A portable appliance with a housing defining a space for operating components. The operating components define an air moving mechanism for causing atmospheric air to be drawn into the housing space to at least one of: a) cool at least one of the operating components; b) be treated by at least one of the operating components; and c) cause movement of a fluid within the housing space. The housing has a first wall with a downwardly facing surface in which an inlet opening is defined through which atmospheric air is drawn into the housing space. The housing further has a spacing wall that underlies the inlet opening and bounds in conjunction with the first wall an intake space through which atmospheric air is guided in a generally horizontal path towards the inlet opening.