Top 10 Best Portable Air Conditioners in 2017 Reviews

Want to have a good night and comfortable sleep in your room? Well, prepare yourself for these air conditioners that are very portable and movable anywhere you go. Yes, you heard it right; these are the new portable air conditioners which will let you carry at any place where you want to take a rest. And these top 10 best portable air conditioners in 2016 review will give you significant details on how to choose wisely . Furthermore, these reviews will let you choose which among these is your preferred according to several additional features and advantages.

Portable Air Conditioners Buying Guide

1. What is the ideal BTU measure for a portable air conditioner?

The measure of the amount of energy that is needed to cool a pound of water by one degree is known as BTU, thus British thermal unit. This is also the measure of the extent to which an air condition can operate in terms of space. For instance, the higher the BTU the large the extent of space that the conditioner can cool. The BTU differs with different air conditioners with the smaller ones having around 5,000 – 8,000 BTU and can cool up to 200-square feet space while the bigger ones range between 10,000 to 40,000 BTU that can serve in cooling a 300-square room. Therefore, the higher the BTU, the larger the space the conditioner can cool.

2. Are portable air conditioners noisy or quiet?

The sound has been one of the most factors of concern when it comes to choosing an air conditioner. The main source of the noise that is produced while the conditioner is operating comes from the rotating fans. Therefore, the loudness of the sound depends entirely on how powerful the gadget is. It is thus a fact that the more powerful it is the louder it is. Practically, the sound from the rotating fans would cause slight destruction that can cause some slight inconvenience while watching TV in a small room. However, most of the best air conditioners have been devised with ways of minimizing the noise by the inclusion of the sleep mode. When set to the sleep mode, the machine would operate with the minimum noise possible.

3. Which portable air conditioners energy-efficient?

Energy efficiency for air conditioners varies by model and brand. However, some common factors determine whether the conditioner is energy efficient or not. All air conditioners use the pull-push air system where the hot air is dragged inside the system and cool air is released out through the hose. Some appliances have only one hose system that does the cycle while others have two hoses, one for hot inlet and the other for cool outlet. The two-hose designs are, therefore, more energy-efficient than the one-hose system conditioners. Besides the hose system, one would also tell whether the machine is energy-efficient or not by looking at the Energy Star rating. All machines that have the Energy-Star rating are considered and proven to be energy conservative.
Another check to establish the energy efficiency of the air conditioner that you intend to purchase is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, EER. The ratio is calculated by getting the coefficient when the output cooling is divided by the power input. Generally, all appliances with 8-9 rating are energy saving and are considered as energy-efficient.

4. Which one is the best refrigerant to use?

An air conditioner need a refrigerant which is the liquid substance necessary in the cooling process. For a long time, R-22 has been the most common refrigerator; however, it is getting phased out on the global warming grounds. Currently, the most appropriate and eco-friendly alternative for the R-22 is the R-410A refrigerant. With R-410A, you have the assurance of a long-lasting and effective appliance for an air conditioner.

Features to Look for Before Purchasing an Air conditioner

i. Effectiveness

The BTU rating as was said earlier is directly proportional to the extent of coverage. It is, therefore advisable to establish the effectiveness of your appliance of choice considering the area it should cover. Purchasing a smaller unit for a big room is non-efficient and non-effective so is the opposite. In regards to this, effectiveness of the unit requires your knowledge of the intended coverage range or the room size.

ii. Chord/Piping Length

Other factors to be considered are the lengths of the cord and the hoses. The size of the two mentioned parts limits the usage of a portable air conditioner in several ways. The size of the hoses should be considered having in mind the distance between the unit and the window or available outlet. Most cords and hoses are 5’ to 10’ long but still you can get longer ones at extra cost.

iii. Drainage System

You remember that air conditioner operates by cooling of hot air and supplying the room with the cold air. In the process, some condensation also takes place resulting in a production of moisture. As a result, it becomes a necessity to have some drainage system installed. Most portable air conditioners have canister compartments or drain pipes that collect the moisture. It is, therefore, advisable to go for a unit fitted with the same so as to be sure with the efficiency.

iv. Filtration

Even though most air conditioners do not also operate in the capacity of air purifiers, it is necessary to have some bit of air filtration system in the unit. While operating, the conditioner pulls in the air which is composed of other foreign materials such as dust. The dust and debris can cause great mechanical damage to the unit and its components. A good air conditioner, therefore, must have some filters whether cleanable or replaceable. As for the ones with cleanable and reusable filters, you can go for any, but for the ones with replaceable ones, you should consider both the availability and affordability of the replicates.  ‘

v. Noise Level

A recent purchase research shows that about 70% of customers would ask the question, “how noisy is it?” even before inquiring about the price. However, for the already noisy places such as workshops and garages, the noise level might not have more weight, but for places like office, living rooms, and bedroom, the noise issue is a big deal. Therefore, while making purchases, you need to inquire much about the noise level of the unit and preferably go for the less noisy one.

