Portable Air Conditioner Review: PAC1201W Koldfront Ultracool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Review of the Koldfront PAC1201W Ultracool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Our master bedroom is a finished room over the garage and is approximately 300 sq ft.

In the summer, the heat rises from the garage into the bedroom and our central A/C just can't keep up, so we purchased this EdgeStar single hose portable air conditioner to augment the cooling power.

When in use, we set it on the lowest setting: 62 degrees. I would estimate that within a half hour the temperature will drop from the mid-80s to the low 60s (Fahrenheit). Afterward, the compressor cycles on and off as necessary to keep the temperature constant per your settings. The unit is fully capable of freezing us out (a good thing) if left on for long periods of time.

My wife and I were concerned about aesthetics, so rather than hook the exhause hose to our bedroom window (which is on the front of our house), we vent the hose around the corner into the hallway and close the door against the hose so that most of the hot air stays out. This method works surprisingly well for us.

(Side Note: Portable air conditioners like this one are mobile, but NOT light weight. Before owning one, I had imagined it would be like carrying around a space heater or some household electronic device. Wrong. It weighs 68 lbs, so it is definitely more akin to lugging around a mini fridge. Use the casters to save your back!)

The sounds it makes are "white noise" -- mostly air blowing and a brief rumble when the compressor kicks in. I'm accustomed to sleeping with fans on, so it doesn't bother me to sleep with these types of additional sounds. However, we have young children in the house and it is hard to hear the baby monitor at night. We only use the unit for about 30 minutes right before bedtime to cool the room down, then we shut it off and use the ceiling fan alone overight.

Lastly, the unit has multiple fan speeds and one way to make it slightly quieter is to set it on the lowest setting. However, I believe it won't cool as quickly or evenly on a lower setting.
Best Uses: Bedroom Cooling, Efficiency/Studio Cooling

Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Portable Air Conditioner Review: PH1-14R-03 Soleus 14,000 Portable Air Conditioner, Heater & Dehumidifier

Review of the Soleus PH1-14R-03 14,000 Portable Air Conditioner, Heater & Dehumidifier

Installation was easy enough. The noise level though is extremely annoying. Forget talking on the phone in the same room with it. The worst part is it barely cools a room half the size it claims to.

I purchased it to help cool down a room that is less than 250 square feet. It is part of an upstairs that is centrally cooled but stays a little too warm because it sits over an uninsulated garage. This particular room stays about 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the upstairs. Because it is on the front of the house, we wanted to avoid a window unit.

With the size and power of this unit, after letting it run full blast all night the room should have felt like wakling into a refrigerator, instead, it was only a little cooler than the rest of the upstairs. By mid-morning, it couldn't hold the temperature even that much. We ended up purchasing a cheap window unit from a local hardware store that was a fraction of the size (and noise) and got the cooling we were wanting.

Overall Rating:  2.4 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the PH1-14R-03 Soleus 14,000 Portable Air Conditioner, Heater & Dehumidifier.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: PAC1401W Koldfront Ultracool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Review of the Koldfront PAC1401W Ultracool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

We have a little, hot server room that needs to be kept cool 24/7.

On average, we replace these portable air conditioning units every 2 years. We have tried other manufacturers, but this Koldfront PAC is the coolest (temperature wise) unit so far. If you need to cool down hot equipment, this is the unit for you.

Best Uses: Office/Commercial Cooling

Overall Rating: 4.1 out of 5 Stars

Learn more about the PAC1401W Koldfront Ultracool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Help: Can a Portable A/C Be Used in a Room Without a Window?

Product Question: Can the Koldfront PAC8000S 8,000 BTU Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner be used in a room without a window?

The Koldfront portable air conditioner, and all portable air conditioners, must have a way to vent hot air out of the room via their vent hose. This does not necessarily have to be a window, however, the hose does have to be able to get the hot air out of the room it is trying to cool.

A window is the most common way to do this, and this Koldfront unit and most portable air conditioners come equipped with all the parts you need to vent out of a window.

When a window is not an option, others who have purchased portable A/C's have made a hole for the vent hose on an exterior wall, vented out a door or, on higher BTU units in an office environment that has a dropped ceiling, some have purchased a drop ceiling vent kit. Venting with the drop ceiling vent kit is only recommended for units at least 12,000 BTUs or above though.

Learn more about the PAC8000S Koldfront 8,000 BTU Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: AP14001HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner & Heater

Review of the EdgeStar AP14001HS Extreme Cool 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner & Heater

I had borrowed a neighbor's portable a/c 12,000 BTU and I liked it, but had to run the fans to move the air around the house.

The EdgeStar AP14001HS is 14,000 BTU and is much stronger than the other unit. It moves the air much better and cools the house without use of fans to help. It may be different in the summer time, as it is much hotter, but at this time it is great.

