Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Before buying this unit , I did lots and lots of research. Consensus seems to be that you need about 40% more BTUs for a portable air conditioner than for a window AC and about an additional 10% more in BTUs if room gets lots of sun. I think this is why so many posters on many portable AC reviews(all brands)complain of lack of cooling. They buy units that are too small because they base it on the BTUS needed for window units. You can use a search engine to get guidelines for size or AC needed. I use this Sunpentown 1010E in a 275 square foot room that gets lots of afternoon sun. It cools very well with a strong air flow. No matter what you buy, look for cubic feet per minute air output. More air flow , more cool air. This one is 276 cubic feet per minute, which is more flow than many of the others of its size.
The foam insulation for this unit is ugly looking but it does seem to fill up the gaps in the window space so no air seems to get in or out. I keep the hose straight and as short as possible(it accordian folds to shorter length)so that hot air exits quickly and there is less heat reintroduced into the room.
Re ugly foam:You can also go to a store that sells and cuts plexiglass to window opening size and have them cut a circle to vent the hose(pricey because cutting a circle is expensive-$25 for the circle and $5 per straight cut for the plexiglass edge). Gives a nicer look tho than the foam insulation! Someone else on another website recommended Formular(see corning website) pink foam insulation board that you can cut with exacto knife to fit the window and a hole for the hose. Dow also has similar insulation board--there is one that is foam board and one that is styrofoam. I got the foam board because it is more rigid and because it has a moisture resistent coating. Remember that it will be exposed to the outside of the house and might get some rainwater/sprinkler water on it. Also, the foam comes in large sheets(96" high and 48"wide). I brought a box cutter to score/ cut it down to fit in my car. Used a six inch wide piece in my sliding glass door. Traced the inner circle of the exhaust nozzle
and used box cutter to make cuts around the circle and punched the circle out. I fit the hose through the hole and then attached the nozzle on the other side to keep hose in place.
I see Sunpentown also separately sells a metal sliding window insert with hole(other companies include it for free). Not sure if it is for this model or not. They have a website and very helpful customer service. I called them with questions twice before I bought.
I live in a dry area so I never have had to drain water. The machine also uses air condensation to cool the ac coils further so it is very energy efficient with great air floor and cools very well. Very, very quiet. I compared all portable acs in 9000 to 10000 BTU range to find the one with lowest watts consumed and this one draws only 873W / 8.15A. I have 15 amp breakers and didn't want to cause tripping or overheating of wiring. Would have gone for 12000BTUs if I had 20 amp breakers since I have very sunny room. Cools well and better if you start it earlier in the day when not at highest heat of the day so it doesn't have to work so hard(true for any ac actually) and will work more efficiently
Additional notes:All portable acs have non-insulated hoses, you can wrap them with insulation to reduce the amount of heat regenerated into the room.Also, the unit and hose should not be in the direct sun.
Click Here to see more reviews about: SPT WA-1010E 10,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control
Ideal for rooms up to 300 square feet, this portable air conditioner features a 10,000-BTU cooling capacity and an energy-efficiency rating of 11.45. The unit also functions as a dehumidifier, removing up to 38 pints of moisture from the air per day (the dehumidifier operates 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 62- 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 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 65 pounds, the air conditioner measures 16 by 15 by 30 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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