Showing posts with label portable air conditioners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portable air conditioners. Show all posts

5/05/2012

Frigidaire FAP094P1Z 9,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls Review

Frigidaire FAP094P1Z 9,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls
Average Reviews:

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Consumer Reports says this portable air conditioner is much less efficient than a comparable window unit. It's definitely more expensive than a window air conditioner (probably at least double the cost); you're paying for appearance and convenience, not functionality. (It's easy to disconnect this unit and roll it away into a corner or closet.)
I bought two of these for two rooms with sliding casement windows that posed problems for window units -- and I didn't want to bother with installing and then removing bulky window units every season. One of the rooms is a very large bedroom with a cathedral ceiling, and the Frigidaire portable air conditioner has no problem keeping it cool. Your options for placing the unit are rather limited -- there is a somewhat flexible duct that must be run from the back of the unit to a window (or a hole through an exterior wall), and you also need a nearby electrical outlet, preferably on an isolated circuit.

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This Frigidaire FAP094P1Z Portable Air Conditioner has a 9,000 BTU cooling capacity. It has an Energy Efficiency Ratio of 8.7. This unit is perfect for small rooms or rooms where supplemental cooling is needed. It is fully portable with casters and features a 24 Hour On / Off Timer. It features Electronic Controls with full function remote control and 3 Fan Speeds. Installation is easy with the included window adapter or a through-the-wall duct adaptor for optional venting of warm air exhaust and condensation outdoors. It is 35-inches in height, 26 1/4-inches in width, 18 1/8-inches in length, weighs 86 pounds, and operates on 115 Volts AC. Frigidaire provides one year full and five year sealed system warranty.

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5/03/2012

Danby DPAC120068 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Review

Danby DPAC120068 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
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I've owned one of the Danby 12,000 BTU air conditioners (model DPAC 12030) for two years now. A unit of this size struggles to cool a 400 sq.ft. room a few degrees (with 30ÂșC outside, window curtains drawn). I find the best way to use it is to have the air blowing directly toward me.
My main complaints about the unit are:
* After a few months of use the small LED display, which is needed to operate the unit, slowly went dim to the point of not being able to read it. After many phone calls to Danby I was finally able to get the display replaced under warranty by a local electronics service company. But a few months later the display went dim again - as though Danby hadn't bothered to upgrade this obviously faulty component. To their credit, Danby agreed to replace the display one more time out of warranty.
* The air coming out of the unit had a strange smell of oil for the first season. The service company said that sometimes the compressor leaks oil and it was probably the smell of the oil burning off of the compressor housing.
* The unit is not real quiet. For the first year there was a rattling noise that occurred when the compressor kicked in, but this noise seems to have gone now.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Danby DPAC120068 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Danby’s DPAC120068 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is dual hose portable 3-in-1 home comfort system is simply a revolutionary design. An air conditioner, dehumidifier and 3 speed fan all in one, this model is built with unique technology that increases system efficiency and reduces energy usage. In AC mode, this unit evaporates water generated which means no emptying heavy buckets. It can also operate strictly as a dehumidifier during the wet spring and fall seasons to help prevent mold and mildew growth. Opt for the 3 speed fan function to improve air circulation. With portable rolling castors, it truly is the ultimate in home comfort

