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Edited August 18, 2023
at 08:11 PM
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($300 now!) $350, which is -42% off list price of $600
Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier and Fan for Rooms Up to 500 Square Feet, Includes Storage Bag, Platinum/Black, AC Unit Only
Sold and shipped by Amazon (listed as "Amazon's choice in Portable Air Conditioners by Whynter")
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028AYQDC?th=1
supposedly reviewed by Good Housekeeping as "2023 Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner" (see attached pic)
This is a big BTU rating, for an 120V portable A/C. You won't find many (any?) rated over 14,000 BTU. Whynter has a particularly good rep for portable A/C units.
I bought one in 2019 and it cools down a detached garage. (I bit on this exact same low-point price of $350 back in 2019, so it's not bad duplicating the same deal 4 years later in 2023 amid post-pandemic inflation.)
Some advantages to portable A/C I enjoy are:
1. Potentially more secure than a window unit, you could even just have two 6" portholes in a wall, and this unit would function perfectly.
2. Allows you to leave regular window screen in place. Prevents bugs from breaching your house, and nesting in all the lovely exposed nooks and crannies created by installing a normal window A/C with no screen to hold back the nesting bugs and wasps.
3. A BREEZE to disassemble the entire rig at the end of the season. Remove window plate, close window, roll as one piece unit into corner. (can slip included storage sleeve over unit) Done.
4. Breeze to replace in the (hopefully far distant) future when it eventually breaks. Roll it out, roll new one in. Done.
disadvantages of portable A/C:
1. Not as efficient as a window or split A/C unit.
2. Probably louder than a window unit, since every single part is inside your house.
3. Tends to cost more as an initial purchase, for the BTU it provides.
For me a portable unit is best. And a dual hose configuration is ideal, for any portable A/C. A split A/C unit could be better, more efficient, quieter, allowing maximum break-in security (only 3" hole in the wall), but cost more, and initial installation will be a big ol' deal.
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Own both the Whynter ARC-14s in storage now as backups, as well as the 14k BTU Midea units, which have replaced the Whynters at our house.
It's hard to describe how much better the Midea units are - soft ramp up for the compressor, and running at fractional compressor capabilities to maintain room temperature - the inverter compressor control is fantastic. Additionally, the Mideas are wireless enabled - you can set schedules with the app, and control them remotely. The Wynters are just hard ON at 100% capacity or OFF - there is no middle ground with them, but they are fine units - just older, less efficient technology.
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I have one of those refurbished Toshiba and haven't had a problem with the ac. The Toshiba is quieter than this one and cools down my living room pretty quickly. I don't think this is a inverter compare toToshiba which can save you money in the long run.
Fair point. I think I was mainly making sure it was dual hose. Anything we use in that office will be an improvement.
You and me both 🥵
Still a better deal on Amazon as OP listed. If you don't need the heat option this is probably better than the Toshiba since its new.
I bought 2 of the Toshiba's on the woot deal. They worked great but never know what you get when they are refurbished.
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The Toshiba is a rebranded Midea fyi. Also didn't it include heat? Loved mine but got one of the Midea U shaped window units and sold the Toshiba instead.
inverter is incredible
inverter is incredible
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Own both the Whynter ARC-14s in storage now as backups, as well as the 14k BTU Midea units, which have replaced the Whynters at our house.
It's hard to describe how much better the Midea units are - soft ramp up for the compressor, and running at fractional compressor capabilities to maintain room temperature - the inverter compressor control is fantastic. Additionally, the Mideas are wireless enabled - you can set schedules with the app, and control them remotely. The Wynters are just hard ON at 100% capacity or OFF - there is no middle ground with them, but they are fine units - just older, less efficient technology.
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