Do you have any information on portable swamp coolers?

I suscribe to the CR magazine. I used the "air conditioning size calculator" and when I got the answer to the recommended size, it was "NaN". What does this mean?

In computing, NaN (Not a Number) is a value or symbol that is usually produced as the result of an operation on invalid input operands,

means there was an error on the program. NaN stands for not a number...often occurs if you have division by 0, etc

We recently bought a Boston Innovative 12000 BTU portable air conditioner and a Convair 600 CFU personal air cooler for our tiny So Calif apartment. The portable a/c gets used on the extreme hot days and the personal air cooler gets used more often. Both are low energy users. The a/c is a 'compact' size, fairly quiet, has a separate motor to cool the Japanese designed Matushita compressor & condensor so it doesn't overheat. Haven't had any problems with either one.

Does Consumers Reports.org have a side by side comparison or rating chart just for portable room air conditioners ? If so how can that be obtained and not combined with the standard window air conitioner. Thank you.

I am looking for a way to cool a room without window access. Does anyone know of a portable air-conditioning unit that would meet my needs?

can anyone give me some advice on split ductless air ocntioner systems? How efficient are they? Where would I get one?

I recently stayed in an apt. on vacation that used 2 portable air conditioners - one in living room and one in bedroom. They were fantastic! Cooled the rooms in a matter of minutes and the noise was very bearable. The window AC noise in my house drives me crazy. I definitely plan to buy one. One was a Boston - can't remember the other.

shmilyengle, I used to live in an apartment that only had one window...and that was in the kitchen! I had the hardest time trying to cool down my bedroom until I found this portable AC unit. It may work for you too!

http://wize.com/air-conditioners/fedders-a6p09s2a-portable-air-conditioner/33583?t=703

Sears has "dripless" Kenmore air conditioners

Does anyone know anything about "Cool Surge"- apotable air cooler.I saw
an ad in our local paper and wondered if it is worth the cost.It doesn't need to be vented outside, but uses "reusable glacier icepacks" to cool
the air.It's supposedly eco-friendly (no freon),energy efficient and
light-weight.I live in a very small,one room apt.(400-450 sq. ft.)but my
window AC isn't too effective.Thanks for any info.

We could use more info on split ductless systems than one mention of the term recommending it without any info.

I am interested in a Slim Jim from Mitsubushi, does anyone know about this product? It is wall mounted and my windows are "crank out" style, so I cannot put an AC in my window.

My bedroom is upstairs and my Central AC does not cool my bedroom very well as it is right under my roof and is always about 10 degrees warmer upstairs as I have no cross ventilation.

Do not know much about it but my wife bought one and I will find out. She got it without my knowledge and told me later she had ordered it.

I read the information and understand that portable air conditioners are not as efficient as window units. However. I live in a condo with very strict regulations against window units. My bedroom, which is on the 3rd floor of a townhouse, is not cooled by the central air unit, and I want to supplement the
air conditioning with a portable unit. I need help with which unit to purchase.

You say to go with a portable that has two vents. But in the same comments you state you haven't tested them yet. How can you recomment something you haven't tested.

On portable A/C units: we have a Queen Anne style Victorian house with very narrow bedroom windows and looked four years ago until we found, ordered and installed a Fedders portable a/c which has run each summer since then - quieter than a typical window type and served its purpose. Two years ago we replaced a window unit in our kitchen with a Sharp 9500BTU portable from Costco which works just fine in a 15 X 15 room. It is trade marked "Library Quiet" 36dB, and rated to cool 330 to 360 sq.ft.
It is quieter than the former window unit and cools and dehumidifies our kitchen very well. I am now looking for a new portable unit for a non-profit's small office of 300 sqft where the lease does not permit a standard window unit. There many more brands avialable these days and we have been lucky so far with our choices but it would be helpful to have a Consumer Reports review of these portable a/c units.

If memory serves, CR used to report on an A/C unit's ability to remove humidity as well, since for the same given temperature, a lower humidity will have a greater subjective impression of cooling. I'd like to see them include this information in the future.

