compartment. The Compact line offers cooling in 8,000-, 10,000- and the newly-expanded 12,000-Btu models. It also boasts “bonus heat” performance capabilities with 12,300 Btu.

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

KWIKOOL

KwiKool’s new BioKool, a hospital-grade portable air conditioner - ACHR

CLEAN AIR: KwiKool’s new BioKool, a hospital-grade portable air conditioner with a 4-inch HEPA filter, provides cooling, cleaning, and disinfecting for hospitals and high-tech health labs, where controlling air temperature and air purification is critical.

In hospitals and high-tech health labs, controlling air temperature and air purification is critical. That’s why KwiKool launched the BioKool, a hospital-grade portable air conditioner that provides cooling, cleaning, and disinfecting via a HEPA-filtered 1.1-ton model.

The BioKool combines its standard dual ducting with a 4-inch HEPA filter that controls particulates down to 3/10 of a micron; a UV light inside each chamber that irradiates the cool airstream as well as the evaporator coil and the internal surfaces of the evaporator chamber; and a smooth, non-porous evaporator insulation that repels moisture so that mold and other microbes can’t attach and grow on the surface.

“We believe that BioKool is poised to significantly improve everyone’s cost/performance ratio and enable short- and long-term regulatory medical industry compliance,” said Michael Volle, owner of KwiKool. “This will fundamentally change our industry’s expectations of spot cooling performance.”

MODINE MFG. CO.

Modine Mfg. Co.’s Hot Dawg H2O is a low-profile, residentially certified hot-water unit heater - ACHR

HOT WATER HEATER: Modine Mfg. Co.’s Hot Dawg H2O is a low-profile, residentially certified hot-water unit heater, and it’s sized for residential garages, workshops, and light commercial or industrial applications.

Modine Mfg. Co.’s Hot Dawg H2O is a low-profile, residentially certified hot-water unit heater for North America. Available in two sizes, it can satisfy residential garages and workshops, along with light commercial or industrial applications.

The unit has no external moving parts, and the internal coil can handle water pressures up to 150 psi and temperatures up to 200°F. Features include quiet operation, a permanently lubricated motor for trouble-free dependability, light weight, and a low-profile design. Blowers are also available.

“The Hot Dawg product line is a great choice for the installing contractors because it is easy to install and its reliability and durability mean no callbacks,” said Kevin Walker, Modine regional sales manager. “Furthermore, the Modine Hot Dawg line is a full line, including natural gas or propane fuel, propeller or direct drive blowers, and even a hot water model: the Hot Dawg H2O.”

SPOT COOLERS

The OWC 1811, a water-cooled unit by Spot Coolers - ACHR

WATER COOLED: The OWC 1811, a water-cooled unit by Spot Coolers, cools a space without exchanging air in surrounding areas, which makes it a good choice for medical locations, such as surgical suites and confinement areas, according to the company.

The OWC 1811 by Spot Coolers is a water-cooled portable unit. When connected to water loops, chiller loops, or faucets, it provides air conditioning to out-of-the-way building areas where condenser air is not available, such as electrical rooms, labs, and small offices. It cools a space without exchanging air in surrounding areas, which makes it a good choice for medical locations, such as surgical suites and confinement areas, according to the company.

The OWC is equipped with a regulating valve (for water usage control), a condensate pump that automatically removes condensate while cooling, a high-pressure reset feature that shuts down the unit if water supply is interrupted, and an optional hose kit for connecting to a water source and for draining the unit. The unit also has an automatic temperature control with adjustable fan speeds, and the cooling display can be remote-mounted.

TEMP-AIR

Temp-Air’s new PAC-15A4HD industrial portable air conditioner - ACHR

INDUSTRIAL AIR: Temp-Air’s new PAC-15A4HD industrial portable air conditioner provides precise temperature and humidity control in temporary applications, such as new construction, production processes, manufacturing centers, supplemental cooling, emergency cooling, and disaster relief efforts.

Temp-Air’s new PAC-15A4HD industrial portable air conditioner provides precise temperature and humidity control in temporary applications, such as new construction, production processes, manufacturing centers, supplemental cooling, emergency cooling, and disaster relief efforts. The 15-ton unit contains heat and dehumidify mode options with an air delivery of 6,000 cfm and can be installed either inside or outside a facility. Other features include remote thermostat/humidistat operation, fin and tube coil construction, four-way fork pockets, and lifting eyes for ease of placement.

