Yes, portable air conditioners typically require water to operate. However, it's important to note that the water is not used for cooling the air but rather for the purpose of extracting moisture from the air and managing condensation.
Portable air conditioners are designed with an exhaust hose that vents hot air outside and a condensate drain or collection tank to handle the moisture removed from the air. The process involves drawing in warm air from the room, cooling it with a refrigerant, and then expelling the heat and moisture outside through the exhaust hose. The collected moisture is either drained through a hose connected to a nearby drain or stored in a collection tank within the unit.
In some cases, portable air conditioners have a self-evaporative feature that minimizes the need for manual draining. This feature utilizes the condensed moisture to cool the condenser coils and automatically evaporates most of the water. However, in high humidity conditions or if the self-evaporative system is overwhelmed, you may still need to manually empty the collection tank or connect a drainage hose.
It's important to consult the specific instructions provided by the manufacturer for your portable air conditioner model to understand its water management requirements and ensure proper operation.