Portable ACs are notorious underperformers, generally less efficient than their window-mounted counterparts, and weve frequently heard that people buy a smaller unit, find it unsatisfying, and either return it or swap it out for a larger one. Highly recommend. Swing malfunction in less than a month No ac in a rarely used room? These differ from other air conditioning systems and work by blowing air over a moistened pad or filter, causing the air to become cooler and reducing the temperature of a room. The tape will help prevent warm air from slipping in through cracks as easily. We werent worried about oversizing the AC for the space, either. How Much Power Does A 24000 BTU Air Conditioner Use? But the Duo was able to send those initial gusts of air far enough to ensure that the cold air actually spread before it sank. The low 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 noticeable when it kicks on with the lower fan settings than when the whole thing is running on high. In the presence of a gas-powered device such as a furnace, that negative pressure creates a backdraft or downdraft, which can cause the machine to malfunctionor worse, fill the room with gas fumes and carbon monoxide. It has an impressive 14,000 BTU ASHRAE (9,500 DOE) that can cool a 600-square-foot room with ease, moving 253 cubic feet per minute. Insignia 250 Sq. Ft. Portable Air Conditioner Unboxing - YouTube Remote control access, timer and ability to change airflow and direction easily and whenever needed. CONs Super heavy. Well, I'm surprised at how nicely built and quiet it is although you do get the occasional noise from the condenser kicking in. It has a temperature setting that will cycle the compressor on and off to hold the temperature you set. I guess it periodically blows it down the exhaust. Over the course of a sweltering summer week in Boston, we set up our 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. This is great if you think you might enjoy listening to an amateur White Stripes cover band with a snake on lead vocals, but it might not be the best if you want to sleep or get any work done. With each AC set 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. Easy to install Its also easy to operate, with touchscreen controls on the top that allow you to turn the unit on or off, change the fan speed and set a timer to shut the cooler off automatically. The best portable air conditioner The Midea Duo's self-contained dual-hose setup and powerful inverter compressor make it better at dialing in a precise comfort level while being quieter and more. The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. This air conditioner cools the room quickly and it is such a relief! We confirmed that they did by taking measurements with two Lascar temperature and humidity data loggerswe placed one 3 feet away, directly in front of the unit, and placed the other one 6 feet away on a diagonal. ABSOLUTELY! Its rough, bumpy casters feel cheaply made but work well enough. Insignia U-Shaped Window Air Conditioner - 8000 BTU - White - Only at Best Buy (231 Reviews) Appliance manufacturers measure AC cooling power in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. While this is an easy to use portable air conditioner, it has some added features that some people will find unnecessary. He is particularly good at being cool. $179.99. Thats toward the upper limit of the adult human hearing range, but it could account for the problems that some people have encountered. AInsignia Support Contact us: https://www.insigniaproducts.com/contact-us. There are two main types of portable air conditioners: Single-hose and dual-hose. Dehumidifying a room can make it so much more comfortable, while a fan can cool down a person without the need to turn the entire air conditioning unit on. They also look like push buttons, and if you follow your instincts to push themor if youre not sure whether they responded to your tap, and you push a little more just to triple-checkthe whole control panel bows down slightly along with your fingers. We independently review everything we recommend. Two standards measure BTUs: ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and DOE (the Department of Energy). Find My Store. ft. 4.3 (1475 reviews) $319.99 WAS * $329.99 Buy Now * Non US customer - check your local stores for pricing and availability Features Specifications Customer Reviews Support & Downloads While the convenience of a portable AC unit means it can move from room to room, there's some installation involved. Hisense. I bought this the summer of 2019 and currently using it for the third summer now. Gofoit Evaporative Mini Air Cooler can provide you with cool air for up to eight hours, depending on your settings, and should be enough for a comfortable nights sleep. Like the Midea Duo, it has an inverter compressor that makes it quieter and more efficient than other portable air conditioners, with an SACC of 10,000 Btu per hourthe same as the Midea, even though its power output by the older standards was comparatively higher than the Mideas at 14,000 Btu per hour. Remote makes it convenient to turn on and off. Insignia - 300 Sq. Ft. Portable Air Conditioner - White The Duo is one of the rare portables with a variable inverter compressor, which allows for more fine-tuned and energy-efficient temperature control. The only reason why I gave it 4-stars is because nothing is 100% perfect and it can be a little bit of a hassle running the exhaust pipe to a window. Was facing an imminent heat wave and our in window a/c units werent getting installed until a week later. This portable AC unit has been discontinued from the manufacturer. Everything we know about ductless mini-split heating and cooling systems after interviewing installers, manufacturers, and homeowners with systems of their own. However, the LED indicatorsincluding the optional Quick Glance Light, which lets you know when your