Toshiba 12000 Btu Portable Air Conditioner Reviews

The enquiry

• Why you should trust united states
• Who this is for
• How nosotros picked
• How we tested
• Our pick: Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL
• Also cracking: LG LP1419IVSM
• Also great: Frigidaire Gallery Absurd Connect GHPC132AB1
• Upkeep pick: Black+Decker BPACT14WT
• What to look frontwards to
• The competition
• Care and maintenance
• Footnotes
• Sources

Why you should trust united states of america

Nosotros've been considering and testing air conditioners in general since 2013 and evaluating portable units in particular beginning in 2016. In that time, we've put more than 125 hours into researching and testing the full field, spending dozens of hours focused on portables specifically. We've considered nearly 175 dissimilar portable models and performed easily-on trials with more 20 of the best options available. We've met with manufacturers at trade shows and events, corresponded with sources over years of interviews, and combed through volumes of Department of Energy material near AC efficiency standards.

This guide builds on earlier work washed past Wirecutter senior staff writer Liam McCabe, who has been writing about appliances for Wirecutter since 2013.

Who this is for

If yous don't take central air conditioning, you should get-go look into window ACs or ductless mini-splits, which are generally more than efficient and (in the case of window units) more affordable. Only not every room or window type can accommodate a window Ac, and mini-split installations can exist too costly or complicated. If you find yourself in one of those situations, a portable air conditioner could make the difference betwixt sweltering environment and comfort.

You lot all the same need to take a window for a portable AC, yet, equally a place to vent the heat to the outdoors. This bears repeating, because information technology'due south a common misunderstanding regarding something called "portable": All of these units require a window and an electrical outlet within a few feet of where they're operating.

How we picked

Our primary concern in choosing a portable AC was finding a unit of measurement with adequate cooling performance, followed by low noise, decent efficiency, and other quality-of-life factors we measured once we saw our finalists in person.

Nosotros used independent ratings to screen candidates for cooling operation. A chief measure was seasonally adjusted cooling capacity, or SACC, a US Department of Free energy calculation that represents the weighted average functioning of a portable air conditioner in a number of examination weather condition. The SACC metric measures not just cooling capacity but also how the unit of measurement performs on muggy days or hot and dry out days, and information technology even accounts for the effect of estrus radiating back into the room from the unit of measurement's vent. Since 2016, SACC has gradually replaced the less-comprehensive British thermal unit (Btu) rating equally the standard measurement for AC power output. Many air conditioners include both numbers—the Btu measurements developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Workout Engineers (ASHRAE) were widely adopted—so we considered both stats in our selection.

In 2020, the Section of Energy besides finalized new standards for combined energy-efficiency ratio (CEER), a new metric based on SACC that considers boosted factors such equally standby free energy usage alongside the previously used free energy-efficiency ratio (EER) measurement. We didn't concern ourselves also much with these specific numbers equally long equally an AC reached our minimum SACC threshold of vii,200 Btu per hr; anything less than that, and the AC isn't even worth a glance. (When in doubt, consult the EnergyGuide label on the box.)

We weren't worried virtually oversizing the AC for the space, either. The main hazard of using an oversize Air-conditioning is overcooling the area earlier dehumidifying information technology, and all of these units have dehumidifier functions that can remove moisture without chilling the space if a room gets too common cold and clammy. But we were more concerned virtually making recommendations that could actually provide adequate power. Portable ACs are notorious underperformers, mostly less efficient than their window-mounted counterparts, and we've ofttimes heard that people buy a smaller unit, discover it unsatisfying, and either return it or swap it out for a larger one. Our tests have borne this out over the years, also; nosotros've seen supposedly efficient models that barely fabricated a paring in cooling rooms they were appropriately sized for. Those results helped our decision to get large and not focus likewise much on the claimed square-footage requirements. So nosotros prepare a baseline SACC of 7,200 Btu per hour, which oftentimes corresponded with 14,000 Btu co-ordinate to the older ASHRAE standards.

