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If you’re shopping for the best dual hose portable air conditioner, you’re going to want to focus on the BTUs and ensure that it’s compatible with the square footage of the area you wish to cool. Also, think about the CFMs as a high CFM rating can ensure that cool air is properly circulating in a room. Portable ACs can be great for vertical window installation, so check the panel dimensions in the installation kit. Also think about additional features like supplemental heat or programmability which can make it easier to keep your home comfortable, even when you’re not home.
After conducting exhaustive research through countless consumer reviews, we nominated the Whynter ARC 14S dual hose portable air conditioner as our Top Pick. Keep reading to learn more about our recommendations and the criteria we used to create our guides for the best air conditioners.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: A three-in-one solution with 14,000 BTUs to cool up to 500 square feet with three with a 253 CFM rating and 71 pints per day evaporation rate makes this the best dual hose portable air conditioner.
Portable AC units can be a great solution for people that aren’t interested in or able to install a more permanent climate control solution. We’ve selected the Whynter ARC 14S as the best dual hose portable air conditioner because it’s great for larger rooms that are up to 500 square feet. This three-in-one solution offers cooling, a dehumidifier, and a fan setting. With 14,000 BTUs you have plenty of cooling power to stay comfortable on even the hottest day. We also like that the dehumidifier has an evaporation rate of 71 pints per day. While that’s not the highest rating from our research, it’s in the solid median tier. But, compare the Whynter ARC-14sh air conditioner vs Toyomi TAD-T40LW and you’ll see which one truly reigns supreme.
You’ll get three cooling and three fan speeds for increased comfort. The included installation kit features a panel with a maximum width of 46 inches. If you need more help with installing a portable AC, our resource articles can assist you. We also like that the Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU dual hose portable air conditioner has a 253 CFM rating which is one of the more powerful options we’ve seen with dual hose designs. As is becoming increasingly standard, this pick features a digital readout thermostat and of course, you also get a remote control to manage your settings. Another nice feature is the activated carbon filter for improved air quality and the included storage bag to prevent dust from collecting when your portable AC unit isn’t in use. Other key features include a 24-hour programmable timer and a self-evaporative drainage system which eliminates the need for manually draining the collection tank. Compare this to the best evaporative air conditioner for indoor, outdoor, and covered outdoor use. Moreover, if you have problems with leaks, check out our info article discussing why your portable air conditioner is leaking water.
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: A four-in-one portable air conditioner with a higher evaporation rate of 96 pints per day, and 12,000 BTUs to effectively heat or cool spaces as large as 400 square feet.
A nice thing about portable air conditioners is that it’s possible to find models that also offer supplemental heat. While this isn’t an efficient option for trying to fully heat a home or room, it can be great for people with an existing heat system that maybe isn’t as powerful in specific rooms or areas. The Whynter ARC 12SD is a solid four-in-one solution that offers cooling, heating, dehumidification, and a fan function. We like that it has 12,000 BTUs that are rated for spaces up to 400 square feet.
While the Whynter ARC 12SD has a lower CFM of just 188, we do like that it has a higher evaporation rate of 96 pints per day. This dual hose model includes a full installation kit that can accommodate windows up to 46 inches tall or wide. And for most environments, the self-evaporative drainage should eliminate the need to manually empty the collection tank. As is standard, this model features a digital control panel and comes with a remote control. You’ll also get a washable pre-filter and an activated carbon filter. Note that the carbon filter cannot be removed. For this reason, you may prefer the best portable air conditioner for RVs and the leading RV air conditioners that have removable and washable filters.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: A wallet-friendly three-in-one portable AC that’s powerful enough to cool rooms up to 400 square feet with a self-evaporative design and a 76 pints per day evaporation rate.
The Whynter Elite ARC 112DS is another great solution from a reliable portable air conditioner manufacturer. This budget-friendly solution offers 12,000 BTUs and can cool rooms up to 400 square feet. This dual hose solution is designed as a three-in-one solution that includes cooling, dehumidification, and a fan. When the dehumidifier is on, you can remove as many as 76 pints per day. While this isn’t the highest rating by far, it’s still a solid choice.
As is standard, the Whynter Elite comes with a window installation kit including an extendable exhaust hose. The included panel can be adjusted between 20 and 46 inches, making it a great choice for horizontal sliding windows or traditional vertical ones. You’ll also like that this is another unit that features self-evaporative drainage. Other standard features include a removable washable pre-filter, a 24-hour programmable timer, and an included remote to manage settings as opposed to using the digital control panel on the unit. Plus in the lowest mode, this unit only emits 52 decibels of sound, making it a good choice for bedrooms. The only drawback we found with this unit was the 155 CFM rating which is pretty low for this product category. Quieter units with higher CFM ratings may be found in the best central air conditioners.
Award: BEST FOR BEDROOMS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A great supplemental cooling unit that offers three-in-one functionality thanks to the 11,000 BTUs that can cool spaces up to 350 square feet.
The Whynter ARC 110WD is a great dual hose portable AC that is another three-in-one solution in our guide. You’ll get cooling, dehumidification, and a fan function along with 11,000 BTUs designed to cool spaces as large as 350 square feet. We found that this unit has a pretty solid evaporation rate, with the ability to remove up to 81 pints per day from the air. We like that this pick also has a great auto feature that helps to keep your room cool while also adjusting power consumption for a more energy-efficient solution.
As is standard with Whynter air conditioners, this model supports self-evaporative drainage — although you can also manually empty the tank if you prefer. Likewise, you’ll get the washable pre-filter and a carbon air filter. This is a median option when it comes to noise. At the lowest fan speed, this unit emits around 56 decibels of sound. Note that this is another option with a low CFM rating of just 177. Another nice feature with this pick is the auto-restart that remembers the last settings you entered before a power outage and reverts to those when the unit is turned on again. Likewise, you’ll get a 24-hour programmable timer. The best portable air conditioner and heater is also a smart solution with a 24-hour programmable timer.
Award: BEST FOR ALL SEASONS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A four-in-one solution with supplemental heat, a CFM range of 253, and 14,000 BTUs to powerfully cool or heat rooms as large as 500 square feet
If you have an existing climate control system in your home but find that there’s one room that’s cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer, a portable AC unit can be a great workaround to a complete HVAC overhaul. The Whynter ARC-14SH is a great year-round solution thanks to its four-in-one functionality. You’ll get 14,000 BTUs and a CFM of 253 to effectively cool or heat spaces up to 500 square feet.
The installation kit works with sliding or casement windows, with dimensions of 6.5″ W x 20″-46″ L. Still, we like that this is another great option with self-evaporative drainage support. Likewise, you’ll get a 71 pints per day evaporation rate, as well as three fan speeds. And while not all top portable air conditioner manufacturers share the energy efficiency ratings, this unit has an 11.2 EER, which is incredibly efficient. Other units with higher energy efficiency ratings include the best ductless mini-split air conditioners.
Award: BEST PURIFIER
WHY WE LIKE IT: A dual hose portable AC with three-in-one functionality and a 3M antimicrobial air filter for enhanced air quality, along with 14,000 BTUs and a 226 CFM for powerful airflow.
The Whynter ARC 143MX 14,000 BTU dual hose portable air conditioner is a solid choice for people focused on air quality. If not properly maintained, an air conditioner can contribute to poor air quality by pushing dirt, dust, and allergens through the air. But the Whynter ARC 143MX not only features a washable pre-filter, but a 3M antimicrobial air filter to trap dust, allergens, and pathogens from the air so you can breathe easier. We like that this is a powerful unit with 14,000 BTUs and 226 CFMs to powerfully cool rooms up to 500 square feet.
This dual hose unit also comes with a few standard Whynter AC features such as self-evaporative drainage functionality, a 24-hour programmable timer, and auto-restart that remembers the last settings and will automatically power on and revert to them after a power outage. Note that this three-in-one solution has an evaporation rate that can remove up to 91 pints per day. However, the 56-decibel noise output in the lowest setting may be a bit high for some people if they want to install this in their bedroom. You should consider some of the best LG air conditioners have a much lower noise output.
Award: BEST QUIET OPERATION
WHY WE LIKE IT: A powerful and sleekly designed four-in-one solution with supplemental heat for spaces up to 500 square feet, and with a super quiet 50-decibel sound output in the lowest mode, making it perfect for bedrooms.
No one likes a noisy air conditioner, especially if you’re thinking of setting this unit up in a bedroom. The Haier dual hose portable air conditioner is one of the quietest options we found while researching AC units for this guide. At just 50 decibels of sound output in the lowest setting, this is fairly quiet and should be ideal for anyone to use in their bedroom. You’ll get a four-in-one solution that includes supplemental heat, making it a smart choice for people in more temperate climates or those who need a little more heating power to support an existing heating system.
This translates to 14,000 BTUs for cooling and 10,000 BTUs for heating spaces as large as 500s square feet. We also like the sleek design of this model which includes a black and silver panel and a touch button control panel that would be ideal for people of all ages to use, including seniors. You’ll also appreciate the compact dimensions that measure 15.25 inches long, 17.75 inches wide, and 29.44 inches tall so that it’s not taking up too much space in a room. Other key features include a 24-hour programmable timer, dehumidifier along with three fans, three heating, and three cooling speeds. Note though that while this model also supports self-evaporative drainage, if you live in a more humid climate, you may still find that you need to manually empty the collection tank. And for spending the day on your patio on the hot summer days, the best outdoor air conditioner is just perfect.
