Customers recognize the ARC-14S portable air conditioner's excellent cooling performance and ease of installation. Many appreciate its energy efficiency, although some find it large and heavy. While some users report that the unit is quite noisy, others find the noise level acceptable. Concerns were also raised regarding the BTU output and the window kit's design.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 218 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Cooling, Performance
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Unit!
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Large unit, but very powerful. Easy to install and operate. The noise level is higher than my previous unit, but it also cools much faster.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
a win - win for me
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
look at my photo, i have 2 of these, the new one from BB is hooked up and working just a good as my first one that is 3 year old and still working great .. it cools my bedroom and can the whole 2nd floor of 4 bedrooms, you need to add a fan to push the cold out of the one bedroom ,, i plan to rotate use of 2 each summer now ,, so as to reduce wear and tear to each to last as long as it can ..
here are tips if you look at my photo and read further, i made a stand so the ducts are as short as possible,, for best efficiency ,,
tip #2 get 1/4" foam insulation and wrap around the hot exhaust tube with duct tape to hold,,
tip#3 i made a wood window mount to screw and silicone the outlet connectors for a solid mount to easily install and remove..
tip#4 -drill a hole in stand for tubing to a pan under it for overflow water , but so far each summer ,, none has dripped out ,, since all condensing water is blown out the exhaust tube.
Tip#5 before storing after summer ,, unit backwards to make sure the standing water inside is dumped out easily with the stand ,,
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Does the job
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
So far we've only needed our (master) bedroom to be cold and thats what it does. Our room is smaller than 500 sq ft, (apartment living yaaay. ) Some reviews mentioned that its loud but it's not like what i expected. The black box fan from Walmart is louder than this. It fit vertically in our window. The only eye sore is the hoses but its fine. Id rather be cold with an eyesore than melting with no ac. As for the setup, the boyfriend didnt want to mOvE tHe XbOx
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best a/c sold by a terrible store
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This air conditioner saved my life this summer. It cools the first floor of my house! I give this product a 5 star. Although this was my first purchase at Best Buy and will be the last. They told me the store had the product so I paid for it and went to pick it up for it not to even be at the store and I have to wait over a week to get. I would have returned it but I was told it would take 14 business to get my 500$ back.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Powerful
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great ac... only 2 issues, the dual hoses are pretty big in diameter, and the blower itself doesn't have much control of where you want the air to flow... other than that, this really cools the place down! Pics showing custom window insert I had made for hoses..
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Works great
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Good performance. I searched a lot for the proper AC and this was almost good in every review out there. Happy with my purchase. It Came brand new (some say it was used, it was not in my case) and good packaging. The window mount is a little bit flimsy and bends out in my setup, but it works just fine. Get some sealer for your window for sure.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best AC Unit Ever
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Absolutely worth every penny! We have been through soooo many fans but this ac unit has finally cooled down our master bedroom! I high recommend it!!! Dont wait order it now and cool down your room!
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great purchase
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This bad boy works kind of bulky!! i like the evaporation while using dry mode , also the carbon air filter is a plus , keep the unit on for 24hrs with lid aiming to the ceiling, my bill was actually lower for these hot summer days.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Portable air conditioner
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
It cools very well, the noise is only noticeable when the temperature needs to reach programmed numbers
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Air conditioners
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Love my new Air Conditioner especially during hot summer nights. My wife can't leave without it soo cool
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
EER is NOT what product specs on website claims
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Chose this one because other models I was looking at had EER of 10; this one was supposed to be just over 11. Turns out it's an 8.6.
Just got it unpacked so I haven't given it a fair test of function, but product misinformation is a major issue in my opinion. :/
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Whynter Customer Service
Posted .
Hi Xavion,
Thank you for your feedback on your portable air conditioner. The ASHRAE EER is 9.85 and the SACC CEER (DOE Standard) is 7.69. Some of the efficiency ratings have changed due to the Department of Energy testing standard changes.
If you have additional questions, our Customer Support Team is available Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM PST at 1-866-WHYNTER (1-866-949-6837) and at [email protected].
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
keeps my living room cool.