With our performance needs met, we gathered a half dozen finalists and evaluated them in person, looking for the following factors:

• Basic setup procedure: We noted whether it was piece of cake to connect the exhaust tube, as well as whether the window panel required tools or cumbersome construction.
• Performance: We evaluated how speedily a unit cooled the room and how well it dispersed that coolness throughout the space.
• Portability: All of the units we tested had casters, but we likewise looked into how easy they were to move effectually or lift, too as how piece of cake they were to break down.
• Noise: Nosotros dismissed whatever models with an advertised noise rating of 56 decibels or higher. Nosotros then measured the actual noise output of our finalists, noting whatsoever obnoxious mechanical sounds or frequencies.
• Overall user experience: We evaluated what it was similar to alive with these machines, how intuitive they were to control, what size footprint they occupied, and what it would be similar to store them in the off-flavor.
• Accessories: We looked for features such as string storage, a remote, or the ability to connect to an app—minor factors that we noted but didn't hang any large decisions on.
• Accessibility: With the understanding that maneuvering a portable AC into position and connecting its exhaust hoses tin be physically difficult if not impossible for people with limited mobility, we sought models that made this process relatively easy, and we took note of any that used an app, remote control, scheduling, or other automations to make the devices easier to use for anyone once they're installed and running regularly.

Our initial functioning requirements for our 2021 testing narrowed the field of portable ACs to 23 promising models, and afterward applying our remaining criteria, we settled on 5 finalists to call in for testing.

What near dual-hose models?

Starting in 2019, nosotros began comparing dual- and single-hose models according to the aforementioned criteria, and we didn't dismiss whatsoever models based on their hose count. Our research, however, ultimately steered us toward single-hose portable models—in function because so many newer models use this design. In fact, nosotros found no compelling new double-hose models from major manufacturers in 2019 or 2020 (although a few new ones cropped up in 2021, including our new top option). Owner reviews indicate that virtually people prefer unmarried-hose models, too, since they're easier to set up upwards and don't look quite every bit much similar a giant octopus trash sculpture. Although our testing has shown that dual-hose models tend to outperform some unmarried-hose units in extremely hot or muggy weather, the difference is usually minimal, and we don't call back it outweighs the convenience of a unmarried hose.

The one major exception, however, is if you program on setting up your portable AC in a room with a furnace or hot water heater or anything else that uses combustion. When a single-hose Air conditioning model forces air out through its frazzle hose, information technology can create negative pressure level in the room. This produces a slight vacuum effect, which pulls in "infiltration air" from anywhere it can in social club to equalize the pressure. In the presence of a gas-powered device such as a furnace, that negative pressure creates a backdraft or downdraft, which can crusade the machine to malfunction—or worse, fill up the room with gas fumes and carbon monoxide. We don't recall that most people plan to use their portable AC in such a room, only if your dwelling house is set upward in such a fashion that you're concerned about ventilation, skip the rest of our recommendations hither and get straight for the Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL or another dual-hose model like the Whynter Aristocracy ARC-122DS or Whynter Elite ARC-122DHP.

How we tested

Over the course of a sweltering summer week in Boston, we fix up our five finalists in a roughly 250-square-foot space, taking notes and rating each model on the basic setup process, performance, portability, accessories, and overall user experience.

The makers of portable air conditioners are required to list their performance and efficiency statistics, and our research and our previous testing take proven these numbers to be accurate. By prescreening for these stats, nosotros got the impression that every model we tested would absurd a room capably. We confirmed that they did by taking measurements with ii Lascar temperature and humidity data loggers—nosotros placed one 3 feet abroad, directly in forepart of the unit, and placed the other i vi feet away on a diagonal. With each AC fix to its lowest setting (between 60 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the unit) and the highest fan/compressor setting, we measured the temperature and humidity in the room every 15 minutes for three hours to see how well each unit dispersed the coolness and dehumidification process across the space.

