How To Insulate a Portable Air Conditioner Exhaust Hose
For those wanting to know how to insulate a portable air conditioner exhaust hose to improve the efficiency of the device, here are some ideas that are worth considering.
First of all, let's consider why someone would want to insulate the vent hose of a portable air conditioner.
Why Insulate a Portable AC Vent Hose
The main reason to do this is to reduce the amount of heat that radiates from the hose while the AC unit is operating. This is why portable air conditioners are vented.
This heat diffuses into the room's atmosphere and forces the air conditioning unit to work harder to keep the air cool. This reduces the efficiency of the cooler, wasting energy.
Insulation with keep most of that heat inside the hose as it exhausts it out of the building through the window or wall vent it is attached to.
Easiest Way to Insulate a Portable AC Exhaust Tube
The simplest way to insulate a portable air conditioner exhaust hose is to buy a ready made hose cover from a hardware store that stocks the item and fit it over the hose according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Note: As a Sylvane affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Delonghi makes a very good quality hose cover specially to fit over the extendable hose of a portable air conditioner, keeping the heat in and improving the look of the device.
The "Delonghi Universal Insulated Portable AC Hose Cover DLSA003" is currently on sale at Sylvane and can be bought online for under sixty bucks (price correct at time of publication).
It is made specifically for Delonghi air conditioners, but since the manufacturer uses a standard exhaust hose size (6in diameter, 5ft length), it will fit over the hoses of most AC brands.
The cover is easy to install, is washable and looks attractive when fitted.
Click the image above to visit the Sylvane online store to see it for yourself and get full details.
Cheap Ways to Insulate a Flexible Exhaust Hose
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to buying a ready-made insulator, you can make your own.
The cheapest material that is a surprisingly effective insulator is old newspaper. The way to use it is to extend the hose and wrap it with several sheets of newspaper so that it completely covered by several layers.
Seal it with plastic food wrap, by wrapping it around the entire length of the vent hose and securing it with duct tape at each end.
Fiberglass Insulation
A more efficient insulating material fiberglass wrapping. Simply extend the hose, then wrap it with fiberglass and then seal it with plastic food wrap as above.
A slightly more costly, but better looking solution is to use thermal tape to wrap around the length of the hose. Start at one end and finish at the other end. Then cover with food wrap as above.
Smooth the food wrap covering whichever insulating material you choose with your fingers. Use strips of duct tape to adhere the wrap to the vent hose at the front and back.
Re-connect the hose to the AC unit and the window vent and you're good to go!
Does it Look Good?
With each of the home-made insulating solutions above, the result will not be the best looking you have ever seen.
The hose will be fully extended and less flexible once wrapped up, so consideration should be made for placement of the free standing AC unit.
The best looking solution, which is to buy a ready-made insulating cover such as the one highlighted above by Delonghi, will cost you several dollars more but that money will be well spent when you see the finished result.
After all, while ventless air coolers don't have this problem, regular portable air conditioners need to be vented so they might as well look as good as they can.
Posted: May 10, 2022
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