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4/29/2012

Royal Sovereign ARP-1200EX Portable 12,000-BTU Dual-Hose Air Conditioner Review

Royal Sovereign ARP-1200EX Portable 12,000-BTU Dual-Hose Air Conditioner
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This air conditioner is not particularly powerful nor well thought out. "A leading consumer magazine" says that portable air conditioners don't work as well as window units, so given that, I suppose it works as well as one could expect. It did cool a 400 square foot room, but not powerfully so. And nearly every other aspect of this unit is annoying.
Performance: I started the unit in a 400 square foot room - the size it's rated for - at 84 degrees, with the outside temperature about 95. The room quickly felt cooler, and within a couple of hours had cooled down to 79. There it stayed - the unit could not get it any colder. But it sure felt better than when it was 84. I consider this performance barely acceptable.
I tried it in some other rooms. Rolling it between rooms was not hard, even on a pretty deep carpet. Surprisingly, it didn't cool much faster in a 300 square foot room with fewer windows. And in a much larger room than recommended, all it did was circulate the hot air from near the ceiling, raising the temperature at people level. Don't fight the laws of physics.
Operation: This is where it gets irritating. The air louvers are useless, because they're on the top of the unit. They adjust a bit vertically, but you can't direct the air left or right. This hardly matters because the air can't be aimed at someone unless they're standing next to the unit. It's noisy at all fan speeds, less so on low. I didn't notice much difference in cooling between those settings.
The LED temperature readout is difficult to make out when there's light behind it, and since the air conditioner typically sits in front of a window, that'll be most of the time. The room temperature reads two to four degrees low. So with the thermostat set at 78, the room temperature leveled off at 80 (according to three different digital thermometers).
The remote control works OK, but doesn't get any information from the unit. So if you change the settings on the unit, and then use the remote, the unit will pick up all the settings from the remote. If this is confusing, use one or the other but not both.
The water tank is unlikely to fill except under high humidity conditions, says the manual, and I agree. Our humidity indoors was 35%,. After three hours of operation there was no water in the tank.
Assembly: The assembly instructions need more details. The hose adapters that screw to the window plate can go on eight different ways - facing in or out, inserted into the plate from the outside or inside, and with the latching tabs on the sides, or top and bottom. I ran through most of these before getting it right: Insert the adapters from the outside, putting the flanges through the plate to the inside. Put the screws through the plate into the adapters. The tabs should go at the sides in most cases, so the hose connectors will angle down.
The other thing they should tell you is how to remove the hose connectors. Pressing the locking tabs is difficult. But just turn the connector a bit on the flange. It'll press the tabs for you and pop right off. Once all this is clear, the hose setup is quite convenient. The hoses extend to 44"; if the hose connectors are included then the total length is 52".
Recommendations: A lot of other Royal Sovereign models are available. If I had to do it again I'd get a 14,000 BTU model with louvers facing forward. Always get two hoses. The single hose models don't cool as well because they vent inside air outside. This sucks air back in from somewhere, and it's probably hot.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Royal Sovereign ARP-1200EX Portable 12,000-BTU Dual-Hose Air Conditioner

With an energy-efficiency rating of 9.2, this portable air conditioner offers comfortable and economical cooling for rooms up to 400 square feet. The unit features three fan speeds and a dual-hose system with 12,000 BTU's per hour for fast results and quiet performance. In addition, its convenient, digital LED with remote-control settings provides the option for either continuous operation or setting the automatic 12-hour timer. The 12-hour timer programs the machine to turn on or off anywhere from 1 to 12 hours in the future, making it easy to cool the house for the evening or shut it off during sleep. Durable casters ensure smooth mobility, allowing the unit to be put to use almost anywhere, from bedrooms, family rooms, and computer rooms, to wine cellars, garages, and attics. Other details include a rotary compressor, 5-foot-long ventilation hoses, a 4/5-liter-per-hour humidity-removal capacity, a thermostat ranging from 64 degrees F to 90 degrees F, and simple-to-clean carbon filters that collect large dust particles and prevent bacteria build-up. The 1300-watt air conditioner measures 16 by 20 by 33 inches, weighs about 79-1/2 pounds, and carries a one-year parts-and-labor warranty.

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4/20/2012

Soleus Air Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier and Fan, 8,000 BTU, White/Blue, PE2-08R-62 Review

Soleus Air Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier and Fan, 8,000 BTU, White/Blue, PE2-08R-62
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I cannot get a window unit due to my window size, and this unit came with a window kit that fit my windows. It worked absolutely perfect for 2 months. Then, on a particularly hot day, the bucket filled up with water and the unit shut off. I drained all the water, which is an absolute pain in the rear to do due to the drain being less than half an inch off the floor. The unit leaks water like a faucet ever since, all over the floor. There is really no effective way to use it anymore. I ordered a different brand that doesn't have water leakage issues. I should have listened to all the reviews I read. I practically paid several hundred dollars for a few months use. What a waste. The unit cools great, but what good is that with water all over your carpet? Stay away from this product.UPDATE: The unit only leaks when moved. If the water reservoir fills up, and must be drained, the unit must be moved to do so because the drain plug is literally right on the floor and there is no pan or container you can get under it. The reservoir will fill eventually, the unit will have to be drained, will have to be moved, will leak. Once all the water leaks out that is going to leak the unit works great until its time to drain again. Like I said, it took 2 months before I had to drain, but this process was a major PIA. I would avoid this unit, but I still gave in another star because it does not leak except during the drainage process.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Soleus Air Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier and Fan, 8,000 BTU, White/Blue, PE2-08R-62

8,000 BTU Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier and Fan has dual motors offering a 3 speed fan with oscillation, a 50 Pint evaporative dehumidifier, and adjustable thermostat with 24 hour programmable timer with memory, from 64° to 90°F.A washable and reusable air filter keeps circulation clean and loss of power protection with auto restart feature. Heavy duty casters and remote control offer you assistance in unit placement and controls.All in one appliance to fulfill all your comfort needs.

