a) My Portable Air-Conditioner Isn’t Providing Enough Cooling
- First, keep in mind that portable units are just for supplemental cooling or used to cool a small area such as a bedroom or a living room. So they are not as efficient as a window unit.
- That said, your problem can be traced to two primary sources:
- Incorrectly-sized portable air-conditioner
- Extreme Ambient Temperatures
- Other secondary factors are:
- Excessive Sunlight
- Low Ambient Temperatures
b) My Portable Air-Conditioner Won’t Start
- It usually stems from power problems.
- Solution? Start by making sure the power cord is plugged in correctly
- Check to see the cord itself isn’t damaged
- Check the wall plug and circuit breaker.
- Then, try resetting the circuit at the breaker box or change the socket/outlet.
- Worst case scenario: If any of these steps fail to resolve the issue at hand, take your unit to a qualified electrician and have the fuse replaced.
c) My Portable Air Conditioner Stops Operating On Its Own
- Check to ensure that the timer is not on because an active timer causes the unit to automatically cease operation and thus, that would not be considered as a problem.
- If this is really a problem, the cause might be due to the ambient temperature which is lower than the set temperature.
- Solution? Wait for the room temperature to rise before starting the unit again.
d) My Portable Air-Conditioner Won’t Cool
- Filter problems:
- Removing the unit’s grill to check
- Clean the Filter
- Evaporator Problems:
- Lightly vacuum the evaporator or condenser coils in case there are clogs
- If they are frosted over, allow them to defrost first and try again as mentioned above
- Similar to the above point, check the ambient temperature
- Worst case scenario – Factors:
- Blown Fan Motor
- Malfunctioned Compressor
- Solution? Seek professional advice and assistance.
e) My Portable Air-Conditioner Won’t Produce Cool Air In Dehumidification Mode
- Source of problem may be due to excess frost on the evaporator or on the coils.
- Solution?
- Allow the evaporator to defrost and normal operation should follow.
- If there is ice buildup on the coils, clean the air filters.
f) My Portable Air-Conditioner Has Insufficient Airflow
- If your unit isn’t cooling but water appears in the tank, it may be due to dirty filters.
- However, if the cooling coil may be frozen, this may be a result of a low refrigerant charge.
- Solution? Only a professional can correct the refrigerant charge.
Read all that you wanted and needed? Now, you’re ready to ‘COOL’ off!
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Not enough cash but can’t stand the heat? Amcor ALW-12000E portable air conditioner is one of the best budget portable air-conditioner around. Able to fit in most rooms of up to 350-square-feet, this unit which is rated at 12,000 BTU, is one that does an adequate job in rooms with small or no usable windows at an affordable price. Amcor ALW-12000E cools well, installs easily, is priced reasonably, attractive, compact, easy to clean and convenient.
Amcor ALW-12000E – Pros
- Cools Well
- Reasonable Cost
- Easy Installation
- Attractive
- Compact
- Easy to Clean
- Convenient
1) Cools Well
- Delivers very cold air according to its performance of 12000 BTUs.
- The cool setting cools lower than the auto setting.
- Also functions as a 65 pint dehumidifier.
2) Reasonable Cost
- Among the lowest and reasonable price I’ve found in buying portable air conditioner.
3) Easy Installation
- Not like a huge, heavy window unit to install.
- The only assembly required is to place the carbon filter in.
4) Attractive
- Looks good on your sliding windows.
- Has a sleek design.
5) Compact
- Does not block your window view.
- Weighs 65 pounds.
6) Easy to Clean
- Just clean it and empty the water before you store it for the winter and it will last.
- The washable air filter collects large dust particles and prevents bacteria build-up.
7) Convenient
- The remote control and timer makes air-conditioning effortless.
- Thanks to the self-evaporating function, you don’t need to drain the water frequently.
- The built-in water tray or extended water tube also makes life easier!
Amcor ALW-12000E – Cons
- Loud
- Unreliable Manual
- Flimsy Window Kit
- Electricity Eater
- Not Durable
- Troublesome Air Vents
1) Loud
- Noise level (dbA): 52
- Louder than expected but bearable.
2) Unreliable Manual
- The instructions are not helpful.
- The pictures drawn are out of proportion.
3) Flimsy Window Kit
- Solution? Cut a vertical slice of a styrofoam insulation like TY-lex (for sheathing the outside of your house with) and cut the vent hole in it.
- You could also cut to fit before taping it. However, if it rains, the tape does get wet.
4) Electricity Eater
- There are occasions where after using this unit, a fuse was blown.
- This shows that it consumes a lot of electricity, making your utility bill worrying.
5) Not Durable
- Rarely performs at its best after the warranty period.
6) Troublesome Air Vents
- The air vents are supposed to be moveable; horizontally and vertically.
- Can’t be moved horizontally.
- So, the air only blows left or right.
If you are on a tight budget and/or have a room that doesn’t allow an installation of a window unit, then you might want to consider Amcor ALW-12000E. All in all, labeled as the best budget portable air-conditioner, Amcor ALW-12000E cools well, installs easily, is priced reasonably, attractive, compact, easy to clean and convenient.
*A word of caution: if your room has a heat source such as direct sunlight or computer servers, the air conditioning coverage area may be reduced.
Further Information:
Are you a student? Living alone? Small apartment? At the hottest time of the year, you’ll need a small and affordable portable air conditioner. Haier America HPE07XC6, which is rated at 7000 BTU, can’t be expected to cool an entire house but it does a fine job in a single room (approximately 150-square feet or less). Suitable for both inside and outside of your home, this unit is affordable, compact, designed stylishly, cools thoroughly, has no drainage issues, allows easy cleaning and has a protective packaging.
Haier HPE07XC6 portable air conditioner review
Haier HPE07XC6 – The Good
- Affordable
- Compact
- Stylish Design
- Quality Cooling
- No Drainage Issues
- Easy Cleaning
- Protective Packaging
1) Affordable
- Estimated at $350 depending on which site you buy from
- There is also no need to install a vent because the window exhaust kit allows the exhaust to be let out through the window.
2) Compact
- Need to it to cool the place while on-the-go in the sweltering summer?
- It’s designed to roll anywhere.
3) Stylish Design
- Fitted with cool features, it can be a source of pride to lug around.
4) Quality Cooling
- With 6 cooling and fan speeds, it cools your room thoroughly in no time.
- The dehumidifier function can tackle the heat wave by just running on medium fan without needing to switch to the AC option; unless you’re used to living in the Antartic!
- Some find that they can run this portable air-conditioner 24/7 without seeing the internal humidity-removal water level warning light coming on.
5) No Drainage Issues
- No more worries about emptying the water-collection cup too often.
- This is because most of the condensed water removed from the air is expelled through the main exhaust hose.
- Some can even run this unit constantly for a week without draining the excess water.
6) Easy Cleaning
- This portable air-conditioner makes cleaning simple.
- It is easy to locate, to access and to remove the air filter.
- The hydrophilic resin-coated indoor coil prevents mold and corrosion inside the machine making cleaning hassle free.
7) Protective Packaging
- When you are having it delivered to your house, there might be times when the outer carton can be smashed.
- However, take comfort in knowing that Haier uses huge Styrofoam caps around the air conditioner inside the carton. So, it comes out of the box in flawless condition.
Haier HPE07XC6 – The Bad
- Noisy
- Perplexing Installation
- Long Set-up Time
- Cost Time & Energy
- Limited Air Flow Control
1) Noisy
- It is a little noisy when the air conditioner compressor kicks in and when it changes over from cool to fan mode.
- Nevertheless, compared to other multiple fans or a window unit, the level of decibel is roughly similar.
2) Perplexing Installation
- The instruction manual is not user-friendly.
- This unit is designed more for casement windows rather than vertical sliding windows.
- If you have tall vertical sliding glass windows, you might need to fill up the left-over gap since the plastic hose mounting panel is short. (Roughly four feet high or wide)
3) Long Set-up Time
- You might need help to move the heavy unit upstairs or downstairs.
- However, the build-in wheels makes moving easy along the same level.
4) Cost Time & Energy
- When you turn the unit on, it automatically goes to whatever it was on before.
- To change the modes, you would need to walk over to it and push the buttons.
- Some reviewers found that they need to install a drainage hose even though the instructions say that it is not needed. This installation is not necessary unless you notice some water running off from the house.
- It is also quite frustrating to work with the flexible hose if you have a confined space.
5) Limited Air Flow Control
- You can control air flow through the ‘smile’ shaped vents side to side only; not up and down.
- At this price, you can’t expect a fancy unit with motorized louvers.
