7/08/2010

DeLonghi PAC W130E 13,000-BTU Eco-Friendly Portable Air Conditioner with Water Technology Review

DeLonghi PAC W130E 13,000-BTU Eco-Friendly Portable Air Conditioner with Water TechnologyI admit, I got suckered into buying this unit because of the marketing and slick featureset. What a disappointment.

I am returning it as quickly as possible, and would probably avoid Delonghi products going forward. I was trying to get information on where to buy replacement filters from Delonghi USA (& Canada), the former did not reply to several emails (USA tech support), and the latter - the Canadian support email bounced (no such mailbox). What a joke.

PROS:
Really nice & modern color scheme, graphite and silver.
Pretty blue LCD that displays everything you need to know.
Eco-friendly refrigerant
Side handles (because its very heavy)
3M Biosilver Techsystem

CONS:
VERY Noisy - sounds like an old dishwasher when cooling in Water to Air mode (swishing noise, I am guessing the rotary engine cooling off using the water).
Water refilling to get optimal cooling (to get 13K BTU) is annoying & frequent (Tested on a very hot day I had to refill it every 6 hours), I would bet that most people would give up on this eventually. Without the water, this unit does 9000 BTU in air cooling.
Huge - This thing is only portable due to the casters. Very bulky.
No Oscillating Louvers! The air is blown up in one direction, no choice.
No information on how (part#?) or where to buy the 3M filters that should be replaced once a year.
Heavy - Perhaps I'm being picky here, but this thing is so heavy (128 lbs).

What I recommend instead: The Sharp CVP10MX, as most people here (Amazon) have had a great experience with it. I recommend you have a look.

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Product Description:
13,000 BTU eco-friendly portable air conditioner with water technology.

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7/07/2010

Unistar 4-in-1 Swamp Cooler with Ionic Air Purifier, DF268. Review

Unistar 4-in-1 Swamp Cooler with Ionic Air Purifier, DF268.pros:
- saves you in energy bills since it can cool the room instead of using the ac
- filters are washable
- the included remote gives you controls even in bed
- the 30 min interval timer feature is great specially when it gets too cold at night

cons:
- the ionizer feature is more of a display light than anything
- needs a weekly maintenance. water mineral builds up at the bottom, if you let it sit for more than a week, taking it out posts a problem.
- if you even find the time to actually clean the insides of the fan and and take out the dusts and water deposits, it would take a lot of patients since the machine wasn't designed for easy disassemble. (you'll need a thin long screw driver to take out some of the screws.)

bottom line:
machine is great as an alternative humidifier and room fan.It is a high maintenance machine make sure you clean it every week or two.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Unistar 4-in-1 Swamp Cooler with Ionic Air Purifier, DF268.

Product Description:
No installation! Save 95% on your AC electric bill with this 4-in-1 cooler/ionizer/humidifier/fan rolling from room to room! This year, beat high energy costs with the Kaito Air-Cooler-Ionizer-Humidifier, yet the room temperature is reduced by as much as 12 F! The built-in fresh air anion generator releases streams of negative ions that attract dust and other allergens down and out of the air you inhale. Air feels as fresh as after a springtime rain. Rolls easily on large casters to a guest room, an enclosed porch, or to accompany you from room to room. There are no expensive filters to buy; just rinse the permanent filter. Other features include three air speed: H/ M/ L, four modes selectable, 7.5 hour timer and remote control. Unit comes with two ice packs.

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7/06/2010

SPT SF-609 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler with Ionizer Review

SPT SF-609 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler with IonizerTo be fair, the product does not claim to be an air conditioner. However, it does claim to cool 12 degrees cooler, which I didn't find at all. I live in a dry Colorado climate, and still it is barely cooler than a fan. You have to fill it with tons of ice to even get that, and it requires refilling with water and ice often. If you don't clean it at least once a week, it starts smelling really bad.

All this effort of refilling and cleaning is not worth the 3 to 5 degrees cooler you get. For that, I'd rather just plug in a fan and not have to worry about it every day. Save your money and buy a portable air conditioner. It's worth the extra investment, trust me.