There's a claim that units were actually tested ("The portable units we tested...") but I can't find the test anywhere.

I have a split system (Mitsubishi Mr. Slim) in my two story 100 yr old Dutch Colonial (read: no ducts) and it works well. It is installed on the second floor near the ceiling above the landing in the stairwell and cools the entire 2nd floor (~800 ft2), which is where the bedrooms are.

However, the 1st floor receives only minimal cooling. I'm planning to purchase a dual hose portable unit for the 1st floor. I'm not interested in trying to cool the whole main level as it would take multiple units, but rather am thinking a portable that would cool the room we're in would be best. I wish there were reviews on these units so we could at least compare reliability ratings. In particular I'm looking at Royal Sovereign brand units. Does anybody have experience with any of their products?

I have installed a portable AC unit (SpotCooler brand) in an office space to cool a server room. It was a dual hose unit that was permanently piped to a water line for drainage and pumped itself out automatically. The hoses connect to a ceiling tile and vent to / draw from the dead space between the dropped false ceiling and the floor above and that has enough volume (it is an office building afterall) to act as the outdoors. It works great, but such a small space is hard to draw a comparison to how it would function in a larger lived in room.

Can i use a portable A/C to cool off a 24 ft boat at the dock with a small cabin ? the boat cabin gets extremely hot when sitting still and it doesnt have A/C. Cabin size is about 150 square ft. without ac we cannot sleep there too hot . Its like a sauna

My 40 sq. ft. wine cellar stays at 70 degrees F consistently. I need to cool it to 60 degrees. If there exists an air conditioner that needs no venting, that would be great. I can vent to the laundry room next to it which has a ceiling exhaust fan and a dryer vented to the outside. Any suggestions?

For those interested in a Ductless A/C unit, I recommend Fujitsu and Mitsubishi brands. Im a contractor and these are the best units available. where do you get one? From a reputable contractor. Both web sites list contractors in your area. Good Luck out there.

For people not allowed window a/c units in their condo's or homes, remember to demand why you are not allowed these. I live in a simple apartment converted to condo's, built in the 60's - plain jane units, not beautiful condo's. I had 2 separate estimates for a/c's, both said 28000 btu's to cool these energy-inefficient buildings in a very hot part of San Diego, inland. Both said put in 2 separate units, one thru the wall to replace the existing one, the other in the bedroom window or thru the wall. One can not even find a 28000 btu unit, or even close to that size, that is energy-star rated - as no one in their right mind typically buys that size - you buy several smaller units. My association demanded I remove my unit. I told them under no circumstances was it being removed, and why - I told them that if I had known I would not be able to properly air condition my unit in this desert type community, I would never have bought there. I also told them it is vital to have proper air conditioning when you must leave a pet - as my almost 20 year old dog. Relying on one a/c unit that can easily fail while you are gone is risky - having two separate units makes much more sense. It doesn't have to stay ice cold, but it needs to stay comfortable for your pet. My HOA demanded a doctors note, that I obtained. My neighbors like 2 smaller units much better, as it is not nearly as noisy as one huge unit. I figure my cooling bill has gone done by at least a third, as often if I am home I can just use one unit, and let the other part be warm. I told my HOA I would sue them if denied proper a/c, and I would start working with the center on aging, as many people in our complex are elderly, and some swelter in the heat - and perhaps pass away - because they can not afford to run the a/c. HOA's tend to be ran by insane people - hop on ahrc.com and read about many of the abuses – I now am on the board simply to try to stand up for more personal freedom in our community. I feel that HOA's must be limited as to what they are doing - their job should be simple, not regulating everyone's life to a ridiculous degree.

Has Consumer Reports or any other organization tested/compared central air conditioners? I haven't seen any reviews on them in the buying guides or elsewhere. I'd also like to see detailed evaluations on portable air conditioners (and carpet steam cleaners--it's been a very long time since they were reviewed).