Which ones are the best portable air conditioners in 2017?

There are many good air conditions and at the same time a wide range of fake ones. It is, therefore, not always easy to ascertain which is the best. Never worry much again since you can make an informed decision on purchases from the named appliances.

• 10. Haier HPN12XCM Portable Air Conditioner
• 9. LG Electronics LP1414GXR 115-volt Portable Air Conditioner  14000 BTU
• 8. Honeywell HL14CESWK HL Series 14000 BTU
• 7. LG Electronics LP0814WNR 115-volt Portable Air Conditioner
• 6. P12B ZoneAire Series 11,500 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
• 5. EdgeStar 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater
• 4. EdgeStar Smallest Footprint 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
• 3. Koldfront PAC1401W Ultracool 14,000 BTU
• 2. EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU – Silver
• 1. Koldfront 12,000 BTU Room Portable Air Conditioner

10. Haier HPN12XCM Portable Air Conditioner

This portable air conditioner from Haier has a powerful 12000 BTU which is very ideal for cooling any mid-sized rooms up to 450 square feet wide. This product requires only lesser maintenance cost because of its slide-out washable mesh filter and Auto Evaporation Technology which does not necessitates manual draining making it easy to clean and tide up. This featured a three cool settings, three fan settings and a 24-hour on/off timer plus a dehumidify mode. This Haier portable air conditioner is a single hose model equipped to meet your interior climate needs. Included in the packaging is a quick install window kit for exhausting thru any horizontal or vertical opening window.

Pros

• Cools quickly
• Perform quietly
• Very comfortable
• Defines accurate temperature
• Remote controlled
• Pretty exterior design
• Easy to install

Cons

• Instructions are unclear
• The display doesn’t dim
• Heavy
• The fan is not automatic

9. LG Electronics LP1414GXR 115-volt Portable Air Conditioner  14000 BTU

This LG Electronics LP1414GXR portable air conditioner has a 14000 BTU and uses 115volts electricity. It can cool a huge room of up to 600 square feet plus its dehumidification of 3.4 pints every hour. This product has an amazing LED display panel with 3 fan speeds and speeds and 3 cooling speeds which are higher than other portable air conditioners in the market today. Its front air discharge with auto swing louvers and has a washable mesh filter making it safe and easy to clean at any time. It is equipped with easy roll caster wheels for easy movement across all floor surfaces. Included in the package is its windows installation kit.

Pros

• Very powerful air conditioner
• Cools a room accurately
• Perform quietly
• Show no problem on the fan speed

Cons

• Materials used is not durable

8. Honeywell HL14CESWK HL Series 14000 BTU

Honeywell HL14CESWK HL Series is a 14000 BTU portable air conditioner and powered by 115 volts electricity. This portable air conditioner can cool areas up to a maximum of 550 square feet. In addition, it also uses an auto-evaporation system and avoids any bucket or drip cooling. This product has a built-in dehumidifier along with a continuous drain system removing up to 111 pints moisture in every 24 hours of activity. It is also equipped with a LED display, 3 speeds, 24-hour automatic on/off timer with soft touch controls plus a fully functional remote control for controlling the climate. Its design is touched by a sleek and luscious body perfect anywhere.

Pros

• It has several uses
• Portability is its greatest asset
• Easy to assemble and unpack
• Exhaust setup is easy
• The unit is very attractive

Cons

• Heavy
• Little loud

7. LG Electronics LP0814WNR 115-volt Portable Air Conditioner

LG Electronics portable air conditioner with remote control is supported by 8000 BTU vents and uses a standard 115-volt current. It can cool a 200 square feet wide room plus a dehumidification of up to 2 pints every hour. This product has a LED display panel with 2 fan speeds and 2 cooling speeds. To save your changes on settings, this portable air conditioner auto-restarts. Its easy roll caster wheels allows for easy movement across almost all floor surfaces. Its remote control is very ideal for climate control when you’re on the go. Its sleek contemporary design uniquely blends in and in addition, it has a auto evaporation system and programmable 24-hour on/off timer.

