Original Post
Written by
Edited August 18, 2023
at 08:11 PM
by
($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.
146 Comments
Your comment cannot be blank.
Featured Comments
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.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Hmm I am speaking for the dual hose but have only ever used this in 85 degree weather. Not >90. I can see how this might struggle at such high Temps in a big space.
There is never any moisture to drain from the unit so I'm not sure what the deal is. All of the reviews I have read say the exact opposite so I assume there is something wrong with ours. I wouldn't purchase it again.
If it's an enclosed like a bedroom, it works pretty well. I use this in our living room with high ceiling and maintain about 80f inside while it's 110f outside. Inside our bedroom this can bring it down to 70. Most dual hose does a pretty good job. Our living room spans to the kitchen and family room, so I got another window unit and both together can knock the downstairs temp to under 75 on 100 degree heat days.
You need a second unit, I have a similar space and this can only get as low as 80 during the heatwave. I grabbed a window unit on the other side near my kitchen and both is doing a pretty good job of cooling my downstairs to 70. Roughly 1000 sq
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Just went through it again because it was still showing in stock on the product page. And the order went through.
I guess we'll see.
And now it's returned for an unknown reason and refunded. Made it all the way to the town near my house then returned. They won't even exchange it for the same price.