In areas like California, Hawaii, or Florida, portable air conditioners are almost a necessity to every household. The portable air conditioner excels at cooling down specific areas of your house or acting as a cost-efficient replacement for an air conditioner. They are a great addition to any apartment, AirbnbTM, or home office that might otherwise suffer from high temperatures throughout the day and night. However, you do not need to live in tropical or sweltering climates in order to justify purchasing a portable AC unit. The price of a portable air conditioning unit can range depending on the unit, however, it is more effective than the portable fan. Fans merely circulate air, and while this may dry the sweat from your face, it does nothing to improve the actual air temperature. The portable air conditioner takes the air from the room and makes it cooler. The next time you are tempted by the sleek designs of room fans like DysonTM (at $300-$700), save your money and buy yourself a portable AC unit instead. You may be asking yourself, do portable air conditioners actually work? Is it worth buying a portable AC unit if you do not even know how to use it? If this is your first time purchasing, or maybe if you have been let down by a portable AC before, we are going to break down the most common questions people ask about portable air conditioners, as well as give you our list of the top 9 portable air conditioners on Amazon. Before we get into the top 9 list, we will be answering general questions like:
• Is it worth buying a portable AC unit?
• Do portable air conditioners actually work?
We will also guide you through the basics of portable AC and answer:
• Do all portable air conditioners have to be vented out a window?
• What are the disadvantages of portable AC?
“Air Ventilator Black”
“Neoprene Flex – 2 ply”
“Tornado Flex Insulated AD”
“Wind Handler WS”
Do Portable Air Conditioners Actually Work?
In a short, yes. Portable air conditioners actively cool the air temperature of a given area by sucking up heat and moisture and expelling it outside, or to another room. Instead of simply moving air around the room, like the portable fan does, portable AC units drop the temperature. Fans help with air circulation and moisture evaporation, leading you into thinking that it makes the air cooler. However, depending on your priorities, fans are superior in the sense that they are more energy efficient. It takes less energy to run a fan than it takes to turn on portable AC, so if the goal is to save money overall, then a normal fan will suffice.
Is It Worth Buying a Portable AC Unit?
As discussed, the portable air conditioner effectively draws hot air from the room and transports it outside through the portable AC exhaust hose, otherwise known as the portable AC vent hose. Whether or not buying a portable AC unit is worth it, though, is entirely up to you and your expectations. The best portable air conditioner may differ from based on the expectations and needs of individuals. It all depends on your needs. Something you may need to know before purchasing is that portable air conditioners are measured in units of BTU. The term BTU stands for British Thermal Units, which tells you how much heat your air conditioner is absorbing each hour. Pay attention to the BTUs on your portable air conditioner. Portable AC units typically range from 8,000–14,000 BTU, depending upon the model. 8,000 BTU will cool a room up to 350 square feet; 10,000 BTU up to 450 sq. ft.; 12,000 BTU up to 550 sq. ft.; and 14,000 BTU up to 700 sq. ft. This is our way of telling you to make sure the BTU on your portable air conditioning unit matches your room requirement needs. Do not expect an 8,000 BTU air conditioning unit to efficiently cool your 500 square foot home gym. Another common object of misconception is the drainage system. Portable AC units will consistently pull moisture from the air in the room, therefore trapping moisture within in machine.
The water will drain either by exhaust hose, drain hose, or condensation tank. Keep in mind you may need to drain the unit! Customers will buy a portable air conditioner and become confused or frustrated by the maintenance that is required of it. Long story short, portable air conditioners are worth your money, once you know exactly what to expect. Now that you are educated on the basics, do your own research and read through reviews before purchasing a portable air conditioner. Costco, Walmart, and of course Amazon are all great places to shop since they offer the security of a large retail brand.
Do All Portable Air Conditioners Have to Be Vented Out a Window?
No! While venting out a window is probably the most common way to do it, there are a variety of ways. Doors, drop ceilings, and attics are all possible choices for your portable AC vent. Wall vents, which require cutting through walls to lead your hose, are a construction-heavy option not recommended for beginners. Venting through atypical windows such as casement windows or sliding windows may require you to ditch the portable AC window kit that typically comes with the unit, but the portable AC venting options are endless!
What Are the Disadvantages of Portable AC?