We also graded the air conditioners on the full general usability factors that decide what it's like to live with one in your home. Nosotros measured the volume at each unit's various settings—compressor on/off and fan high/medium/depression—from a distance of nigh 6 feet with an audio spectrum analyzer app. Nosotros gauged the overall quality of the sound and noted any spikes in any frequencies that registered in the app. Every bit we ready the units up, rolled them aside, switched from one to another, and fiddled with their vent-hose attachments in the window, nosotros learned a lot nearly which ones nosotros would get for ourselves or recommend to friends.

Our pick: Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL

Photo: Michael Hession

Our pick

The Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL is one of the quietest and near powerful portable air conditioners we've ever tested—but those aren't the merely reasons it stands apart from other models. The Duo is one of the rare portables with a variable inverter compressor, which allows for more fine-tuned and energy-efficient temperature control. It's typically more than affordable than the other inverter models we've seen, every bit well. The Duo is likewise the first new dual-hose model we've chosen in for testing since 2018, thanks in large part to its unique "hose-in-hose" pattern, which places the intake and exhaust hoses side by side inside a single larger hose. This item, combined with the wide variety of window-installation panels that Midea includes in the box, makes the Duo especially piece of cake to wrangle and install (a particularly remarkable feat for a dual-hose model). Information technology's 1 of the more attractive portable ACs we've seen, also, although that's kind of like saying that R2-D2 is better looking than R5-D4—1 is a little more than sleek-looking, but at the end of the twenty-four hour period, they all resemble trash cans on wheels.ⁱ Overall, the Midea Duo does a fantastic chore of achieving and maintaining a desired temperature and humidity level regardless of the weather or room conditions, with a high energy-efficiency ratio and all of the convenient smart-home features you might expect. If yous have to live with a portable AC in the room, this is the coolest roommate you could inquire for.

Whereas almost compressors run on but two speeds—on or off—this Midea model'southward variable-speed inverter can adjust to more precisely friction match the cooling requirements of the given conditions without creating any huge spikes in free energy consumption. Equally a result, it's better at cooling spaces than other models with the same power output and volition salve you coin on your electric bill in the long run. In our tests, it produced some of the most even and consistent cooling beyond the room, never registering more than a one-degree difference betwixt our monitors positioned at 3 feet direct in front of the AC and 6 feet abroad on a diagonal. The Duo'due south efficiency advantage is clearly demonstrated in the changing standards for measuring portable Air-conditioning power output, as well. Co-ordinate to the old ASHRAE standards, the Duo has 12,000 Btu of power, just like near of the other models nosotros tested. But according to the more comprehensive SACC performance standards, which measure across conditions, it achieves an impressive 10,000 Btu per 60 minutes. By contrast, the other models we tested reached SACC scores between 7,200 and 8,500, fifty-fifty with a higher Btu rating by the old standards (although that also demonstrates some of the problems with those older measurements). So even though these units all had a similar (or larger) basic power-output level, the Midea Duo's compressor setup immune it to apply that power output more than effectively.

The Duo'due south unique compressor blueprint likewise means that it operates more than quietly than other models, registering around 51 decibels on average ("normal conversation" reaches about 60 dB). The depression and medium fan settings are remarkably quieter (45 dB and 48 dB, respectively) than the high setting (56 dB); as a result, the compressor is much more than noticeable when information technology kicks on with the lower fan settings than when the whole thing is running on high. In fact, with both the compressor and the fan on high, we had problem measuring any volume difference at all. The compressor did produce a fuller sound than the fan-only setting, specially on the lower end of the spectrum. Simply overall, the effect wasn't unpleasant, and the Midea Duo was still slightly quieter than the other inverter-way portable Air-conditioning nosotros tested, the LG LP1419IVSM, and 2 to five decibels quieter than most of the other models we tested. The only exception to this trend was one of our likewise-smashing picks, the Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect GHPC132AB1, which surprised us with measurements near 1 or two decibels quieter than what the Midea model produced, despite its utilise of a standard (non-inverter) compressor. Just the Midea's compressor design means that the initial departure in sound between fan-simply mode and cooling mode is much less precipitous than information technology is on the Frigidaire. You don't hear that distinct "Clunk! Bu-zzz-ZZZ!" equally it shifts into gear as on other portable ACs; in fact, if the Duo's fan is running on high, you probably won't fifty-fifty notice when it's actively cooling.

