Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsTwo hose system, but may not cool you down, and may trip your circuit, multiple times a day.
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2019
SUMMARY (final update 8/17/22):
I recommend the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 instead. You WILL thank me later. With the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001, I can now turn off my other Whynter ARC-14S even on 90 degree days, unless it's around 100 degrees! It's so cold on 90 degree days I have to turn it down or off in the mornings and evenings!
Anyways, I purchased 3 of these Whynter ARC-14S units, so read my review carefully as I have more experience than most reviewers. My first purchased in 2017 was good, and lasted me until 2022 when the fan started making a grinding noise.
My second purchased in 2021 immediately started tripping the same circuit when I first tried it where my first unit wasn't having much problems. After tripping the circuit, it goes into this mode where the compressor runs for 2.5 minutes with cold air, followed by the compressor off for 7 mins and blowing warm 75 degree+ air. I had to swap my first unit back, which immediately began cooling the room. The second unit doesn't blow cool air all the time. It mostly does better on less hot days, but struggles on hot high 90s days, especially if humidity is over 60%. In the evenings, sometimes even when the temperature outside goes down below 70 degrees, it was still struggling to keep the inside air under 77 degrees due to it blowing warm/hot air, so then I have to shut it off completely and use a fan to blow air from the outside. When it's working well, the compressor appears to be on most of the time. When the compressor turns off, sometimes it blows 70 degree air for about 7 mins before the compressor kicks back in. On some hot and humid days, it blows 75 degree warm air for 7 minutes while the compressor is off, basically warming up the place. However, I keep this 2nd unit in my bedroom to help me sleep at night on warm nights so I've learned to deal with it.
My third unit purchased in July 2022 showed the same symptoms as the second unit. However, it runs the compressor for 3.5 minutes and then blows hot 84 degree+ air for 10 mins. To be fair, it starts blowing 70 degree air after the compressor turns off and starts warming up to mid 80s after a few minutes. This obviously causes the place to warm up and ambient temperature to go as high as 80 degrees (while the outside can sometimes be only 85 degrees, or sometimes even cooler). Although, for one day, like a miracle, it kept the ambient temperature around 75 when the outside was 100 degrees. I noticed the compressor wasn't going on and off in that mode support claims is normal for that single day. But that was only for 1 day. After that, it couldn't keep our place cool, even if the outside air was only 80 degrees because it goes into the mode of 3.5 mins compressor on and 10 mins compressor off blowing hot air. See images I posted. As a workaround after thinking about this Whynter unit somehow detecting the ambient temperature or environment and behaving a certain way, I decided to loop a hose from the vent to the back where the air intake starts. I was hoping to trick the AC into running the compressor longer. This seems to mostly work. Sometimes when doing this, the compressor stays on for 10 mins, and then hot air for 10 mins with compressor off. To resolve this manually, I set a 10 min timer to turn on the AC for 10 mins with the compressor running cold air, and then turn it off manually for 10 mins. Rinse and repeat. Yeah, yeah I know this is annoying, but it seems to work better than only 3.5 mins of compressor on.
Anyways, I couldn't live like this because that's still 10 mins of no AC, and manually having to dink around, so I returned this 3rd Whynter ARC-14S for a refund. Amazon sent UPS to pick it up. The shipping boxes were destroyed so I had to go to Home Depot to buy a 24x24x46 box, along with a sturdy chalkboard, which I had Home Depot cut into 23x23 to place at the bottom. That cost me about $29 total. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this Whynter ARC-14S to anyone because 2 of the 3 I purchased blows warm or hot air intermittently, especially on warmer days when you need it most! I've changed the stars down from 5 (for my first unit) to 1 (for the warm/hot air my second and third units blow, heating up my place).
I purchased the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 ( Item B09L15X5MD ), which is a dual hose system inside a single hose, to replace a Whynter ARC-S14 I returned to Amazon. OOOOMMMMMGGGG. It's like night and day, like going from an abusive relationship to a loving, mutual-respect, healthy relationship. I can cook food on the stove and turn on the lights now during 100 degree days!!! With the Whynter ARC-14S, I had to turn off all the lights, sit in the dark and heat because the Whynters (plural, two of them) couldn't cool the temps down, and only eat cold, easy to make food. The DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 screams quality. It's like a Mercedes vs a Ford. It doesn't go into a mode of compressor on/off blowing hot air like the Whynter ARC-14S. It's constantly blowing cold air like those A/Cs you find in good hotels. In fact, the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 kept us so cold in the mornings and it evenings (even as it's 84 degrees at midnight right now), I had to turn it off or from 60 to 70 degrees. Today, the outside temp is 98 and it kept us around 74 degrees all day (as opposed to the Whynter that usually struggles in the evening, raising our room temperature to 76 and as high as 80 sometimes). In the evenings during hot (and sometimes only barely warm) days, the Whynter ARC-14S almost always goes into this 3.5 min compressor mode on, 10 min compressor mode off, blowing hot 80+ degrees air. But, not the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 as it blows cold air non-stop. My only regret is I didn't find the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 sooner. It comes with a bar code to extend warranty to 30 months, with free shipping for repairs, etc. I haven't scanned it yet though. I'd recommend the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 over the Whynter ARC-14S any day.
All those years and hours of sitting in the dark and heat, like primitive hunter-gatherers around the fireplace that I can never get back, while TWO Whynter ARC-14S units were running full blast, wasting electricity, where only this single DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 is able to do the job much, much, MUCH better, makes me sad-happy. Sad for a wasted, suffering for nothing life all these years, and happy these insane days and nights are finally over.
Having one Whynter ARC-14S off most of the time should save a lot of electricity, more than switching to Geico, and pay for itself in no time.
DETAILS:
I've had this unit for THREE+ years as of July, 2020 (purchased March 15, 2017). It's the best portable A/C unit I've owned. I've owned 2 other units in the $300 range to compare. I like that it's a two hose system so it's a little more efficient. I did notice however, because of the way it sucks air in one and out the other, it'll allow insects and spiders into the home. How I solved that was we bought some "Earthwise Reusable Mesh Produce Bags" from the local grocery store and simply put it around the outside of the hose (before plugging it into the circular holder piece), kinda like you would wear a sock. That solved the problem. No more spiders and stuff the second year around.
UPDATE 7/22/2020: This unit has finally started to show it's age. This is the first year it's not kept us cool. 95 degrees outside and it's 80 degrees with this thing running full blast. Before, it was keeping us at least 5-7 degrees cooler. Going to see if I can troubleshoot it....
UPDATE 7/26/2020: I purchased a second unit (for lack of any good 2 hose units on the market at the time). The second unit looks identical to the old one, with the old hose system fitting it perfectly. To my surprise the new unit runs the compressor for about 2 mins and 30 seconds, and then shuts off, and runs at room temp air for about 7 mins before running the compressor again for 2 mins and 30 seconds and then shutting off again. Reading the reviews, this appears to be "normal". However, my old unit I purchased more than 3 years prior didn't behave this way.
Differences:
The exhaust on the old unit is really hot, meaning it's doing it's job. In fact, it's so hot the exhaust can burn you. Instead feeling room temp air after 2 mins and 30 seconds, I still feel cool air. The exhaust on the new system is on the higher warm side. The air is cold for 2 mins and 30 seconds, and then the compressor turns off and all I feel is room temp air for 7 mins.
My room thermometer kept going up with the new unit, going to 82 degrees (100 degrees outside). I switched back to the old unit, and within 5 mins (the compressor is still running or whatever is happening, the cool air is still blowing), and the temp is now down to 79 degrees. Within a few mins, the old unit cooled down the entire place because it isn't spending 7 mins doing jack squat. I know this because when it's turned off, there's ZERO AIR FLOW on the exhaust hose.
While I recommended this unit years ago, now I cannot, without any good conscience, recommend anyone buying this unit because it will not cool you on a hot day.
UPDATE 9/16/2020:
Originally when I replaced the old unit with the new one, the new one tripped my circuit breakers within a few minutes. I didn't think much about it, but I put the old unit back (and it worked w/o tripping breakers), and moved the new unit into the bedroom. I noticed after 1+ day of not using it, the new unit started behaving much better where it could actually cool the room. I'm not sure why.