We have gone on about the pros of having a portable AC unit, but what about the cons? Here are a couple of disadvantages to having a portable air conditioner.
They are more cost efficient than central AC, but not as much as fans.
One of the biggest attractions of buying a portable air conditioner is that it is more energy-efficient than generalized air conditioning. If you are consistently in one room throughout the day, or perhaps live in a small apartment, it makes sense to cut costs and invest in a portable air conditioner. However, if the objective is to find the greatest energy-efficient way to cool down without sticking your head in the freezer, then fans are the way to go. They will trick your brain into thinking your body is cooler, which for some people is good enough.
They may get noisy.
One of the most common complaints from Amazon reviewers focuses on the noise level of their portable AC units. People cite that units like the Black+DeckerTM 8,000 BTU emit a “loud cranky sound,” or are “rather noisy.” Of course, comments like this are subjective. Portable AC units noise levels should range from around 40 dB to 60 dB, relative to the unit. A portable air conditioner at 40 dB should be equivalent to a bird call, while 60dB should be the same as a normal conversation.
You may have to drain your unit.
Your portable air conditioner takes moisture from the air as it cools the area. Most portable air conditioning units also double as humidifiers, which means that water will collect and build up inside your unit. There are a couple different ways that your unit might drain, those being via exhaust hose, drain hose, and/or condensation tank. The exhaust hose allows for water to exit the same hose used to usher hot air out of the room.
As for the drain hose, this secondary hose continually releases water and can be funneled outside a window or into a bucket that will need to be dumped regularly. The condensation tank collects all the moisture either inside or underneath the portable AC unit and will also need to be drained consistently, depending on humidity levels. Despite utilizing the portable AC exhaust hose or the portable AC drain hose to dump moisture, the unit will also need to be emptied via condensation tank. Just know, you cannot use a portable AC unit without hose parts!
Top 9 Portable AC Units on Amazon
You have finally gotten to our top 9 portable air conditioners list! Below, ranked from 9 to 1, are our top picks from Amazon. All of our pros and cons are compiled from product descriptions, as well as a condensed customer reviews of the units. We have also assigned the top 3 portable AC units with their own specific awards, those being “most affordable,” “best small portable air conditioner,” and “best overall.”
9. ZAFROTM 10,000 BTU
4.4 out of 5-star rating. 841 reviews. The ZafroTM is priced at $334.99 and has solid reviews, landing it as our number 9 portable air conditioner.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 400 square feet
• Small and compact at 11” x 11” x 27”
• Because of its small size, the unit is easy to install
Cons:
• Window venting hose is too short for taller windows, causing people to drain into buckets instead
• Produces a lot of moisture. Customers report having to dump their buckets or containers of choice multiple times a day
8. COSTWAYTM 8,000 BTU
4.2 out of 5-star rating. 1,524 reviews. At a $339 price point, with 8,000 BTU of cooling power, the COSTWAYTM is our number 8 portable AC unit.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 230 square feet
• Compact and lightweight at 13” x 14.5” x 25”, making it ideal for small spaces and smaller rooms
• Self-evaporative system complete with condensation tank
Cons:
• Condensation tank is somewhat difficult to drain, due to its location underneath the unit. Users may have to lift/tilt the machine in order to empty out the water
• Window venting kit might require some DIY (do-it-yourself) handy-work to fit on your particular window
7. TOSOTTM 8,000 BTU
4.3 out of 5-star rating. 1,262 reviews. The TOSOTTM is priced at $306.79, with other BTU options as well.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 300 square feet
• Relatively small-sized at 11.8” x 15.4” x 30.4”, which makes it perfect for smaller areas
• Amazon reviewers report that (while noisy) the TOSOT is quiet compared to other units, even general air conditioners
Cons:
• Window venting kit is designed for flat window sills and may require some maneuvering/manipulating
• Air cooling abilities are not as strong as other units, and should therefore be used for smaller areas
6. MideaTM Duo 14,000 BTU
4.2 out of 5-star rating. 3,997 reviews. Big units and big cooling power = big spending, as the MideaTM Duo 14,000 is priced at $699, putting it at number 6 on our list.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 700 square feet
