![TCL 5,000 BTU SACC [8,100 BTU ASHRAE] Smart Portable Air Conditioner - H5P44W](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61MG6B-e39L._AC_UL400_.jpg)
Before I get started, I'd like to say that I'm the type of guy who absolutely can NOT stand the heat. Anything over 80 degrees and I start losing my marbles. I get easily irritated, I get a bad temper, can't focus, can't work, and can't think straight when it gets too hot at home. So when the recent heat waves were hitting California, I knew I had to buy a portable AC. I ended up purchasing this particular unit because it was slightly cheaper than the competition, and more importantly it had a dual hose setup which I wanted. Won't lie, I had my reservations making this purchase, since so many things can go wrong with this type of product. However, when it arrived and I started using it, it's been nothing but an icy blast thus far!
So here we go with the details. The unit arrived, and I set it up myself without any issues. Took me about 30 min to get it all done. I noticed that the window board was pretty thin, so I put some extra foam behind the edges of the board to block some outside noise (kids playing in the courtyard). Additionally, I also put gorilla tape around the whole edge of the window board to prevent hot air from leaking into the apartment.
After getting it set up, I let it rest for 24 hours (which you should always do with portable AC's). I came home the next day from work and it was about 95 degrees outside. However, inside my apartment felt way hotter like a sauna/green room as it was baking in the heat with the windows closed all day. Immediately, I put this baby on blast at the highest setting, and set the temperature to 61 degrees which is the lowest. A short 10 minutes later, the apartment living room felt like it was livable again. An hour later, and I was in a cool paradise. I even set up a box fan that blew from my living room into my bedroom and to my surprise, this method actually cooled my room down to a sleepable temperature!
The first two weeks I've had it I was super paranoid with the whole leakage situation. I would check back every 1-2 hours like clockwork to see if the AC was leaking water onto the floor. Part of my paranoia was caused by the dripping sound I hear within the unit. To my surprise, even after a month of use, I haven't gotten any leakages! The self evaporating system seems to be working great thus far, at least in my humidity level. If you want to compare to your environment, just look up Culver City, California temperatures & humidity and you'll be able to see what kind of environment my AC has been running on. Today is 86 degrees, with 53% humidity, and I usually have it running 6-10 hours a day. No leaks, and no drain pipe needed, at least not yet.
There was one small issue I've had though. This is NOT a quiet unit. If you're looking for something quiet perhaps for a baby's room, this is not the one. It definitely runs loud. I don't know the exact decibel level but when sitting next to it, it sounds like there's a tiny lawn mower roaring next to me. I'm completely OK with the sound level, and it's not loud enough to interfere with my discord calls, even when I'm sitting right next to it, so all is well. Plus, I'd rather my apartment be a little noisier but cool, than silent and hot lol...
All in all, this was a magnificent purchase thus far and worth every dollar. It seems like each individual customer's experience may vary, but mine has been great through this month of intense Cali heat. Would strongly recommend this product to anyone who feels like their soul is melting to the heat. Hope this helps!
TLDR: Reliable unit so far, great cooling, easy assembly, no leaks, but LOUD!
| Manufacturer | Whynter LLC |
|---|---|
| Part Number | ARC-122DS |
| Item Weight | 68 pounds |
| Item model number | ARC-122DS |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Color | Gray |
| Style | Cooling Only |
| Material | Carbon |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Voltage | 115 Volts |
| Wattage | 1200 |
| Installation Method | Window |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Air Flow Capacity | 194 Cubic Feet Per Minute |
| Sound Level | 47 dB |
| Special Features | Portable, Dual Hose, Dehumidifier |
| Included Components | Window installation accessories, remote, and storage cover bag with pocket |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1-year limited manufacturer's warranty and 3-year compressor warranty. |
| Capacity | 82 Pints |
| Floor Area | 400 Square Feet |
| Cable Length | 6 Feet |
