--- title: Poor Portable Air Conditioning Applications -- What NOT to Do description: What Not to Do -- Poor Portable Air Conditioning Applications. Learn from real world applications so you can avoid these mistakes! image: https://www.airpacinc.com/hs-fs/file-15414398-jpg/images/spot_cooler_nonos_2.jpg --- Want to see us in action? Head over to our video gallery to see what we can do! [![View Video Gallery](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/73348/6e0cd64c-ce93-4ae2-a3f8-e8fce9436848.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/73348/6e0cd64c-ce93-4ae2-a3f8-e8fce9436848) ![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6162256/Icons/close.svg) [** 540.635.5011](tel:540.635.5011) [![footer_logo](https://www.airpacinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Airpac%20_2018/Images/footer_logo.png?width=186&name=footer_logo.png "footer_logo")](https://info.airpacinc.com/homepage) ![Post Fetaured Image](https://www.airpacinc.com/hs-fs/file-15414398-jpg/images/spot_cooler_nonos_2.jpg) # Poor Portable Air Conditioning Applications -- What NOT to Do Posted by: [Tina Behnke](https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/author/tina-behnke) on Sep 13, 2011 Much as I hate to admit it, **[portable air conditioners](https://www.airpacinc.com/products/portable-air-conditioning-units/)** can get a bad rap.  You can't use a "one size fits all" mentality and spot coolers are not the solution for EVERY air conditioning problem.  My goal with this series -- *yes, there will be more to come* -- is to expose the most common mistakes when using portable cooling for temporary, supplemental or primary air conditioning.  I'm on a one-woman crusade to erradicate ineffective, unsafe and ugly portable air conditioning applications.... one application at a time! ### Here's the inaugural PPACA (that's Poor Portable Air Conditioning Application) Post.  This summer, I took my 17 year old daughter to the airport (which shall remain nameless) to put her on a flight to Europe.  She's quite independent and very resourceful so I wasn't nervous about her flight or being in Europe with our family friends.  ***I was anxious about her spending hours in the airport alone.***  We live 90 minutes away from the airport so I wasn't going to leave until her plane took off.   I must have looked pathetic.  The helpful United ticketing agent took pity on me and gave me a pass to accompany my daughter past security.  As we were walking through the terminal I was complaining about how warm it was.  ***Then I saw it.***  I honestly couldn't believe this portable air conditioner was in the middle of a crowded international terminal! ![Poor-Portable-Air-Conditioner-Applications](https://www.airpacinc.com/hs-fs/file-15414398-jpg/images/spot_cooler_nonos_2.jpg?width=450&height=600&name=spot_cooler_nonos_2.jpg)                             ### Where do I begin?  Here's the WNTD (What Not to Do) list: - #### The electrical cord should be taped to the floor or at least placed next to the pillar to prevent a tripping hazard.  - #### The condensate storage door is missing allowing any curious child access to several gallons of water. - #### The yellow caution cones -- guess those are to warn folks of the wet carpet.  Likely from the condensate tank that overflowed. - #### Which brings me to the automatic tank full safety that must not be working otherwise the unit would have shut off to prevent condensate overflow -- check out the "water mark" on the carpet in the photo below. - #### Not a safety hazard but a pet peeve -- this unit is filthy!  ![Poor-Portable-Air-Conditioner-Applications-Condensate-Overflow](https://www.airpacinc.com/hs-fs/file-15414592-jpg/images/spot_cooler_nonos_3.jpg?width=480&height=360&name=spot_cooler_nonos_3.jpg)                   I'm guessing the airport aurhority rented the portable air conditioner since there was a rental company name and serial number on the side -- not shown since they aren't able to defend themselves.  Looks as if the rental company needs better quality control.  Surely they didn't put a dirty unit in the field with missing parts!  ### Takeaway -- **[Portable Air Conditioning Rental](https://www.airpacinc.com/rent-air-conditioners/)** Tips: 1. #### Insist that the equipment delivered is complete with no missing parts or pieces. 2. #### If the air conditioner condensate tank overflows, request for the unit to be fixed or replaced. 3. #### If your job site is not a construction site, the equipment you rent should not look like it belongs on one!  Not sure about a **[portable air conditioning application](https://www.airpacinc.com/portable-applications/)**?  Post your question or comment here and I'll see if I can help.  Let's rid the world of Poor Portable Air Conditioning Applications! Tags: [Portable air conditioner](https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/tag/portable-air-conditioner), [Portable Air Conditioners](https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/tag/portable-air-conditioners), [Rent Portable Spot Coolers](https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/tag/rent-portable-spot-coolers) ##### Social Media - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/67429/poor-portable-air-conditioning-applications-what-not-to-do&title=Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications%20--%20What%20NOT%20to%20Do&picture=http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/73348/file-15414398-jpg/images/spot_cooler_nonos_2.jpg&description=What%20Not%20to%20Do%20--%20Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications.%20%20Learn%20from%20real%20world%20applications%20so%20you%20can%20avoid%20these%20mistakes!) - [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/67429/poor-portable-air-conditioning-applications-what-not-to-do&text=Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications%20--%20What%20NOT%20to%20Do%20-%20https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/67429/poor-portable-air-conditioning-applications-what-not-to-do) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/67429/poor-portable-air-conditioning-applications-what-not-to-do&title=Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications%20--%20What%20NOT%20to%20Do&summary=What%20Not%20to%20Do%20--%20Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications.%20%20Learn%20from%20real%20world%20applications%20so%20you%20can%20avoid%20these%20mistakes!) - [**](mailto:?subject=Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications%20--%20What%20NOT%20to%20Do&body=Poor%20Portable%20Air%20Conditioning%20Applications%20--%20What%20NOT%20to%20Do%20https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/67429/poor-portable-air-conditioning-applications-what-not-to-do) [Previous](https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/66114/emergency-cooling-helps-businesses-recover-from-hurricane-damage) [Next](https://www.airpacinc.com/blog/bid/67708/spot-coolers-4-reasons-to-use-portable-ac-units-in-data-centers) [![footer_logo.png](https://www.airpacinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Airpac%20_2018/Images/footer_logo.png?width=186&name=footer_logo.png "footer_logo.png")](https://info.airpacinc.com/homepage) AirPac is your solution for portable, temporary, and emergency heating and cooling for special events, commercial spaces, and industrial processes. Comfortable air, anywhere. [Get A Quote](https://info.airpacinc.com/get-a-quote) Latest POSTS Contact info AirPac, Incorporated 888 Shenandoah Shores Road Front Royal, VA 22630 Phone: [540.635.5011](tel:540.635.5011) Email: [talknow@airpacinc.com](mailto:talknow@airpacinc.com) [Accessibility Statement](https://www.airpacinc.com/accessibility-statement) Subscribe *Get our latest blog posts and industry tips.* - [**](https://www.facebook.com/AirPac/) - [**](https://www.instagram.com/airpac/) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/airpac-incorporated/) - - [**](https://www.youtube.com/user/airpacinc) Copyright @ 2026 AirPac, Incorporated