ARC-1030WN 12,000 BTU NEX Inverter Portable AC, Dehumidifier, and Fan

UPDATED The ARC-1230WNH 14,000 (12,000 BTU SACC) is a beast! One of the most efficient and quiet portable units on the market. Has an excellent remote and is also WiFi enabled with an app that senses when you leave or return to your home. Use this feature to automatically setback the Heat when you leave and automatically increase the Heat when you return. You set the distance (I set mine to 10 miles). Works for Cooling too by lowering the temperature when you cross the set threshold and returns to normal cooling temperature when returning home. A real hands-free cost savings tool. Unit is easy to install and setup. Very quiet and the built quality is second to none! I couldn't be happier. In all aspects a great design with easy-to-use features in a well-engineered compact package. If I dare say, the Rolls Royce of portable AC/Heater units. (I am not affiliated with Whynter!!!! I just know quality when I see it.) UPDATE - ONE WEEK LATER I live where winters reach -10 F. I have natural gas forced air heating with the furnace in the basement. Because the Whynter Arc-1230WNH input temperature range for heating is above freezing using the window air input in sub-freezing temperatures doesn’t allow the heat pump to operate efficiently. However, my basement, no matter how cold outside doesn’t fall below 50 F which is within the operational range of a heat pump. To overcome this input temperature limitation, I dump the unit’s exhaust air into my basement using one of my air return wall registers. I modified a return register to accept a 5.9” hose coupling. I purchased a separate 5.9” inch exhaust hose from Amazon (Portable Air Conditioner Hose 5.9 Inch Diameter, AC Hose Exhaust Vent up to 80 Inches) and connected exhaust outlet to my new register coupling creating a one hose system with the input air using the units room input duct. I also purchased an insulation hose cover. Between the insulation cover and exhaust duct I ran two drain lines, one for the heat pump and the other for the unit drain. At the register coupling I drilled two 7/8” holes to accept the water drain lines which are routed to the basement drain. This serves two purposes 1) allows continuous drain of the heat pump and 2) eliminates the “vacuum effect” of a “one hose” system as the replacement home air is retrieved from the furnace output wall registers in the same volume the exhaust air is entering the basement through the return register. This modification allows my furnace to remain operational during extreme cold conditions when the Whynter isn’t quite capable of heating my home but still allows furnace use during conditions that often tasked my furnace to adequately heat my home. On these occasions I plan on furnace use to bring the house temperature to 70 F and then turn it off and use the Whynter to maintain the temperature. My hope is to save money by minimizing natural gas usage and believe the electric usage of the Whynter will be far less than that required for furnace fan’s operation. My natural gas bill during winter runs around $120-160/month. With the forecast rate increases I hate to hazard a guess this winter's bill but double that amount seems reasonable. I believe I’ll save the Whynters purchase price just from lowered natural gas use this winter. Changing the subject, a feature I really like is the remote control has an iSense button that uses the temperature sensor located inside the remote to control the operation of the unit as long as you're within 25 feet of the unit. Finally, I’m so impressed with the 1230WNH I purchase a second unit!

Shockingly Good First Portable AC — Quiet, Fast, and Easy to Set Up I bought the Whynter ARC‑1230WN in the middle of a brutal heat wave, and as someone who had never owned a portable AC before, I was honestly nervous about the whole process. I pictured loud rattling, complicated setup, and a unit that barely kept up with the heat. Instead, this thing completely changed my mind. The biggest surprise was how quiet it is. I expected a constant roar, but it’s more like a steady, soft hum. Even when the compressor kicks in, it doesn’t overwhelm the room. I’ve been able to work, watch TV, and even nap with it running. During the heat wave, my apartment felt like an oven. I turned this on and within minutes the temperature started dropping. I didn’t realize portable ACs could cool this quickly. The inverter system makes it feel smoother and more efficient than I expected — no harsh on/off cycling, just steady cooling. Since I’d never installed one of these before, I was relieved that the box came with a ton of accessories. My windows are awkwardly sized, but the included panels and foam pieces made it surprisingly easy to get a tight seal without improvising. I didn’t have to buy anything extra. For a first‑time portable AC owner, this was a fantastic experience. Quiet, fast, and thoughtfully designed. If you’re dealing with a heat wave or just want something reliable without the hassle, this one is absolutely worth it.