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4/05/2012

SPT WA-1010H 10,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote-Control Cooling and Heating Review

SPT WA-1010H 10,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote-Control Cooling and Heating
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This particular review is for a previous model of this unit. It is possible that some of these issues have been addressed with the newer models- but potential buyers might want to ask some questions regarding these issues prior to purchasing. I purchased four of these units in the summer of 2007. Of the four, only three actually worked - the fourth never seemed to cool the way other three did. The other three do a fair job of both heating and cooling their respective areas of the house - which is a drafty 100-yr old house with 12-ft ceilings in New Orleans, so it is no small feat to moderate the temperatures. But that is where the good news ends. Here is my list of grievances: 1) The foam that is provided for securing the vent tube in the window is far too flimsy for the job. We have subsequently used plywood with a hole cut for the vent tube to pass through. 2) The drain pan for the water reservoir is barely large enough to hold the volume of water that will come out of the reservoir when full. I can't tell you how many times we have had to mop water off of our floors. In addition, the drain cap is placed in a receded spot on the back of the unit, where it is nearly impossible to see what you are doing and equally difficult to get your fingers in there to unscrew the cap and remove the plug. 3) On a similar note, the flimsy plastic tube that can allow continuous drainage out of the reservoir, if you choose to drill holes in your floor or wall, is far too short to serve the purpose, and far too easily knocked off of the unit by pets/children/clumsy adults. We have drilled holes in our floor and attached plastic tubing from Home Depot/Lowes to allow continuous drainage. This works OK, if you make sure that the tubing doesn't become kinked and maintains a downward angle so that gravity helps maintain the flow of water (more difficult than one might think). 4)If you are successful in getting your unit set up, you will find that you had better use the provided caps for the vent tubes if it starts to rain. The open vent tube serves as a wonderful down spout for a good hard rain to make its way through your window and into the back of the unit, where it can then drain directly onto your floor. 5) Do not plan on running your unit in a room where you plan on watching TV, talking on the phone, or other activities which require listening. They are obnoxiously loud. 6) Since they must be located near a window for venting, and you will find that permanent drainage is far preferable to coming home to find the reservoir full and the room temperature hot as heck in the summer, they are not really mobile. And last, but certainly not least,...7) During the heating cycle, the heating element kicks on and off....but the fan does not. This results in periods of time when cold air is blown out of the unit. My recommendation: do yourself a favor and buy window air conditioners and portable ceramic heaters, you will likely be more happy in the end.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SPT WA-1010H 10,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote-Control Cooling and Heating

Stay COOL or WARM and breathe fresher air with our WA-1010 units. Enjoy a comfortable year-round environment with an air conditioner and heater unit. Cooling, dehumidifying and fan features all in one. Powered by a 10,000btu cooling/heating capacity, it ideally cools or heats an area up to 300sq.ft. Uses new UL required LCDI, Leakage-Current Detection and Interruption, plug. Self Evaporating Technology during the cooling or heating process, water is extracted from the air into the unit. Most of this water is then recycled and used to cool the cooling coils and make it run more efficiently, cooling as well as energy. Continuous drainage highly recommended when using Heating mode. Exhaust hose installation required and all standard accessories included.

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3/13/2012

Soleus LX-140 14,000 BTU Portable Evaporative Air Conditioner With Heat Pump Review

Soleus LX-140 14,000 BTU Portable Evaporative Air Conditioner With Heat Pump
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If you are looking for a portable air conditioner/heat pump avoid this product and manufacturer. While the unit is satisfactory when running, once any problems develop that require service outside the warranty period, you may as well junk it. My unit lasted just 14 months and developed a leak that ruined my floor. Considering that I only used the air conditioning function during the summer, it only lasted one cooling season.
There is no local service network to fix even the most minor problem. I suppose that you could ship the unit back as was suggested by Soleusair for repair, but have you ever struggled with boxing and shipping a large unit that weighs 50 or 60 pounds, to say nothing about the premium shipping and repair cost. It is cheaply made and unreliable

Click Here to see more reviews about: Soleus LX-140 14,000 BTU Portable Evaporative Air Conditioner With Heat Pump

For the top of the line in portable comfort, look no further than the Soleus LX-140 portable air conditioner. It?s among the industry?s most efficient air conditioners available and lets you enjoy total comfort on the hottest days of the year. This 14,000 BTU AC covers medium to large rooms up to 450 square and features 4-in-1 technology that allows it to function as an air conditioner, heater, dehumidifier and fan.
Evaporative TechnologyThe Soleus LX-140 utilizes evaporative technology which not only increases cooling efficiency, but also reduces the need to drain the condensate that is collected in the unit's tank.
Cools and Heats in One Convenient UnitThis portable air conditioner comes with a built-in heat pump and doubles as a space heater in the winter. It also works as a dehumidifier and 3-speed fan, making it truly multi-functional.
No Permanent Installation RequiredThe Soleus LX-140 is designed to cool, heat or dehumidify spaces efficiently without permanent installation. This portable air conditioner comes with two exhaust hoses but can operate as either a single or dual hose unit.
Color Display with Advanced GraphicsThe LX-140 portable air conditioner features multi-color VFD display technology for enhanced graphics and readability.
WaveFlo OscillationThe Soleus LX-140 features patented WaveFlo oscillation, allowing to automatically distribute cool air throughout your entire living space.

