AC-Reviews.com – Your Source for Air Conditioning Reviews

DeLonghi’s a pretty well-trusted brand – and with good reason! Their products usually work really well, whether they are heaters, dehumidifiers, or portable air conditioners. So this week, I’ve decided to take a look at the PAC-A120E 3-in-1 portable AC and see if it’s as great as the rest of DeLonghi’s other products.

I am actually very amazed at how great the Penguino works. It provides really cool air and functions as a portable air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan all in one. It uses the new R-410A refrigerant, which means that the unit is much safer and much more efficient than others that use the R22 refrigerant (which has been declared an ozone depleter, actually). Additionally, this unit installs really easily – it comes with a window bracket and an exhaust hose! And by reading the manual provided by www.air-n-water.com, I recently found out that it comes with a “sleep mode” that gradually reduces the power and turns off by itself. This is a great feature that I think will come in handy once temperatures start reaching 90 degrees.

However, the unit is a little larger than I expected, but it’s not terrible. I just had to find some space where we could place it without anything obstructing the air flow.

If you’re interested, you can take a look at the PAC-A120E 12,000 BTU portable air conditioner from Delonghi at the Wal-Mart website. It’s also up on Air & Water.

Nowadays, there are so many different brands of pretty much every appliance. How do you know which one is the best? Thankfully, in our current time in history, we have arguably one of mankind’s finest inventions – the internet. Here is what I found on how to find the perfect air conditioner for you, courtesy of the guides from Air & Water and Air-Conditioner-Home.

• Find out how much physical space you have. This step is crucial because you will need to know the type of air conditioner you need according to where you’re going to place it. If you don’t have much room, but you still want to cool down larger areas, you will need a portable AC with a higher BTU rating. Similarly, if you want to cool down smaller areas, you can get either a window AC or a portable one. Of course, you can always use a central air conditioner, but those cost more to install and maintain.
• Find out what your budget is. Depending on the brand you want and the size you need, you’ll have to pay a different price. As previously mentioned, the cost also depends on the type of air conditioner you buy. Don’t forget about maintenance costs, either. Normally, central ACs can be a pain to get fixed, while portable ACs can be much more economical.
• Find out how much area you need to cool down. Simply find out the square footage of your room, home, garage, or even industrial workshop and check out the portable air conditioner BTU chart. From here, you can tell how many BTUs your air conditioner should have. If you miscalculate or simply get the wrong size, you can be wasting a lot of money operating a unit that isn’t right for your personal space.

Websites such as Air N Water (where I’m getting this information from) have special layouts on their sites to guide you through the process, as well. On the sidebars, you’ll see that they have separate categories for BTUs, brand, type, and even cost. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

As we often mention in our posts, portable air conditioners shouldn’t just be cool – they should also be functional. Personally, I prefer the units that have more than just one function so I can use them year round. This is best because it saves me money. Rather than having to buy a different appliance for every season, I’ve got one that works throughout the year! Before, I discussed the benefits of the Soleus LX-120. But recently I found an even better model: the NewAir AC-12000H.

At first glance, the AC-12000H doesn’t seem too different from the Soleus unit. In fact, it really isn’t. However, it actually does most of the same functions better than the LX-120. The NewAir portable air conditioner, like the LX-120, cools down rooms with its 12,000 BTU cooling capacity. It also operates quietly. But where the NewAir model surpasses the Soleus one is its functionality. The AC-12000H features 4-in-1 technology that includes an air conditioner, a dehumidifier, a fan, and a space heater.

Additionally, the NewAir portable air conditioner is much more eco-friendly than the Soleus LX-120. Instead of using the old R22 refrigerant, the AC-12000H relies on the R-410A refrigerant that uses less energy and causes no ozone damage. As a result, the power consumption for cooling decreases from 1350 W to 1141 W. It also uses auto-evaporative technology, which reduces the amount of condensate and eliminates the need to constantly empty the tank! This is mostly convenient for people who, like me, hate getting up and wasting energy every half hour to remove the condensate.

The only downside to the AC-12000H is its price. It costs $439, which is a little pricey. But I guess the price isn’t really that bad, since you end up saving tons of money throughout the year from the energy-saving benefits. Plus, you get to protect the environment from ozone and pollutants!

You can easily find the NewAir AC-12000H on Air & Water’s website.

There’s a lot of talk about being “green” lately, and I admit I’ve fallen
into this marketing ploy.  One of my good friends owns an auto body shop
and needed a way to keep his employees cool without having to invest in anything
too expensive.  Plus, seeing as their workspace is out in the open,
standard air conditioning systems wouldn’t work anyway.