However, fast forward to almost 2 months later, and my old unit started tripping the circuit breakers multiple times a day (originally starting when it was close to 100 degrees outside and now even when it's only 80 degrees... or in other words it's getting worse) where it had been sitting and working for 3+ years without issues. This is with minimal power draw from anything else, perhaps 2-3 lights on only. THEN... the new unit (which worked without tripping anything for almost 2 months) started tripping the circuit breakers on a totally different circuit. AFTER the new unit tripped the breaker, I noticed it's back to that 2 mins and 30 seconds cold air, followed by 7 minutes of warmer than room temperature air. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT THEN, BUT I THINK TRIPPING THE CIRCUIT SOMEHOW "BROKE" THE NEW UNIT just like it did the first time I used it on the old unit's circuit. It's been a few days now and the new unit is still "broken". Worse, the old unit is now tripping the circuit even with EVERYTHING ELSE turned off (in sometimes as little as 15 mins after I reset the breaker), so we're like basically SITTING IN THE FRIGGEN DARK as evening comes and it'll trip the circuit. I'm not sure if something electrical in my house is broken, or if it's the AC units themselves. I've since disconnected both ACs and turned everything on and nothing's been tripped, so definitely the ACs are contributing.
Note: It's loud as heck, but you get used to it. It's like a louder version of white noise at the office.
UPDATE July 12, 2022: My first unit purchased 2017 finally starting to show its age with just cool (not cold) air coming out, and grinding noise when turned on for a few weeks now. Today it got so bad I turned it off and the grinding noise continued 30+ seconds until the entire fan unit came to a standstill.
The second unit purchased 2 years prior is still doing great, very cold air, with no problems or electrical tripping of the circuit in our bedroom. I suspect now the reason it had trouble initially was the first circuit couldn't provide the unit enough electricity, manifesting in it only working for 2 mins and 30 seconds, and then the compressor turns off and all I feel is warm, humid air for 7 mins.
Also, in case I forget to note, this second unit turns itself off (most of the time) when the room gets cold. It'll turn itself on when the room gets too warm beyond what I set the temperature. The first unit just kept blowing the fan regardless of setting. Good for when I need to keep the place cool while I leave for a few days.
Update: early July, 2022: I'll be purchasing a 3rd unit to replace the 5 year old 1st unit.
Update: July 20, 2022: 3rd unit arrived. Upon turning it on, the compressor kicked in and it was cold for a few minutes.... until it tripped the circuit. After tripping the circuit, it went into the mode of turning on the compressor for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, and then blowing a funky smelling nasty humid, slightly warm air for a good 9+ minutes or more before turning on the compressor for 3 minutes and 30 seconds again. As a result, it did not cool the room as many have complained about. My 2nd unit ran for 2 minutes and 30 seconds with the compressor while in this mode. Anyways, I think my suspicions are confirmed. If it trips the circuit, it goes into this mode where after the compressor runs for a few minutes and turns off, warm 80 degree F air gets blown out of the vent and heats up the place for 10+ minutes. Anyways, I tested a different circuit using a heavy duty extension cable (not the weak type, but commercial type meant to handle the juice), and it did not trip that circuit. If I unplug the power cable to the 3rd unit for a few minutes, it still kept it's 3 minutes and 30 seconds cycle, and in fact after starting it "for the first time" after plugging in the power, the compressor didn't come on. I left it unplugged overnight. After doing that, it was able to run the compressor upon powering it on for a few minutes before the compressor turned off. I suspect this mode has to do with not having enough juice from the outlet.
Having said that, the picture showing the 1250 Watts at 10.8 A is the 1st unit I bought in 2017. It rarely tripped the circuit just by running, although did a few times during 100 degree days, but does so especially if we use lights and devices on that same circuit.
The picture showing the 1300 Watts at 11.6A is the 3rd unit. I don't have an image of the 2nd unit because it's currently against the corner of a wall and I don't want to go through the trouble of getting to the backside. But as you can see, this is the typical problem with Amazon allowing sellers to simply switch products or update them. They get to keep the reviews and Q/A, which may no longer be valid to match their current products. Some sellers go as far as switching products entirely so reviews are completely bogus. Keep this in mind when you're reading reviews from 5+ years ago. Most likely they are no longer valid. Even my 2nd unit I purchased a year prior was running the compressor for 2.5 minutes while this 3rd unit runs if for 3.5 minutes. I'll update the review once I can get the 3rd unit to run the compressor continuously.