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3/06/2012

Sharp CV-P10MX 9,500-BTU Portable Air Conditioner, White Review

Sharp CV-P10MX 9,500-BTU Portable Air Conditioner, White
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I just purchased this Sharp CV-P10MX from Bed Bath and Beyond for [...]- 20% coupon + 8.25% tax - 5% bonus CASHBACK rebate for using my Discover card. Total net purchase price for me was about [...]. That's the best deal I could find and I didn't have to wait for shipping. I got the A/C unit today.
The unit is big. Look at the measurements carefully before purchasing. You need enough space right next to your window for this unit. Even though this is a portable unit with casters to move it around, the exhaust hose setup is more or less semi-permanent. Once installed it's not meant to be taken off very easily. So keep that in mind. Once you've installed it, you essentially can't use your window again to bring in fresh air--not without taking down the exhaust hose installation.
Don't get me wrong. I LIKE this portable unit quite a bit. I do solidly recommend purchasing this unit if you need a portable AC. For what it does, it does it well. The cooling performance is SOLID! Don't listen to other users with similar NON-Sharp units complaining about it not working or not bringing the temp down enough. They either have faulty units or didn't install the exhaust hose properly. These kind of AC units WORK and they work quite well for what they are designed to do. BUT there are shortcomings with these designs. For one, we have blinds AND curtains installed on our windows. With this portable AC installed on this set of windows, our blinds and curtains become essentially useless. Please keep that in mind. Also, it's a real pain to install the exhaust hosing contraption properly into your window frame and to make sure the insulation is properly insulated. It's not impossible but a real pain.
Another bad design about this particular SHARP unit is that there's no display on the AC unit itself. ONLY the remote has all the info/stats. So you can't tell what's going on with the unit just by looking at it. For example, you can't tell the current temp--or at least what the AC unit thinks is the current temp. You can only set the desired temp. on the remote unit. Additionally, you can't tell what setting the fan is currently running at just by looking at the unit. You have to go check your remote, and even then, you don't really know what the real fan speed is currently running at, only that you've set your remote to a certain setting. If you don't point the remote directly at the unit, it may show that you're running at high speed but really you're running at low or medium speed. It's a bad design pure and simple. The AC unit itself should have a display with all pertinent info AND it should have buttons to allow you to change the settings of the AC unit. As it stands, you can ONLY turn the unit on and off on the unit itself. Everything else is controlled by the remote. Make damn sure you don't lose your remote or else it essentially becomes useless to customization.
Another bad design is that the louvers ONLY automatically adjust UP and DOWN. For side to side adjustment, you have to MANUALLY adjust it by going to the unit itself and using your hands to adjust it. What this means is that you get auto action of up and down but not side to side. If your room is very small, it may suffice for just this up/down action, but if you have a bigger room, you're going to get frustrated with the lack of automatic side to side movement of the louvers. Again, bad design.
One of the biggest reason for getting the SHARP units is how quiet they are suppose to be in the lowest setting--supposedly 36 db--however that is just the sound of the fan operating by itself--meaning when the compressor isn't working to produce the actual COLD air. When the AC unit has kicked in with the compressor, the sound, even at the lowest setting, is not very quiet. It's definitely not something you can fall asleep to unless you get adjusted to the sound. Having said that, the Sharp will be the quietest of all the portable AC units out there. I've done ample research before purchasing this unit and this is by far the most quiet unit on the market today. So if you want the quietest machine, this is the unit to purchase but don't be fooled into thinking that it's truly quiet. It's NOT. It'll take some getting use to before one can go to sleep without ear plugs with this unit on. (I've been using ear plugs since my college dorm days to fall asleep so it doesn't bother me one bit but it will bother others initially I'm certain.)
All in all, I solidly like this unit and I believe it's one of the best out there. I am quite satisfied with this purchase. It will absolutely cool your room. If it doesn't, you've either installed it incorrectly or you have a faulty unit. If installed properly, it WILL work very well. But there are shortcomings--described above--to these portable AC units, by nature of their design, not isolated to SHARP units only. Realize these shortcomings before purchasing these kind of portable AC machines and you won't be very disappointed once you get it home and installed.
I know when the next heat wave comes this way, I'll be sitting happily in my bedroom surfing the net with a very "cool" smile and appreciating my Sharp CV-P10MX very much. :)
(I would give this machine 5 stars if they improved upon the user design. Otherwise very happy with the cooling performance of this Sharp CV-P10MX!)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharp CV-P10MX 9,500-BTU Portable Air Conditioner, White