In addition to offering a unique "hose-in-hose" pattern, the Midea Duo's hose is also built direct into the back of the Air-conditioning, making it even easier to handle and store. Photo: Michael Hession

The Duo'due south swinging fan is a rotating cylinder that sits on top of the unit and does an impressive job of spreading the cool air around the room. In our tests, we measured the temperature from iii feet direct in front of the Air-conditioning and 6 feet away on a diagonal, and the Duo was generally able to retain a consistent temperature within 1 degree between those two thermometers. We say "generally" because the fan actually hurled some of the cold air over our 3-feet-away thermometer, which initially led to some inconsistent readings. Once we figured out what was happening, it made sense and actually helped to demonstrate the Duo's impressive air-circulation prowess. Afterward all, common cold air is heavier than warm air and thus tends to sink to the ground sooner. But the Duo was able to send those initial gusts of air far plenty to ensure that the cold air actually spread before information technology sank. Anecdotally, we could experience that physical difference in the room, too.

In improver, the Midea Duo's hose (which is technically two hoses in ane) is congenital straight into the Ac's rear side, in a design that can shrink like an piano accordion in a vertical orientation that sits nearly affluent with the unit. This design is easier to manage than the hoses on other models we tested—some project awkwardly out of the back, sit perpendicular to the unit of measurement, or are completely detachable so they must exist stored separately and can exist misplaced. The fact that this hose is anchored to the body of the AC by default also makes it easier to wrangle when you're trying to set the Air conditioning up (thus helping you avoid the frustration of securing the hose into the window only to realize that you accidentally pulled it out of the Air conditioning, trapping yourself in a clumsy tug-of-war with an frazzle hose). To further aid in that like shooting fish in a barrel installation process, the Duo also comes with more window-console zipper options than whatever other portable air conditioner we've ever tested. We're not fifty-fifty entirely certain what kinds of windows the attachments are designed for—at that place were just and then many windows in our habitation to exam them on. Suffice to say, the Midea Duo is more likely to have the hardware that you need for your particular state of affairs, whatever it may be.

The control panel and display on the Duo are large and like shooting fish in a barrel to navigate, with just a few LEDs that are subtle enough that they probably won't keep you awake at night. Like the other models we tested, the Duo allows y'all to set it to dehumidify (without cooling) or only run it in a fan-only mode. Its drain port works similar the others, as well: You can spiral it open up when yous demand to empty the unit of condensation or attach a hose to it. Note, too, that this bleed is to a higher place on the Duo than on other models—virtually i foot upward from the bottom, which should go far easier to tilt and bleed. Also like other portables, the Duo uses filters that are piece of cake to remove and clean without any additional tools. The remote command is standard, and the unit has a convenient recess on the back to store the plug at the end of the season.

The Midea Duo's acme-mounted cylindrical fan is impressively effective at moving air through the room. Photo: Michael Hession

The Duo also has smart capabilities that permit you to control it via a smartphone app, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. Midea's smart-feature functionality (both the app interface and vocalism commands) are relatively welcoming and easy to figure out. We appreciated that the Duo could function fully without relying on the app or the voice controls, but nosotros valued this versatility, especially for anyone who has difficulty getting upward and manually adjusting the unit of measurement itself. And equally on other ACs with capable smart features, these abilities are especially handy for scheduling ac times or turning the AC on or off when you lot're away from home. Midea's app also offers a "sleep curve" feature, so you lot tin go to sleep in a blanket of cool air without having to worry about waking up when it's as well common cold to become out of bed.

