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Often times when we talk about portability in an air conditioner, it comes down to whether or not the unit is mounted or not. It’s important to take this into consideration when you purchase an air conditioning unit, because you don’t want to purchase an expensive air conditioner that you can’t take with you if you plan on moving a lot.
If you are considering a window unit that is not easily portable, it’s important to consider a few things. Can you install a window unit yourself? Is the window in your living space capable of holding a window unit? If you are someone who likes fresh air occasionally, you might consider a free standing air conditioner instead so that you still have the ability to open your windows to the fresh breeze outside.
The Size Of Your Cooling Area
One thing that is crucial in determining the size of the A/C unit that you need is the size of the space that you need to cool. Whether you need to cool an entire apartment or just one bedroom will make a difference in the size and strength of the air conditioner that you purchase.
When you take a look at our top 5 choices, you’ll notice that each option has a number called BTU, which stands for British Thermal Units. Without getting too complicated, British Thermal Units are a unit of measurement of thermal heat energy. Check out this cool BTU Guide from our friends at The Spruce to see how many BTU’s your living space needs:
Is Your Space Humid?
Another thing that you have to take into consideration is the levels of humidity in your home. More than one of our top 5 options have dehumidifiers built into the air conditioner. This is a great feature for those who are trying to keep the moisture out of the air.
The downside to getting an AC unit with a built-in dehumidifier is that it could run you up to $200 dollars more than a standard AC unit. So, if you live in a dry climate, its best to save money and pass this feature up.
How Important Is Portability?
Often times when we talk about portability in an air conditioner, it comes down to whether or not the unit is mounted or not. It’s important to take this into consideration when you purchase an air conditioning unit, because you don’t want to purchase an expensive air conditioner that you can’t take with you if you plan on moving a lot.
If you are considering a window unit that is not easily portable, it’s important to consider a few things. Can you install a window unit yourself? Is the window in your living space capable of holding a window unit? If you are someone who likes fresh air occasionally, you might consider a free standing air conditioner instead so that you still have the ability to open your windows to the fresh breeze outside.
Energy Efficiency
One of the most important things to consider in your purchase, is that unfortunately, purchasing the unit is not the only cost you’ll be incurring. If you’re not careful with your choice, you could end up choosing an air conditioner that sucks up energy, and runs your power bill through the roof. A lot of the best air conditioners are looking at ways to be more energy efficient, and eco-friendly. We’ve made sure to include the best options for energy efficiency in our top five!
The Reviews Digest Ranking System
We employ a comprehensive ranking system to analyze and measure the full value of products, by looking at the clinical studies, safety, projected effectiveness, return policies, and overall customer satisfaction.
Best Air Conditioners of 2022
Bottom Line:
The LG 9,800 BTU 115V through-the-wall air conditioner is perfect for cooling a room up to 450 square feet. Keep your cool with this stylish and powerful wall unit.
With the full-function remote, you can control the temperature from across the room. Plus, LG patented gold fin anti-corrosion coating provides a protective shield so the unit lasts longer.
Pros
- Energy star rated
- Remote controllable
- 9,800 BTUs
- Cools spaces up to 450 sq. ft.
- 115 volts
Cons
- Through-the-wall installation. Not designed for standard window installation.
Why We Picked It
We picked LG as our Editor’s Choice because of its superior energy efficiency. The unit features a convenient 24-hour on/off timer and is equipped with an automatic restart switch and an energy saver switch.
Who It's For
If you are looking to install or replace a through-the-wall AC Unit this is our favorite pick for you. We recommend double checking the dimensions or your wall sleeve to make sure that sizing will be seamless, but if there are slight discrepencies in sizing a professional installer may be able to make it work for you.
Bottom Line:
The Whynter ARC-14S portable air conditioner is specifically designed to be mobile and powerful. This dual hose portable air conditioner is the ideal solution to keep any small space such as bedroom, office, server room cool.
This unit features advance auto drain technology, which uses and recycles moisture collected during the cooling process to produce cool air. The dual hose operation provides fast cooling.
Pro
- 14,000 BTUs
- Cools spaces up to 500 sq. ft.
- 1250 Watts
- Remote Controllable
- Good Housekeeping's "2022 Best Overall"
Cons
- Large & Heavy Unit
Bottom Line:
The Honeywell MN Series portable air conditioner has a sleek, modern design cooling and dehumidifying areas 300-450 square feet. With 3-in-1 technology, this portable air conditioner delivers optimum cooling and dehumidification. It also has a fan-only function.
Unlike a fixed AC, this unit requires no permanent installation and four caster wheels provide easy mobility between areas. Plus, the auto-evaporation system allows for hours of continuous operation with no water to drain or no bucket to empty.
Pro
- Washable Filtration System
- 1,500+ 5-star Amazon Reviews
- Easy Setup & Installation
- Contains Dehumidifier Settings
Cons
- Uses A Decent Amount Of Energy
Bottom Line:
The Keystone 10, 000 BTU 115V through-the-wall mounted air conditioner with follow remote control is perfect for cooling a room up to 450 square feet. It has electronic controls with led display and a temperature sensing LCD remote control allowing you to conveniently see, set and maintain the room temperature from across the room.
Money saving features include energy Saver mode, sleep mode and a programmable 24-hour timer. Plus quiet operation (53. 1 db. on low) helps you get a good night’s sleep.
Pro
- 10.6 Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)
- Front Access Filter For Easy Cleaning
- 3 Cooling Modes And Fan Speeds
- Cools Spaces Up To 450 sq. ft.
Cons
- Slightly Noisy On Highest Fan Speed
Bottom Line:
The Keystone 12,000 BTU 115V through-the-wall air conditioner with follow remote control is perfect for cooling a room up to 550 square feet. It has electronic controls with led display and a temperature sensing LCD remote control allowing you to conveniently see, set and maintain the room temperature from across the room.
Money saving features include energy Saver mode, sleep mode and a programmable 24-hour timer. Plus quiet operation (56.5 db. on low) helps you get a good night’s sleep.
Pro
- 12,000 BTUs
- Cools Spaces Up To 550 sq. ft.
- 10.5 Energy Efficiany Ratio (EER)
- Auto Cool For Cooling Flexibility
Cons
- Through-The-Wall Installation. Not Designed For Standard Window Installation.
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