If you are going to buy a portable air conditioner, one of the essential features that you must look out for is one with auto-evaporation like this unit. Haier America HPE07XC6 is labeled as one of the least expensive portable air-conditioner if you are looking for something semi decent to cool a hot room for a few days. After all, it is affordable, compact, designed stylishly, cools thoroughly, has no drainage issues, allows easy cleaning and has a protective packaging. It is estimated at a price of $350 but if you can get the unit at a wholesale, you can get it much cheaper than that.
Further Information:
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Welcome again! So, you decided to purchase a portable room air conditioner although portable air-conditioners are not as effective as a window unit. No doubt, buying the right kind of air-conditioning unit can still make a difference in the temperature of your room.
Below are the features that would aid in getting the right portable room air conditioner for your specific purposes:
1) Match BTU to Room Size
- Remember that you need more BTUs in a portable air conditioner than you would in a window unit for the same size room.
- An area of 100 to 200 square feet needs 7-8,000 BTUs
- An area of 150 to 250 square feet needs 8-9,000 BTUs
- An area of 250 to 350 square feet needs 9-10,000 BTUs
- An area of 300 to 400 square feet needs 10-12,000 BTUs
- An area of 350 to 450 square feet needs 12-14,000 BTUs
- Pay close attention to the floor plan and insulation to know the right BTUs.
- If a portable air-conditioner has a higher BTU rating than needed, the unit will cycle off too quickly and will not properly remove humidity from the air.
- However, insufficient number of BTUs will not adequately cool a room.
2) Casters, Wheels & Handles
- Look for a unit with casters or wheels and handles for easier transport.
3) Noise Level
- Note that you CANNOT find a totally silent portable air conditioner.
- They can’t be totally silent because of the motorized fan and compressor system that cools and circulates the air.
- Nevertheless, the amount of sound varies considerably. Even decibel results can be misleading because many things can affect sound level such as position of the unit and the carpeting.
- So, just find a sound level that you are comfortable with, or getting a unit with that will help you to minimize the sound (timer, multiple fan speeds, etc.)
4) Oscillating Louvers
- An air-conditioning unit with oscillating louvers or multidirectional airflow will circulate the air and cool the room faster.
5) Digital Controls
- Experts prefer digital controls which allow you to set the temperature and control the timer.
6) Venting/ Exhaust Hose Needed
- Never buy a portable air conditioner without them.
- If you don’t want to empty water buckets, search for one with an optional water-drainage hose.
- An ‘auto-evaporative’ unit is ideal if emptying tanks is inconvenient but if hot air is exhausted into an attic or drop ceiling you wouldn’t want any moisture to be exhausted with the hot air.
7) Sturdy Window Adapter Kit Needed
- The unit is vented with a window adapter kit.
- The window adapter kit keeps the hose in place and provides insulation to the partially opened window, drop ceiling, or wall.
8) Handy Duct Tapes
- These help to seal gaps during the installation of the exhaust hose.
Portable Room Air Conditioner – BTUs Requirements
Compile the following requirements to determine your area’s BTU requirements:
- Calculate your room’s square footage by multiplying its length by its width.
- Verify the size of the window opening for venting.
- Check the plug type and electrical requirements of your room.
Exceptions
You will need to increase the size (power) of the unit you purchase (from your earlier calculations) if you:
- Have lots of windows
- Have heat generating appliances
- Have second story homes (Add the BTU amount by 10%)
- Have each additional person over two persons in a room (Add 600 BTUs)
- Reside in a warm, humid region
- Are planning to use it in a kitchen (Add 4,000 BTUs)
- Are cooling a poorly insulated garage
However, reduce the BTUs by 10% if you are planning the use the portable air-conditioning units in shaded areas.
Finish reading? The journey to your world of portable room air conditioners has begun. I hope that this essential information has made your buying decision a little easier. Good luck!
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As a group, portable air conditioners do not receive as good a review compared to window air conditioners because air conditioning units don’t cool as well as window units do. However, the main reason most people buy portable air conditioners is to reduce the temperature just enough to sleep comfortably.
When you are looking for the best portable air conditioner, do keep in mind that a portable cooling unit can’t make a room as freezing cold as a window unit can. Below is the summary of the best portable air-conditioners in their respective categories.
