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You can put the vents on horizontal sliding windows as well. As others have mentioned, most of the time you can extend the plastic window kit to cover the entire area. If not, you can order an extension or an extra window kit from most companies who sell portable air conditioners. If you're willing to put in a little extra money too, you can get a portable air conditioner that also has a built-in heat pump that can provide extra heat in the winter as well. This is what I use in my home to heat and cool the upstairs. I have a heat pump downstairs and a portable AC with a built-in heat pump upstairs. It works great! This is the one that I use: https://a.co/d/5bxFrrp You can order an extra window kit to extend the one that comes with the portable air conditioner even further to cover a larger window: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Whynter-Dual-Hose-Window-Kit-for-ARC-110WD-ARC-122DS-ARC-122DHP-ARC-12SD-ARC-12SDH-ARC-131GD-ARC-14S-ARC-14SH-ARC-143MX-ARC-WK-DUALN/334467729
Recently had success in my attic with the “Whynter Portable Air Conditioner 14,000 BTU & Heater with Dual Hose”. It cools about 500 sqft no prob
Whynter ARC-14s, was my primary first Floor AC until I got central.
Whynter ARC-1230 or ARC-14S Dual hose and 14,000 glorious BTUs. Not cheap but they're the best of the best.
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.
They're great. I switched from the ARC-14S (with hose insulating sleeves) to an ARC-1230WH (which has a hose in hose design).
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.
Hopefully there is a window in the room where you can route input and output air hoses. We have a Whynter ARC-14S that I would recommend. They’re about $500. Make sure you get a 2 hose and not a 1 hose portable or you’ll be drawing hot air from elsewhere in your house into the room.
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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





