Portable Air Conditioners

Most portable air conditioners cool and dehumidify a room, but many can also be used as fans. Some can be used as dehumidifiers separately from the cooling function. Still other portable air conditioners can be used as space heaters. Even though portable air conditioners are convenient and offer more than just portable cooling, the main disadvantage is that they are much more expensive and really don't work as well overall as window air conditioners.

Portable air conditioners, though easier to install than window units, are not quite as mobile and trouble-free as you might hope. You'll need to place the unit somewhat close to a window, since you'll need to exhaust hot air outside. Portable AC units come with an exhaust tube and foam insert for your window. Because all air conditioners also dehumidify the air, you'll either drain water in a bucket or out a window with a drainage hose. Lastly, though portable air conditioners can be wheeled from room to room, they are heavy (50 to 90 pounds) and bulky; most portable cooling units take up a 12-inch to 18-inch footprint, and are about 30 inches tall.

Sunpentown portable AC units typically have some of the highest energy efficiency ratings (EER) on the market. A high EER means that the portable AC unit will cost less to run in the long term. The Sunpentown WA-1010M (*est. $360) has an EER of 15.1 -- that's higher than any other unit, including window air conditioners. But James Dulley reports that EER isn't measured the same way for portable air conditioners as it is for other types: "There are no formal standards for these tests, as there is with window air conditioners, so the EERs can actually vary depending on many factors." Even so, EER ratings are helpful when viewed in relation to other portable air conditioners, even if the ratings are taken only as a general indication of efficiency.

Best portable air conditioners

The smallest and least expensive portable air conditioners are 7,500 and 8,000 BTU units that can cool 150 to 200 square-foot rooms -- appropriate for small bedrooms. Owners say the Haier HPE07XC6 (*est. $360) is one of the best smaller units. The Haier air conditioner has separate cooling and dehumidifier functions so you can use it in either mode. Other features include a timer, temperature display, air filter and three cooling/fan speeds. We did read some complaints about noise, a consideration for light sleepers. However, reviews are pretty solid overall for the Haier unit.

For slightly larger areas of about 200 square feet, we found good reviews for the 9,000 BTU Sharp CV-P09FX, a model that has just been updated to the Sharp CV-P10MX (*est. $550). Almost every review we found for this model comments that it's quiet, making it a good choice for a bedroom. A nice plus for this model is that condensate doesn't need to be emptied. Rather, condensation is sent out through the exhaust hose. Other features include a timer remote control -- be aware that the unit itself doesn't have any controls, so be sure not to misplace the remote control. This Sharp air conditioner, along with other models in this series, has an included ion generator. However, we didn't see this feature reviewed, and experts say that ion generators in any appliance are gimmicky and of dubious benefit. You can choose not to use this feature on the Sharp air conditioner.

The Sharp portable air conditioner also comes in two larger sizes, the 9,500BTU Sharp CV-P10LC (*est. $530) and the 11,500 BTU (*est. $650), which receive similar good reviews, especially for quiet operation.

Although we didn't see it reviewed anywhere else, a couple of dozen owners posting comments at Home Depot like the 10,000 BTU Everstar MPK-10CR (*est. $500). This model has all the usual features -- multiple speeds and a remote control. A drip container catches condensation, but you have to be sure to empty it.

Sunpentown makes quite a few portable air conditioners, but these are harder to find in stores. Like the Sharp air conditioners, the Sunpentown WA-1010E (*est. $400) portable AC unit uses self-evaporating technology, which cuts down on how often you'll need to drain the unit. Most of the water accumulated from dehumidification is exhausted through the main venting hose that extends out of a nearby window. Remaining water can be drained into a tub, or you can use an optional second hose to drain out the remaining water. This portable air conditioner has 10,000 BTU (to cool a room of about 250 square feet) and a two-speed fan. It has an 8-hour timer. A remote control is optional. This portable AC unit has a washable activated carbon filter that helps remove odors from air.

The Sunpentown WA-1010E has digital controls. It's also available with manual rotary controls as the WA-1010M (*est. $360) , but reviews prefer digital controls. You can also buy this portable air conditioner with a heater, so you can use it in the colder months as a space heater. We didn't see that many reviews for Sunpentown units, and the reviews we did read were a mix of positive and negative. The larger, 12,000 BTU Sunpentown WA-1230E (*est. $460) shares many of the features of the WA-1010E, but the WA-1230 portable AC comes with a remote control.

Although we didn't see many reviews for it elsewhere, the 10,000 BTU Royal Sovereign 74902 (*est. $450) gets a fair number of reviews on the Sears.com website. Most reviews are positive, with owners saying it does a nice job of taking the edge off the heat in a room, and that it's quiet enough for a bedroom. Electronic controls, a removable filter and a remote control are included. We found more mixed reviews for the smaller 9,000 BTU Royal Sovereign ARP-900E (*est. $380) , which has similar features.

