Even though we’re fairly confident that anyone reading this guide today already knows what a dual hose AC is, for everyone who doesn’t, we’re giving a quick explanation about them right now. These air conditioners use two hoses, one for pulling in the fresh air and one for exhausting out the heat. This setup allows the air conditioner to be more efficient at cooling than other portable air conditioners. We think that they’re a marvelous invention, so much so that we decided to find out which model is the best dual hose portable air conditioner that’s out there. And fortunately for everyone reading this now, we actually did find the best models.
Quick Summary of the Best Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners
- Best Overall: Whynter ARC-143MX 14,000 BTU AC Unit (Amazon) – Review
- Also Recommended: Whynter ARC-131GD 13,000 BTU Portable AC Unit (Amazon) – Review
- Also Consider: Whynter Elite ARC-122DS 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner (Amazon) – Review
Best Overall: Whynter ARC-143MX 14,000 BTU AC Unit
When it comes to the world of dual hose portable air conditioner units, usually the biggest model wins. And this is one of the biggest models available. This AC unit delivers 14,000 BTUs of cooling, enough to cool down a room up to 750-square feet in size. Although this unit is designed for commercial use, we foresee that it could have many uses in the home. And in fact, many people do use it in their homes.
It comes with a window kit designed to fit up windows anywhere from 20 to 46-inches, and it comes with extendable exhaust and intake hoses. Another thing worth mentioning is that it gives the user full thermostatic control, from 61-degrees to 89-degree Fahrenheit.
We would also like to mention that this unit is easy to install. Sure, it’s a little bit heavy, weighing in at around 80-pounds, it can easily be moved into place. Some of the features that can be found on this air conditioner include a 24-hour programmable timer, an auto-restart feature that will resume the air conditioner after a power failure, and a noise level of approximately 56-decibels.
This product also has three operational modes including air conditioner, fan, or dehumidifier. Like a dehumidifier, it’s capable of removing 91-pints of moisture from the air per day and it can move 226 cubic-feet-of air per minute.
This unit is approximately 16x19x35.5-inches and is equipped with both a washable pre-filter and a 3M antimicrobial high air-flow air filter. It’s also equipped with an auto-drain function that fully exhausts all condensate from the room. This air conditioner has a remote control and digital controls that make it very easy to use.
Taking all of these features together, especially its ability to cool large spaces down quickly, makes this one of the best dual hose portable air conditioner units that anyone will find. We thought this model did a good job, was powerful and was easy to use.
Also Recommended: Whynter ARC-131GD 13,000 BTU Portable AC Unit
This 17.3×15.4×30.5-inch dual hose portable air conditioner is ready to do some serious work. Since this model has a 13,000 BTU rating, it can easily cool down a room up to 420-square feet in size. Although this does make it a little bit more expensive than other dual hose units in this power range, this product is packed with quite a few features.
It’s also designed to hold up to regular use for a long time to come, with some people reporting that the air conditioner blows out cool air even a few years down the road. In our estimation, that makes this a model worth checking out.
This product comes with a window kit that can be fit into a window that’s a minimum of 20-inches and a maximum of 47-inches. That makes this unit extremely easy to install, and most people will have it up running in 10-minutes or less. We liked the fact that this product not only comes with digital controls but also came with a remote control that gave the user full thermostatic control over the air conditioner.
The user can adjust the temperature of this unit from 61-degrees to 89-degrees Fahrenheit and can set it to one of four different fan speeds. The user can also set a 24-hour programmable time on it.
This product can be set to be used as an air conditioner, as a fan, as a dehumidifier or set to automatic mode. This allows the consumer to decide for themselves how they want to use the unit. Do they need it to fully cool down their room, or are they merely dehumidifying the air in the room? Maybe, just maybe, they just want to circulate the air in the room, which this product’s 188 CFM allows them to do. Regardless of how this AC unit is used, we’re sure that it will serve its user well and help them make a room in their home a lot more comfortable.
Also Consider: Whynter Elite ARC-122DS 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner
This dual hose portable air conditioner has won several awards and after reviewing this model it’s easy to see why. This 17x16x29.5-inch model has three operational modes that make it a breeze to use. It can be set to cool, fan or dehumidify. It’s a 12,000 BTU unit that can be used to cool down a room up to 400 square feet in size.