Being the Google expert that I am, I began researching cooling options for
his business and found that a lot of people rave about evaporative cooling.
Seemingly low-tech, evaporative coolers use water and a high powered fan to
reduce temperatures.  Because they don’t have compressors or use coolants,
they’re also considered very “green.”  Overall, Port-A-Cool evaporative
coolers seem to have a fantastic reputation that’s connected to residential as
well as commercial markets. Port-A-Cool
uses high powered blowers in their units as well as noise reduction technology
in their design. This has been a popular choice for evaporative coolers from
both residential and commercial clientèle for many years.

I called up their Texas office and spoke to a friendly sales representative
who was eager to answer all my questions about their product line.
Apparently they offer several evaporative cooler options in many sizes.
The representative on the phone specifically recommended some of their larger
commercial units for my friend’s business – specifically one of their newest and
budget priced units, the PAC2KCYC01 Cyclone 3000. This unit supposedly cools
areas up to 700 square feet.  At less than $800 retail, this looked a good,
cost-effective option for what my friend was looking for.

Per Alex’s recommendation, I placed my order with
Air-N-Water for the Port-A-Cool unit
yesterday.  While we haven’t received the product yet, we have high hopes
for this evaporative cooler and will definitely post our Air-N-Water reviews (or
complaints).
*Update: You can actually see a video of a Port-A-Cool in action on air-n-water.com ‘s YouTube channel.

There’s a lot of talk about being “green” lately, and I admit I’ve fallen
into this marketing ploy.  One of my good friends owns an auto body shop
and needed a way to keep his employees cool without having to invest in anything
too expensive.  Plus, seeing as their workspace is out in the open,
standard air conditioning systems wouldn’t work anyway.

Being the Google expert that I am, I began researching cooling options for
his business and found that a lot of people rave about evaporative cooling.
Seemingly low-tech, evaporative coolers use water and a high powered fan to
reduce temperatures.  Because they don’t have compressors or use coolants,
they’re also considered very “green.”  Overall, Port-A-Cool evaporative
coolers seem to have a fantastic reputation that’s connected to residential as
well as commercial markets. Port-A-Cool
uses high powered blowers in their units as well as noise reduction technology
in their design. This has been a popular choice for evaporative coolers from
both residential and commercial clientèle for many years.

I called up their Texas office and spoke to a friendly sales representative
who was eager to answer all my questions about their product line.
Apparently they offer several evaporative cooler options in many sizes.
The representative on the phone specifically recommended some of their larger
commercial units for my friend’s business – specifically one of their newest and
budget priced units, the PAC2KCYC01 Cyclone 3000. This unit supposedly cools
areas up to 700 square feet.  At less than $800 retail, this looked a good,
cost-effective option for what my friend was looking for.

Per Alex’s recommendation, I placed my order with
Air-N-Water for the Port-A-Cool unit
yesterday.  While we haven’t received the product yet, we have high hopes
for this evaporative cooler and will definitely post our Air-N-Water reviews (or
complaints).
*Update: You can actually see a video of a Port-A-Cool in action on air-n-water.com ‘s YouTube channel.

It’s technically heater season but in keeping with the overall theme of the site, we decided to review a portable air conditioner / space heater combination – the Soleus LX-120.

Our editors praised the LX-120 portable air conditioner and heater for its performance and ease of use. With its 12,000 BTU cooling capacity, it’s able to cool down a room of up to 200 square feet. We also found that it was way quieter than most portable air conditioners. The Soleus LX-120 also comes with a remote control plus a dehumidifier function that can be used separately.

But what really makes this portable air conditioner great is the fact that it’s suitable for year-round use. It doubles as a 1350 watt space heater so you can use it in the winter in a chilly room or office. However, the one caveat about this unit is the price. At just under $400, this AC isn’t cheap. Nevertheless, given the quality of the unit, we think it’s worth the price.

The Soleus LX-120 is available via online stores such as www.air-n-water.com.

So fall is almost officially here. I know this site is usually focused on air conditioning, but given that we’re in heater season right now, I thought it would be appropriate to briefly talk about space heaters. Living in Southern California, it rarely gets low 60 degrees even in the winter but that doesn’t mean we don’t turn up the thermostat.

My home generally gets pretty chilly in the fall and winter, and I like using a portable space heater to stay warm in whatever bedroom I’m in.

When used safely and as a supplemental heat source, an electric space heater lets me keep a small area toasty without having to make the rest of my house feel like a sauna. Portable heaters come in a variety of sizes and fuel types, so choosing the right one generally boils down to the area you’re trying to heat and personal preference. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular space heater types:

Radiator Space Heaters

These are shaped like the traditional fixed kind and are filled with a type of oil that’s heated by electricity. Because oil retains heat well, these heaters are pretty energy-efficient. They actually give off warmth even after they’re switched off. Radiator heaters usually cover a small area, so they’re best for small bedrooms and personal spaces. I find that while they’re quiet and save energy, they don’t provide heat quick enough.

