NewAir AC-12000E

The 12,000-BTU NewAir AC-12000E is a portable air conditioner with enough power to cool a room of approximately 350 square feet. Reviewers say its simple installation makes it easy to move to different locations in the house, or to completely remove during cooler months. Most reviews we found indicate that the AC-12000E cools very well, though not every owner is completely satisfied in that regard. The most frequent complaint is noisy operation, and some owners say they got units that either failed right away or after just a short period.

Still, most who weigh in seem to be content with the NewAir AC-12000E. A remote control and 24-hour timer make it easy to use. The self-evaporative system (which eliminates or at least greatly reduces the need to dump out buckets of condensate) appears to be more effective than most -- including, interestingly, the similar but less powerful NewAir AC-10000E (*Est. $350), which is marketed for smaller rooms up to 250 square feet. For a little extra money, the NewAir AC-12000H (*Est. $460) adds a space-heater function and gets equally high ratings from owners.

Since professional reviewers don't seem inclined to report on portable air conditioners, user review sites provide the best indications of the strengths and weaknesses of the NewAir AC-12000E. We found lots of feedback at Air-n-Water.com, Amazon.com and Air-Conditioner-Home.com.