I'm trying to buy an air conditioner for my double hung window that has a width of 13.5 inches and a height of 23 inches. Any suggestions for a window air conditioner that would fit or a portable air conditioner with an exhaust system that would fit a 13.5 inch window? Thanks for your help.

Casey:

I have a five or six KBTU Royal Sovereign that I've used for about three years. The issue that neither CR nor other posters have brought up is the geographical part of the country the a/c unit will be used in. For example, I'm in Texas and use the RS to cool my bedroom of about 350 square feet (the only air conditioning in my house; I only use it when it gets unbearably hot). This time of year the RS never gets my bedroom below about 75 degrees, and during the day will get up to about eighty-five. But this is in a place where it can easily exceed a hundred degrees before noon, and stay that way until long after dark. For my conditions the thing is underpowered. And most people here would consider its lack of power unacceptable. But if you live in a less demanding cliamte, you may like it. It is a really nice unit and has never given me a moment's problem. I would look for one with dual hoses.

Hi Bill and others: I have a Maytag Dehumidifer (serviced by Fedders, or now NOT SERVICED by FEDDERS, as Fedders is going through a BANKRUPCY Legal Restructing, and as such, keep your fingers crossed, any appliance serviced by or made by Fedders, Keeps running) This Dehumidifer had a Five year Parts and Labor Agreement for Free service for Five Years, that NOW IS NOT COVER-ed by their service policy, This Would be also true of Fedders Air Conditioners, TOO.

I have had very good luck with Whirlpool Air conditioners and Dehumidifers, some still running very well after 23 years, with only filter changing! Al Adams Midland, MI 48640

Hello I have just subscribed and I am just a bit disappointed with the rating of portable air conditioners. Please note the following as opinion only;
Rating a product without including the only sensible embodiment helps not at all.
Single tube portables are quite pitiful unless one can provide make-up air through a heat exchanger.
A single tube unit cannot be a heat pump since there is no possibility that heat can be removed from outdoor air and "pumped" indoors.
Heat pump types would require reversing valves in order to convert the condenser to an evaporator so that being very cold it could absorb heat from cool outdoor air. The exhaust would in this case be very cold air.
I bought a dual tube Kenmore which came with instructions so bereft of information as to serve a much higher purpose if recycled.
I do not yet know if the unit i have is a heat pump or not however, a source which has touted using water evaporation for condenser cooling as being some sort of breakthrough saddens me. Since this same source has made no mention of decades old heat pump technology, (which would by necessity be dual tubed),I fear the worst.
Yet, if the unit is 'not' a heat pump, then having made it through the summer nicely, the latter fact will ensure the good nature of Sears for a refund. Next summer I can purchase a new one from elsewhere and repeat the same process. I only need believe what I am told anew untill function again proves otherwise. If not now, the day will come when they 'are' all heat pumps. Some sort of parade and celebration might be in order when the wonders of this science are really discovered! again!
Just as one might expect must have occurred when it was dicovered that potato peelers could also be used on carrots.
Real heat pumps in this type of embodiment would in fact be a very good way to reduce energy use during shoulder seasons or any time outdoor temperatures were up above freezing. A dedicated application of reason could result in a very "green machine" such as Mitsubishi's mini split heat pumps, one of which has a seer rating of 23.
Lastly; if you own your own home, please consider the latter. We have been exhorted for years to buy energy saving light bulbs during a period when air-to-air split heat pumps have been vastly improved to the point where some can efficiently provide heating from outdoor air below 35F.
A small unit can provide tremendous heat energy and the more it runs the more money saved. I fear that if this were to become public knowledge and implemented, there would be an utterly astounding reduction of residential energy reduction. If this is not bad enough, I can add that these small units pay for themselves, worse still, they provide almost silent air conditioning, equal or better than a portable at about half the input energy.
Regarding opinions, mine is that advertisement, true or false is opinion in the purest sense of the word and Consumer Reports has been of great value for many years, sorting one from the other.

When will CR be reviewing the "split ductless system"'s again?
These systems are more efficient then the window systems and CR's last review on them is quite dated and there are now a bewildering number of options in this category.