Click Here to see more reviews about: SPT SF-609 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler with Ionizer

Product Description:
This Evaporative Air Cooler, Humidifier, and Fan with Ionizer is versatile, lightweight and economical. The Cooler easily rolls from room to room for use anywhere in your house or office. This Air Cooler shoots a stream of air with oscillating louvers, to evenly distribute refreshing cool air. Can also be used as a fan or humidifier if temperature is not an issue. - plus get the air cleaning benefits of the ionic air purifier. The remote control allows you to easily change settings.The Air Cooler works by endothermic reaction (a reaction that consumes heat), so this evaporative Air Cooler sucks air through a wick saturated with water. As the air flows through the wick, some of the water evaporates into the air, consuming the heat that was in the air. An air stream is then blown out the front of the unit and is considerably cooler than the current room temperature! This is not an air conditioner and therefore uses much less energy. The unit works well in dry climates; not very effective in areas with high humidity as the unit utilizes water to cool.

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7/05/2010

Sharp CV-P10MX Portable Air Conditioner 9,500 BTU, White Review

Sharp CV-P10MX Portable Air Conditioner 9,500 BTU, WhiteI just purchased this Sharp CV-P10MX from Bed Bath and Beyond for [...]- 20% coupon + 8.25% tax - 5% bonus CASHBACK rebate for using my Discover card. Total net purchase price for me was about [...]. That's the best deal I could find and I didn't have to wait for shipping. I got the A/C unit today.

The unit is big. Look at the measurements carefully before purchasing. You need enough space right next to your window for this unit. Even though this is a portable unit with casters to move it around, the exhaust hose setup is more or less semi-permanent. Once installed it's not meant to be taken off very easily. So keep that in mind. Once you've installed it, you essentially can't use your window again to bring in fresh air--not without taking down the exhaust hose installation.

Don't get me wrong. I LIKE this portable unit quite a bit. I do solidly recommend purchasing this unit if you need a portable AC. For what it does, it does it well. The cooling performance is SOLID! Don't listen to other users with similar NON-Sharp units complaining about it not working or not bringing the temp down enough. They either have faulty units or didn't install the exhaust hose properly. These kind of AC units WORK and they work quite well for what they are designed to do. BUT there are shortcomings with these designs. For one, we have blinds AND curtains installed on our windows. With this portable AC installed on this set of windows, our blinds and curtains become essentially useless. Please keep that in mind. Also, it's a real pain to install the exhaust hosing contraption properly into your window frame and to make sure the insulation is properly insulated. It's not impossible but a real pain.

Another bad design about this particular SHARP unit is that there's no display on the AC unit itself. ONLY the remote has all the info/stats. So you can't tell what's going on with the unit just by looking at it. For example, you can't tell the current temp--or at least what the AC unit thinks is the current temp. You can only set the desired temp. on the remote unit. Additionally, you can't tell what setting the fan is currently running at just by looking at the unit. You have to go check your remote, and even then, you don't really know what the real fan speed is currently running at, only that you've set your remote to a certain setting. If you don't point the remote directly at the unit, it may show that you're running at high speed but really you're running at low or medium speed. It's a bad design pure and simple. The AC unit itself should have a display with all pertinent info AND it should have buttons to allow you to change the settings of the AC unit. As it stands, you can ONLY turn the unit on and off on the unit itself. Everything else is controlled by the remote. Make damn sure you don't lose your remote or else it essentially becomes useless to customization.

Another bad design is that the louvers ONLY automatically adjust UP and DOWN. For side to side adjustment, you have to MANUALLY adjust it by going to the unit itself and using your hands to adjust it. What this means is that you get auto action of up and down but not side to side. If your room is very small, it may suffice for just this up/down action, but if you have a bigger room, you're going to get frustrated with the lack of automatic side to side movement of the louvers. Again, bad design.

