summer heating and cooling

5 Portable Air Conditioners to Fight the Heat

When you’re desperately in need of something to keep you from melting

We're hitting the dog days of summer, and it's far too hot to rely on just your central air. With temperatures regularly breaking triple digits,  all we can hope to do is to drink plenty and hide indoors until the worst of the heat has passed. What if your area is struggling with rolling brownouts though? Or if you're not trying to freeze your entire house, you want to focus on just the room you're in? Whatever your reasons might be, and we know there are plenty we've missed, we're taking a look at 5 of the best-rated portable air conditioning units. 



This week we're taking a look at 3 Frigidaires, a Whynter, and a relatively new contender, Amazon.  All five of them have been compared on a five-star system both in labs and by consumers. 





Amazon Basics MPPDB-09CRN1-BCG5 - Just Starting

Price $446

White portable air conditioner with a fan that can be tucked away on top, in front of the control buttons.

Let's start off with the Amazon Basics. This is the first time we're taking a look at an Amazon Basics appliance on the blog, and we weren't sure what to expect. On the site it has four stars out of five for reviews.  Half of the reviews on amazon for this are at 5 stars. On the other hand, in lab settings, we testers weren't all that impressed with the model. When tested for being able to cool a room sized for that particular unit (400 sq ft) on high, it only rated a 3/5 stars. It took far longer than testing felt that it should have given the size of the room. It also didn't do great at keeping the room at the temperature it was set to when the air was measured with a thermometer.  It's also rather noisy, both at high fan settings and low, something that isn't great if you're looking to have conversations, or keep your napping children asleep during summer. Finally, it doesn't let you know when the filter needs to be cleaned. Which admittedly, isn't the end of the world, but it is something that all of the others we're looking at offer. 




Opinion: We think that this is a good option if you're looking to get a portable unit /today/ or if you're looking for something for a dorm room. Otherwise, give Amazon some time to work the kinks out with this one. 







Frigidaire FHPW142AC1 - Cheapest Option

Price $484 - $529

Portable air conditioner in with a sleek black top with a recessed fan and several buttons spread across the top in a line.

Now we're taking a look at our cheapest option. Before you discount it based on that, this is still a step up from the Amazon. Although the rating by our testers is still 3/5 and customer ratings on Amazon rank it  as 4/5 we would have to argue that the availability of a reliable customer support team makes up for issues in that department. Much like the Amazon, this Frigidaire is rather noisy both on high and low settings, The second biggest difference in our opinion is that it does let you know when the filter needs to be cleaned out. It might not seem like a large issue, but when it reduces the effectiveness of the unit, it really is. 

Opinion: Better than the Amazon, but only by a smidge. Go for it if the name brand or customer support matter more to you. 









Frigidaire FHPC132AB1-Easy to Buy, Easy to Move

Price $490 - $519

A portable air conditioner on wheels with a slick top, a row of buttons and a recessed fan as well as a depression around the entire frame.

Another Frigidaire this time, but it's a step up in comparison to the last. 4/5 in lab conditions with a 4/5 on Amazon, and 57% of that being 5 stars. People like this one. It's easy to buy, easy to move around, and it works. What's even better is that unlike our last two units, this one is actually quiet on it's low setting. It's still a  noisy when set to high, but at least when you've got in on low you'll be able to have a decent conversation.  This one is also the lightest out of all five units that we looked at only 75 lbs. Even better, it only uses 13,000 BTUs an hour, compared to 14,000 as most of the others do. 

Opinion: Solid middle of the scale unit. It's easy to get your hands on and it works hard at keeping your home cool, while still keeping it as noise free as possible. 











Whynter ARC-14S - Consistent Price, Consistent Service

Price $599 

A thin portable air conditioner with a fan on top and the buttons on the front panel of it.