- Best Budget Portable Air Conditioner – Amcor ALW-12000E
- Best Portable Air Conditioner – Sharp CV-P12LX
- Best Small Portable Air Conditioner – Haier America HPE07XC6
Here are the plus points of each of the 3 chosen air-conditioners:
Amcor ALW-12000E
Amcor ALW 12000E Portable Air Conditioner
Praises
- Cools Well
- Reasonable Cost
- Easy Installation
- Attractive
- Compact
- Easy to Clean
- Convenient
Complaints
- Loud
- Unreliable Manual
- Flimsy Window Kit
- Electricity Eater
- Not Durable
- Troublesome Air Vents
Remarks: This unit is a particularly good value for a room size of about 400-square-fee. It has a self-evaporating technology so that you don’t need to empty the water tank as often.
- Best Budget Portable Air Conditioner – Amcor ALW-12000E
Sharp CV-P12LX
Sharp CV-P12LX Portable Air Conditioner
Praises
- Energy Efficient
- Quality Cooling
- Even Air Distribution
- Elegantly Designed
- Relatively Quiet
- Easy to Install
- Less Drainage Rounds
- All-in-one Remote
Complaints
- Short Cord & Exhaust Hose
- Flimsy Window Kit
- Remote Constantly Needed
- Extra Parts Required
Remarks: If you have a large room/apartment but are not allowed or cannot install a window unit, this air conditioning unit has received numerous favorable reviews as a large portable air-conditioner.
- Best Portable Air Conditioner – Sharp CV-P12LX
Haier America HPE07XC6 – Best Small Portable Air Conditioner
Haier HPE07XC6 Portable Air Conditioner
Praises
- Affordable
- Compact
- Stylish Design
- Quality Cooling
- No Drainage Issues
- Easy Cleaning
- Protective Packaging
Complaints
- Noisy
- Perplexing Installation
- Long Set-up Time
- Cost Time & Energy
- Limited Air Flow Control
Remarks: The reviews for this unit are pretty solid. The only complaint is really the noise which is a problem for light sleepers. This small portable air-conditioner is really for those who have a small room/area and who wouldn’t mind the noise.
- Best Small Portable Air Conditioner – Haier America HPE07XC6
Best Portable Air Conditioners
If you would like to know more about any of these top 3 best portable air conditioners, I’ve written a detailed explanatory article on each of them. Do check whichever article that interests you.
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My blog will take you one step at a time from the decision stage, pre-buying stage to the maintenance stage. If you have a particular section that you just want to have a more detailed look, feel free to skip straight to the relevant article that you need.
Reasons to Purchase a Portable Air Conditioner – Why Buying Portable Air Conditioner?
1. Supplement to Central Air-Conditioning
- Alternatively, portable air-conditioners are more advantageous for smaller rooms or where it is not feasible to install a central air conditioning unit.
2. Portability
- Most portable air-conditioners include rolling casters
- This major advantage is ideal where there is a need to move the ‘cooling effect’ to different areas
3. Minimal Installation Requirements
- Permanent installation is not needed.
- The installation is made easy to enable it to be moved from room to room
4. Multi-Functional
- They cool and dehumidifies (good use in a humid climate)
- Some additional features are built-in heaters (year-round use) and air purifiers
5. Energy Efficient
- Small and more economical to operate
- Specialty: Cool a specific area
- There are some units which maximizes energy-use. Keep a lookout for those.
6. Affordable
- Usually more affordable than traditional air-conditioning units
- Does not incur installation costs
- Exceptions: Portable unit with larger cooling capacity and higher energy efficiency ratings might cost more.
Final Remarks:
Even though portable air-conditioning units are less effective than central ones, they offer a good cooling option for a place installing standard air-conditioning systems may be cost-prohibitive, impractical or impossible (e.g. apartment buildings or server rooms located within an interior of a building). Generally, portable units are compact, easy to maneuver, do not require permanent installation and can be acquired for substantially less money than a central system.
If you have now decided to purchase a portable air-conditioner, there might be questions on what to look for in a portable air-conditioner. If so, just click at my portable air conditioner review.
Further Information:
This is my first post in my new blog – portable air conditioner review. Portable air conditioner is easier to install than window/wall air conditioner.
How Portable Air Conditioner Different From Window Air Conditioner?
There is no much different in technology of portable air conditioner and air conditioner. Window air conditioner which must be mounted through the wall to vent hot air but portable air conditioner uses other options for venting.
Don’t worry, I’m going to share more about how all this work in my portable air conditioner review, talk to you guys then:)
Further Information:
