Update 6/27/2021 - over the summer months we had had three triple digit days and far too many 90's. Consequently the unit has been running most every day since we received it. it has worked flawlessly over the past two summers and now in our third it is fantastic, never once a problem. to be honest it cools down better than any portable unit we have owned to date. i could not be happier with the performance! also should note a few those days were very humid and as expected all the condensation was blown out the air exhaust hose i.e. no internal/inside water accumulation problems. that said i still hate the bright blue led panel on the front of the unit that cannot be turned off or dimmed at night but nobody's perfect.
Update 7/11/19 – My most recent experience as follows. Yesterday for example outside a high 99F with dew points in the low to mid 50’s. Working from home in room approximately 150 sq. ft with a south facing window. The remote set temp to 77F with the fan set to low. I found the unit was keeping the room at a constant 76F, just off one degree. The condenser unit cycled on about once every 4-5 minutes, running for two minutes then off again. The fan of course runs the entire time in the background but the speed drops down once the condenser shuts down. But even with the compressor running you can stand right next to it speaking with no need to shout let alone raise your voice to be heard. Yes portables are a bit louder across the board but that is because unlike central air or window units all the noise making parts are inside with you not outside your walls.
The rare ninety degree days i grew up with now are the norm. homes around here weren't built for those temps, nobody has central air except in the newest homes. It was about 2005 when we finally purchased our first portable unit. were impressed enough we purchased another that year though from a different manufacturer. All told we have had four machines from three different makers, so a little more experience than most. This unit and the most recent both whynter models.
The unit arrived very quickly, on our doorstep two days after ordering. I greatly appreciated the ups guy who carried it up our stairs. The air conditioner is shipped with more protection than anything I have ever bought in my life, think Russian nesting dolls. After removing the first box, the second, the third then inside that last box was a very thick layer of foam. There was yet another box too with assorted parts inside. The unit itself was even partly covered with a peel off clear plastic protective layer. No surprise ours arrived with in perfect condition.
The Good –
1 Dual hose! For fast cooling and efficiency compared to single hose models. Once we got our first dual hose unit we stopped considering single hose models because this type of design works better
2 Least amount of noise from any portable unit we’ve had to date
3 Rolls/moves around extremely easy. I was able to move it over a medium/high pile carpeted area as if it was a wood floor!
4 Cools very fast. The spare room approx. 150sq feet, tested in at 84F to 75F after about 20 minutes give or take
5 Easy setup, maybe ten minutes once out of the boxing materials
6 Vent slider bar/insert will fit windows from 20” to 46” either vertically or horizontally
7 Water all goes out with the hot air, no drain or bucket to be concerned about
8 all the remote function buttons are duplicated on the front of the air conditioner
The Not So Good –
1 The vent on the conditioner is not powered. That said you can manually adjust angle
2 The remote is just a bad design, too small, not backlit
3 The vent hoses can be tricky to line up with the ‘tabs’ and get snapped into place properly
4 At nearly 80lbs or 100lbs with the box & packing materials can be difficult to move up stairs
5 Front panel bright blue LED readout is very bright w/no means to dim or turn off if using in a sleeping area
Overall I like this unit better than any we’ve had before. It is much easier for me to roll around. The fan on high just blasts the room with cold air. I had no problems setting up other than getting the two hoses lined up so they’d snap in place correctly but a minor gripe. Though we do not use it for our whole home I have no doubt it could keep a couple medium sized adjoining rooms comfortable. As said it does cool well as i found out accidently the first week. I’d left it on by accident, came back later walked into an icebox so from that i know it will cool a room down to 65F.
Regardless for myself the MOST IMPORTANT part is working without breaking down, reliability. The best air conditioner in the world is worthless if it breaks down. My expectations, if I don’t get some good use out of an air conditioner I won’t be a repeat customer. Our last whynter unit worked out well though it didn’t last quite as long as I’d expected. Nonetheless my overall impression that older model was favorable which is why we purchased this unit to replace it with.
At this point I am very happy how things have turned out. Even on the hottest day this year 102F it worked perfectly. no drainage issues, no cooling issues, not a single problem. That being said reliability takes time to assess so once the summer has ended I’ll update this review and will continue to post updates for so long as it is working.
| Manufacturer | Whynter |
|---|---|
| Part Number | ARC-14S |
| Item Weight | 73 pounds |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | ARC-14S |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Color | Platinum/Black |
| Style | AC Unit Only |
| Material | Carbon |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Voltage | 115 Volts |
| Wattage | 1300 watts |
| Installation Method | Window |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Air Flow Capacity | 222 Cubic Feet Per Minute |
| Sound Level | 56 dB |
| Special Features | Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner, Activated Carbon Filter, Dual Hose, Dehumidifier |
| Included Components | Window installation accessories, remote, and storage cover bag with pocket |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | One year warranty on unit. Three year warranty on compressor. |
| Capacity | 500 Cubic Feet |
| Floor Area | 500 Square Feet |
| Cable Length | 6.5 Feet |