Cool, dehumidify, or purify the air (or do all three at once!) for maximum indoor comfort with Sharp's 9,500-BTU Portable Air Conditioner. Sized for individual rooms or small offices, this compact 3-in-1 unit installs in just minutes without permanent installation and moves easily on sturdy casters wherever it's needed. The sleek white unit also features three cooling speeds plus a Mega Cool mode, an Auto Cool function that selects the best fan speed for the room conditions, and a 12-hour timer. The Plasmacluster ionizer releases positive and negative ions into the air, and automatic oscillating louvers sweep the air across the room for even, far-reaching air distribution.
Additional features include patented "Library Quiet" operating technology that won't disturb conversations or sleep and a full-function LCD-display remote control to make adjustments from anywhere in the room. The bucketless design means there's no water tank to empty--instead, a built-in condensate disposal system sends the water out through the flexible exhaust hose. The unit measures 32-3/8 inches wide by 15-1/8 inches deep by 18-1/2 inches high and includes a window adapter kit. It is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

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2/25/2012

Royal Sovereign Ultra Light and Compact Portable Air Conditioner, 12000 BTU, White, ARP-2412 Review

Royal Sovereign Ultra Light and Compact Portable Air Conditioner, 12000 BTU, White, ARP-2412
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I just got this item delivered yesterday on a hot, muggy 87 degree day and was so excited. Unfortunately when I unpacked the unit it appeared as though this might have been a repacked return, there was a broken wheel at the bottom of the box. Regardless I though, okay I can deal with a broken wheel since they do provide a replacement...I set it up and had it running and it seemed to be working alright. Today the hose portion of the unit that is screwed into the window venting panel has come "unglued" from the ring that holds it in place against the window vent. This is one day old, the unit hasn't been moved around a lot so it can't be that the hose was stretched and/or manipulated. I'm really disappointed so far...it isn't like this is some light weight item that can be shipped back easily and it isn't a cheap (price wise) product. I caution anyone else that has bought this or is considering buying this unit to shop around and read/post reviews. This product only had one "glowing" review when I purchased...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Royal Sovereign Ultra Light and Compact Portable Air Conditioner, 12000 BTU, White, ARP-2412

Fight the summer heat with the ultra compact and lightweight, 12,000 BTU portable air conditioner. BTU Power Booster Technolgy; BTU booster uses water to cool the condenser to maximize the cooling capacity. 3in 1 Air Comfort System; Unit combines an Air Conditioners to cool, Fan Mode tocirculate air and a Dehumidifier that will remove 70 pints of moisture/day. Compact & Lightweight; Weighing only 79 lbs., this compact and light weight unit with convenient handles and casters makes it easily moved from room-to-room. Hide-Away Hose; Exhaust hose can be easily hidden in the unit for convenient mobility and storage. Digital Controls; Clear digital controls allows you to adjust the temperature, set the fan speed, set the 24 hour timer and function mode easily. Accessories Included; Window kit and remote control included for quick and easy set-up. Features: Singe/Double Hose: Single. Digital/Analog Controls: Digital. Thermostat Range: 62-88°F. Timer: 24 Hours. Sleep Mode: Yes. Fan Speeds: 2. Fan Only Mode: Yes. Remote Control: Yes. Airflow Volume: 185 CFM. Water Removal: Self-Evaporative. Dehumidify Capacity: 70 pints/day. Washable Filter: Yes. Window Kit Included: Yes. Voltage: 115V/60Hz. Consumption: 1150W.

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2/18/2012

Soleus Air PA1-12R-32, 12,000 BTU Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner, HEPA Air Purifier, 12,000 BTU Heater, Humidifier and Fan, Black Review

Soleus Air PA1-12R-32, 12,000 BTU Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner, HEPA Air Purifier, 12,000 BTU Heater, Humidifier and Fan, Black
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The mobile home I live in has no heat or AC, so I thought this would be a good way to supply both. Though it was very heavy and hard to move, unless you are on a hard floor where the casters can work, I managed to get it all hooked up. Things went well for the first couple of weeks and then I don't know what happened, but every morning that I use it I find that the little tray that sits underneath the unit and catches the water, when you open the drain plug, is filled to overflowing and I must empty it and wipe up the floor around it. This happens whether I have the little rubber plug they supplied pushed into the hole or I have the screw on plug put on as it seems to leak from underneath the unit itself. I am very happy that I was sort of forced into putting it in a room that had a vinyl floor!
I have tried emptying the accumulated water before retiring and leaving it unemptied - neither works. I called Soleus and was put on hold - they said I was 9th in line and would be on hold for about 11 minutes; about 40 minutes later a man came on to tell me that they would call me back; that was a week ago! I turned the unit over to see if I could gain access to the inside and see what was up, but that didn't work either.
I hesitate to return it as I was barely able to get it from my porch to where I wanted it and I know I couldn't get it into a vehicle to send it back; not to mention that the packaging is gone and that it cost me $60.00 to have it sent and would be near that to return it. I guess I have resigned myself to cleaning up after it each morning.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Soleus Air PA1-12R-32, 12,000 BTU Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner, HEPA Air Purifier, 12,000 BTU Heater, Humidifier and Fan, Black

12,000 BTU Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifier and Fan has dual motors offering a 3 speed fan with oscillation, along with a 12,000 BTU Heat pump heater, a 60 Pint evaporative dehumidifier, and adjustable thermostat with 24 hour programmable timer with memory, from 64° to 90°F. HEPA Air Purifier and washable and reusable air filter keeps circulation clean and loss of power protection with auto restart feature. Heavy duty casters and remote control offer you assistance in unit placement and controls.All in one appliance to fulfill all your comfort needs.

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2/02/2012

SPT WA-1230H 12,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote-Control Cooling and Heating Review

SPT WA-1230H 12,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote-Control Cooling and Heating
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I placed an order to purchase a Sunpentown portable air conditioner and went to their facility in City of Industry, California to pick it up. When I arrived, another gentlemen was there to pick up his WA-1230H that was in for repair. This got me concerned about the purchase I was about to make so I asked him some questions about it. It turns out that this was *** THE THIRD TIME *** he had brought his AC in for repairs. After the second time his unit broke down, Sunpentown provided him with a new one (which was the one he was picking up from being repaired that day). He told me that the first time his AC broke was within 3 days of purchasing it. 2 separate units breaking down a total of 3 times = YIKES!
Needless to say I began feeling very uncomfortable about throwing down almost $500 on an AC (WA-1220H) that I was no longer confident in. I asked one of the employees about the reliability of the air conditioner I was about to receive and he said it was "good." "So it's not great or excellent?" I questioned. He laughed nervously and then went on to explain that the reliability depended on how the unit was treated (during transport, whether you had pets and cleaned out the filters regularly, etc.). He didn't give off much of a confident vibe while he talked about the product. That, combined with seeing the poor guy picking up his AC after the third repair, provoked me to cancel my order and walk out the door. My gut feeling was that I would be very disappointed with this purchase and that I would have been kicking myself for not paying heed to the warning signs.
I've decided to not purchase a portable AC. Instead, I'm opting to look for a set up that's more reliable. It will be more of a hassle installing, but I will at least be able to enjoy the AC without worrying that it will break down.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SPT WA-1230H 12,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote-Control Cooling and Heating

Stay COOL or WARM and breathe fresher air with our 12,000btu units. Ideally cools or heats an area up to 400sq.ft. Effectively improves air circulation in poorly ventilated spaces and maximizes energy efficiency. Uses new UL required LCDI plug. Self Evaporating Technology during the cooling or heating process, water is extracted from the air into the unit. Most of this water is then recycled and used to cool the cooling coils and make it run more efficiently, cooling as well as energy. Continuous drainage highly recommended when using Heating mode. Exhaust hose installation required and all standard accessories included.

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1/01/2012

SPT Portable Air Conditioner with Heater, 12,000 BTUs, WA-1220H Review

SPT Portable Air Conditioner with Heater, 12,000 BTUs, WA-1220H
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I noticed that all portable air conditioner reviews give either 4 or 5 stars or 1 or two stars. The difference seemed to be that the one or two star people did something major that caused the problem, and you could tell what it was, just by reading the complaint. (return a unit that is leaking when you open the carton, stand it up and wait two hours before trytin to turn it on, so that the freon is not flodding the pump (it will break), etc.
I am a chemical engineer, and have worked with both the theory and practical aspects of AC.- so let me give you a brief rundown of how to ick te best unit for you, and how to get the best performsnce afterward:
1. Picking a unit: (use the sortable list on www.portableacguide.com to compare different models)
a. There are two main types: 3-in-1 and 4-in-1.
3-in-1 modes are Fan, AC and Dehumidifier. The dehumidifier mode uses the AC to cool the air until the water comes out, then puts the hot ir it sends outside when working as an AC unit back into the room instead of sending it outside.
4-in-1 adds a heater. Cheap designs use an electric heater coil placed in front of the fan. (Ok if you only want a little heat, now and then, or if you want heat when it is colder than 41 degrees outside. (buy this in Maine.)
More expensive 4-in-1 units do not use an electric heater, but act like a "heat pump"- that is, they work like good home units popular south of the mason dixon line (wiki it, kids). More about this when we get to my FAQs on mode 4.
Mode 1 FAQ
While buying an AC just for the fan is not smart, don't underestmate the fan only control. Moving air over you can add 5 to 6 degrees to the temprature you feel is comfortable. If it is only 76 or 77 degrees out, try just sing the fan, and pointing it at you. It will usually o the job unless the humidity is extremely high.
Mode 2 FAQ:
AC size is measure in BTU but typically you need 6000 BTU for a room that is 200 sq ft (eg, it is 20x10 or 14x15).
This is if the room is well insulated, the sunlight does not stream in, and the AC is left on so you don't need a quick cool-down. people by an 8000BTU unit and expect it to cool the hot, hunid 350 sq fot bedroom in 1/2 hour. The web site I recommended has tips on correct sizing. One tip I will add is that the exhaust hose is 15 inches fully collapsed. The more you extend it nd make it go around bends, the poorer it will work. Lots of sharp bends and fully extending the hose will "derate" the effective size (and efficnecy) by possibly as much as 20%. When in doubt, buy bigger- but too big a unit will make a gale when the fan is on, and will cycle on and off way to often.
Mode 4. (yeah, its out of order, but this is for a good reaon).
Heat pumps reverse some valves in the AC unit, and suddenly, the pipe going outside gives off cold air, and the indoor part puts out hot air, This is roughly twice as energy efficient as the cheaper heating coil, but stops working around 40 degrees of outdoor temperature.
Mode 3 FAQ: Dehumidification only, and, oh yeah, an AC does dehumidification while it cools-
Actually , the AC dehumidifies too. If the basement is too damp, you can use a portable unit to warm it up a little and dry it out a lot. Then, if it gets too warm, switch to AC and cool it and dry it. For htat matter, just sit a windo unit on a chair, and let it blow back into the room instead of out a window, and use it as a dehumidifier.
In coastal regions, and near rivers and lakes, the air is very humid. Dehumidifiers must cool the air as much as an AC to get rid of the water, (and use as much energy as an AC does), but they dump the hot air back into the room instead of pushing it outside. unless you have a cool damp basement problem, the Dehumidifier only mode is not the answer.
But what happens to the water from the dehumidifier action? An AC may use more energy removing the water than cooling the air. (this is why it tale so long to cool a hot, humid room the first time, but if it is keep closed, so that the next day it is only hot, it will not take nearly as long to cool it down again.) A room sized machine will typically remove 10 gallons (40 pints) or more a day. The water runs to the bottom of the unit. Window units drain the water that collects in the bottom of the unit out the window. A portable AC has to collect it. Typical collection resevoirs hold less than 4 pints, at which time a float switch stops the cooling and leaves only the fan (so you think it doesn't cool after just a few hours use if you just plug it in and let it run.) You can attach a hose and drain continuously (use a hose clamp if you do), or else empty the tiny resivoir each time the AC stops cooling. The trouble with using a hose is that the hose is not very high off the floor, and the resevoir will simply overflow if you don't notice it is full.
Here is my solution. Elevate the machine a few inches by standing it on a set of bed leg height adjusters (>$10 at a hardware store), then, attach the hose, and fashion a hook to hang the end of the free end of the hose up on the machine. I straightened a large paper clip and tied it around the hose near the free end, and bent the end of the paper clip so that it hooked into a convenient spot high enough up on the machine to know the hose would not overflow before the float inside the machine shut off the AC. Since the hose is transparent, I can see how full the resevior is, and, without shutting off the AC, unhook the hose and drain it into a 1 gal plastic jug that sits on the floor and has a hole in the side near the top. Hang the hose back up on its hook, and use the water on your plants or in your iron. (it is actually rain water that you made yourself).
The reason, by the way, they can remove 40 or more pints a day, and only have a resevoir 1/10th the size, is that they blow most of the water they collect onto the condensor coils (the ones that put hot air back outside). This water helps cool the coils and makes the AC run more efficiently- and you don't have to dump it. (They do this to help get back the energy required to remove it from the air that is going into your room.)
About 90% of the water collected will be used this way. This means that if you have no humidity, your energy bill will be about the same, since you don't take it out, and don't put it back. However, if you do live in low humidity, maybe you should be buying a much cheaper evaporative cooler, that cools you by spraying water into the air.
If I can go back to mode 4 (heater, again, It also means that the manufacturer of units with a heat pump mean it when they say that when you use a unit to heat with, set up a continuous drain. Spraying the water on the normally hot (now cold) side will form ice, and freeze up the unit, causing it to fail to operate, and possible damage to the compressor.
For the advanced student, who wants to continuously drain the unit in the summer, Just remember that you are eliminating one of the big energy reducing feature- the re-use of the water to spray cool the hot condensor coils. My hose trick can be modified by putting a tee connector in the hose above the drain outlet of the unit, but below the height that causes the compressor to shut off- connect an overflow hose, and any water that is needed for the cooling of the coils will be available, but the exces will be available to safely drain away. hopefully, you are now hagh enough to draininto a 5 gallon plastic gas can, or something, but you have to know what you will do with all that water. They sell plug in drain pumps that can be used to keep your overflow can emptied out, and that can pump the water through a small plastic tube wherever you want it.
Have a whole house AC and don't need more? read this:
My house is in Florida- typical daytime temp of 94, with 65% or more humidity, and while night time temps go down to 70 by about 3 AM, the humidity goes up. No one lived in Florida by choice until the invention of AC. My reason for buying the portable units was to create a "zone" in my bedroom at night, (set the Hose AC at 80), and also to have small unit that I could put in my TV room in the cold months to use between 7 and 11 in the evening when we like to watch tV (let the whole house cool, and sleep under blankets in the now cool bedroom when we go to bed.)
For this reason, I got a 4-in-1, and because I live below the mason dixon line, I got a heat pump version.
I hope this review prevents you from experiencing any of the reasons why so many people had bad experiences with the same products others found to work well.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SPT Portable Air Conditioner with Heater, 12,000 BTUs, WA-1220H

