We gauged the overall quality of the sound and noted any spikes in any frequencies that registered in the app. When using the AC, keep it as close to the window as you can, with as many of the accordion ribs collapsed as possible, so the hose is as short and straight as possible. The top of the Honeywell pops out as a fan to help spread the air around the room but it’s not automatic like the LG’s. This is great if you enjoy listening to an amateur White Stripes cover band with a snake on lead vocals, but it might not be the best if you want to sleep or get any work done. Limiting our search to the highest-rated models narrowed our field tremendously. You have an option to dim this screen—great for night use, which is a bigger concern—but ideally it’d always be readable. Black Friday 2020: The best deals still available at Amazon, Best Buy, Staples, Walmart and more, PS5 restock for Cyber Monday? If you absolutely want a dual-hose model, this is the one to get. Its features include 3 cooling speeds and 3 fan speeds and an easy-access washable mesh filter. *At the time of publishing, the price was $701. So we set a baseline SACC of 7,200 Btu per hour, which often coincided with 14,000 Btu units, according to the older (ASHRAE) standards. Dehumidify function, with 4 way air direction. The LG’s unique compressor design also means that it operates more quietly than other models. We used independent ratings to screen candidates for cooling performance. This rating isn’t as comprehensive as SACC, so we didn’t concern ourselves too much about the specific numbers as long as an AC reached our minimum efficiency threshold. The remote control is standard, and the unit has a convenient recess on the back to store it (along with the plug end and maybe the manual) at the end of the season. Although we didn’t hear anything like that in our own tests, we did measure a small spike in volume that occasionally popped up around the 9,900 to 10,500 Hz range, and then again between 14,500 and 15,000 Hz. At only 57 pounds, the Whynter is surprisingly compact, and it’s pretty quiet, too, though not as quiet as our other picks. ... HPND14XCT Customer Reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars 269 ratings. Most portable ACs are pretty similar, but the LG LP1419IVSM delivers better cooling performance than other models, yet it uses less energy, makes less noise, and can dial in a more precise comfort level than other models. However, we did measure a weird peak around 4,600 Hz, which is around the top of the human voice range and could get annoying for some people. Here are experts’ strategies for staying cool and healthy this summer. © 2020 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Frigidaire Gallery 12,000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Portable (FGPC1244T1), Also great: Frigidaire Gallery 12,000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Portable (FGPC1244T1), seasonally adjusted cooling capacity, or SACC, SACC is expected to replace the less comprehensive Btu rating, Lascar Temperature & Humidity Data Loggers, the current administration delayed that step, 10 feet of the stuff typically costs a few dollars, Introducing New Portable AC BTU Guidelines, Test Procedure for Portable Air Conditioners (PDF), Technical Support Document: Energy Efficiency Program for Consumer Products and Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Portable Air Conditioners, 7 Times a Portable Air Conditioner Actually Makes Sense Over a Window AC. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Haier HPN14XCM Portable Air Conditioner, 14000-BTU at Amazon.com. Shop By Price. If you’d prefer a basic portable air conditioner without the bells and whistles of the LG or the Frigidaire, or if you find this model at a good price, we have no reason to discourage you from it. (If you live in an area that frequently gets above 95 degrees or so, a dual-hose model might be worth using, according to one DOE study [PDF].) COVID-19. These small but meaningful design choices help make the Frigidaire easier to live with—which is not something you’d say about a lot of portable ACs. When a single-hose model forces air out through its exhaust hose, it can create a negative pressure in the room. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Haier HPND14XCT - air conditioner overview and full product specs on CNET. This portable air conditioner has exceptional power, 3 cooling speeds, electronic controls and a full function remote with 24-hour timer. This fan affects the way that the already-quiet LG sounds in the room, as the volume falls and swells in waves, giving it a gentle, breath-like timbre that easily fades into the white noise of the background. The SACC metric measures not only cooling capacity but also how the unit performs on muggy days or hot and dry days, and even accounts for the effect of heat radiating back into the room from the unit’s vent. Its rough, bumpy casters feel cheaply made but they work well enough. We measured peaks around 100 Hz (like the low end of a guitar) and then again at the high range of 4,500 Hz, 5,500 Hz, and 9,000 Hz (like a bunch of cymbals and sibilant “s” sounds). While most compressors run on only two speeds—on or off—the LG’s variable-speed rotors can adjust to more precisely match the cooling requirements of the given conditions without any huge spikes in energy consumption. Our research ultimately steered us toward single-hose portable models, however—in part because so many newer models use this design. Like the LG, it has smart-home capabilities. We confirmed that they did by taking measurements from two Lascar Temperature & Humidity Data Loggers—we placed one 5 feet away, directly in front of the unit, and the other 15 feet away on a diagonal. Designed for a room up to 500 square feet, it has four modes: cool for cooling the air, heat for heating the air, fan to circulate the air, and dehumidify to reduce humidity. Although this didn’t make or break our pick, it’s a nice feature to have and allows you to schedule air conditioning times or turn the AC on when you’re away from home. The window installation kit is pretty consistent with those of other models—a manageable job involving screwing two panels together to make a rough seal in the open window. Even with the new regulations, most portable air conditioners will use more energy and provide a worse cooling experience than window air conditioners. Without being remarkable, its performance is completely satisfying: quiet enough, powerful enough, and easy enough to set up and use. The LG had the lowest volume measurements on any machines we tested, and other nice (but not unique or essential) features—like compatibility with Google Home or Amazon Alexa, smartphone control via LG’s app, and a remote—give you a lot of options for how to operate it. Actual retail prices may vary by dealer. The LED temperature readout can be hard to see in daylight. But still, it gets the job done and is a fine choice if you need a portable AC at something closer to a window AC price. Carrying any portable AC up and down stairs is a challenge; the LG’s added heft amplifies that problem. While most portable ACs look like a beat-up old R2 unit sitting in the corner of the room,1 the Frigidaire looks more like a pawn from a futuristic chess set. While dual-hose models have been shown to outperform some single-hose units in extremely hot or muggy weather, the difference is usually minimal, and we don’t think it outweighs the convenience of a single hose. In 2018, a district judge ordered the standards implemented, but then another court allowed the delay to continue just a few months later. They also look like push buttons, and if you follow your instincts to push them—or if you’re not sure they responded to your tap and you push a little more just to triple-check—the whole control panel bows down slightly along with your fingers. However there are some occasional peaks around the 1,500 Hz to 1,600 Hz range, like the teacher’s voice from the Peanuts cartoon, that can be kind of annoying. We also graded the air conditioners on the general usability factors that determine what it’s like to live with one in your home. At 66 pounds, it’s also lighter than other models we tested, although the design means that the weight sits at the bottom of it in a way that makes it easier to roll than to lift. We’ve added some new details to our How we picked section about negative air pressure and using dual-hose ACs in rooms with furnaces or boilers. Can Air Conditioning Transmit the Coronavirus? This slight vacuum will pull in “infiltration air” from anywhere it can in order to equalize the pressure. The Black+Decker was the second lightest model we tested, at 68.3 pounds. That’s because the LG is literally operating under a different mechanical process than your typical air conditioner: it uses a DC-powered, dual-rotor compressor rather than an AC motor with a single rotor like most other models. 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