Has anyone had experience with the LG ductless A/C system or the Panasonic A/C system? And - do these ductless systems dehumidify the air and discharge the condensate outside the building?

Yes buying a Portable Air Conditioning unit will meet your needs.

I have a portable unit, it's nice but regret not getting the split duct unit. I've seen combo units with split ducts and include cooling, heating, dehumidifier, fan for $450.

Why not put out info that you already HAVE?!
You compared a few units - letr us see the COMPARISON.
You think window AC is better. Well, I think there is a dozen situations when PORTABLE "ineffitient" unit IS BETTER: old house-no ducts; only 1 window in a room; NO window, but an exhoust opening; one unit for possible use in a FEW rooms; for back-up (power outage: portable generator will only supply little unit); attick/garage use; short stay (week/month) vacational home/cottage; .......
Not to mention, they are getting affordable: I've seen
$229/10.000 BTU unit @HomeDepot!
Same goes for splitt sistems: please, TEST a few!!!

Why not put out info that you already HAVE?!
You compared a few units - letr us see the COMPARISON.
You think window AC is better. Well, I think there is a dozen situations when PORTABLE "ineffitient" unit IS BETTER: old house-no ducts; only 1 window in a room; NO window, but an exhoust opening; one unit for possible use in a FEW rooms; for back-up (power outage: portable generator will only supply little unit); attick/garage use; short stay (week/month) vacational home/cottage; .......
Not to mention, they are getting affordable: I've seen
$229/10.000 BTU unit @HomeDepot!
Same goes for splitt sistems: please, TEST a few!!!

I agree with most comments here, why not just post the ratings with the caveat that window units are better. Upsetting as a CR subscriber.

I agree. The portable AC unit manufacturers seem to bump up their rated BTUs. I spoke to a person in sales at Sylvane ( http://www.sylvane.com ) and they recommended a unit for my space. Works well - but normally, the listed BTU would be adequate for a bigger space. I guess they adjust based upon true performance vs what the manufacturer lists.

Can i use a portable A/C to cool off a 24 ft boat at the dock with a small cabin ?Does anyone know of a portable air-conditioning unit that would meet my needs?Has Consumer Reports or any other organization tested/compared central air conditioners?

We mainly supply air conditioner bracket.But for mobile air conditioner,we don`t know if it has bracket or not.If you are going to buy mobile air conditioner,we suggest that you should consider the following points:Three types of air conditioners:
The central air conditioner comprises a fan, a compressor and a cooling coil, all of which are housed in a module outside the home. Central air conditioning uses a duct system to distribute cooled air forced from the heating system. It is the most expensive and longest-lasting (more than 15 years) air-conditioning system, providing uniform fresh-air circulation throughout the home. If you don't have forced-air heating, you can turn your attention to a mini- or multi-split air-conditioning system. These systems include a wall-mounted outdoor compressor and a condenser supplying up to three air diffusers. If well maintained, split-system air conditioners can last up to 10 years. If you only have one or two rooms to cool, or if you expect to move any time soon, a room air conditioner – a window unit, a built-in wall unit or a mobile unit you can move from one room to another – may be your best option. A room air conditioner can be expected to keep you cool for at least five years.

Reversible mode
Some central air conditioners and mini- or multi-split systems feature a heat pump and are therefore reversible. By drawing heat from outdoors and pumping it into your home, a reversible air conditioner can also serve as a heating system – but only as a backup in the spring and the fall. At temperatures lower than 7oC, it no longer provides the performance you need!

Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER)
To purchase an energy-efficient air conditioner, look for a unit with a minimum SEER ratio of 12. Better yet, opt for an Energy Star model, which consumes at least 20 percent less energy than a conventional unit. And while heat pumps are not eligible for the Energy Star program, Inverter technology – in contrast to conventional reversible air-conditioning systems – gives you the option of varying compressor speeds based on the ambient temperature in your home.

Where a conventional air conditioner stops when the desired temperature is reached, this technology lets the user reduce compressor speed to a minimum. The result? The unit operates on a continuous basis but at a carefully regulated speed – with no costly peak consumption periods.

Some air conditioners are equipped with dual compressors: Approximately 40 percent of the energy is consumed by a smaller compressor, and the primary compressor consumes the remaining 60 percent. When the desired temperature is reached, the primary compressor shuts down and the secondary compressor takes over with its lower consumption ratio. Consumers therefore spend less on energy than they would with a conventional machine, which always operates at 100-percent capacity.

Johnhua-

nice look the portable Air-Conditioner (AC).am interested in a Slim Jim from Mitsubushi, does anyone know about this product? Can i use a portable A/C to cool off a 24 ft boat at the dock with a small cabin ? the boat cabin gets extremely hot when sitting still and it doesnt have A/C. Cabin size is about 150 square ft.I am looking for a way to cool a room without window access. Does anyone know of a portable air-conditioning unit that would meet my needs?

Guide to Buy an Air Conditioner - Terminology and Product Features
Choosing the right air conditioner is easy with the right information. The first step, before you go shopping, is to learn to speak the language.

Btu ?The British Thermal Unit (Btu) is the international measurement of energy. A Btu is the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. In AC jargon, Btu's measure the amount of heat an air conditioning unit can remove from the room. As the Btu rating increases, so does the size, weight and cost of the air conditioner. Room air conditioners are generally 5000 ?24,000 Btu's. Matching Btu requirements to room size is important. The room(s) won抰 cool efficiently if the Btu rating is too low or too high for the size of the room.

EER ?The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is calculated by dividing the Btu's by the number of watts. The higher the EER number the more efficient the unit should be. A higher EER rated air conditioner will also be more expensive, so decide if the higher price tag is worth the energy savings you may be getting. The ratings range from 8-11.5. If it抯 really hot where you are, go for a rating of 10 or higher.

Thermostat ?The heat-sensing thermostat adjusts the temperature of the air coming from the air conditioning unit. They can be programmable or manual. An adjustable thermostat combined with a variable-speed fan is an effective cooling machine. AC units are available with such features as remote control, 24 hour delay timers and digital temperature readouts.

Filter ?Clean air is essential for efficient operation. Look for units with filters that can be easily cleaned or replaced.

Fan ?The fan moves the air. A variable-speed fan combined with an adjustable thermostat is an effective cooling machine. Look for louvers that adjust up/down and right/left.

Chassis - A fixed chassis is characteristic of a lighter weight, smaller unit that's easy to remove for winterization. A slide-out chassis is found on units that are installed through-the-wall. The unit slides out easily for maintenance or replacement.

Packaged Terminal Heat Pump/Air Conditioner - A large heating and/or cooling unit installed through the wall. These are the type units used in hotel/motel rooms.

Air conditioner bracket- Air conditioner is very important for installing.Usually the standard of a good air conditioner bracket is that it can load an air conditioner+a worker. Also,the surface of air conditioner bracket is important,too.It is the key factor to decide the service life of an air conditioner bracket.

With the incresing 'Condo' life styles and the restrictions most have against window Air Conditionaers, I'm surprised there is not a clear study and recommendations from Consumer Reports for prtable units. I'm left to go looking for something with two hoses and evaporates the condensed water. I don't know where to start.

I also have a Royal Sovereign unit for my apartment because my apartment charges a ridiculous amount for a even having window unit and an installation charge. So I have a dual hose unit. I can't say if what is mentioned above is true because I haven't physically compared it with a single hose. But the dual hose cools my apartment and does the job. I regret not getting a unit with heating included though. It would have saved me money on a heater this winter.

I live in a small hole in ny :) - so i'd take anything. Any sign that these are going down in price a bit? I know window units are cheaper...

thanks,
chi
www.theworldlovepoem.com

Dennis: if your deed has CC&R's that formally prohibit your split system, you don't have much recourse.

Need for AC in Seattle is pretty light, and the crappy townhouse I'm in now was built without ducts to save a few bucks, so I'm looking at SpacePak or Unico mini-duct systems, or failing that, a portable or two.