We found good reviews for a couple of Amcor air conditioners, including the Amcor ALTL 12000E (*est. $430) , a 12,000 BTU portable AC unit that's a particularly good value. A portable AC of this size should cool about 350 square feet. Editors at Air Conditioners America cite it as a good value, and owner reviews also post good ratings for this model. This model also has self-evaporating technology to exhaust some of the condensate out of the exhaust hose, so you don't have to empty the water tank as often. Some reviews say this model doesn't cool as well as the Sharp air conditioners, but that it's much less expensive.

The top portable AC units at Air Conditioners America are the 10,000 BTU (*est. $475) for up to 425 square feet, and the 12,000 BTU Alen C535 (*est. $600) for cooling larger rooms up to 535 square feet. They say these units are the best value, have the highest cooling capacity, are the coldest A/C unit in their category, and have an easy-to-drain water reservoir. You have the choice of using a removable water tank or continuous drainage through a hose. We were unable to find any consumer reviews for these models, however, and while Air Conditioners America gives them an endorsement, the basis for the recommendation isn't very clear.

Portable air conditioners with heaters

A handful of portable AC units include a space-heater feature for year-round use. However, reviews for these units are extremely rare. We did find some positive reviews at Amazon for the 9,000 BTU Frigidaire FAP09EP1Z (*est. $425) . The Frigidaire has digital controls, a remote and a through-the-wall duct adaptor for optional venting into a duct instead of out a window. Reviewers say it is easy to install, works great and is actually quieter than they expected. We did see one review that complained that the unit broke after just one month and that customer service was nonresponsive.

Sunpentown also makes several combination cooling/heating models, but we were unable to find any consumer or expert reviews rating them. The 10,000 BTU Sunpentown WA-1010H (*est. $440) uses self-evaporating technology, has digital controls, a washable activated carbon filter that helps remove odors from air, and an 8-hour timer. For larger rooms, consider the 12,000 BTU Sunpentown WA-1230H (*est. $590) .

We didn't include either of these units in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. We simply did not find enough good reviews to convince us that either model is a better option than a separate portable air conditioner and space heater.

Size of Room and BTU

Portable air conditioner units are rated in BTU (British Thermal Units). This measures how much heat is removed by the hour. Bear in mind that portable air conditioning units require more BTUs than window AC units to cool a room of comparable size. Err on the high side for particularly sunny rooms. The chart below offers a rough estimate of the number of BTUs needed for your room size, even though the manufacturer's rating may be higher.

7,500 BTU	150 square feet
9,000 BTU	200 square feet
10,000 BTU	250 square feet
12,000 BTU	350 square feet

How portable air conditioners work

Unlike window units that pull air from the outdoors to cool your room, portable air conditioning units use indoor air. The portable air cooler dehumidifies the air and the collected water is called the condensate. The condensate is removed from the air conditioner using two main methods. First, a bucket or tray inside the unit collects water, which must be emptied frequently. The second method evaporates the water and exhausts it through the main venting hose. Portable air conditioners must also vent the resulting hot air through an exhaust hose that extends outside a window, door or air vent.

Although you don't have to hoist portable air conditioners into a window every year for installation, there is some temporary installation each time a unit is moved from room to room. With a portable air conditioner, the exhaust air blows out a hose. One end is attached to the back of the unit and the other end must be vented outside. Each portable air conditioner comes with a window adapter kit that keeps the hose firmly in place and provides foam rubber to insulate the partially open window. Additional hoses may be attached for the purpose of draining the condensation that accumulates during operation.

Important Features: Portable air conditioners

Here's what expert reviews say to look for in a portable air conditioner:

• Match BTU to room size. Keep in mind that you need more BTUs in a portable air conditioner than you would in a window unit for the same size room.

• Look for a model with casters or wheels and handles for easier transport.

• Look for a portable air conditioner with oscillating louvers or multidirectional airflow, because this will circulate the air and cool the room faster.

• In reviews, experts prefer digital controls, which allow you to set the temperature and control the timer.

• Be certain that your unit has a venting or exhaust hose and a window adapter kit. If you don't want to empty water buckets, look for an optional water-drainage hose.

In general, portable air conditioners are simply not as effective as window air conditioners. If your only option is a portable AC unit, look for a model with a high enough BTU rating for the size of your room. Going with a larger unit than you think you need is also recommended, especially if your room gets a lot of direct sunlight or contains heat-producing electronics and appliances.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Sharp CV-P09FX (*est. $500) (now CV-P10MX )	details
2	Amcor ALTL 12000E (*est. $430)	details
1 each	Sharp CV-P12LX, Alen C535 , Alen C425 , Amcor PLM 16000E , Royal Sovereign 749oZ, Toyotomi TAD-32G, RA 9KE, Haier HPE07XC6

We didn't find an overwhelming number of reviews for portable air conditioners, but we checked recommendations against user reviews at Amazon.com, Epinions, Sears.com and Target.com. The Sharp portable air conditioners are more expensive, but in reviews they are judged to be quieter than others. Because these units exhaust condensate through the main exhaust hose, you don't have to empty a water-collection container. Although you do end up emptying a water container, reviews say the Amcor ALTL 12000E is a particularly good value, even though it's not as quiet as the Sharp models. As for a small portable AC unit, we found a handful of good reviews for the Haier HPE07XC6.

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