With a rating of x,000 SACC, the MAP12S1TBL should be plenty for most people. But if you need more cooling power, Midea likewise makes a 12,000 SACC (14,000 Btu) model, the MAP14S1TBL, as well equally another portable inverter Air conditioning that provides heating in addition to cooling. We haven't tested either of those models ourselves, but nosotros look them to be comparable; they're even the exact aforementioned size as our top choice, although they both weigh a few pounds more.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

At 73 pounds, the Midea Duo is one of the heavier portable ACs out there—almost 5 pounds more than than our budget pick and more ten pounds heavier than the convertible dual-hose model nosotros tested from GE. The caster wheels and handles make information technology easy enough to move around on flat areas. Carrying whatsoever portable AC upwardly and downward stairs is a challenge; the Duo's added heft amplifies that problem.

Besides great: LG LP1419IVSM

Photograph: Rozette Rago

Also great

The LG LP1419IVSM was our top pick from 2019 to 2021, and it'south still pretty great if you tin detect information technology in stock. Similar the Midea Duo, it has an inverter compressor that makes it quieter and more than efficient than other portable air conditioners, with an SACC of 10,000 Btu per hour—the aforementioned every bit the Midea, even though its ability output by the older standards was insufficiently college than the Midea's at 14,000 Btu per hour. Information technology also has even so smart-habitation features (though with a unlike user interface), a similar built-in accordion hose and sturdy window-installation kit, and a user-friendly pocket on the back where you can store the remote control, plug, or manual. The LG sounds like to the Midea, also, with a pop-up fan that makes a gentle, most jiff-similar white noise. It is slightly louder, but it notwithstanding measures below "normal conversation" volume; compared with our budget option from Blackness+Decker, the LG is nigh vii decibels quieter on boilerplate with the compressor running.

Some owner reviews complain that the compressor on the LG emits a loud, high-pitched whine that sometimes makes sleeping difficult. We didn't hear anything like that in our own tests, although we did measure a modest spike in volume that occasionally popped upwards around the ix,900 Hz to 10,500 Hz range, and and so once more between 14,500 Hz and fifteen,000 Hz. That's toward the upper limit of the adult human hearing range, but it could account for the issues that some people have encountered.

The LG is also the heaviest portable Air-conditioning we've tested. This is normally fine, since the unit has wheels to assist you move it around, but its weight can be a trouble when you're trying to tip the car over to utilise the drain plug, which is inconveniently located at the very lesser of the unit of measurement.

The other downside is that the LG usually costs around $100 more than the Midea—when information technology'southward available, that is.

Also great: Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect GHPC132AB1

Photograph: Michael Hession

Also great

Although the unmarried-hose Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect GHPC132AB1 is not an inverter-fashion portable AC, information technology proved to be fifty-fifty quieter and more than consistent than the Midea Duo and the LG LP1419IVSM in the way it distributed the air around the room during our tests. With an SACC rating of eight,000 Btu per hr, it'southward not quite as powerful equally an inverter model, but it'due south nonetheless better than any of the other not-inverter portable ACs we tested. The Frigidaire as well cooled faster at the beginning of the cycle, dropping the temperature about two.five degrees across the room inside the showtime 15 minutes and averaging a 0.57-degree temperature drop in every 15-infinitesimal increment afterwards that, in comparing with the Midea'south 0.38-caste cooling average. And the Frigidaire was better than any other model nosotros tested at maintaining a consistent temperature between the two sensors nosotros placed in the testing room (1 at 3 anxiety direct in front of the Air conditioning, and the other 6 anxiety away on a diagonal), spreading the air evenly around the room so that there was never more than a one-half-degree difference.