One of the biggest reason for getting the SHARP units is how quiet they are suppose to be in the lowest setting--supposedly 36 db--however that is just the sound of the fan operating by itself--meaning when the compressor isn't working to produce the actual COLD air. When the AC unit has kicked in with the compressor, the sound, even at the lowest setting, is not very quiet. It's definitely not something you can fall asleep to unless you get adjusted to the sound. Having said that, the Sharp will be the quietest of all the portable AC units out there. I've done ample research before purchasing this unit and this is by far the most quiet unit on the market today. So if you want the quietest machine, this is the unit to purchase but don't be fooled into thinking that it's truly quiet. It's NOT. It'll take some getting use to before one can go to sleep without ear plugs with this unit on. (I've been using ear plugs since my college dorm days to fall asleep so it doesn't bother me one bit but it will bother others initially I'm certain.)

All in all, I solidly like this unit and I believe it's one of the best out there. I am quite satisfied with this purchase. It will absolutely cool your room. If it doesn't, you've either installed it incorrectly or you have a faulty unit. If installed properly, it WILL work very well. But there are shortcomings--described above--to these portable AC units, by nature of their design, not isolated to SHARP units only. Realize these shortcomings before purchasing these kind of portable AC machines and you won't be very disappointed once you get it home and installed.

I know when the next heat wave comes this way, I'll be sitting happily in my bedroom surfing the net with a very "cool" smile and appreciating my Sharp CV-P10MX very much. :)

(I would give this machine 5 stars if they improved upon the user design. Otherwise very happy with the cooling performance of this Sharp CV-P10MX!)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharp CV-P10MX Portable Air Conditioner 9,500 BTU, White

Product Description:
This portable AC is so easy to move anywhere in the house.Enjoy quiet cooling with attractive styling.Controls include Cool, Dehumidify, Fan and Ventilate modes.A fully featured remote control with LCD display allows you to control the unit from anywhere in the room. The flexible exhaust hose and window adapter kit allow venting of the hot air, while keeping rain and insects out.

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7/04/2010

Frigidaire FAS226R2A 22,000-BTU Window Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls Review

Frigidaire FAS226R2A 22,000-BTU Window Air Conditioner with Electronic ControlsThis unit works great and extra support brackets are not needed. Two possible small problems that can be avoided. One, pay attention to the fact that there is special power needs for this. You most likely will have to upgrade breakers, wires and plugs to run this. Second, just take the free delivery! I paid the for three to five day delivery. Once they mailed it took longer than that because of size and weight. Early shipping allowed it to meet the quoted time but the delivery time was off. Save your money.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Frigidaire FAS226R2A 22,000-BTU Window Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls

Product Description:
Ideal for large-size rooms up to 1435 square feet, this window air conditioner delivers a 22,000-BTU cooling capacity and an energy-efficiency rating of 9.4. The unit's electronic controls with full-function remote capabilities make it simple to operate, while its variable-speed fan, multiple air direction, energy saver and sleep modes, 24-hour on/off timer, and auto cool provide added convenience. For those with allergy problems, the air conditioner includes negative ion generators and electrostatic filter elements to provide excellent air-cleaning performance. Other thoughtful details include low-voltage start-up, dehumidification of 7-1/5 pints per hour, a 52-inch power cord, and a clean air ionizer that tilts out for easy cleaning. The unit requires a window height of 19 inches and a width of 31 to 42 inches, and its pleated quick-mount window kit allows for clean, secure installation. Weighing 136 pounds, the air conditioner measures 26-1/2 by 26-1/2 by 18-5/8 inches and carries a one-year full and five-year sealed system warranty.

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7/02/2010

8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner - EdgeStar Review

8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner - EdgeStarSo, I live in a studio. Not verybig at all. You would think this air conditioner would be able to handle keeping it cool. Well, not so much.

Regardless of how low I set it, or how long I kept it running, it kept my studio at 78 degrees. It was actually a better deal to shut it off, open the windows/door and let the air circulate. It actually got cooler in there once I did that.

Moreover, the hose you connect to the window vent is an eye sore, and isn't flexible enough to let your place the unit somewhere convenient. So you end up having to leave the A/C unit in the middle of the room instead of neatly in a corner or against the wall because the vent hose doesn't allow otherwise.