Award: BEST FOR LARGE AREAS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A 12,000 BTU three-in-one portable AC unit that can cool rooms as large as 350 square feet and a self-evaporative drainage system to make this an intuitive solution.
For people that need to cool larger areas, Vremi is a great dual-hose air conditioner solution. This model is a three-in-one solution that includes a dehumidifier mode. You’ll get 12,000 BTUs and 218 CFM to efficiently move air through rooms as large as 350 square feet. We like that this model has a decent evaporation rate. As is standard, you’ll get three cooling and three fan speeds for climate control.
You do get standard features like self-evaporative drainage, a 24-hour programmable timer, and an auto-restart function that remembers the last settings when it restarts after an outage. This is as important as the supplemental hot air function on the best windowless air conditioners.
Award: BEST FOR VERTICAL WINDOWS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A great dual hose AC unit that’s perfect for vertical windows thanks to the longer panel included in the installation kit and 12,000 BTUs to effectively cool rooms up to 450 square feet.
People with vertical windows may not like the idea of traditional window air conditioners since casement AC units can be cumbersome and harder to install. In that case, a portable air conditioner can be a great alternative. This VAGKRI dual hose portable air conditioner is an ideal choice for vertical or sliding windows thanks to the included panel in the installation kit that can be adjusted from 32 to 56 inches. This 12,000 BTU unit can cool rooms up to 400 square feet, making it ideal for living rooms or larger bedrooms.
We like that this model has a commendable 5 pints per hour evaporation rate, meaning that it’s also another three-in-one solution. As is standard, you’ll get three cooling and three fan speeds, a 24-hour programmable timer, and self-evaporative drainage. We also noted that the sound output is 52 decibels, but only if used on a low setting. Additionally, you have a digital display control panel and a remote control for easier operation. The best air conditioner for sliding windows also includes a modern digital touch control panel, along with a remote.
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Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: A portable AC unit that offers three-in-one functionality that’s ideal for smaller rooms up to 200 square feet thanks to the 8,000 BTUs and self-evaporative drainage for one less to-do on your list.
When you have a smaller room, you need to make sure that your air conditioner isn’t too powerful. Even though it might seem like it makes sense to pick a unit with more BTUs, this can backfire since the unit may consume too much energy. This can lead to possible power outages, a room that’s too cold and damp, and wearing out the air conditioner prematurely. We like the LP0817WSR because it’s an LG dual hose portable air conditioner that is easy to install with intuitive functionality and 8,000 BTUs for up to 200 square feet.
You’ll appreciate that this unit has a 250 CFM rating which makes it fairly powerful for this product category. This three-in-one solution offers cooling, dehumidification, and a fan function. However, we did note that you only get two cooling and two fan speeds, as opposed to getting three per mode as is usually the standard. And the evaporation mode can only remove 43.2 pints per 24 hours, which is one of the lowest rates we’ve seen across air conditioners in general — not just portable units. Still, with a low 51-decibel output at the lowest fan speed, this is a quiet option that’s great if you find standard air conditioners to be too noisy. Its noise output is comparable to the best tower air conditioner, which even features a white noise mode.
Dual hose portable air conditioners are ideal for people who don’t want the struggle of installing a traditional mounted AC unit or can’t do so. To create our guide, we focused on the following key features — BTUs, CFM, window compatibility, programmability, and additional features.
You’ll find that in our guide all of our picks ranged between 8,000 to 14,000 BTUs. For home use, this range should be more than sufficient since it covers areas as small as 200 square feet to as large as 550 square feet. These tiny spaces are great for the smallest portable air conditioners. While not all brands share CFM ratings, where available we did include them. Since the CFM refers to how effectively air can be circulated, you’ll want to look for higher ratings. Ideally, a range from 200 to 250 is ideal for portable air conditioners.
Next, we considered window compatibility. Portable air conditioners regardless of whether they’re dual or single hose options can be a great alternative for people with sliding or vertical windows who can’t realistically install a traditional window AC unit. However, not all portable air conditioners feature panels in the installation kits that are long enough to be compatible with all vertical windows. Still, we highlighted which brands would be ideal for vertical window installation and which ones may require a bit of DIY action to make them work.
Then, we considered programmability and additional features that can make a unit more intuitive. All of our selections included 24-hour programmable timers but only a few featured auto-restart. Auto-restart allows a unit to remember the settings last entered before an outage, and automatically restart once power has been restored with those previous settings. And for additional features, we noted key options like dehumidification and the associated evaporation rates as well as which units offered supplemental heat.
