If you live in an apartment or condo, you may need to rely on your building’s central cooling system to keep you comfortable during the scorching summer heat. However, if this proves to be inefficient or if you are concerned about rising energy costs, you may need to turn to less efficient cooling methods such as portable or ceiling electric fans to find respite from rising temperatures. Fortunately, portable air conditioners are the perfect portable cooling solution for areas that cannot accommodate traditional window units, such as apartments or even computer server rooms.

Portable air conditioners work similar to traditional window or central air conditioners in that they use the refrigeration cycle and a refrigerant to cool a room or area. However, they are portable, mobile and do not require any type of permanent installation. Instead, they consist of a box-shaped frame that holds both the hot and cold sides of the air conditioner along with an exhaust hose to expel the heat. Water is removed from the air and this condensate is collected in a tray or bucket located inside the unit or, in more advanced models, even self-evaporating.

When shopping for a portable air conditioner, one of the most common terms you’ll see in ads is the BTU rating of a unit. As an acronym for British Thermal Units, BTUs refer to the cooling capacity of a portable air conditioner, and can range from 5,000 BTUs to 18,000 BTUs. The higher the BTU value, the more powerful the air conditioner will be. To get a rough estimate of how many BTUs you’ll need for your room, simply find the square footage of the room and multiply this number by 35.

Keep in mind, however, that while BTUs are one of the most important factors to look for in an air conditioner, keep in mind that many portable AC manufacturers often exaggerate the BTU rating of their units as a way to market their products. Fortunately, in our search for the best portable air conditioners on the market, we found the NewAir AC-1600H to be one of the most powerful portable ACs available.

Take a look:

When we first took the NewAir AC-1600H out of its package, we were very impressed with its design. Its sleek silver finish complemented our 400-square-foot living room decor, and the unit itself weighed about 75 pounds. Caster wheels made maneuvering easy, while the large, easy-to-read LCD display panel with remote control made operation simple and hassle-free.

Cooldown Abilities:

As mentioned above, BTU ratings are one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a portable AC. The NewAir AC-1600H provided 16,000 BTUs of cooling power, more than many of the units we tested. NewAir recommends that this unit be used in areas of 400 square feet or less, but we found that it may even have the ability to cool slightly larger areas under ideal conditions (64° to 90° F).

Moisture removal:

Using the refrigeration cycle of a portable air conditioner also allows it to remove moisture from the air, making it especially good for humid areas. In addition to cooling, the NewAir AC-1600H portable air conditioner also had the ability to remove up to 80 pints of water per day. Also, because it used advanced auto-evaporation technology, this eliminated the need to empty the water tanks (assuming your climate isn’t too humid).

Multifunctionality:

The NewAir AC-1600H also came with a built-in heater that offered 16,000 BTUs of heating power. Additionally, the inclusion of a 3M Filtrete filter removed dust, pollen, bacteria, and animal dander from the air, while the activated carbon filter was able to absorb odors such as smoke.

Overall, we found the NewAir AC-1600H to be an excellent portable AC that packs many advanced features. Best of all, it offers more BTUs than most portable ACs on the market, and its sleek European design is sure to complement any décor in your home.