Some July Fourth sales are still offering deals, so if you’re looking for a portable air conditioner, you may be able to get a reduced price.
For several years, I’ve been interested in buying one. However, figuring out one that would work for me has been challenging. Since I have respiratory problems, getting a smelly appliance in my living room wouldn’t work.
I finally found a list of less-toxic air conditioners: Frigidaire, Honeywell, Black+Decker, Whynter, and GE. Less-toxic meaning that the when you take them out of the box, they don’t have a strong chemical smell. It’s a tentative list: The ones listed are ones sensitive people have recommended. However, the author of the list said she has tried quite a few and hasn’t noticed a difference between brands.
The less-toxic list is different than a California Proposition 65 warning. The warning informs consumers about potential exposure to chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. They’re required by law when a product or location may expose individuals to these chemicals.
Opinions about how concerned consumers should be about these warnings vary. I’ll write more about that later.
I bought the Whynter ARC-1230WN for $640. It has dual hoses and covers 600 square feet. It also has a heater, which I don’t need and won’t use.
I selected it because reviews said it was quieter.
I bought it from Walmart because it has a longer time for returns, one month. Home Depot’s is seven days. In addition, since Home Depot doesn’t list model numbers in its website, I couldn’t tell for sure which model was which. The Home Depot price is $560, I think.
One Amazon price is $559. I didn’t choose Amazon due to the problems of possibly returning it. Wrapping up a 77-pound portable air conditioner and taking it to UPS seemed like a difficult chore.
Here are my tips for selecting a portable air conditioner:
- Read lots of reviews online written by people who compare portable air conditioners. Sign up for Consumer Reports’ online subscription service for $35 a year. Be sure to hit the discontinued filter button because you don’t need to waste time considering air conditioners that are out of stock.
- Read reviews written by individual consumers. They provide valuable information, too, on items such as how difficult it is to install the portable air conditioner, whether the hoses are too short, if the air conditioner is noisy, and more
- Determine what size you need. Some brands label their portable air conditioners as being for small, medium, and large rooms. For most, determine the square footage of the room where the air conditioner will be used – multiply the length by the width. Generally, you need about 20 BTUs for each square foot of living space that a portable air conditioner is cooling. For example, a room of 300 square feet would require about 6,000 BTUs for effective cooling. However, that number can shift by 30 percent to 50 percent depending on your climate zone, insulation quality, window area, ceiling height, and other factors.
- Choose a dual hose portable air conditioner. It’s more efficient for cooling larger spaces because it uses one hose to draw in outside air and another to expel hot air, allowing for faster and more effective cooling compared to single-hose units. The design also helps maintain better air pressure and reduces energy costs.
- Check the noise ratings. The quietest portable air conditioners have a decibel rating of 42 but the majority of them operate between 50 to 53 decibels.
- Look for inverter technology. An inverter air conditioner adjusts the speed of the compressor and as the room gets cooler, it ramps down the speed. So the compressor is rarely at full speed. They also use less energy, are quieter, and offer quieter, more consistent cooling.
- Energy efficiency. Look for units labeled Energy Star Most Efficient, which most portable air conditioners have, for maximum savings.
- Check special features. Does it have a remote control, Wi-Fi operation, voice control, scheduling, or energy tracking?
- Make sure the window kit will work in your window. The information on the website will let you know the what’s needed to seal the exhaust hose in place.
- Check to see if the filters are washable. Reusable filters require washing every one to two months. Disposable filters require replacement every one to three months.
- Compare warranties. Most portable air condition have warranties that range from one to five years, but more expensive units usually have longer warranties.
Once you’ve picked out a brand and model, it’s probably best to order it online. When you go to Home Depot, Best Buy, and other stores, they only have a few models and brands. It’s unlikely you’ll find the one you picked out from your research. Be sure to find out what the return policy. You don’t want to be
Best wishes with your shopping. I hope you don’t take years to make a decision like me.
Photo: Air fans