I would recommend to anyone.

Best Uses: Whole House Cooling

Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the AP14001HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner & Heater.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: AP14000W EdgeStar Extreme Cool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Review of the EdgeStar AP14000W Extreme Cool 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

The EdgeStar AP14000W is a great unit for an equipment room. The dual hose design is good for efficiency. The unit does not allow much control over where the cool air is blown.

Best Uses: Garden/Shed Cooling, Living Room Cooling, Bedroom Cooling, Efficiency/Studio Cooling, Kitchen Cooling

Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars



Learn more about the AP14000W EdgeStar Extreme Cool 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Help: What is the Maximum Window Height Acceptable for Venting?

Product Question: What is the maximum window height acceptable for venting the Soleus PE4-12R-03 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifying Function?

Also, is a "window adapter" for venting available for a sliding glass door?

Answer: The maximum window opening allowed by the window vent kit for the Soleus PE4-12R-03 is 55". Currently, there is not an extended window kit made by Soleus to fit this model available.

Learn more about the PE4-12R-03 Soleus 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Dehumidifying Function.

Portable Air Conditioner Help: Can the Koldfront PAC1201W be Used in Windows that Crank Out?

Product Question: Can the Koldfront PAC1201W Ultracool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner be used in windows that crank out?

The windows are 18" wide and 42" tall. They crank out. The attic was made into a master bedroom and the centrail air does not seem to it at all. It is a 400 sq ft room.

Answer: The way the Koldfront portable air conditioner comes, you cannot use it in a crank window.

However, if you get a piece of plexiglass cut to the size of the window, and then have a hole cut into the plexiglass to attach the exhaust hose, you should be able to vent the unit.


Learn more about the PAC1201W Koldfront Ultracool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: AP12000HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

Review of the AP12000HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

I got the EdgeStar portable air conditioner for my outdoor hobby house and so far I love it! I make pottery and I needed to keep it from freezing in there at night, and this does the trick.

I don't know how warm it would keep someone in a home, but considering my show is not well insulated (has lots of air leaks), it does a pretty good job of keeping up with that!

I have not had to use the A/C yet, but I expect it to do very well also. This is a very well constructed unit and is so easy to install it's almost out of the box ready. I would recommend this unit to anyone.

Best Uses: Garage/Shed, Efficiency/Studio

Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the AP12000HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: ACW200CH American Comfort 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

Review of the ACW200CH American Comfort 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater with Dehumidifying Function

I only have two issues with this portable air conditioner:

1. The heat from the exhaust when using the A/C is counter productive.
The tube from the unit (5 inches) to the window is very hot.

2. The manufacturer of this unit has failed to realize that the exhaust connection at the window does not fit a sliding window as the adapter is 6 inches around and the clearance between the adapter and teh said of the provided frame is only 2 3/4 inches. I had to build a new frame, so I could put the exhaust in the window.

Best Uses: Garage/Shed Cooling

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the ACW200CH American Comfort 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater with Dehumidifying Function.

Portable Air Conditioner Help: How Long is the Exhaust Tube?

Product Question: How long is the exhaust tube on the EdgeStar AP10001B Compact 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner?

The exhaust hose of the EdgeStar AP10001B will extend to 4 feet.

Learn more about the AP10001B EdgeStar Compact 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: AP8000W EdgeStar 8,000 BTU Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner

Review of the AP8000W EdgeStar 8,000 BTU Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner

We got this EdgeStar portable air conditioner last summer when the window unit in a bedroom died. We love it! It is quiet and it cools the room it is in perfectly. We would highly recommend it.

The exhaust hose is easy to install. In our case, I had to cut the window mount to make the kit fit. We used duct take to fill the gaps around the edges of the window mount and it did the trick.

All in all, this is a great little air conditioner, and the best part is we never have to drain the excecss water; it evaporates out of the exhaust!

Best Uses: Bedroom Cooling, Efficiency/Studio Cooling

Overall Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the AP8000W EdgeStar 8,000 BTU Ultra Compact Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Help: Can the Portable A/C Turn on Automatically?

Product Question: Is the EdgeStar AP12000S Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner able to turn on automatically?

I'm considering getting this portable air conditioner for my server room and I would like to know if it would restart on its own if the power were to go out.

Answer: Yes, the EdgeStar AP12000S does turn itself back on after a power outage.

Learn more about the EdgeStar AP12000S Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: PAC1401W Koldfront Ultracool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Review of the PAC1401W Koldfront Ultracool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

I purchased this unit after my previous personal air conditioner burned out. I couldn't be happier.

I work in an office where air distribution is not balanced. My large (approx. 500 sq. ft.) office faces west with no outside shade trees to help diffuse the heat. I use this unit to supplement when the main air conditioner is on and to offset the heat when the heater is running. My co-workers are always cold, so I roast when the heater is on.

