Refurb: 12,000 BTU Midea DUO Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner

msattel

May 23, 2025 8:27 AM

29 Comments

Joined Dec 2012

msattelMay 23, 2025 8:27 AM

29 Comments

I tried the Toshiba version of this a couple years ago and was amazingly how powerful the cooling was. Unfortunately I needed this unit in the bedroom for sleeping and it was way too loud during it's roughly every 15 minutes periodic fan rampup. I turned on the sleep / silent function which didn't help. Hope they fixed this or maybe I just had a bad unit.

MemorableTest417

May 23, 2025 1:15 PM

52 Comments

Joined Apr 2024

MemorableTest417May 23, 2025 1:15 PM

52 Comments

How does anyone run something like this without their power bill shooting through the roof? Doesn't seem practical at all.

1

xulong

May 23, 2025 1:54 PM

76 Comments

Joined Mar 2008

xulongMay 23, 2025 1:54 PM

76 Comments

Quote from MemorableTest417

:

How does anyone run something like this without their power bill shooting through the roof? Doesn't seem practical at all.

it's far cheaper to run this to cool a single room than to run a central A/C to cool the entire house.

2

volcanosunrise

May 23, 2025 1:57 PM

68 Comments

Joined Jul 2015

volcanosunriseMay 23, 2025 1:57 PM

68 Comments

Quote from tilegend

:

My refurbished toshiba which is basically a rebranded midea lasted two years. Now it shows up a low refrigerant error code. I would honestly have paid the extra 100 at costco

I have the same Toshiba that I got as a refurb ~4 years ago, and it's still going strong, so YMMV. To be fair, I only run it about 4-6 hours per day, so I may be approaching the end of its life if you were running yours more.

1

GRIFFIN2

May 23, 2025 2:15 PM

171 Comments

Joined Sep 2011

GRIFFIN2May 23, 2025 2:15 PM

171 Comments

I just ordered one from Walmart. This is the third time I've bought this AC. The first one got dirty after a couple of years and quit draining. I couldn't figure out how to take the cover off to clean it without breaking a bunch of plastic clips. The fan is coated with about 3 pounds of cat hair and I can't see the coils. I contacted support to ask them if they had any instructions on how to remove the covers and they told me to pound sand. The second unit I bought is about a year old and it's still working fine, but I couldn't pass up this low price.

This weekend I'm going to my storage building and I'm going to take those covers off. I don't care what I have to break to get it done. I'll just duct tape the covers back on if I have to. Smilie

1

Zwali

May 23, 2025 2:18 PM

469 Comments

Joined Nov 2008

ZwaliMay 23, 2025 2:18 PM

469 Comments

Quote from tilegend

:

My refurbished toshiba which is basically a rebranded midea lasted two years. Now it shows up a low refrigerant error code. I would honestly have paid the extra 100 at costco

Same - I just disassembled mine today as it showed low refrigerant, then changed its mind to a P1 error. It was great while it worked, but I'd go for a much longer warranty if I did it again. I'm generally against warranties, but it appears it's not uncommon for these to have problems.

1

GulllyBoY

May 23, 2025 2:19 PM

4.5K Comments

Joined Dec 2008

GulllyBoYMay 23, 2025 2:19 PM

4.5K Comments

Anyone with sliding windows successfully installed this with nice whether proofing without any gap? I need some clear video for sliding window Frown

Souka

May 23, 2025 2:22 PM

1.7K Comments

Joined Sep 2011

SoukaMay 23, 2025 2:22 PM

1.7K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Souka

It can be used as a heater FYI... just take the hose off the unit.
The 300w-1200w it uses will be heat directly into the room. This is true for any portable air conditioner.

I actually have this AC unit in my computer room (gaming rig). During the winter (when it gets really cold) I just turn the unit on remotely before I get home on high. It's like a 1200w heater, room is a nice and warm in minutes.

during summer I hook up the hose to keep room temps normal, instead of running the whole house AC.

