How long can you run a portable air conditioner continuously? Well you can keep it on for the whole day without much problem. You just need to make sure that the air filters of your air conditioner are always clean.
There is one problem and that is while cooling off its collects condensation due to that you will always need to keep on emptying the condensation tank. To make things easier you attach a hose so that it automatically takes out the water and you don’t have to worry much.
So to know more about the portable air conditioner or how long you can run it stay with us.

Contents
How To Turn On A Portable AC?
You will definitely turn on the AC to cool the place enough, won’t it? So, if you follow these steps and tips these will be helpful enough.
- Clean your AC if you haven’t used it for a long time, especially after winter. You must check if it needs servicing or not.
- However, you must close the doors and windows of the room before turning on the air conditioner.
- Another step is to straighten the hose of your AC before you turn it on because the conditioned air should reach everywhere quickly and evenly.
- Turn your AC slowly with the remote and set the temperature properly so that it adjusts with the room temperature. However, you must turn it on early because it takes time to reach the desired temperature.
Anyway, turning on a portable AC is one of the easiest things that a child can even do. It would be better if you turn off the unnecessary sources of heat if you want to cool down the temperature.
How Long Can You Run a Portable Air Conditioner Continuously?
It is absolutely fine to run a portable air conditioner continuously, much to your surprise. That’s why you don’t have to worry about using an air conditioner for hours at a stretch. But you have to maintain some techniques to keep the AC well and to get enough performance.
There is no fixed time for running a portable AC as it doesn’t have a battery with a fixed charge. It is okay to have an AC run all day or all night long, even for short. That doesn’t mean you will keep it on for an unlimited time because every machine needs a periodic break.
What Things You Should Consider to Run a Portable AC Continuously?
How long-lasting a portable AC is would depend on how well you are using it. Let’s see the things you have to keep in mind while using an AC.
1. First of all, you have to ensure that you have a central power supply that passes electricity to all of the electric items. A continuous electric supply is necessary for the continuation of running the AC.
2. If your AC has its lifetime, you can run it for a long time non-stop; a portable air conditioner from a renowned brand can run up to 10 years which is a long time.
3. If your AC is convenient and consumes less energy, you can run it for a few hours at a stretch.
4. However, some air conditioners nowadays are not designed to control the air temperature only. Some of them can control the pollutants in the air and reduce them. So, if you’re living in such an area that may contain more pollutants and dust, you can run a portable AC for long hours.
Some ACs are designed with regulating fans that can spread the air all over the room within a short time. These air conditioners don’t require to be on for the whole time.
What Will Happen if You Run a Portable AC for Too Long?
Anything excessive brings no good, and electric items are no different; that’s why it is better not to run a portable AC unnecessarily for long. You will notice some unusual things or adverse effects on your device if you do so. Let’s see the outcomes of running a portable AC for too long.
- The first thing that will happen is you will have to spend a lot of bucks on your electricity bill. This is because an AC consumes a lot of electricity no matter how advanced it is.
- Though it is technically possible to run the AC the whole time, such an action will lead it to be broken down pretty quickly.
- If you have set the cooling mode and left it for an unlimited time without controlling the temperature, the people present here will feel cold, including you. The dehumidification process will slowly decrease in such actions.
- You will have to spend a lot on the AC’s maintenance quite often if you keep running it for a long time.
- Last but not least, you should put a load on your air conditioner according to its size and capacity. If the load exceeds, it may cause damage to your AC.
That’s why it is not a good idea to keep the AC on 24/7; 8-10 hours is a standard time.
Is It Safe to Leave an AC on for a Whole Night?
Yes, it is completely safe to have your AC turned on during your sleep time at night. You don’t have to worry about any AC blast or a short circuit. If your AC port is not connected to an old socket or overpowered plug, your AC has less risk of catching fire.
However, it is obvious that when you run an AC for a long time, you have to take some actions to keep the machine well after turning it off.
The first thing is you have to drain the air conditioner’s hose frequently to keep the AC well. The AC creates water due to humidity as it passes air to the room.
How to Drain an Air Conditioner?
You should empty the condensate tank as the water from AC keeps gathering there. On the other hand, some ACs have some automatic condensate features. Thus, you don’t have to empty the tank.
Because one side of the AC hose is connected to the tank, and the other side is to the drain. That’s why it became easy to drain an AC whenever necessary.
However, you may face some problems if you leave the air conditioner on without draining. For instance, your air conditioner may automatically turn off and never turn on again. However, if your AC is manual, you have to turn it off and remove the water from the tank to drain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a portable ac overheat?
Then if the portable AC is not able to exhaust the heat generated from the compressor then it will keep on building inside and ultimately shutting down the compressor.
To fix this what you do is straighten the hose , remove any blockage then turn the portable conditioner away from the window.
Once you are done doing it let it cool down for at least 15 to 30 mins. Then turn it on and hopefully it will be back to its normal self. But even after doing all this it’s not working. without wasting time, ask help from the professionals.
How many hours should ac run per day?
But even after all this how quickly the unit reaches its desired temperature will depend on the home insulation, the type ac you are using and in what kind of climate you are living.
Conclusion
Let’s hope the information given above will guide you about how long can you run a portable air conditioner continuously. If you can maintain the standard timing and do all the things while using it for a long time, you will get better performance.