How efficient are the portable air conditioners compared to window air conditioners. Does anyone have any idea? We've had a window air conditioner before and our electric bill was about $30-$40 high a month in the summer. Are portable air conditioners more or less?

I installed new anderson 400 windows and the instuctions indicate you cannot put an airconditioner in the window. Base on what I read my only alternative is cutting a whole under window for an in the wall unit.
Any suggestions

I think it is definitely time for a re-test of portable A/C. I am took interested in knowing how much energy savings this unit will have relative to a central air. CR can just tell us the energy usage of the unit, and we compare it relative to our electric bill (winter time vs summer time, heating is gas)

Still looking for more info on the split/ductless cooling system. Thank you Glenn, the contractor.

could not be happier with my portable ac unit "HAIER" 10,000 BTU. Last year i removed (tried to) my window unit (GE) and promptly dropped it 2 floors out the window. I found the window unit very noisy. The Haier is quiet and does a great job for our upstairs bedroom, which gets very warm. I can at night shut down the central AC and use the portable. I bought it at COSTCO (online) for $299.00 and free shipping. it arrived in 5 days, great way to do it. I saved $50 by ordering online. VERY SASTISFIED!!!!!

I'm actually surprised by this article. I bought a portable ac unit off of www.Air-n-Water.com and didn't have any problems.

But before I bought one, I really did my homework to check out all the different brands and read through as many resources pages as possible, which i'll go thru and link below here.

As for the portable ACs not being strong enough, did you guys consider the type of port. ac you were getting and IF it actually was strong enough to cool the room?

see: http://www.air-conditioner-home.com/ac-btu-guide

Depending on how big your room is, you need to get a portable ac that is powerful enough to cool that room. That's probably why all the tests seemed to fail - they weren't done right.

As for BTU's, here's a good link:
http://www.air-conditioner-home.com/ac-eer-guide/

i have also seen the ads by cool surge in the dallas morning news, and would like to know if anyone knows if these units actually work. just blowing air over ice would cool a room some, but i think with the humidity we have they would not be much help. thenks.

AIR CONDITIONING / COOL SURGE
All heating and cooling devices are limited by simple physics (Thermodynamics). If you want something cold you must transfer the heat energy some place else. Your refrigerator takes heat out of the box and dumps it into the room with additional heat generated by the motor and compressor. The electrical energy and friction losses were also transformed into heat energy in the process. If you leave the fridge/freezer open, you actually heat the room (very inefficient!). An AC unit usually dumps heat outside, through the window, through the wall, or via pipes. The "Cool Surge" ads are very circumspect but on the phone they admit that you have to freeze their artificial ice blocks. Don't have a freezer? Oops you just bought a useless device. Spot cooling with a blower and ice substitute may be very effective and efficient, but you must also calculate the cost of freezing the artificial ice and warming where the freezer is located.

The article says you tests portable ACs however I can't find the results and recommended units. Where are the results?

FROM THE EDITOR: WE DO NOT HAVE RATINGS OR RECS. SEE http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/july-2009/appliances/cooling-your-home/portables/cooling-your-home-portables.htm

I Would like to see a side by side comparison of the portable air conditioners. Also these manufacturers, seem to only make vent kits for double hung windows (up&Down). I have slider windows(side to side opening 43"vertically).And what about those with casement windows (crank style)? Does your information and comments ever get sent to the manufacturers of these products, for engineering improvements? Maybe Consumer Reports could make more money selling this information to them for marketing purposes?

HELP PLEASE!!
I live in a old apartment building that has tall vertical windows. I have a window ac but it is much too wide for the windows that are quite narrow. I want to get a portable ac but am confused as to if the vent system will work with these odd windows. Is there a way to make it work??
Thanks!

I signed up for a subscription to consumerreports.com just so I could get some help with picking out a portable air conditioner. But you don't have any data to help me out!!!

I subscribed to consumerreports.com just to get some help with the decision of which portable air conditioner to purchase. But you haven't done any research to provide data on portable air conditioners!!!