This is pretty much the worse purchase I have made in a LONG time. Worse of all, it doesn't even make sense for me to return it. The seller charges as 12% "re-stocking fee". Moreover, I would need to carry the huge 70+lbs box up and down stairs to get it back to my work so UPS can pick it up. The box is very flimsy once you remove the nylon ribbons that it comes sealed with, and doesn't really allow you to transport it without spending some money on repackaging.

So yeah, I'm stuck with a $300 70+lbs paper weight. Good times.

[EDITED 07/30]: So I was contacted by the seller (CompactApplience) and their conclusion was that my studio was too big for the 8,000 BTU rating. They actually let me return just the A/C unit without having to worry about packing all the awkwardly-shaped pieces, and reimbursed me for everything, including shipping. Although I've decided NOT to try a different unit with a greater BTU rating, I'm leaving this review here so that hopefully people looking into buying this or any other unit are aware of the importance of considering the size of the room you're trying to cool down when you choose the unit BTU. I was remotely aware of that, but didn't look too much into it, and you saw what happened... Luckily for me, the seller handled the situation superbly well. A happy ending, after all. :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner - EdgeStar

Product Description:
The EdgeStar 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner (AP8000W) is an ultra-compact portable air conditioner that delivers a frigid blast of cold air and fits in almost any space. This compact portable air conditioner is stocked full of features. It is capable of cooling up to a 225 square foot room, while offering a dehumidifying function and three speed fan.The EdgeStar AP8000W portable air conditioner is our value choice pick for those customers that are looking for a great price, but don't want to sacrifice quality or features in their purchasing decision. This EdgeStar portable air conditioner also has an adjustable 24 hour timer, so you can set it and forget it. This is a great unit for situations in which you need a stylish unit that provides powerful cooling and versatile operation.This portable air conditioner is environmental friendly and meets new RoHS standards. RoHS, also known as the lead-free directive, stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. The goal of RoHS is to restrict the amount of certain toxins in electronic and electrical equipment such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. This restriction lessens the harmful impact these toxins can have on the environment and allows for the safer disposal and recycling of electronics and electrical equipment.

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7/01/2010

Frigidaire FAM156R1A 15,100-BTU Window Air Conditioner with Electronic Controls Review

Frigidaire FAM156R1A 15,100-BTU Window Air Conditioner with Electronic ControlsI have been using this unit in the hottest summer on record in Phoenix and it has performed great. Installation was typical of a window unit and was not a problem at all. The manual states that if the unit go on and off quickly to move the temperature sensoraway from the cooling coils. I tried this and it didn't stay in place so I put a piece of foam weatherstripping behind it to hold it out from the coils and the unit has worked great since. The remote sensor feature really makes this unit work well and cools the place down. Noise isn't bad for this size unit.

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Product Description:
With a complete line of room air conditioners, portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers, Frigidaire technology is hard at work to enhance the comfort of your home. Offering a broad range of ENERGY STAR models and features like single-touch electronic controls, full-function remotes that double as thermostats, portable air conditioners that heat as well as cool and dehumidifies that operate in low temperatures, Frigidaire Home Comfort products are designed to provide you with easy-to-use, quiet, efficient and reliable service. The FAM156R1A features electronic controls that is coupled with full-function remote capabilities that gives the consumer the control they love at the remote, not the unit. Cool, energy saver and fan modes, On/Off 24-Hour timer, auto cool and sleep can be programmed with the remote. Electronic controls offer filter check reminder and clean air features. It has clean air filtration that provides relief for increasing numbers of allergy and respiratory ailment sufferers. Negative ion generators and electrostatic filter elements are used for air cleaning performance that is substantially higher than conventional filter methods.This Frigidaire FAM156R1A Energy Star Rated Air Conditioner has a 15,100 BTU cooling capacity. It is perfect for large rooms or rooms where supplemental cooling is needed (Up to 350 Square Feet) It features an EER of 10.7. The Variable Speed Fan and 8-Way Air Direction along with Electronic Controls with Full Function Remote and 24 Hour On / Off Timer makes it very easy to operate.

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