[Excaliber]

I've tried a couple of portable AC units, rigging up the outlet pipe for the hot air to a vent or a window isn't to bad. I guess it depends on your setup...

BUT, you can cut in HALF the effective BTU rating of a portable. If it's 10K BTU it will do about what a 5K BTU window unit would do. OK, maybe a bit better than half, but not much. They are incredibly inefficient and expensive to buy as well as operate (energy use is off the chart because they almost never shut down the compressor).

I see them only as a last alternative, your back against the wall, dieing from the heat, GOTTA do SOMETHING! So, hire that contractor, cut a hole in the wall, mount a window type unit and bite the bullet. Cheaper in the long room and much much "cooler" all the way around.

In my experience a 5,000 BTU unit is just to dang small to do anything more than a SMALL bedroom, the kids room, maybe, if it's small enough.