“The custom Temp-Air model PAC-15A4HD provides 15 tons of cooling and 6,000 cfm at 2 inches external static pressure, enabling longer duct runs,” said Scott Brainard, vice president of sales. “Hot gas reheat is used in dehumidification mode, which significantly reduces the electrical power requirement.”

To operate the unit, construction managers must make sure a 460V/3PH/60HZ power supply is available.

 

Publication date: 7/2/2018

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!

KEYWORDS: portable air conditioners portable HVAC temporary HVAC

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 

Maria taylor 400x400

Maria Taylor is Senior Managing Editor for The ACHR NEWS. Maria holds a bachelor’s in English from Alma College and has worked in journalism since 2013. Contact her at 248-786-1741 or mariataylor@achrnews.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • HVAC-enrollment

    The Trades Are Back: HVACR Programs See Nearly 30% Enrollment Spike

    A new wave of future technicians is entering the pipeline.  
    News
    By: Matt Jachman
  • 2025 Top 40 Under 40

    2025 Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals List

    The 11th annual Top 40 Under 40 list highlights those...
    HVAC Residential Market
    By: Hannah Belloli-Oster
  • LG Ductless Mini-Split Systems

    The 9 Types of Heat Pumps

    As the U.S. moves toward electrification, heat pumps are...
    Air Source Heat Pumps
    By: Joanna R. Turpin
Subscription Center
  • Create an Account
  • Start a Subscription
  • Manage My Account
  • Sign Up for Newsletters
  • Visit Customer Service
  • Update Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to The News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The News or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Piggy Bank
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Energy Prices, Inflation, and HVAC: What Today’s Homeowners Care About

  • Refrigerated Food
    Sponsored bySolstice Advanced Materials

    R-455A Refrigeration: A Cold Storage Solution for the Future

  • Airex Rooftop Units
    Sponsored byAirex Manufacturing Inc

    Consolidating Roof Penetrations: A Growing Trend in Multifamily HVAC Design

Popular Stories

Lennox equipment

Platinum Equity to Sell Heat Controller to Lennox

Trade groups challenge EPA refrigerant rule

HVACR Trade Groups Challenge EPA Refrigerant Rule in Federal Court

heat-pump-tech-customer.jpg

DOE Updates $8.8B Home Energy Rebate Program Guidance

Lovato-refrigerant-rooftop_AC_Units_.jpg

When Refrigerants Change, So Do the Contactors

DHM Rural King Mechanical

Contractor Bets on a Tertiary Market, Wins Big with New Mattoon Rural King HQ

View The ACHR NEWS
Centennial Anniversary Timeline

The ACHR News Timeline Chart
Submit a Letter
Submit a letter to our editors.

Events

November 6, 2025

Next-Gen Data Center Cooling: HVAC Innovation and Real-World Solutions

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

July 28, 2026

How Top Home Services Companies Turn Every Conversation Into Predictable Revenue

In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Summer Staff

Are you fully staffed for the summer season?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

BNI Mechanical/Electrical Square Foot Costbook, 2026 Edition

See More Products
Designing Systems Using A2L Refrigerant - Free Webinar - 7/22/2026

Related Articles

  • AquaSnap 30RQM

    What’s New in Commercial HVAC at the 2026 AHR Expo

    See More
  • What’s New in HPC Credentials?

    See More
  • Copeland KF compressor

    What’s New in Compressor Technology at the AHR Expo

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • EHEP002028.jpg

    Principles of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning in Buildings, 1st Edition

  • 0071829598.jpeg

    HVAC Equations, Data, and Rules of Thumb, Third Edition

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Old World Industries

    Old World Industries offers PEAK® Thermal Charge®, a line of glycol-based Heat Transfer Fluids used in data centers, HVAC systems, stationary engines and more.
×

Sign Up. Stay Informed.

The #1 trusted source for the HVACR industry since 1926

SUBSCRIBE
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Letter
    • Directories
    • Store
  • ACCOUNT CENTER
    • Create an Account
    • Start a Subscription
    • Manage My Account
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Visit Customer Service
    • Update Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing