SPT Portable Air Conditioner Reviews
Contents
Using a fan during hot weather sometimes is not enough and it may not always be possible to install a central cooling system or a window unit, that is when you can consider having a portable air conditioner. They can be moved around like a fan but are able to provide almost twice as much cooling as a fan and many of them also have fans. If you are interested in purchasing one, you may want to go through SPT portable air conditioner reviews. This guide will introduce you to 5 highly recommended options and hopefully, you will be able to make a choice.
About SPT
Sunpentown, or SPT as is commonly known, is a company based in California. It has been operating since 1993, specializing in a variety of home appliances. Some of its products include evaporative air coolers, portable air conditioners, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers and wine coolers among others. It started off making products for the American market but has now expanded globally. SPT are known for their quality and affordable products. It's portable air conditioners are some of their best-selling products.
5 Best SPT Portable Air Conditioner
Picture | Name | Capacity (BTU) | Editor Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | SPT WA-1420H | 14,000 | ||
 | SPT WA-1240H | 12,000 | ||
 | SPT WA-8070E | 8,000 | ||
 | Spt WA-9061H Slimline Ac with Heater | 9,000 | ||
 | Spt WA-1061H Slimline | 10,000 |
Recommended SPT Portable Air Conditioner Reviews
SPT WA-1420H, 14000 BTU
Editor Rating:
This is a portable air conditioner you can use for medium to large rooms of about 500 to 700 square feet. It has 4 modes which include heating so that you can use it all year round. The fan has 3 speeds. You can set the louvers to swing automatically or manually set them to a particular direction. To have a healthy environment, you can use the dehumidifier to remove moisture so that mold does not grow.
In the unlikely event of a fire, you can depend on the fire retardant PVC plastic cover to prevent serious damage to the unit.
The power cord also comes with its own storage so that there is no clutter around it.
Pros
- It has a strong BTU that can cool large rooms
- The 4 modes can help you have a comfortable atmosphere no matter the weather outside
- It can be programmed to turn on or off or to run continuously
- The exhaust hose can be extended
Cons
- It can be loud operating as a heater
SPT WA-1240H 12000 BTU
Editor Rating:
With this unit, you can enjoy 4 operational modes. It can cool, dehumidify, heat and it has a fan. The 12,000 BTU lets you cool a room with a maximum area of 450 square feet, though the heating area may be slightly lower. If you worry about the environment, you will be happy to know that there are no-ozone-depleting refrigerants used in this unit.
Compared to other units in its class, this one uses less energy so you should have a lower electric bill than if you were using those units.
I also like that it is able to store your settings so that if the power goes off, it will be able to restart with those same settings.
Pros
- It has an energy efficiency ratio of 8:9 which is better than other units in its class
- It auto evaporates moisture which reduces the need to empty the tank often
- It has 4 operating modes which gives you more value for your money
- It has a programmable timer so that you can choose when it turns on or off even in your absence
Cons
- It can be tricky trying to change the settings using the remote
SPT WA-8070E 8,000BTU
Editor Rating:
This is a unit preferred by people with small spaces to cool like offices and bedrooms. It can cool a maximum area of 250sqft and it comes with features that you are likely to find helpful like the automatic fan or cooling function. With this, depending on the temperature you set, it can determine whether to use the fan or the cooler.
The dehumidifier can also work according to the need to remove moisture as you cool down the room. It has a built in water tank which will drain water as needed and there is less need to empty the tank since it has self-evaporation.
The air filter can be removed and cleaned. I would recommend this for small cooling needs.
Pros
- It has auto fan function which can choose if it is necessary to use the fan or not
- It is more energy efficient than many other AC in its category
- It has a fire resistant plastic housing which minimizes damage in case of a fire or overheating
- Its noise pressure is at 54 decibels which is no louder than a TV in the background
Cons
- Some customers have complained that it is hard to install the exhaust
Spt WA-9061H 9000 BTU Slimline Ac with Heater
Editor Rating:
You can stay warm or cool with this WA-9061H which has a 9000 BTU cooler and an 8500 BTU heater. You can use it to cool a maximum of 250 sqft, but this may depend on certain conditions, for example, if you are running a furnace, do not expect it to be that effective. Under normal use, however, it should prove effective.
It comes with most of the features you would look out for in a good portable air conditioner like a full function remote control, digital thermostat, and a fan with 2 speeds. This unit will get the temperature to the desired degree and can maintain it there.