room has reached your target temperaturewere a little too bright for our tastes. Originally selling a variety of electrics and home appliances, TTK went global in 1999 and soon changed its name to TCL. If you wait to set up your AC until an already-sweltering day, youll be even more annoyed when you realize you need to sign up for more junk mail before you can get cool again. This story was last updated in April 2023 with current pricing, additional information and two more superlative-worthy products: The Midea Duo Inverter, our pick for the best quiet portable AC, and the Gofoit Evaporative Mini Air Cooler, an evaporative cooler than can sit on a table or desktop. BestBuy in particular is a big supplier of their goods. Our research, however, ultimately steered us toward single-hose portable modelsin part because so many newer models use this design. Otherwise it really makes it cold in here. Blasts cold air in an up down motion. Insignia couldn't supply this???? Note, too, that this drain is higher up on the Duo than on other modelsabout 1 foot up from the bottom, which should make it easier to tilt and drain. For this 2021 update, we tested a new single-hose portable air conditioner, SereneLife 12,000 BTU, and were equally impressed by its cooling performance. Now that the Cool Connect has been discontinued, however, the FHPH142AC1 is looking like an enticing replacement. ft. with this Insignia portable air conditioner. Cools effectively (not sure about efficiency yet). If you find yourself in one of those situations, a portable air conditioner could make the difference between sweltering surroundings and comfort. The air is VERY cool. The control panel and display on the Duo are large and easy to navigate, with just a few LEDs that are subtle enough that they probably wont keep you awake at night. Save. It has all the smart-home connectivity you might need, and all of the buttons and features are clearly labeled and accessible and right where you might expect them. With the 12,000 BTU ASHRAE (7,000 BTU DOE), this cooling engine can handle rooms up to 400 square feet and has three operating modes: cooling, fan-only and dehumidifier-only. Cons: Weve met with manufacturers at trade shows and events, corresponded with sources over years of interviews, and combed through volumes of Department of Energy material about AC efficiency standards. This bears repeating, because its a common misunderstanding regarding something called portable: All of these units require a window and an electrical outlet within a few feet of where theyre operating. The LG is also the heaviest portable AC weve tested. For example, when you go to bed at night but dont want to leave the unit on until morning. Thom Dunn has written Wirecutter guides to window air conditioners, room fans, space heaters, and more. Insignia 8000 BTU window air conditioner review | Best Buy Blog Get fast, easy access to all the help you need. So who makes Insignia portable air conditioner? This Insignia three-in-one portable air conditioner produces up to 6,000 BTU of cooling power and quickly lowers the temperature in rooms up to 250 sq. The Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect GHPC132AB1 impressed us not only with its ability to maintain a steady chill throughout the room within one-half of a degree but also with its surprisingly low-volume performance. Multi-purpose devices are always handy, which is why its great to get an air conditioner that can do double-duty as a dehumidifier. If you're looking for a high-quality portable air conditioner that won't break the bank or disappoint in terms of performance or versatility, the De'Longhi Pinguino PAC EM370 portable air conditioner is our top recommendation for you. Another note, i was able to leave my screen installed in the window which will keep the lizards and bugs out!! We measured the volume at each units various settingscompressor on/off and fan high/medium/lowfrom a distance of about 6 feet with an audio spectrum analyzer app. Our tests have borne this out over the years, as well; weve seen supposedly efficient models that barely made a dent in cooling rooms they were appropriately sized for. There is a collection reservoir that needs to be drained regularly or a tube connected and run out the window for automatic drain. Ft. Portable Air Conditioner NS-AC10PWH9 - Full-Function Remote - Washable Filter Write a review How customer reviews and ratings work Sign in to filter reviews 3 total ratings, 3 with reviews From the United States Peter Gilmore Seemed like a good idea at the time Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2020 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends limiting extended exposure to indoor noises above 45 dBA to protect the long-term health of your hearing. You can run the unit as a dehumidifier, choose multiple fan speeds, and set a 24-hour timer for automatic all-day operation. Due to the side opening windows, a portable was our only choice. Its no substitute for an actual heat pump though. And lastly, you still have a window view, not an a/c blocking it instead. I live on the second floor of an old Victorian and it's been like an oven in here. Customer Reviews: Insignia 450 Sq. Ft. Portable Air Conditioner White SKU: 6393206. Would I recommend these units? Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Rating 4.2 out of 5 stars with 750 reviews. I wonder how it will fit if I transfer it to another room. Very good like the Business Will tell my friends about it. For assistance in the use and maintenance of your product, take a look through the guides below. The popular, affordable Black+Decker BPACT14WT delivers where it countsin cooling performancebetter than anything else in its price range. The name implies portable air conditioners are easy to set up and use, like a portable power station, but thats not the whole truth. When shopping, make sure to look closely at each units BTU rating, which measures its power. Sylwia Dudek-Gorski, operations manager at the air-conditioner service Figlia & Sons, calls Friedrich "the king of air conditioners" and says they make the best equipment. The haptic control panel is easy enough to use, as you can just touch the buttons instead of pushing them, although they give no real feedback as to whether youve actually activated them. We didnt hear anything like that in our own tests, although we did measure a small spike in volume that occasionally popped up around the 9,900 Hz to 10,500 Hz range, and then again between 14,500 Hz and 15,000 Hz. Hope this helps. Like the other models we tested, the Duo allows you to set it to dehumidify (without cooling) or just run it in a fan-only mode. I had to physically CUT one part of the window insert which I did not feel comfortable doing. This is particularly disappointing since the window panels were one of the standout features of this models predecessor, the now-discontinued Frigidaire Gallery Cool Connect FGPC1244T1, which we previously recommended as an also-great pick. Thats the advantage of Whynters dual hose systemit can make a substantial differencebut if you are okay with Black+Deckers more modest specs, you get the ability to heat a room up to about 81 degrees in cooler weather. When using the AC, keep it as close to the window as you can, with as many of the accordion ribs collapsed as possible, so the hose is as short and straight as you can make it. In our tests, the Black+Decker BPACT14WTs condenser started at 64 dB with the fan running lowabout 8 decibels louder than the Midea Duo at its loudest. 2. Make your home comfortable with this Insignia three-in-one portable air conditioner. Our Reviews Of The 7 Best Danby Air Conditioners This detail, combined with the wide variety of window-installation panels that Midea includes in the box, makes the Duo especially easy to wrangle and install (a particularly remarkable feat for a dual-hose model). PROs Blows cold air. Its one of the quietest portable ACs weve ever tested, too, with a volume that consistently measured below normal conversation levels. Also like other portables, the Duo uses filters that are easy to remove and clean without any additional tools. We plan on testing several new portable ACs this summer, including a potential replacement for our discontinued Frigidaire pick. insignia portable air conditioner - Best Buy The 8000 BTU of cooling power helps keep your room at a comfortable temperature, while the three modes provide flexible functionality. Trust me I searched. CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of models that rise to the top in. The Duos remote control is large and a little clunky, but it puts all the features you need right there at your fingertips. Insignia Air Conditioner - Best Buy Redic!! Our top pick overall is the Whynter Elite ARC-122DS, a mid-priced model that offers great functionality for most homes, though its certainly not the only stellar option out there. No thermostat Insignia - 350 Sq. Ft. Portable Air Conditioner - White Even with the condenser off, the Black+Decker still emitted about as much noise as the Midea and the Frigidaire GHPC132AB1 at their absolute top volume. Only cools 9 cooler then outside temperature! Although the hose has some nice touches such as a lattice over the exhaust port and a nice cloth sheath to dress up the otherwise unsightly plastic accordion tube, this model also came with the least modular window-panel options. The temperature was 81 degrees when we turn it on and within about 120 minutes the temp was down to 73. Bu-zzz-ZZZ! as it shifts into gear as on other portable ACs; in fact, if the Duos fan is running on high, you probably wont even notice when its actively cooling. While you often see both numbers in a product's specs, the DOE generally provides a more accurate read of how well portable units perform inside your living space. The Black+Deckers window setup requires a screwdriver to lock the sliding plates into place. Most portable ACs are pretty similar, but the Midea Duo MAP12S1TBL delivers better cooling performance than other models while using less energy and making less noise. Sometimes his curiosity gets the best of him, such as when he plugged a space heater and a Marshall guitar amp into the same power strip. The Best Portable Air Conditioners - Your Best Digs The SereneLife stands just under 3 feet tall and has a 17 x 13-inch footprint. The fact that this hose is anchored to the body of the AC by default also makes it easier to wrangle when youre trying to set the AC 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 AC, trapping yourself in a clumsy tug-of-war with an exhaust hose). The best thing we took away from our tests was the chance at a direct 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 but not effective enough to make a real difference (unless youre in a situation with a potentially dangerous carbon monoxide downdraft, as mentioned above). Even with the bedroom door cracked open and the bathroom door open, this unit has been cooling the bedroom just fine. Daniel Giamatta, senior account executive, LG-One US, email interview, March 18, 2019, Tom Kelly, product senior manager, Haier AC/GE Appliances, email interview, March 13, 2019, Rachel Lee, sales manager, Whynter, email interview, March 12, 2019, Gary Woodruff, residential manager, Hurley & David Home HVAC Services, email interview, March 19, 2019, Zach Claxton, Introducing New Portable AC BTU Guidelines, Sylvane, February 22, 2018, Test Procedure for Portable Air Conditioners (PDF), US Department of Energy, May 5, 2014, Technical Support Document: Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Portable Air Conditioners, US Department of Energy, December 27, 2016, Portable Air Conditioners Wiki, The Air Geeks, March 1, 2019, David Morrison, How Do Portable Air Conditioners Work?, Home Air Guides, March 18, 2019.