In dehumidifying mode, it’s capable of removing 76-pints of moisture from the air per day, and in fan mode, it can deliver up to 155 CFM of air at high speed. That makes it a practical product that just about anyone can enjoy using.
It’s an air conditioner that comes with a 60-inch intake hose and an extendable exhaust, and it comes with a window kit. The window kit allows the consumer to install it in windows 20-inches to 46-inches in size. This model also uses R-410A refrigerant, which makes it more eco-friendly than some of the other refrigerants used in air conditioners.
Another feature we liked about this product was that it also had an auto-drain function that exhausts all condensate out of the room automatically. And because this model has a pre-filter and an activated carbon air filter, it improves the air quality as it runs.
This product uses a maximum of 1,000-watts of power, has three different fan speeds and comes with remote control operation. It also gives the user full thermostatic control with a digital readout. The unit can be set from 61-degrees to 89-degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a 24-hour programmable timer.
This might not be the most powerful portable dual hose air conditioner, but it is good enough to suit most people’s needs. We thought that it was a pretty impressive model.
A User’s Guide To Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners
As can be seen from the models that we’ve reviewed, dual hose portable air conditioners are handy devices to use. This is especially true when the user has casement or other types of windows that prevent them from installing a window air conditioner. Of course, not all of these air conditioners are alike, so the consumer needs to do their research to determine which models are the best for their home and circumstances. To help with that goal, we’ve written this enhanced guide on the subject. Anyone reading it should have no problems finding the air conditioner unit of their dreams.
Single Hose Versus Dual Hose Air Conditioners
Some people might be surprised to find out that dual hose air conditioners aren’t the only game in town. There are also single hose air conditioners that are available and work in much the same way as their dual-hose brothers. Which one is right for your home? Well, it all depends. If you’re trying to cool off a larger room, or are looking for an air conditioner that eliminates negative air pressure problems, then a dual hose system is the way to go. However, the consumer should realize that dual-hose systems are more expensive than single-hose ones. So, if they have a smaller space and need to save a little cash, then a single hose air conditioner is probably the best one for the job.
How To Choose The Best Dual Hose Portable AC Unit
Since you’re still reading this guide, we’ll assume that you’ve decided that a dual hose portable air conditioner is right for your needs. Good, now all that’s left to be done is for you to determine what features you need. And to give you an idea of some of the things that you need to think about when choosing one of these AC units, we’ll start this guide off with the power level that you’re going to need your device to have.
Consider The Unit’s Power Level
The first stop on our journey towards buying the best dual hose system is to consider the unit’s power. The cooling power of the air conditioner is measured in BTUs, so you only need to compare the BTUs against the size of the room being cooled to determine if the unit is suitable. Below are some common BTU measurements along with the recommended room sizes that those units cool.
- 10,000 BTUs Cool Down 400-450 Square Feet
- 12,000 BTUs Cool Down 450-550 Square Feet
- 14,000 BTUs Cool Down 550-700 Square Feet
- 18,000 BTUs Cool Down 700-1000 Square Feet
Consider The Unit’s Modes Of Operation
The next thing that you’re going to want to seriously consider is whether you need the unit to just be an air conditioner or if you need it to have modes other than just an AC mode. The models that we’ve reviewed can not only be used as air conditioners, but can also be used as fans and dehumidifiers, so if that’s something that you need your home unit to have, then you should seriously consider one of those models.
Consider Digital Controls & Remote Operation
Digital controls and remote operation are also important features for an air conditioner. They make using the air conditioner so much easier to use. Look for a model that has a digital readout and has fully adjustable thermostatic controls for the best results.
Other Features To Consider
Of course, the above features aren’t the only ones that can be found on most of these air conditioners, even though they may be the most important. There are also other features that the consumer is going to want to consider. Let’s take a quick look at these features to see if you need your new dual hose air conditioner to have one of them.
- Antimicrobial Filters
- Activated Carbon Filters
- CFC-Free Refrigerant
- Included Window Kits
- Lead-Free Components
Maintaining Your Dual Hose Air Conditioner
Before we end this article, we would like to take a few moments to talk about proper air conditioner maintenance. One of the main causes of premature air conditioner failure is improper maintenance, so you should take the time to do some basic maintenance on it regularly. Fortunately, taking care of these air conditioners isn’t difficult. The first thing you should do is make sure your air conditioner is properly set up according to manufactures instructions. The next thing you should do is regularly clean out the filter. These two steps will ensure that your air conditioner lasts as long as possible.