This is a larger unit than my previous portable air conditioner (14,000 btu vs 12,000 btu) and it cools my office so quickly. We noticed a difference within minutes of starting up the unit. I can't say enough about the product.

The noise level when the compressor is cooling is acceptable, unlike my previous unit which was so loud it drove me crazy.

Best Uses: Garage/Shed Cooling, Efficiency/Studio Cooling, Office/Commercial Cooling

Overall Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the PAC1401W Koldfront Ultracool 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: LX-140 Soleus 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heater

Review of the LX-140 Soleus 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heater, Dual Hose

I purchased this product with the expectation of cooling off my house. I had hoped to turn my furnace fan on and distribute the cool air through the entire house. However, I was not realistic in my expectations.
 
This Soleus portable air conditioner will do exactly what they say it will; 500 sq ft or slightly more is the limit of its ability. But be sure to take into consideration the humidity and temperature of your area.
 
I live in the Atlanta area where it's very hot and very humid. I had to keep the machine at max cooling to get the temp down to something livable. During the hottest time of the year, it could not do much more than get the area down to 79 degrees at best. I suspect it was because I was trying to move the cool air around the entire house with the furnace fans and box fans. So I made it work a lot harder. Taking this into consideration, the product did admirably well. It cannot be expected to take the place of a 3 ton air conditioner.
 
The controls are a bit difficult to set, and it did not seem to be able to retain my settings once there was a power outage, but since I left it on max all the time it didn't matter much to me.
 
During the cold season, i found this unit to warm up the area very quickly. Wonderful heater! However, there is, in my opinion, a major design flaw that makes me think the manufacturer desperately needs to improve this product. The unit will heat up the house, but it also dehumidifiers the warm that it is bringing into the house. This is good, but there is a 5 pint resevoir which must be emptied when it is filled up. The unit will cease to function until you do so.
 
But here is where the design flaw enters in: They give you a little tray to empty the water into, about 1/4 of an inch deep, and the drain is not much more than 1/2 an inch above the floor! The tray would have to be emptied 20-30 times before you can conclude the process. You end up getting most of the water on the floor! To expect the end user to drain the reservoir in the manner they suggest is ridiculous. I found that this machine can only be drained in a certain way unless you want to cause a total mess.
 
To drain it you must do one of two things:
 
1. Build a stand that will take the unit off the floor so that you can attach a drain tube to it and draint it into a container larger enough to hold the 5 pints, or
 
2. Use a shop vac that sucks up water and put the hose right at the drainage tibe when you pull out the stopper
 
I have an old vacuum cleaner that I use and it drains the water without getting it all over the floor. If you are willing to use either of these solutions, then this unit is for you. I have found that on humid, cold day I need to drain it every 24 hours. So obviously the air conditioner stnad would be the better solution.
 
All in all, it is an excellent unit if you can get around the design flaw. It is so good a unit that I have to recommend it to friends as long as you understand what its limitations and design flaws are. I hope this helps you with your decision making process.
 
Best Uses: Garage/Shed Cooling, Living Room Cooling, Bedroom Cooling, Efficiency/Studio Cooling, Office/Commercial Cooling, Kitchen Cooling
 
Overall Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
 
Learn more about the LX-140 Soleus 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heater, Dual Hose.

Portable Air Conditioner Review: AP12000HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

Review of the AP12000HS EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner & Heater

My major complaint is that the thermostat isn't very accurate, and the compressor turns on and off based on inaccurate thermostat readings. The EdgeStar AC unit will say it's 71, when it's over 78, and switches to fan mode.

When the compressor is running, the unit outputs air that is very cold and cools the room nicely, but after running for awhile it'll think it's colder in the room than what it is, and the compressor will turn off (fan keeps running whether or not compressor is on), which means it doesn't cool as quickly as it could. It does the same, but in reverse for heating (in heat mode the fan doesn't stay running, it turns off with temp settings).

The other complaint I have is with the window exhaust vent setup. When installed into the window frame there are gaps, large enough (almost a finger width) that the outside air comes right in. I would havev thought that they'd include some kind of foam strips to attach to the vent pieces to keep this from happening. I went to the hardware store and found some medium density foam strips and some silicone sealant to attach them to the window vent. It's not completely sealed, plus I added insulation wrap around the vent tubes.

The EdgeStar portable air conditioner does make a huge difference. It was over 90 outside and the house was a cool 72.

All in all, I would recommend this unit to others as it does operate well, especially for the price and the convenience of being portable.

Best Uses: Living Room Cooling, Bedroom Cooling, Efficiency/Studio Cooling, Office/Commercial Cooling

Overall Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars

Learn more about the EdgeStar Extreme Cool 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner and Heater.