Buying guide for best honeywell portable air conditioners
If you don’t have central air conditioning, there are probably areas of your home that get pretty warm in hot weather. A portable air conditioner can help cool off a room, and you can move it around your home as your cooling needs change. What’s more, a portable air conditioner is easy to install and costs significantly less than a systemic HVAC upgrade.
Honeywell, a respected name in home heating and cooling, offers some of the best portable air conditioners on the market. Honeywell portable air conditioners are available in a variety of capacities to cool rooms of various sizes. Some models also offer a dehumidifier mode to help remove excess moisture from the air.
Because Honeywell offers quite a few portable air conditioner models, choosing the right one can be challenging. You have to decide which drainage type you prefer, what size space you want to cool, and what other features you require. With our shopping guide, you’ll have all the information you need to find the best Honeywell portable air conditioner for your home. We’ve also included some specific product recommendations to make shopping as simple as can be.
Key considerations
Drainage type
Because a portable air conditioner draws moisture from the air, water collects inside the appliance and needs to be drained. Honeywell portable air conditioners offer three main types of drainage:
- Self-evaporative portable air conditioners exhaust the water back into the air. Some models are fully self-evaporative, so they never have to be emptied manually. Other models are partially self-evaporative, but you will sometimes need to remove water from these units, particularly on hot and humid days.
- Gravity-drain portable air conditioners allow you to drain the water through a hose that’s connected to a floor drain. The water drains continuously, and gravity does all the work.
- Manual portable air conditioners feature a water collection bucket that holds all of the water that the air conditioner removes from the air. You empty the bucket every few hours.
Capacity
Cooling capacity is usually the most important factor to consider when choosing a Honeywell portable air conditioner — or any air conditioner, for that matter. You want a model that’s big enough to cool effectively but not so large that it wastes energy. Air conditioning capacity is measured in British Thermal Units (Btu) per hour. The larger the space you want to cool, the more Btu you need.
In general, you can use these guidelines to determine how powerful your portable air conditioner should be:
- 8,000 Btu can effectively cool rooms that are 200 square feet in size and smaller.
- 10,000 Btu can effectively cool rooms that are 300 to 400 square feet in size.
- 12,000 Btu can effectively cool rooms that are 400 to 450 square feet in size.
- 13,000 Btu can effectively cool rooms that are 450 to 500 square feet in size.
- 14,000 Btu can effectively cool rooms that are 500 to 600 square feet in size.
Honeywell portable air conditioners range in power from 8,000 to 14,000 Btu, so you choose the model that fits your cooling needs.
Features
Digital display
Some high-end Honeywell portable air conditioners feature a digital display, which makes operating the AC a breeze. This feature allows you to easily see the air conditioner’s settings and quickly change them when necessary.
Fan speeds
Nearly all Honeywell portable air conditioners offer multiple fan speeds, so you can choose the best speed for your needs. A higher setting can help circulate the air more effectively, especially on hotter days. Honeywell portable air conditioners typically offer three speed options.
Dehumidifier function
Most Honeywell portable air conditioners can also operate solely as a dehumidifier. When the weather is cooler, the unit simply removes moisture from the air without cooling the room. Keep in mind that you will need to connect the unit to a drainage hose or empty it manually when it’s functioning in dehumidifier mode.
Timer
Many Honeywell portable air conditioners have a programmable timer function. That means you can set your AC to turn on shortly before you leave work, so your home is cool when you get there. It can also help you save energy by turning the AC off at a specific time.
Remote control
Most Honeywell portable air conditioners include a remote control, so you’re able to operate the appliance from across the room. You can usually turn the AC unit on and off, adjust the temperature setting, and change fan speeds without having to leave the couch.
"Honeywell doesn’t recommend using an extension cord with its portable air conditioners. "
STAFF
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Honeywell portable air conditioner prices
Honeywell air conditioners vary in price based on how large an area they can cool and how many special features they offer. Prices range from $250 to $700.
The most affordable Honeywell air conditioners are those that offer less than 10,000 Btu and don’t have many special features. You’ll typically pay between $250 and $325 for models in this category.
Mid-range Honeywell air conditioners will provide between 10,000 and 12,000 Btu of cooling power. They often have some special features, such as a digital display and remote control. They usually cost between $325 and $560.
The most expensive Honeywell portable AC units will offer 12,000 to 14,000 Btu of power. They have plenty of special features, including a digital display, a remote control, and a timer function. You’ll usually pay between $560 and $700 for these high-end models.
Tips
● Avoid placing your portable air conditioner in a sunny area of your home. The heat from the sun will force the AC unit to work harder to cool your room.
● Don’t place your portable air conditioner flush with a wall. Instead, make sure there’s some space between the wall and the appliance so air can flow. Your owner’s manual should have a recommendation for how much space to leave between the two.
● Make sure that your portable air conditioner’s exhaust hose is as straight as possible. Kinks in the hose could limit the airflow and discourage ventilation.
FAQ
Q. Do I have to vent a Honeywell portable air conditioner?
A. All portable air conditioners require some type of venting, and Honeywell models are no exception. Most people choose to vent a portable air conditioner through a window. Honeywell includes an easy-to-install window venting kit with all of its portable ACs.
Q. How much noise does a Honeywell portable air conditioner make?
A. The air conditioners feature both a fan and a compressor, so they do make noise when in use. They make roughly the same amount of noise as a window AC unit. For most people, the sound amounts to white noise that won’t disturb your sleep. Some people even find it soothing.
Q. Does a Honeywell portable air conditioner require any special electrical hookup?
A. Honeywell portable air conditioners operate at a standard household voltage of 120 volts, which means you should be able to plug your AC into any outlet in your home.
