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Portable Air Conditioners: Ratings of Sources
Total of 15 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Buzzillions.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioner Reviews
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Buzzillions.com compiles product reviews from numerous online retailers, which makes it a good source for information on products like portable air conditioners that typically receive only a few owner… reviews at each website. More than 150 air conditioners are listed here, and many receive more than a dozen reviews. A few, like the Edgestar Koldfront PAC8000S and the Edgestar Extreme Cool AP12000S, have close to 100 reviews. Buzzillions.com has far more reviews for portable air conditioners than other websites, making it one of the best sources around.

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2. Epinions.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Epinions.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Epinions.com doesn't usually rank so highly among our sources, but for portable air conditioners, we find more reviews here than at most other websites. Close to 60 portable air conditioners receive… reviews; most models only receive one or two comments, making it difficult to determine which ones are better. The Whynter SNO Arctica ARC-10D earns several reviews and an overall rating of 3.5 out of five. Most owners say they're happy, but a few complain of breakdowns and noise. The Haier HPAC9M receives about the same number of reviews but a lower overall rating.

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3. ConsumerReports.org
July 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Unlike the detailed reviews ConsumerReports.org usually provides, this article is brief and does not include a ratings chart. Some general information on portable air conditioners is included, and two specific models receive a mention.
4. NexTag.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Contributors to NexTag.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This website lists a wide variety of portable air conditioners, some of which have a large number of ratings contributed by site visitors. Several Haier, Whynter and Sharp units receive good overall scores and many ratings, but there are no owner comments. The sheer number of ratings makes this site useful, but it's difficult to tell what advantages or disadvantages specific models have.
5. Dulley.com
July 2004
Update Bulletin No. 463: Roll Small Portable Air Conditioner from Room to Room
by James Dulley
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

James Dulley is an environmentalist, columnist and engineer. His article on portable air conditioners is the best we find. This article covers 30 models from 10 well-known brands. None of the models is… rated, but there is a comparison chart detailing features such as the energy efficiency rating (EER), the noise level, the cooling capacity (Btu), and the weight and dimensions of each model. Unusual features are noted. The report also offers a chart of the estimated electricity costs in cents per day. The general information in this article is still useful, though it is several years old.

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6. Choice.com.au
July 2008
Portable Air Conditioners
by Editors of Choice
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Choice is an Australian magazine and website similar to Consumer Reports. The editors test seven portable air conditioners, but they say these cooling appliances should only be used as a last resort because they're expensive and don't cool as well as central air or window units. Editors do find four models that are better than most, but none of the models is available in the U.S.
7. Which.co.uk
March 14, 2008
Air Conditioners
by Editors of Which?
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Which? is a British review publication similar to Consumer Reports. The editors thoroughly test 35 air conditioners, including many portable models. Brands well-known in the U.S. include Amcor, DeLonghi and LG. Six air conditioners are named Best Buys, but the model numbers are different from those found in the U.S., so we can't suggest comparable units.
8. Amazon.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Amazon.com lists hundreds of portable air conditioners, but many are discontinued models that aren't available. Very few units receive ratings, and of those that do, most only receive one or two reviews. A few receive a good overall rating and a fair number of reviews, including the Sharp CV-P10MX.
9. HomeDepot.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The Home Depot sells about 20 portable air conditioners; approximately half the models receive owner-written reviews. Because most of these models get only a few reviews, it is difficult to find a consensus, so this site isn't very useful in finding the best portable AC for your needs. One model, the LG LP1200DXR, receives almost 10 reviews and a good overall score.
10. Target.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Target.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Target.com allows customers to review products. Although this website sells more than 50 portable air conditioners from Sunpentown, Alen, Amana, Amcor and other brands, most are not reviewed. Of the few models that receive reviews, most only receive one or two remarks -- not enough to draw any conclusions. Hopefully, more reviews will be added.
11. Sears.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners: Specialty
by Contributors to Sears.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Sears sells six portable AC units on its website, but only a few receive reviews from owners. One, the Royal Sovereign ARP1000ES, receives nearly 100 reviews and an average rating of four stars (out of five).
12. Air Conditioners America.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners Reviews
by Editors of Air-Conditioner-America.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This website sells many portable air conditioners, and it is one of the few distributors of Alen units. The editors say they conduct "extensive reviews and product testing" to find the fastest cooling AC… and the coldest AC. We wish they went into more detail on how this testing was performed. There's good general information on this site, including a buying guide. Alen models are recommended most highly, but we are unable to corroborate those opinions, because Alen is not often included in other reviews.

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13. Allergy Buyers Club.com
As of June 2009
Portable Air Conditioners
by Editors of AllergyBuyersClub.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Editors at AllergyBuyersClub.com recommend portable air conditioners as a good air cooling alternative; they install quickly without damaging your window and do not require any heavy lifting. The review… notes that they are best used as "spot coolers" in homes with central air conditioning. Experts review 10 portable air conditioners for home use. Most of these models get a rating of good or very good. Allergy Buyers Club sells these units. We don't know whether any other portable air conditioners were tested.

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14. AirPure.com
As of June 2009
Review and Compare Portable Air Conditioners
by Editors of AirPure.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

AirPure.com is a company that markets air purifiers and air conditioners. A chart on portable air conditioners includes comments, price, and specifications for nine models. No model is recommended and no… ratings are given, and it is hard to determine why these units made the short list. If you click on the link for each portable air conditioner, you will get a picture, a lengthy description of its features and a downloadable owner's manual. A buyer's guide is also included.

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15. ConsumerGuide.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners Reviews and Prices
by Contributors to ConsumerGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Editors at ConsumerGuide.com list a handful of portable air conditioners along with window units. Although each gets a rating for "performance," there is no evidence that these units were tested by anyone. The write-up consists of a description based on features only. None of the portable units is recommended.

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