Pros

• Perfect for a small room
• Ducts its hot exhaust outside thru the use of a tube
• Very noticeable stream of cold air

Cons

• Takes time to cool a room
• Noisy

6. P12B ZoneAire Series 11,500 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

P12B ZoneAire Series is an imported portable air conditioner and its parts are worth taking off. This is a 11500 BTU portable air conditioner and equipped with lots of practical features around. For instance, it has a remote control and an LCD display for convenient setting of the commands. Also, it has a dual exhaust hose for easy cleaning setup plus it has adjustable thermostat and speed and fan modes. This product is very portable with a remote control included.

Pros

• Durable and sturdy
• Cools easily
• Air filters are easy to clean
• Does not need to drain

Cons

• Warranty is limited

5. EdgeStar 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

EdgeStar 12000 BTU is a 2-in-1 portable air conditioner and heater for its thermostat can be programmed to temperatures ranging from 61 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It can cover an area up to 425 square feet varies accordingly to the heat load. The heater functions for a year round use plus the dehumidifier which function up to 81 pints on every 24 hours time. More so, it has a washable pre filter, one replaceable carbon filter and a window kit and extendable exhaust hose included in the package.

Pros

• Saves a lot of energy
• Double purpose

Cons

• Dehumidifier does not work without a condensation pump
• Materials used are not durable

4. EdgeStar Smallest Footprint 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

EdgeStar Smallest Footprint portable air conditioner model is known on its 10000 BTU and 115 volts electricity powered body. It is composed of a 3 speed fan with directional air discharge louvers and dehumidifier functions which condensate automatically and covers an area up to 350 square feet. Moreover, this air conditioner has a 24 hour programmable timer feature with a thermostat that you can adjust from 61 to 86 degree Fahrenheit and 61 pints per day. It uses a direct drain options for easy cleaning. A remote control, 48 inches exhaust hose and 64 inches window kit are included in the package.

Pros

• It performs well
• Heats up a room in a short period of time

Cons

• None

3. Koldfront PAC1401W Ultracool 14,000 BTU

This Koldfront PAC1401W Ultracool portable air conditioner model has a higher BTU of 14000 compared to other portable air conditioners in the market and online stores today. It has 3 fan speeds plus a dehumidifier only mode. Furthermore, it has an adjustable digital thermostat and caster wheels. It expands up to 500 square feet maximum. It contains washable pre-filter and one replaceable carbon filter that will probably help you to contaminate odors and air pollutants. Included in the packaging is a 49 inches vent hose, window kit and remote control.

Pros

• Performs quietly
• It cools fast
• No setup issues
• the exhaust fan can be removed and attached easily

Cons

• Exhaust hose setup is ridiculously designed
• The compressor is not durable

2. EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU – Silver

The second highest rank on this review is this EdgeStar Extreme Cool portable air conditioner with 12000 BTU. It can barely support up to 425 square feet tightly sealed room. Moreover, it is equipped with a 3 fan speeds and a dehumidifier only mode option. It boasts its patented auto-drain system or in other terms condensate automatically but with exception of extreme humidity situation. The adjustable thermostat range of this portable air conditioner is from 61-89 degrees Fahrenheit. The package includes a washable pre-filter, one replaceable carbon filter; 49 inches vent hose, window kit, and remote control and caster wheels.

Pros

• More powerful than other portable air conditioner
• Nice airflow
• Great color and design

Cons

• Materials used are not sturdy and durable
• The exhaust hose lasted only for one season

1. Koldfront 12,000 BTU Room Portable Air Conditioner

The top 1 in this review is the new Koldfront with 12000 BTU portable air conditioner is powered by 115volts electricity. It has a 24 hour programmable timer and the thermostat is adjustable from 62 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit. It has 3 speed fans with directional air discharge louvers and very useful dehumidifier function and controls. This portable air conditioner product has a direct drain option for easy cleaning and thus allowing you to run the unit for longer possible years it can be useful. A remote control is also included in the packaging. Models with lower BTU are also available.

Pros

• Quality performance
• Very comfortable to use and quickly cools a room
• Well built and tidy
• It has a timer and sleep mode
• The hose are easy to set up

Cons

• Some units has faulty compressor
• The size is too big