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Top Pros
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Reddit Reviews
alwaysforward31I had this one and it was great! [https://a.co/d/dawjy0e](https://a.co/d/dawjy0e)
bananapanquequesI 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.
blanketkingdomThis 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!
ChuckOfTheIrishHow 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.
Felonious-Monkey196I 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.
kg215Second all this, don't get a single hose unit because it starts to pull in air from the rest of the house (instead of from the outside like dual hose units) so it's less efficient. Also for portable AC you need a higher BTU rating compared to window units. Currently I am using the dual hose Whynter ARC-14S 14000 BTU for an average sized bedroom and it works well. It is really loud compared to most other portable ACs though (if that matters to you). Previously I've used other models like a single hose Sharp 11500 BTU unit, and single hose SPT 12000 BTU unit that were much weaker. If you can find anyway to use the window unit (use a plastic panel, a wood panel, anything) you should definitely use it, it's a much better value than any portable unit. Just make sure that your HOA allows it, in all the neighborhoods I've lived in window units are always banned because of aesthetics.
KyFly1Single 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
markbronccoI 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.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Large rooms
Top pick
Midea - 4-in-1 PortaSplit 3.5 kW Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier
Best for Low noise level
Top pick
Midea - 4-in-1 PortaSplit 3.5 kW Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier
Best for Small rooms
Top pick
Midea - Duo Series
