Do portable air conditioners work?

We dont have AC in the living room and DH didnt want to cut out the wall to have one so now that the siding is already up its too late

so We need a portable one and I have heard they dont really work

does anyone have one and does it work and if so how many BTU's is it??
thanks

Re: Do portable air conditioners work?

my girlfriend had one and it worked good for the most part, but it needs to bee by a window for the hose to go outside. as for the btu's i am not sure