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
i live upstairs in a old apartment, single pane windows..crooked doors with gaps.. i think it works good for what it is.. i own it for a year now..going on my second summer..
helpful hint... if you are gonna wait till the room is 80 plus degrees. then use this ac unit.. its not gonna cool the room.. i have mine sitting in my living room, 450 sq ft. i check the weather and set mine to come on early.. example.. its gonna be 85 or 100 today.. i set it to start running at 7am. i got to work, come home about 4pm.. the place is about 73 to 75 degrees.. i should note that when its 110 to 115 outside.. my inside temp is 77 to 78.. its better then nothing.. i cant have a window ac unit, apartment wont allow. i think it would be cooler if i didnt have gaps in my front door or windows..the unit basicly runs from 7am til 10pm everyday.. my electric bill isnt bad.. probably an extra 40 bucks tops. my freakin portable heater in the winters, uses up way more electricity.. the whynter isnt that loud, for a portable ac.. i had louder ones..
just remeber..get a head start... start this or any portable ac unit early while the room isnt hot yet..
something is better then nohing..and buy thia unit when its on sale..
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Very Nice Unit - Works Great
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Let's start with, it is exactly what is was supposed to be. The unit was packed well; arrived in good shape; was easy and quick to set-up; and, worked extremely well from the first moment it was turned on. Our application is in a datacenter as targeted cooling; it pretty much runs 24 x 7 and provides anticipated cooling. The unit is well built, controls are simple and functional, the dual hoses (intake / output) make it nice for assuring best area cooling effectiveness. The noise levels are lower than anticipated and the ability of the unit to dry condensate is good (no excess water build up). From everything I have seen and experienced for the last month or so, I would highly recommend the unit and as importantly, I would buy another one tomorrow if we needed it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling, Energy efficiency, Installation
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Stay cool and inexpensive without huge solar cost
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought the unit because I can shut off 350 sq ft (kitchen/family room) of my 2400 sq ft house and efficiently (11.2 EER rating) cool a smaller living area for much less money. Using a radiant heater in the same area this winter saved me $100/month; AC should be even better-and much more sensible than solar panels. Installation is simple. Even though temperatures here get to 100+° in the summer, we get a Delta breeze most nights in the 50’s and 60’s and use our Airscape whole house fan overnight and into the mornings to cool entire house.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling, Installation
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Goog protable air conditioner
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought this protable air conditioner after doing some reaseach and reading the reviews. My unit arrived in great condition. It easy to install up and running in minutes. I cannot stand the heat. This AC has worked so far. It cools our bedroom very well. Maybe it too close to our bed it's pretty loud.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling, Ease of use
Cons mentioned:
Noise level
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great alternative to central AC
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Excellent unit! I researched this and decided on a dual hose unit. It is quite expansive but cheaper than central AC. It was easy to install. I only used the part of the window kit with the holes. I went to a hardware store to purchase a thin wood panel and cut it to size of the window. Easy to operate and not to noisy when it is on. It does put out really cold air. I used portable fans to blow the cold air throughout the house. Now it is more comfortable in the house on hot days.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Cons mentioned:
Noise level, Weight
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Product works well but takes long time to cool
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This Whynter - 14,000 portable AC works well in a small enclosed room but if you put it in a bigger room such as your living room or kitchen, it may not be as effective. The product is pretty loud like many others have warned, but it's tolerable. It does take a long time for even a small room to cool down(2-3 hrs), but the product does work. The unit itself is pretty heavy and you will need to carry it upright or else it will get damaged. The hose quality is good but the window covering piece is very cheap. It leaves gaps on the window so that hot air can leak in from outside, which reduces the product's effectiveness. You will also need to figure out how to closed your blinds with the product installed.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I mainly use this during the night. It's super hot and humid here in Ft Worth during the summer. This unit works great! I used to sleep with a box fan going all night to kill noise. Now with this AC unit, i can turn off my central AC at night, and just have this unit on and make my room super cold. The dehumidifier works great as well. My bedroom is no longer stuffy. Yes, this makes noise. Expect it to.
The bad part about this unit is the window connection. It's not energy efficient at all. Hot air comes in from outside in so many places around this piece. I made my own because of this. Just got some MDF, cut it to my window size, cut a couple holes for the hoses, screwed the hose connection pieces to the MDF around the cut holes, used caulk to seal the hose connectors to the MDF, and finally some weather stripping around the perimeter. Air no longer gets by.
I highly recommend this unit. Fantastic.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling
Cons mentioned:
Size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Nice potable AC overall
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
AC seems to work well, I wish there were easier options to make it fit in the window but this is pretty standard. It’s bulky but definitely helps during the hot summer days. The AC does not have an auto turn off - it’s not as techy as I hoped.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Cooling, Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great investment
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works really well in keeping a single wide living room and kitchen cool.