Update: July 25, 2022. No go. 3rd unit still doing 3.5 mins AC compressor cold air (ice cold like my 2nd unit), but then 10+ minutes of room and then very warm air (mid 80s F air) and chemical smell. 2nd unit in comparison does 2.5 mins AC compressor cold air followed by close to 10 mins low 70s F air. Not good at all for this 3rd unit. See images. I have it now on a dedicated outlet and it's not tripping the outlet.
Update August 15, 2022: I've decided to return the 3rd unit before my 30 days is expired. I bought a different brand dual hose AC and will update here with that one in a few days. I didn't have the original boxes so I had to buy a 24x24x46 shipping box from Home Depot, along with a strong quarter inch chalkboard was support for the bottom. I had Home Depot cut it into 23x23 for me. I secured the unit with light, hard foam from other stuff I've purchased over the years and taped the foam to the fridge sides of AC unit to secure it against all sides of the shipping box. I also put a 2 inch thick soft but sturdy foam between the chalkboard and the wheels that coincidentally is exactly the size footprint of the AC unit.
Amazon is supposedly sending UPS to pick it up but CS said they can't send anyone to pack it up for me (guessing due to size), so I had to pack it myself.
Anyways, good news and bad news. Good news, this unit was able to keep the temp around 75 degrees F for most of the day when it was 101 degrees outside. I had to turn the unit on all night before and woke up to 69 degrees temps. The compressor appeared to be on most of the time, and not giving me 85 degree warm air. Very strange this intermittent working issue. The bad news is we had 3 days in a row of 100 degrees so as the night temps remained around 70 degrees F outside all night, the ACs struggled and kept doing the 3.5 min cold + 10 min warm mode. The second and third days, the morning was fine, but both ACs went back to the warm air mode, usually in the late afternoons. It seems when there's higher humidity outside, they struggle more too.
What's really bad is even after the days were only 85 degrees, the ACs sometimes go into this mode, much sooner than later afternoon. The 3rd unit also did the warm air mode some nights, all night despite outside air being 60 degrees, so I had to just turn it off completely and open the windows instead to blow outside air in.
I notice when it's cold, the unit works better (unless it's not working at all....), with the compressor not going off. However, sometimes the compressor goes off and the Whynter blows hot air, even when outside temps are in the mid 70s at night, so no exact rhyme or reason. I also noticed once the room temp goes above 76 or 77 degrees F, the 3rd AND 2nd units start going into this 2-3 min compressor cold mode and then 10 minutes of compressor off mode. The 2nd unit blows slightly cooler air during compressor off mode. The irony is these units work well when the temp outside and inside is generally cold, but not so well when hot, exactly the opposite of what you need! It's like a broken phone or car that works when you don't need it, but doesn't work when you absolutely need it to.
I read something in the manual about depending on the room temp so I did a test be looping cold air from the AC back to the air filter suction area (see images). This appeared to help the 3rd unit keep the compressor on for 10 mins before blowing hot air for 10 more minutes. So I had to use a timer countdown to manually leave the AC on for 10 mins, and then shut it off manually for 10 mins so the AC unit would hopefully start the compressor again, and keep repeating this non-sense. Very annoying, I know. Otherwise it's 3.5 mins compressor followed by 10 mins warn air. I timed all this down to the second so I'm not making this up. If you open the air filter, you'll see something behind it. I'm guessing that's the temp sensor. I'm guessing it you can loop cold air back to that exact spot, you can trick the compressor to stay on longer. But, the hot exhaust is next to it so it'll suck hot air in, which is a poor design and is the cause of this problem I'm guessing. But, this is a pathetic workaround so I decided to return the unit. Inconsistent results was very frustrating. I bought a DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 to try.
I had emailed Whynter support. They are completely useless, use canned responses and didn't answer my questions. This is also a factor for returning the 3rd unit. I will not buy this AC again, or anything from Whynter. As for my second unit, I'll see if looping back cold air directly to the temp sensor helps. So far it keeps us cool at night in the bedroom, which is a good thing. But it'll go into the slightly warm air mode too, just not as bad as the third unit.
I'll update the DREO TwinCool DR-HAC001 unit in a few days.