2

1

leolaw

May 23, 2025 2:25 PM

337 Comments

Joined Jun 2007

leolawMay 23, 2025 2:25 PM

337 Comments

My experience with this kind of portable AC (ie. LG inverter) is that they are loud and ineffective without proper insulation of the hose. I believe it's a workable solution if you plan to place the AC far away from where you sleep or watch TV. Otherwise, I would recommend the the Midea inverter that goes on sale from time to time on SD. The only downside of that machine is that, obviously, it's not portable so you will have to remove and store during off season.

uvahaole

May 23, 2025 2:25 PM

55 Comments

Joined Jun 2003

uvahaoleMay 23, 2025 2:25 PM

55 Comments

Quote from Vimie

:

Ebay sold out at 202 sold. Walmart still available (has 90 day returns; returnable to store).

They added more stock to eBay. I just got one with an offer for $212. That is despite the fact they raised the list price to $249.99.

HowDoUTurnThisOn

May 23, 2025 2:28 PM

242 Comments

Joined May 2019

HowDoUTurnThisOnMay 23, 2025 2:28 PM

242 Comments

FYI, my offer of $215 was accepted immediately.

Coffeezilla

May 23, 2025 2:35 PM

25 Comments

Joined Apr 2018

CoffeezillaMay 23, 2025 2:35 PM

25 Comments

Just be aware the Walmart version only comes with a 90-day return window, while the eBay listing includes a 2-year Allstate warranty for the same price.

2deal

May 23, 2025 3:46 PM

716 Comments

Joined Sep 2013

2dealMay 23, 2025 3:46 PM

716 Comments

Quote from MemorableTest417

:

How does anyone run something like this without their power bill shooting through the roof? Doesn't seem practical at all.

This MAP14AS1TWT-C inverter AC is rated CEER 13.8 . Compare that to my 25 year old central AC that is only SEER 10. So in my case it would be more efficient than my central AC. Inverter ACs are more efficient than non-inverter models. The energyguide label says if you run it 8 hours a day for 3 months at 13 cents per KWH expected cost is only $68 or about 75 cents per day. If you run it on low or medium instead of high it would be even more efficient.

RedFa

May 23, 2025 4:04 PM

564 Comments

Joined Mar 2018

RedFaMay 23, 2025 4:04 PM

564 Comments

Quote from DAC21

:

Same unit sold by Costco which is currently selling for $379 after $100 off. Of course you won't have the generous return policy of Costco but you get the same two year warranty and $130 + tax cheaper.

Check the warehouse. Mine had it for 349

vo_danh

May 23, 2025 4:23 PM

6.5K Comments

Joined Jul 2010

vo_danhMay 23, 2025 4:23 PM

6.5K Comments

Quote from lurewars

:

Thanks for that clarification. I was hoping that they were referring to surge wattage. But apparently that is not the case.

My wife would never allow a window unit. Or i would go with a mini split. Plus my windows are side opening so they wouldn't work anyway.

I'll have to continue my hunt for a lower wattage alternative...

In my experience, no portable unit has cooled as well, or used less power than a window unit even when the window unit is rated much lower BTU, even half.. Anytime I can mount a window unit I would over a portable. I was just starting to think about this again because I once again have run into the problem, I WFH and its a huge waste to cool the entire house. Now I have started to replace window units with mini splits in most situations. I'm surprised this would be an issue, they heat and cool and fairly compact inside not an eyesore. I personally don't care about how it sticks out the window its just inconvenient that it disables the window's usage for cool natural air. Side slide is as easy to mount as top slide, just buy a 1/4" rod at HD for a few bucks cut to size and it'll hold the AC between the window jam and the window without the need for any external support if single story, I've never had an issue. I'd always used $50 used AC units in these situations. I had sold most of them off... I'm very tempted to make a hole in the wall this time though for a through wall mount. I never really need heat. I guess it'll end up being another minit split at some point.... The only real issue i've had is the window AC is generally at eye level and if its near the front of me it dries my eyes out. Usually not a problem with mini split.

1

Refurb: 12,000 BTU Midea DUO Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner

$250

$250

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