Portable units are short medium term solutions, much more efficient for small offices. For home use and long term I would go for a wall mounted unit.

I just subscribed to Consumer Reports.org to get your expert opinion on what Portable Air Conditioner to purchase. I live in senior housing and cannot install a window air conditioner. With a heart condition, I need to cool my upstairs, small apartment, but was so disappointed with trying to find any research and units to compare. There were many window units though! Very disappointed in will probably cancel.

I live with my parents and two sisters in a large colonial style house in one of the rather drier areas of our country. My parents are old, very prim and proper, and like the house to be in tip-top shape. So a few years back, after much deliberation, they replaced the window acs in our house with portable acs. After initial excitement, annoyance set in as we had to drain water from the acs frequently and during hot and humid days, the acs did not really have much cooling effect. Then last year, one of our family friends mentioned that he had recently purchased a new model of air conditioner by Plasma Cool called Plasma Cool Portable PC-14E that required no draining and came equipped with technology to remove most of the humidity from the air even on the muggiest of days. We went to check this ac out at his home, and were impressed with its performance and modern looks. So early this year, in preparation of summer, we researched all the no drain acs with evaporative booster out there in the market, and the one that met our tough standards and budget was Plasma Cool Portable PC-14E. There are a bunch of websites out there that contain information on this ac, but the best one we found was www.plasmacoolportableac.com which lays out the features and specifications in easy and comprehensible fashion without coming across as trying too hard to sell you the product. At 14,000 BTU, Plasma Cool PC-14E is 40-50% more powerful than similar acs in the market – so the utility savings seem attractive as well. We are on the final stages of our decision making, and hopefully in the next few days would purchase 4 units of Plasma Cool. At $599 a piece, the ac may seem a bit expensive, but my family has spent (wasted) a lot of money on other acs in the past that did not work out and this time we want to exercise extra caution.

Hello there. I would like to seek members’ views on this really cool product from Plasma Cool portable air conditioners. It is their new model called PC-14E and it is creating a lot of buzz about its no drain technology and super cooling power (14,000 BTUs) on a house hold circuit. I am contemplating purchasing a portable AC and would like to see if anyone of you have bought it and would like to share your experience with me. It sounds like a great product as is described on this website – www.plasmacoolportableac.com – but before I spend $600, I want to make sure. So, any comments, opinions and pros/cons would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I am with Karen on this one. I signed up for a side-by-side comparison of Portables. These results are kinda disappointing... I understand that portables aren't the most efficient, but it is the only option we have as renters. Please do a comparison of portables for your customers....

My wife and I live in a poorly-designed and constructed top floor single room with a straight-on Western Seattle Summer exposure. The thin, outside wall was recently covered with HardiPlank; and painted deep brown. Our single window is in that wall; and was designed to gather IR into the environment. In short, we live in a stifling solar oven.

We have been using a (borrowed) single-hose Sunpentown WA-1210E product in this space until recently. It was hard to decide whether the overnight heat was desirable to the noise disturbance which emanated from the unit during operation. The cooling effect was essentially “fool's gold;” as the unit was consistently bringing in hot outside air through every opening and crack in the place to displace the expelled heat. A large, angry condenser was the sole acoustical insulation between human flesh and the howling monster dwelling within. And, speaking of monsters, the run capacitor went bad due to improper sizing; leaked and nearly burned the unit to the floor. After replacing the burned connectors and wiring segments and fitting a properly-sized capacitor, the problem was solved. No one should ever be exposed to this type of risk for a few pennies' production costs...

In net, it was necessary to sleep in the area with one's head squashed between two pillows; adding further agony to the marginal cooling effects. Even on mild nights (upper 70s to 80) dusk to dawn running was imperative to keep the environment down a few precious additional degrees. Cool air discharge into the room was measured @ 44 degrees under normal conditions; so the nominal thermodynamics of the unit was not the culprit. During operation, daytime temperatures in the space would only go 10 degrees or so below outside ambient.

We are now going to have a dual-hose 11,000 BTU unit delivered. If you have any choice in the matter whatsoever, don't waste your time on the purchase of a cheapie single-hose unit: The physics are simply bad.