The Frigidaire's cooling consistency was impressive (and inexplicable) plenty for any portable air conditioner, though especially ane without an inverter compressor. Simply its volume output came as a like surprise, equally it measured about 2 decibels quieter on average than the Midea. The Frigidaire's compressor is a little more noticeable when it first kicks on, but otherwise it produces a mostly pleasant white noise that'south piece of cake to ignore. Case in signal: After our initial tests, we fix the Frigidaire upwards in a 1-yr-old's bedroom, and it was indeed quieter than the white noise motorcar that the babe sleeps with anyhow.

The control console on the Frigidaire is clear, just the LEDs can be a little likewise bright. Photo: Michael Hession

Similar the other models we tested, the Frigidaire has a bleed plug, a washable filter, and mostly seamless smart-dwelling house capabilities. Its capacitive buttons are a nice touch, too (no pun intended), although we found it difficult to remember where the power button was each time we tried to plow the auto off or on (it'due south on the right side of the control panel, the opposite side from the positioning on most portables). Withal, the LED indicators—including the optional Quick Glance Calorie-free, which lets you know when your room has reached your target temperature—were a little besides bright for our tastes. This calorie-free might exist tolerable for some people in some situations, but it could exist bothersome in the bedroom if you're particularly sensitive to low-cal. (Even afterward turning information technology "off" in the app, nosotros still had some problem with the Quick Glance Light annoyingly flashing in the middle of the night to warn us that the filter needed a rinse.)

The Frigidaire app is fine overall, and it unlocks some additional functionality, including the unit'due south built-in air ionizer. We're typically skeptical of the health claims of these sorts of ionizers, but hey, if that'due south what you're into, become for it. Our bigger gripe with the app concerns the lengthy registration procedure, which requires you to requite Frigidaire all of your contact information, including your home address and the unit'due south engagement of purchase. If you wait to set up your AC until an already-sweltering day, y'all'll be even more annoyed when you realize you need to sign upward for more junk mail earlier you can get cool again.

Finally, we institute the Frigidaire'southward window-installation kit to exist somewhat lacking. Although the hose has some nice touches such every bit a lattice over the exhaust port and a nice cloth sheath to wearing apparel upwards the otherwise cruddy plastic accordion tube, this model also came with the to the lowest degree modular window-panel options. Nosotros had to snap one of the plastic plates in half in order to fit it snugly into a standard double-hung window. This is particularly disappointing since the window panels were one of the standout features of this model's predecessor, the at present-discontinued Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect FGPC1244T1, which we previously recommended equally an also-dandy selection.

Budget pick: Black+Decker BPACT14WT

Photo: Rozette Rago

Budget pick

The Black+Decker BPACT14WT is loud and clumsy, withal information technology's your all-time bet for a cheapish portable air conditioner that will really become the chore washed. In previous years, we had limited our search to models with an energy-efficiency ratio of at least 9 and a seasonally adjusted cooling capacity of seven,200, and this Black+Decker model only made the cutting on both metrics, with an EER of 9.86 and a SACC of 7,500. Nevertheless, it's likewise the near affordable selection nosotros've tested that meets those standards; enough of more expensive models didn't even achieve our threshold for power and efficiency.

In our tests, the Blackness+Decker BPACT14WT'due south condenser started at 64 dB with the fan running low—about viii decibels louder than the Midea Duo at its loudest. Even with the condenser off, the Blackness+Decker still emitted about as much noise as the Midea and the Frigidaire GHPC132AB1 at their absolute tiptop volume. Information technology also produced the most uneven range of frequencies: Nosotros measured peaks around 100 Hz (similar the low finish of a guitar) and and so again at the high range of four,500 Hz, 5,500 Hz, and 9,000 Hz (like a agglomeration of cymbals and sibilant "s" sounds). This is corking if y'all think yous might enjoy listening to an amateur White Stripes comprehend band with a snake on lead vocals, only it might not be the best if you desire to slumber or get any work done. Full disclosure: When I was measuring these frequencies with the Black+Decker running in a small, closed room, I got a headache after 15 minutes.