Quartz / Infrared / Radiant Heaters

These heaters use electromagnetic energy to heat objects and people rather than the air. They’re also pretty energy-efficient for this reason and because they don’t have fans, they’re relatively quiet. A lot of people tend to like these heaters because they literally heat up in seconds, but the glowing elements are a little off-putting, to be honest.

Fan Forced Space Heaters

These space heaters have built-in ventilators which blow air over heated metal coils. Although these are kind of noisy, they provide instant gratification. I have an inexpensive unit I purchased for less than $20 at Lowes and it’s still going strong. Because I’m a light sleeper, I definitely wouldn’t use this at night. The fan can get pretty annoying.

Although is coming to a close, certain parts of the country are still warm enough for air conditioner. One of the most recent air conditioners I came across was the NewAir ACP-1000E. It’s one of the least expensive portable air conditioners on the market, and it receives a number of recommendations from owners posting reviews to retailer websites. This 10,000 BTU portable AC unit can cool a small room or area of up to about 200 square feet (roughly the size of a typical bedroom) and includes a remote control, dehumidifier function, built-in air purification system, and digital thermostat. Although this unit does utilize auto-evaporative technology, it will still need to be vented out of a drop ceiling, window, or wall. When testing it in my small office, I found that it actually worked quite well (although perhaps a bit noisy). But for its price point, it was a solid air conditioner. With that said, if you need more cooling power, consider the Soleus LX-120 (est. $400).

The NewAir ACP-1000E was purchased from Air-Conditioner-Home.com.

There are a lot of pitfalls concerning consumers when they purchase their very first portable AC. Here are a few tips to consider before you plug that air conditioner in and suspect it’s not working or not working hard enough.

1. Getting the wrong kind. A lot of consumers purchase a swamp cooler believing that it’s the same as a portable AC, which is simply not true. There are various kinds of coolers such as portable air conditioners, swamp coolers, dehumidifiers, etc. Call your manufacturer and/or seller to make sure you are getting the right kind of machine to do what you need.

2. Miscalculating BTU and room size. Although the product may say it can cool up to 600 sq. ft., it also depends on the placement of the room you want to cool. The BTU also helps you determine the power of the unit. If you are considering a portable AC for a sunny or warm room, consider 10% more BTU.

3. Exhaust. All portable ACs need an exhaust, unless you’re using a window fan (which is not the same as a portable AC). You must consider window size if it has a window exhaust, or a wall, or a drop ceiling.

If you follow these simple tips, you can save yourself a few headaches in getting the wrong item. Remember to call the products’ manufacturer or seller to get all of your answers clarified. Portable ACs are heavy pieces of equipment that may cost dozens in shipping costs. Save yourself the time, money, and anxiety by doing a bit of quick research and inquiry, and enjoy your portable AC!

Portable air conditioning units are more versatile than central AC units. They can be extracted away from a home and easily installed in another. They’re great for homes with poor insulation and apartments where the central AC system is malfunctioning or simply not enough. Although they cannot cool the whole house at the same time like central ACs, portable ACs offer you an economic alternative.

So let’s assume that you  have a central air conditioning system in your current home. Why would you need to throw $300 at a portable AC? During the hotter days, cranking up your central AC to cool down your bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchen may seem like an unecessary thing, especially when you’re spending 8 hours in the living room! You are not only saving yourself a few dollars on your energy bill, but also saving the environment.

Electricity is mainly powered by unsustainable sources, like fossil fuel. Power plants can draw electricity from coal, petroleum, or oil. Recently there have been rennovations in the energy sphere, like wind-powered, hydro-powered, and solar-powered energy plants. However, 40% of the world’s energy still comes from fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels can take weeks to refine, but millions of years to make. The fuels are basically sludges of dead organisms that have been so thoroughly decomposed that there is nothing else that can be gained from it. Within a human lifetime, it is impossible to sustain the same amount of fossil fuel. We ultimately use more than we can produce.

Not to mention the air pollution these power plants emit. Due to our growing need for power without sustainable resources, the Earth is coughing up CO2. This is not even mentioning the amount of vehicles and other mechanisms that use oil, petroleum, or coal on a daily basis.

If anything, you should use a portable AC to conserve more energy and to also live comfortably. Remember, humans have lived in all sorts of climates without air conditioning technology! You can be both frugal and Earth-friendly by purchasing appliances like a portable air conditioner to reduce your energy usage.