Whynter - ARC-14S

I have a [Whynter ARC 14S/14SH](https://www.whynter.com/product/compact-dual-hose-14000-btu-portable-air-conditioner-arc-14s/). GoodHousekeeping awarded it best of its class.

This is also the model I have and I just set it up for the summer on Friday. It hit 90 outside, but my living room was a comfortable 72!

How would you compare the 14S and 1230WN? From what I have seen the 1230WN has a significantly higher cooling rating than 14S and others (Gasbye Inverter 14,000 and Midea Duo Inverter 14,000). The price point is not the greatest but don't want to get a lesser unit to save $100.

I own 2 Whynter units. This will be my 3rd summer with an Arc 14S, and I purchased a 1230WN in April. I've not had to empty either unit in all the time I've had them. It sounds like you may have it set on de-humidify instead of cool. The hoses are so bulky because they are dual hose portable air conditioners. They're better than single hose because they draw air from outside to cool the unit and exhaust it back out instead of pulling from the interior, creating negative pressure and sucking in outside air like single hose units. They're much more efficient, and they do a really good job of cooling 500-600sqft.

Yes, it definitely exists! For a studio apartment, a high-efficiency portable AC like the Whynter ARC-14S or a quiet window unit like the Midea U Inverter are great options—they're both energy-efficient, powerful, and can cool your space fast without wrecking your electric bill. The Midea U is especially popular for its ultra-quiet operation and ability to cool like a beast while letting you still open the window a bit.

Single hose a/c units are a scam. You need a dual house unit. This is a good one. I have it. https://a.co/d/dOx9ef4

I did tons of research before buying the [Whynter ARC-14S](https://www.reviewni.com/product/B0028AYQDC) and was nervous about ordering online, but Amazon made the return policy very easy to understand, which gave me peace of mind. Shipping took about five days (a bit disappointing for Prime), but thankfully I ordered it in May last year. Setup was simple. I let the unit sit upright overnight, per instructions, and had to fit the window kit using particle board due to our tall horizontal slider. Hooking up the hose was easy, and while I haven’t bought the optional filter or insulation tape, the unit has worked great without them. Cooling performance is fantastic so far. We use this in our north-facing, well-insulated 2-story home. It easily cools our open-concept living room, kitchen, dining area, hallway, and even helps with the master bedroom—about 1,200 sq ft total. It held up well during a 109°F day, keeping our main areas in the low to mid 70s. Yes, it’s loud, but no louder than any other major appliance. The remote is finicky, and moving it between rooms isn’t ideal, but we just leave it in one spot and it does the job. Draining the water is tricky. The hole’s too low for a bowl to fit under, so we used a plastic tube. Honestly, I haven’t drained it in six weeks and it’s been fine. Not the prettiest unit, but totally worth it to stay cool.

Just get any portable AC unit with dual hoses, it will vent the moisture out the window so no emptying needed. I have [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Whynter-ARC-14S-Conditioner-Dehumidifier-Activated/dp/B0028AYQDC) and it's an absolute beast at cooling.

Hey! As an HVAC pro, I get this question a lot especially during those hot spells when central systems can’t cut it or there’s no ductwork. When choosing a **portable air conditioner**, I usually recommend looking for three key things: 1. **BTU rating that matches your room size** too small won’t cool properly, too big will short cycle and not dehumidify well. 2. **Dual-hose design** if possible it’s more efficient than single-hose models because it doesn’t pull in hot air from outside while exhausting. 3. **Easy maintenance** check how often you need to drain it, and whether it has washable filters. A few solid brands I’ve seen perform well in real homes: * **Whynter ARC-14S** – Dual hose, good build, strong performance for medium to large rooms. * **DeLonghi Pinguino Series** – Quiet operation and decent features. * **Midea Duo** – Newer tech, inverter-driven, very efficient and quiet. Also, make sure to vent it properly (window kit, sealed tight) that makes a big difference. If you can tell me your room size, noise sensitivity, and budget, I can recommend something more specific.

I really like my Midea MAP14AHS1TWT. Quiet, solid app control, plenty of power, easy single duct install, came with parts to use on horizontal or vertical windows. Only issue is the water drainage is hard to figure out, but I only run into that in heat mode. This portable unit is not subject to the u-shape AC recall. Also had a good experience with Whynter ARC-14S and their customer service helping me to repair non-warranty damage to the AC, but it's a more basic design, louder, no connectivity, two ducts so I eventually upgraded to the Midea.