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
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