Supply Installation
The popular, affordable Black+Decker BPACT14WT delivers where it counts—in cooling performance—better than anything else in its price range. But it’s a little rough around the edges compared with our other picks: Its operation is louder, its controls are clunkier, and it lacks the nice details we like about some other models. But even so, it gets the job done, and it’s a fine choice if you need a portable AC at something closer to a window-AC price.climatisation Why you should trust us We’ve been considering and testing air conditioners in general since 2013 and evaluating portable units in particular beginning in 2016. In that time, we’ve put more than 125 hours into researching and testing the full field, spending dozens of hours focused on portables specifically. We’ve considered nearly 175 different portable models and performed hands-on trials with more than 20 of the best options available. We’ve met with manufacturers at trade shows and events, corresponded with sources over years of interviews, and combed through volumes of Department of Energy material about AC efficiency standards. Thom Dunn has written Wirecutter guides to window air conditioners, room fans, space heaters, and more. He has also published articles for The Huffington Post, Upworthy, Vice, The Weather Channel, and other outlets, and in 2019 he was commissioned by Cornell University to create a full-length play about community responses to climate change. He is particularly good at being cool. This guide builds on earlier work done by Wirecutter senior staff writer Liam McCabe, who has been writing about appliances for Wirecutter since 2013.Who this is for If you don’t have central air conditioning, you should first look into window ACs or ductless mini-splits, which are generally more efficient and (in the case of window units) more affordable. But not every room or window type can accommodate a window AC, and mini-split installations can be too costly or complicated. If you find yourself in one of those situations, a portable air conditioner could make the difference between sweltering surroundings and comfort. You still need to have a window for a portable AC, however, as a place to vent the heat to the outdoors. This bears repeating, because it’s a common misunderstanding regarding something called “portable”: All of these units require a window and an electrical outlet within a few feet of where they’re operating.