Finally, not a Frigidaire. Starting off by looking at the ratings, this one scored 5/5 for customer reviews and 4/5 in lab testing. The only point where it didn't do outstanding in terms of how quickly it was able to cool a room down to the specified temperature. That isn't to say that it didn't get there (or else it wouldn't have 5/5 stars.) Its simply that if you're going from a room that is extremely hot and asking it to get to 70* it's going to take time, even with the 14,000 BTUs.  It was ranked as the best overall portable air conditioner by Good Housekeeping, which had us surprised, after we took  a look at our best rated unit. The thing we loved best about this one is that when set to low, it's almost silent. It's still noisy when on high, but we're beginning to think that there aren't any portable ac units that can be quiet when cooling off a house in Texas. 

Opinion: A fantastic option with a glowing review from one of the best known companies in American homes. 






Frigidaire Gallery GHPC132AB1 -Biggest Variable in Price, and Best Rated

Price $549 - $856

And for our last one, we're back to a Frigidaire. Oops.  

However, this one is also the best on the list. 

A portable air conditioner on wheels with a beveled edge around the top, a recessed fan and a slick top with buttons set in.

It's rated 4.5 out of 5 in lab tests and 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon. It is wi-fi connected so that you can turn it on when you're on your way home and make sure that the room is cool when you get there. (Honestly, that is one of the only times we can say we absolutely get connecting an appliance to wi-fi.) It also is easy to clean and care for with the easy to clean air filter and the tank that you take out for the dehumidifier. It's even quieter than any of the others on the list when set to high. It's not silent, but it's working on it. Best of all, if allergies are kicking your butt as much as the rest of us, this model offers a clean air ionizer to reduce particles and kill bacteria. 

Opinion: Although it's not rated as the best option by Good Housekeeping, we had to disagree. With how quiet it is at both high and low settings, the ability to reduce airborne particulates and get your home cool before you come home, this is our favorite out of the five we looked at. 











What do you think? Are you going to add one of these to your arsenal to fight back the heat and get through the dog days? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. As always, we'd love to hear from you. 

If you wound up here because your dryer is overheating and making your house hotter, not because of the summer heat, we can still help. At Appliance Rescue Service, we are experts in finding out why your appliances are on the fritz and getting them back into working order. Whether you're fighting with your dryer or your refrigerator, your oven or your dishwasher, give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or reach out to us on our contact page. Our goal is to get your home running smoothly again.

Beat the Heat with these 5 Summer Cooking Tips

Summers in Texas are brutal!

The weather is already heating up, and sometimes it can be difficult to manage the heat in your kitchen from cooking. Not only can it get uncomfortable, but it raises your energy bills. No bueno.

Appliance Rescue Service is a top appliance repairman in Dallas, Texas, and we know that those kitchen appliances – ovens, cooktops, etc. – can really raise the temperatures during the summer months. Try these 5 tips to keep it cooler!

 

1.  Add a Fan

Adding a fan will circulate air and keep your kitchen cooler with minimal effort. No need to install a permanent one (unless you really want to!), a tabletop fan will work just fine.

 

2.  Lean on Small Appliances vs. Large Appliances

Dig through your cabinets and get out the small appliances that are taking up room – but you never use. Griddles, Panini presses, toaster ovens, etc. are all great appliances to use when making a quick, simple meal on a hot summer evening.

 

3.  Change Your Cooking Time

If you have the opportunity to cook and prep in the morning before you leave for work, then take that opportunity to do so before the hottest hours of the day arrive in the evening. It will be less taxing for your air conditioner, and you’ll have everything cleaned up by dinnertime!

 

4.  Skip the Oven

Your oven is the biggest culprit for adding heat to the kitchen, so rely on small appliances or no-cook meals to get you by. Salads make a wonderful summer dinner and require little effort.

 

5.  Take the Cooking Outdoors

Start up the grille, outdoor cooktop, or smoker and take the cooking outdoors! It’s an easy, fun way to stay cool in the home and enjoy those beautiful summer evenings.

backyard cooking.jpg

 

If you notice any issues with your appliances this summer and suspect appliance repair in Dallas is needed for your refrigerator, oven, cooktop, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher, etc., call us at Appliance Rescue Service! Our fast, friendly technicians will have your issue resolved in no time!