If you do, you'll probably come away with a deeper understanding of PT Barnum's sentiments concerning the fool...

We just completed a purchase of Plasma Cool portable PC-14E in a process that started out with frustration and confusion as I found it difficult to understand what a portable ac really was and how I could compare various models out there. But one of my friends recommended www.plasmacoolportableac.com where I could find out all about portable acs including advantages, new technology features about never needing to drain a water tank, venting, difference between single vs. dual hose, etc. I had heard of BTU and EER before but not until reading more information on this website did I really understand what these terms meant and how important they were to purchasing decision. I wish I had found this website when I had just started looking for a portable ac - I could have avoided many hassles. Anyhow, I own Plasma Cool PC-14E AC now and the product is every bit as described on the website - just simply a great product. I believe it is the only "real" no-drain portable ac out there.

There is a great source for a Spot Cooler or Portable Air Conditioner at http://www.extracooler.com they are focused on commercial usage, but can be used for residential as well.

Buying a portable ac can be a nuisance if various key factors are not understood and researched thoroughly. I avoided getting scammed out of my money the second time by reading up everything there was to know about portable acs. One of the good resource I found was http://www.plasmacoolportableac.com/All-About-Portable-ACs.php. Irrespective of what company model you purchase, information on this link can help you make sound decision on your purchase.

Chris, many reviews online point to the Haier CPRB07XC7 7,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner being a viable option for you.

I don't think anyone can expect a portable ac to cool down a room as efficient as a window air conditioner, but some will do a fine enough job making a room comfortable and less humid.

Hi,

The setting on your thermostat greatly effects the cost. A higher setting will result in the air conditioners running less, while lowering the setting will cause it to run more often. One electric company suggests keeping the thermostat above 78 degrees. This can save you 10 to 20% on cooling costs.

Every equipment have it's own mechanism but the most important thing is to handle that equipment.Sometimes,we get un-expected result while handling the equipment.

I would highly recommend the PlasmaCool ... seems really quick, pretty quiet, long range remote. Downside: a little more expensive. Click above to learn more.

Is there a portable ac that i could buy that isn't noisy and does not have a external hose and could still cool down a small room.

Several people have asked about installing ac units in rooms without suitable windows. A suitable window is one that can be closed tightly to the window kit. This basically means a sliding window of the right size. Vertical or horizontal sliding should be ok as long as the kit will fit properly in the window opening. Many portable ac's come with a wall venting kit as well as the standard window kit. I know the Sunpentown units do, and I suppose other brands do as well. The wall vent kit requires a hole in the wall. If that is not an option, consider venting through the ceiling. Another option is a through the wall unit. These are something like window units but require a sleeve that fits into a wall opening. The unit then slides into the sleeve.

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Hi all, I live in Coastal NC where the heat and humidity is horrible. It's only June and our heat index was 111 today. Problems is my central A/C unit is not cooling the house well during the heat of the day. It was 80 degrees in my living room today and the thermostat (in the living room) was set at 74. Bedrooms stay tolerable. As soon as the sun goes down, it cools back off. I was wondering if a window unit or portable unit would help take some of the stress off the central unit to help cool the house down. And if so, which would be better. A window unit would have to be easy enough to get in and out during hurricanes, but am concerned about the "venting" of a portable. I can't take 3 more months of this.

Thanks for this article although I read it a little late. this explains perfectly why my new 9000 btu portable a/c is going back to the store and my 5000 btu window unit is going back in the window.
I purchased an lg 9000 which is no match for my 99 dollar window unit. It doesn't produce air below 63 degrees, so it moves a lot more warmer air, which is pointless. I might try a dual duct though because a portable would be a lot more convient for me. thanks again.

--bought a Danby, was a disaster= woke up in the middle of the night and it had soaked my carpet with water. Took it back. I would not recommend a Danby to anyone. The unit I bought weighed 97 lbs. and repacking it was awful. At least Lowe's was good about it, after 3 hours of hassling with it.