And if you are wondering about the “Slimline” name, well it is slim and can fit in relatively narrow spaces
Pros
- It has a heater which means you can even use it during the winter
- The fan blows the air in different directions for better circulation
- It is slim so it can fit in narrow spaces that wider units cannot
Cons
- You cannot program it to turn on or off
Spt WA-1061H 10000 BTU Slimline
Editor Rating:
The Slimline 1061H comes in different BTU models and this is the 10000. If you are willing to pay slightly more to be able to cool a wider area, then you can have this one. It has similar features to the 9000 BTU one like the heater, 2-speed fan, humidifier and a digital thermostat. Making a choice between this one and the 9000 one may come down to the size of the room you intend to use it and maybe the price.
The manufacturer says this unit can sense the temperature and adjust the functions accordingly, for example, if it is too hot, it can switch to cooling mode and when the temperature drops, it can switch to heating mode in order to keep a favorable room temperature.
Pros
- It has both heating and cooling function so you can use it all year round
- The switch between cooling and heating is automatic
- In comparison to the 9000 BTU, it can cool 300 square feet
- You do not have to drain the water often
Cons
- The heating system is not so strong
When making a choice, you can opt for the strong SPT AC that can handle large rooms like the WA-1420H which is recommended for between 550 and 700 square feet and it is able t also heat up the room. If you think it is too big and you would like to save some money, then the WA-1240H with 12,000 BTU may be a better choice. My recommendation for small rooms of about 200 square feet would be the WA-8070E with 8000 BTU which despite having less BTU has just about the same features as the 14,000 BTU. I actually like all these units and if I was to make a choice it would be down to the size of the room and not so much the performance since they all perform well.
How to Choose a Good Portable Air Conditioner
Check the BTU
The most important thing is that the air conditioner should be able to cool the room in which you intend to use it. The best way to ensure this is done is to consider its British Thermal Unit (BTU) and then compare it with the area of the room you will be using it in square feet. To determine the area of the room, take a measurement of the length in feet and then multiply it by its width also in feet. Now a BTU of 8,000, can cool as much as 200 sq feet while 10,000BTU will cool 300sq ft. 12,000BTU will cool 400sq ft and so on. You, however, should also bear in mind that the stronger the BTU, the bigger the unit and the heavier.
Consider Added Features
Some air conditioners are more versatile than others, if you are able to go for the more versatile ones that may cost more, go ahead. Apart from being able to cool the room, you may want to look out for some of these extra features.
Dehumidifier: this feature is used to remove moisture from the air within the room. This helps to keep the air fresh. This feature can also prevent mold from growing in your room.
Fan: You may want to just circulate the air in the room as opposed to cooling it. The fan option may save you a higher energy bill and sometimes it is enough just to have a fan blowing the air instead of running the conditioner
Heater: It helps to have a heating system as well on your portable air conditioner so that even during the winter, the same unit will be able to keep the temperature comfortable. You actually save money as well since you do not have to buy or install a heater separately.
Evaporator: Some air conditioners have an evaporator which saves you the trouble of having to empty a bucket from time to time.
Programmable timer: A programmable timer allows you to set the time that the conditioner starts running and when it goes off, this means you can set it to turn on an hour before you get home so that you return to an already cooled house, this feature will also save energy.
Remote control: this is a feature of convenience, you may not want to get out of bed to turn on or off the unit so having a remote control makes it easier.
Lamp off: The lights on some units may be too bright in the night so if there is a lamp off feature, you can have the unit running but without all the indicator lights.
Installing a Portable Air Conditioner
The process of installing a portable air conditioner should be easy and should be done within a few minutes. Most of these units come with a window kit and that is the main part that needs to be installed.
Once you have taken out the unit from the box, you should be able to see the window kit which is composed of a hose, a window bracket, and a hose adapter.
Start by attaching the hose to the adapters according to the instructions from the manufacturer
Ensure that the unit is installed near the window, in most cases, the hose is between 4 and 5 feet long so ensure it can stretch from the unit to the window.
Attach the hose to the part on the air conditioner that the manual says it should be attached to.
Next place the window bracket along the length of the window or if your window slides vertically, then place it along the width.
Some window kits may need to be screwed on while most do not.
Finally, attach the other end of the hose to the bracket and then shut the window to meet the bracket.Plug in the unit and it is ready to blow cool air.
Plug in the unit and it is ready to blow cool air.