• Large size at 16.7” x 19.5” x 34.5”
• Works with AlexaTM/GoogleTM for Smart Wifi control
• Utilizes a “hose in hose” dual hose system for more efficient cooling
Cons:
• Exhaust hose is big and inflexible (hard to maneuver/place)
• Controls via app and remote aren’t synced, causing consumers to modify adjusts on both ends
• At almost double the price of other units on this list, the MideaTM Duo is relatively expensive
5. ShincoTM 12,000 BTU
4.3 out of 5-star rating. 2,067 reviews. The ShincoTM 12,000 BTU is priced at $379.99.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 400 square feet
• Medium-sized unit at 17.4” x 13.4” x 32.7”
• Despite the relative size, the ShincoTM is easy and simple to set up
Cons:
• Exhaust hose can get pretty hot and produces heat that somewhat negates the cooling factors
• Some users complained about sub-par package conditions such as scratches, damaged boxes, and broken wheels
4. SereneLifeTM SLPAC10 10,000 BTU
4.5 out of 5-star rating. 4,371 reviews. The same BTU as the SereneLifeTM SLPAC105W (ranked third), this model features a newer and sleeker design for $348.18.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 400 square feet
• Medium-sized unit at 17.4” x 13.4” x 32.1”
• Customer service in regard to warranty and damaged units is excellent, with customers reporting the efficiency and speed at which their complaints were dealt with
Cons:
• Uses more power at 1,150 watts as opposed to SereneLifeTM SLPAC105W’s 920 watts
• Is around $50 more expensive than the 105W, despite having similar capabilities
• Some users noted damaged products such as broken wheels
3. SereneLifeTM SLPAC105W 10,000 BTU (MOST AFFORDABLE)
4.4 out of 5-star rating. 1,686 reviews. Decently powerful and well-priced at $289.99, the SereneLifeTM Portable Air Conditioner is our most affordable option on the list.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 300 square feet
• Medium-sized at 27.6” x 12.8” x 11.6”
• With Wifi capabilities, the SLPAC105W is controllable via the SereneLifeTM application
Cons:
• Window venting kit may require some adjustable on non-traditional sized windows. Ex: casement windows, sliding windows, windows high from the ground, etc.
• Some customers have reported seeing error code E5, which does not appear in the manual and therefore renders the error unsolvable
2. SereneLifeTM SLPAC8 (BEST SMALL)
4.4 out of 5-star rating. 8,021 reviews. The SereneLifeTM 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is our best small portable air conditioner at $319.99.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 225 square feet
• Small, compact size at 14.6” x 13.8” x 27.2”
• Easy to set up
Cons:
• Customers complained about the noise level and reported not being able to have video conversations with the unit close by
• Window venting kit is too short for windows that are too high from the ground
1. WhynterTM ARC-14S 14,000 BTU (BEST OVERALL)
4.3 out of 5-star rating. 12,258 reviews. With the highest BTU out of all the portable AC units we have listed, at $499 the WhynterTM ARC-14S is our overall best portable AC unit. The WhynterTM ARC also has the purchase option of a portable air conditioning unit with heater, but reviews say heating functions are not all that great. For the purpose of this list, we will be considering the “AC Unit Only” option.
Pros:
• Can cool rooms up to 500 square feet
• Large size at 19” x 16” x 35.5”
• Utilizes a dual hose system for more efficient cooling
Cons:
• Uses a lot of power at 1250 watts and may trip your power circuit
• Condensation tank is somewhat difficult to drain, due to its location underneath the unit. Users may have to lift/tilt the machine in order to empty out the water
• Window venting kit is composed out of cheap plastic, making it difficult to use on large or sliding windows
Now that you have perused our top 9 list of portable AC units on Amazon, we hope you have learned about portable air conditioners in the process. By far our favorite method for air cooling, the portable AC unit differs from a mere small air conditioner by its ability to be moved from room to room. The advantages of portable AC are endless! Unlike household fans, the air is actually made cooler by your air conditioner. Portable, cost-efficient, and relatively affordable, the portable air conditioner uses less energy than general AC (but more than portable fans). With a typical range of 8,000 to 14,000 BTU to suit your needs, mini portable AC can make a huge difference in your home. Especially with units like the WhynterTM ARC-14S 14,000 BTU (our best portable air conditioner) or the SereneLifeTM SLPAC10 (our best small portable AC unit), we hope that you find the best portable AC for you. Hopefully after reading this article and coming to your own conclusions, you can answer the question, “is it worth buying a portable AC unit?”