With the legalization of the Cannabis industry to grow it for medicinal and recreational purposes, its cultivation without the sunlight in the indoor environment gets popular among home growers and hobbyists in the world. No doubt, cannabis was under cultivation for thousands of years as a fabric crop which, now emerges in its new form as a stable, recreational, and medicinal crop. Growing cannabis indoor emerges as a phenomenon during the last two decades where growers need to regulate several factors for establishing a good crop stands.
Several indoor growers keep their efforts to regulate humidity and temperature in the growing environment where they install several heating devices, ventilation, and air conditioning systems without integrating with the required conditions that suit plants\’ growth. Plants need variable temperature and humidity during different stages of the growth, where conventional air conditioning equipment couldn\’t manage to regulate indoor moisture needs, and they additionally install dehumidifiers to evaporate moisture load.
Installing a small grow room air conditioner is also a common practice for indoor cannabis cultivation. Initially, such practice fails to regulate the precise humidity and temperature and become a burden in the shape of maximized electricity bills due to a lack of information on the power consumption and the area which grow room air conditioning cover.
Indoor environment regulation only suits well if it could minimize the power consumption of all operating systems. Which, in turn, provides an optimal growth environment for indoor plants, especially cannabis.
The confusion while installing an HVAC or only a portable air conditioner for the grow room arises when the growers have limited information about such systems, their electricity consumption, and the growing conditions and agronomy that cannabis needs for its growth and development. Since the growing practices continue in the tight spaces in urban areas, it becomes important to know the right growing conditions besides knowing the cooling equipment that suit to all sort of indoor growing spaces of varying capacity.
Only a well-balanced equation on both cannabis potential growth and the systems that help us to regulate indoor growth environment is important. The grow room air conditioners could lower heat, ultimately reducing the humidity, which is an outcome of heat produced by the lights installed to keep up cannabis physiological processes. Here are a few features that every grower needs to check before buying a grow room ac unit or a portable ac for the grow room.
Features to Study When Buying Air Conditioner for Grow Room
#1 Air Conditioner Types
If your grow room measures around 500 square feet, then it is advisable to install a split type air conditioner as a permanent fixture. Window ac for grow room is also another option for a permanent fixture. But, a portable ac for grow tent or small grow room meets the entire humidity and temperature needs for growing cannabis.
#2 Cooling Vs. Coverage
The cooling power of the air conditioner measures in BTUs. The higher the BTU\’s more area it will cover and the more power it consumes.
#3 Weight & Size
Whatever the type of your air conditioner is, it should meet the growing requirements of your cannabis. Moreover, mounting at a suitable location according to weight and size is also preferred.
#4 Energy Efficiency
Also, consider the Energy Efficiency of your grows room ac units. Air conditioning units with greater EER are more prolific and efficient.
#5 Hot Air Exhaust
Often, air conditioners release hot air during the cooling process. Look for the proper air exhaust arrangements so that the hot air gets out of the grow room sufficiently. Air conditioners with dehumidifying features could keep the grow room cooler compared to the conventional AC\’s.
#6 Voltage
Check electricity volts that your power distributor supplies to your site. There might be a regulator to switch between the volts supplied.
#7 Performance
Be sure that the selected air conditioner holds the following additional features for your ease and plants\’ comfort. Heating options for winter, a switch for regulating grow room temperature and humidity, remote control, multiple fan speeds, and a timer to run the system for desired intervals.
#8 Easy to Install
Grow room air conditioners need periodic air filter cleaning and draining, in case you install a portable air conditioner. Be sure that the selected units are easy to install, mount, and maintain.
#9 Warranty
Check both compressor and parts warranty. Usually, the manufacturers offer 3 to 5 years\’ compressor and 1-year parts warranty. A long-yearly warranty could save you from the repeated expense.
Best Portable Air Conditioner for Grow Room
#1 Midea-EasyCool Portable Air Conditioner 12000 BTU
Midea Air Conditioner serves all three purposes in a grow room measuring up to 300 square feet. It has excellent cooling, heating, and dehumidification features. It easily adjusts temperature between 62 and 82 °F that appears on display. Midea air conditioner incorporates three fan speeds that could easily from the remote control. An auto button allows you to adjust the desired temperature range and its wheels allow you to move this unit easily anywhere in the grow room. Moreover, it shows an indication when the filter needs changing. Here is a link to check the detailed specs of this air conditioner;
#2 Whynter-ARC-14S with Activated Carbon Filter (14000 BTU)
The Whynter ARC-14S comes with an activated carbon filter and dual hose and is typically designed for small grow spaces of about 500 square feet. Its auto drain technique permits it to cool the environment with recycled water, and the dual hose triggers cooling in this process. It also works as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier. Washable pre-filter and activated carbon filters improve the air quality of the grow room. It allows the programming of the entire features for the next 24 hours. The thermostat could adjust the temperature between 61– 89°F whereas, the exhaust hose could extend up to 60 inches. Its dehumidification feature could transpire 71 pints of water a day if run on full capacity.
This link allows you access to full features of ARC-14S;
#3 Pioneer-WYS Series 19 SEER Inverter (9000 BTU)
WYS 19 Inverter is highly efficient, and its performance is superb. It\’s a perfect choice for a 200-350 square feet grow room where it could cool, heat, dehumidify and ventilate efficiently.
WYS 19 Inverter System contains an indoor unit (Ductless), outdoor unit, installation kit, and remote control and manage to get a temperature range between 62-90°F. Pioneer also offers remote access and programming option via the internet but, that sells separately. Pioneer is an ideal system for installing into a small grow room with higher efficiency. It operates on multiple voltages and SEER rates between 18-19.5. Additionally, an auto-switch mode makes its operation automatically through an onboard system. Overall, WYS 19 Inverter weighs only 120 pounds.
Here is the link to see rating and customer’s reviews;
#4 Frigidaire-Window-Mounted Mini-Compact Air Conditioner (5000 BTU)
A system for clean and cold air for 150 square feet grow room as it uses antibacterial mesh in the filter to clean air by removing all harmful bacteria and fungi from a grow room. It operates smoothly without making any noise using dual directional air control. It could easily mount on the window. Mini compact AC holds a rotary process and a washable filter. It comes with remote control and two fans, and two cooling speeds. A user manual contains complete installation and operating procedures. It could suit a grow tent of a similar size as well. Detailed specifications are available on this link;
#5 JHS-small Portable Air Conditioner (8000 BTU)
It\’s another small portable AC that covers 200 square feet of grow space in a small grow room or grow tent. It hardly weighs 44 pounds with all its accessories, including unit weight, exhaust hose, window kit, remote control, owners\’ manual, and a drainage kit. It also allows 24 hours\’ advance adjustment along with several advanced features at an economic price. Its filter could wash easily using water and a cloth. JHS offers a one-year warranty on compressors and other body parts.
More features and customer\’s reviews are available online through this link;
#6 Best AC for Grow Tent (6000 BTU)
BLACK DECKER – Best Portable AC for 4×4 Grow Tent
It\’s an ideal cooling system for a 4×4 grow tent and provides efficient cooling between 100 to 150 square feet area. It weighs only 53 pounds that contains a complete unit, remote control, and other accessories, including a user\’s manual. It\’s a small unit that will keep your cannabis plants dry and cool. It would keep your grow tent temperature between the desired ranges of 55 to 81°F. It\’s also quite efficient in reducing grow tent humidity, while filter could wash with water, twice a month for better performance and moisture control. BLACK DECKER combines four features in one place in this unit. i.e., cooling, fan, heating, and humidity control.
Here is a link for a complete product description and customer\’s reviews;