At 68.3 pounds, the Black+Decker BPACT14WT was the second-lightest model we tested. Its rough, bumpy casters feel cheaply made just work well plenty. Photo: Rozette Rago

The Black+Decker isn't hard to fix or maintain, but you do demand a screwdriver to install the window panel or remove the filters; this isn't terrible, but it's also not every bit like shooting fish in a barrel to deal with every bit the installation for the Midea and Frigidaire models we tested. The haptic control panel is easy enough to apply, as you can just touch the buttons instead of pushing them, although they give no real feedback equally to whether you've really activated them. They too expect similar push button buttons, and if you follow your instincts to push them—or if you're not sure whether they responded to your tap, and you push a little more merely to triple-check—the whole control panel bows down slightly forth with your fingers.

At 68.three pounds, the Black+Decker was the 2nd-lightest model nosotros tested. Information technology has crude, bumpy casters that felt cheaply made to united states of america simply work well enough.

What to expect forwards to

For the summertime of 2022, we're looking at four new portable ACs as potential picks. The Frigidaire FHPW122AC1 is similar to our current also bully pick from Frigidaire, the Absurd Connect GHPC132AB1, with the addition of a born ionizer and enhanced filtration.

We're also testing several new Honeywell models. The Honeywell MN4CFSWW9 looks like a possible successor to our previous too-great from the company, the now-discontinued Honeywell HL14CES, with an fifty-fifty higher efficiency rating. The Honeywell MN4HFS9 is another new model we plan on looking at, which offers heating capabilities likewise as cooling. Finally, we'll exist looking at the Honeywell MO08CESWB6 equally a potential budget choice.

The competition

The Honeywell HL14CES is a solid and effective portable Air conditioning that used to be an too-great pick. It doesn't take the same fancy design features as the Frigidaire GHPC132AB1 or the cut-border inverter compressor engineering science found in the Midea Duo or the LG LP1419IVSM, just it does accept an impressive SACC rating of 8,500. Information technology'southward quieter than the Black+Decker BPACT14WT, too, although still slightly louder than our other picks. Unfortunately, the stock has been wildly unreliable, and we doubtable this model may exist at the end of its life. Even if yous can discover it, the toll has gone up, too, making it just as expensive, or even more so, than our other picks. This Honeywell model is nonetheless bully, but you're amend off saving money and buying something better.

The biggest appeal of the Lowe's-exclusive GE APWD07JASG is that you can configure it as a single-hose model out of the box or plough it into a dual-hose AC with the help of an $80 conversion kit. The procedure is simple, and we tested it in both configurations, both of which proved to exist the epitome of "fine." It was quieter than a lot of other portable ACs (with the dual-hose version registering two to iii decibels quieter on average than the unmarried-hose setup) but still nothing compared with the ACs we concluded up recommending. But fifty-fifty with an SACC rating of seven,500 Btu per hour, it struggled to brand the room whatever cooler than 70 degrees (even though the thermostat went lower than that). It has all the smart-home connectivity yous might need, and all of the buttons and features are clearly labeled and attainable and right where yous might look them. It looks and feels sort of budget, but the toll isn't depression enough to justify our choosing it every bit a budget pick. The best thing we took away from our tests was the chance at a straight comparison between a single-hose design and a dual-hose design that were otherwise identical, and our experience confirmed our suspicions that dual-hose portable ACs are slightly more effective than single-hose models only not effective enough to make a real difference (unless you're in a state of affairs with a potentially dangerous carbon monoxide downdraft, as mentioned above).

The Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect FGPC1244T1 was our also-great selection until information technology was discontinued. Information technology was one of the nicest-looking portable ACs nosotros had ever tested, with a high energy-efficiency ratio and lots of thoughtful design touches including a tool-free window-installation kit, a fabric roofing for the frazzle hose, a magnetic holder for the remote, and smart-home capabilities. It's notwithstanding a overnice model if you tin can find it in stock anywhere, although information technology does occasionally make a brief squelching sound similar the teacher's vocalization from Peanuts cartoons.

The Whynter Elite ARC-122DS used to be our superlative pick. If you admittedly want or need a dual-hose model—if you're trying to cool a poorly ventilated room with a furnace or boiler, for case—this is the portable AC to become. After taking another look at it, we concluded that it's still a corking portable air conditioner, but we didn't call back the cumbersome majority of the second hose added enough to the efficiency or experience to set this model autonomously for near people. (If you live in an area that oft gets above 95 degrees or so, a dual-hose model might be worth using, according to ane DOE study [PDF].) At merely 57 pounds, this Whynter model is surprisingly compact, and information technology'south pretty quiet, too, though not as quiet as our other picks. The Whynter Elite ARC-122DHP is another old pick that'south essentially the same, with the addition of a built-in heater.

We didn't retest the Haier HPND14XCT, a one-time as well-bang-up choice, because it oftentimes suffers from stock problems and didn't reach the SACC ability threshold we were looking for this time around. In a previous version of this guide, nosotros also dismissed the dual-hose Avallon APAC140C, which was besides bulky and too inefficient with its energy use, besides as the Whynter ARC-14S, which was our besides-great option in 2016 but was just too loud.

Other fourteen,000 Btu models we considered and dismissed this twelvemonth include the Emerson Quiet Kool EAPC14RD1, the Honeywell HL10CES, the JHS A018-14KR/C, the LG LP1417GSR, the NewAir Air conditioning-14100E, and the Toshiba RAC-PD1411CRU. We also wrote off the Della Portable Air Conditioner, the Friedrich ZoneAire PH14B, the Frigidaire FFPA1022U1, the Honeywell MN12CES, the Rosewill RHPA-18002, the Shinco SPS5-10C, and the SPT WA-1351DE without a second glance because they just weren't powerful plenty. We previously dismissed another three dozen dual- and single-hose models from CCH Products, EdgeStar, Emerson, Friedrich, Frigidaire, Haier, Sunpentown, and others due to shaky reviews, concerns over specs such as noise and efficiency, and price and availability issues.

Intendance and maintenance

The about important thing to practise to make a portable Air-conditioning perform at its best is to insulate the gaps between the window, the window frame, and the panel belongings the AC vent. Foam strips work, and 10 feet of the stuff typically costs a few dollars. The tape will help forbid warm air from slipping in through cracks every bit easily.

When using the Air-conditioning, keep information technology as close to the window as you can, with as many of the piano accordion ribs collapsed every bit possible, so the hose is as short and straight as you tin can make it. Clean the filter at to the lowest degree once a month.

Footnotes

Sources

1. Daniel Giamatta, senior account executive, LG-One United states , email interview , March 18, 2019

2. Tom Kelly, product senior manager, Haier Ac/GE Appliances , e-mail interview , March thirteen, 2019

3. Rachel Lee, sales manager, Whynter , e-mail interview , March 12, 2019

4. Gary Woodruff, residential managing director, Hurley & David Home HVAC Services , email interview , March 19, 2019

5. Zach Claxton, Introducing New Portable AC BTU Guidelines, Sylvane , February 22, 2018

6. Exam Procedure for Portable Air Conditioners (PDF), US Department of Energy , May five, 2014

7. Technical Back up Document: Free energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Portable Air Conditioners, United states of america Department of Energy , Dec 27, 2016

8. Portable Air Conditioners Wiki, The Air Geeks , March ane, 2019

9. David Morrison, How Do Portable Air Conditioners Work?, Dwelling Air Guides , March eighteen, 2019

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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-portable-air-conditioner/

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