Stay cool or get warm while breathing fresher air with the SPT Portable Air Conditioner, which features oscillating louvers that evenly distribute the air. Ideal for rooms up to 400 square feet. Effectively improves air circulation in poorly ventilated spaces and maximizes energy efficiency. During the cooling process, SPT’s Self-Evaporating Technology extracts water from the air. The water is recycled and used to cool the cooling coils, making it run more efficiently. In heating mode, continuous drainage is recommended. Exhaust hose installation required. All standard accessories included. Temperature is displayed digitally on front of unit. Easy-grip handle and large casters make it easy to move the unit from room to room. Can run it all the time or use the programmable timer. PVC plastic housing is fire-resistant. 120 volts. 950 watts. 15.75 x 15.5 x 30.5 inches. 70 pounds. Limited 1-year warranty.

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11/24/2011

SPT WA-1230E 12,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control Review

SPT WA-1230E 12,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this AC unit during the excess heat wave this summer. The unit, (once properly vented) works really well for cooling my bed room but it shuts off when the water needs drained. Durning these hot temperatures this is after only 2-2.5 hrs. Draining the water is not an easy task because the drain is only 1 inch from the floor so you can only use a really really shallow dish. It does come with a hose to connect to a drain for continous drainage but the drain must be below or at the same level as the AC unit.
This drainage problem makes the unit NOT useful for long term cooling (you can't run it all night or use it to cool while at work)
As a long term solution I am working on buidling a stand to set the unit on for continous drainage into a bucket but it is heavey and vibration makes noise a problem. Other portable AC unit have a collecting bottle which is easy to revome for drainage.


Click Here to see more reviews about: SPT WA-1230E 12,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control

Ideal for rooms up to 400 square feet, this portable air conditioner features a 12,000-BTU cooling capacity and an energy-efficiency rating of 12.63. The unit also functions as a dehumidifier, removing up to 65 pints of moisture from the air per day (the dehumidifier functions automatically in AC mode). During the cooling process, its self-evaporating system extracts water from the air into the unit. Most of this water then gets recycled and used to cool the cooling coils for more efficient operation. The air conditioner comes equipped with a 3-1/5-pint water tank and two fan speeds, as well as a digital thermostat, digital temperature display, and remote control, which makes it simple to use. Choose between continuous operation or the programmable timer, which can be preset up to 12 hours. The unit also provides a 64- to 90-degree F thermostat, a washable air filter, an activated carbon filter to help remove odor, a built-in water tank or extended water tube for continuous drainage, and an easy-grip handle and large casters for convenient mobility. Other highlights include an LCDI plug, fire-resistant PVC plastic housing, a rotary compressor, directional air discharge louvers, and an extendable exhaust hose (up to 5 feet). The unit requires exhaust hose installation, and all standard accessories come included. Weighing 76 pounds, the air conditioner measures 15-1/4 by 16-1/2 by 30-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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