Pretty decent
Pros:
Inexpensive, cools 400sf, relatively quiet, small/light enough for female to carry/install
Cons:
Not the very cheapest on market
Hard to find in stores (but avail online)
The Bottom Line:
It's quiet, lightweight-ish and does the job. I'd recommend it and I'm glad I got it.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I just bought this today so understand I'm only grading it on a few hours of use.
So far, the air conditioner was easy to install and it works fine.I chose a small air conditioner b/c I wanted one I could lift and install myself (I am female) and because I wanted to save money. I have a 5th floor walkup NYC apt that is about 400SQ. I didn't get this unit expecting it to cool the whole place well (that was my compromise for the size) -- just take the edge off. Without any air conditioning (my old one broke), it was literally 92 degrees in here around the clock for the past week. Now, after just 2 hours of having this unit run at the 60 degree setting, it is already down to 88 at the opposite end of the apt from where the air con is. The temperature throughout the apt is very livable already as I sit here in a tshirt and shorts.
One reason I chose this particular unit is because it was rated excellent in noise control by Consumer Reports. That was a much better noise rating than most other units in its category. I could have paid just $79.99 at Home Depot this weekend for a Goldstar. But I have heard they are very loud so instead I decided to pay a little more. This unit was on sale at NewEgg.com for about $150, plus $30 shipping and no sales tax. I had it delivered to my office, threw it in a cab that cost me $8, bought a special Air Con extension cord for $3.99 and voila. All told, I spent $192. It's $100 more than the Goldstar would have cost me, but this is surely a lot more quiet.
It's not silent, mind you, but it's an ok sound. It's like a fan running: that unobtrusive sound of air being forced, along with a low hum. But there is no buzz or grating noise. I am pretty sensitive to sound yet with this I could fall asleep in the same room. I wouldn't love it -- silence is better -- but I could at least do it, and that is saying something.
One good tip I read somewhere. When using a small aircon like this, get a couple cheap ($10) Vornado fans and to use to move the air around the apt. It really makes a difference.