This unit has made a noticeable difference since I started using it. It cools the room quickly and runs much quieter compared to my previous model. I’m able to bring the temperature down several degrees within a couple of hours, which also helps keep energy usage reasonable. It’s somewhat heavy to move, especially up stairs, but the built-in wheels make repositioning fairly easy. The dual-hose design does a good job exhausting hot air efficiently. Installing it securely in the window can take some adjustment, and it can occasionally shift and leave small gaps if bumped.

This thing is a beast in size, but is so quiet. And it cools down the room very quickly. Set up was easy enough and the app works well. Do be aware that the exhaust tubing in the back is short so the unit must be basically under the window. It is on the pricier end, but my last unit was one that worked for 15 years so overall, a pretty nominal capital expense.

Noise Level: I'm most impressed with how quiet the compressor is on this unit. I'm used to the older tech where every time the compressor turns on, it makes this really loud BOOONNNNNNGGG / humming noise. Traditionally, the compressor has been the source of most of the noise coming from the unit. With this Whynter unit, you barely notice the compressor has engaged as it only makes a slight, high-pitched noise. All the noise (which can be considerable) comes from the speed of the fan BUT, you can control that to your preference. I leave my unit on auto and it rarely runs at high fan speed but YMMV depending on your situation. Cooling Performance: Cooling is much more efficient with the dual hose design. My old unit with a single hose was running more often to keep the room cool and I believe this is specifically due to the dual hose design. If anything, this unit tends to cool my room TOO much and I've been trying to strike the right balance, which for me has been 73 full auto with "i sense" enabled. I'll discuss "i sense" in the physical remote section below. Features: I would say this product is fully loaded with all the features you want and some extras too. I am not using the wireless app to control the device but, it does have some app-unique features such as setting schedules, check function (which is a self-diagnosis test for the health of the machine), boost mode (max cool / max fan speed), express run (this is where you can program and activate a specific mode, temp, and fan speed with 1 button), and of course, the convenience of controlling the unit remotely. Physical Remote: the physical remote is simple and easy to use but, it's range is finicky which is the only negative thing I have to say about this unit overall. For example, on the remote, there is a button labeled "i sense" which uses the remote as a temperature sensor / thermostat. This is a feature I have on my old unit, and I was glad to see it included with this Whynter unit. The way it works is that the remote reports back its temperature sensor reading every 3 minutes back to the main unit which reacts appropriately. The key here is making sure the remote has a clear line of sight to the main unit and isn't too far away. Max range of the remote is 8 meters / 26 feet and the remote needs to be pointing DIRECTLY at the main unit. I've found that it's very easy for the remote to fall out of communication with the main unit so, I test by placing the remote where I want it to sit and then hitting the temp up or down button to make sure the main unit reacts. It's quite sensitive to line-of-sight issues so, test communication thoroughly when relying on "i sense." If the remote cannot communicate with the main unit after 7 minutes, "i sense" automatically disengages. At least there is a small icon on the remote (which is shaped like generic person’s head and shoulders) indicating the feature is active. Window Kit: The unit comes with a VERY large set of panels for window installation. I have a 36 inch wide window which was the perfect, wrong size. My window was too big for only using the panel with the cutout for the dual hose so, I added the extension panel. But the extension panel was too big as it covered 70% of the exhaust cutout when fully ended on a 36 inch wide window. I read the manual and it said to cut the extension panel to size…which I easily did using a circular saw after measuring. You will need to be prepared to cut the extension panel to size if your window width is larger than 28 ½ inches but smaller than 42 inches. This is a VERY common range for window sizes so, be prepared to cut the extension panel. Overall: I love this air conditioner and can attest to the increased efficiency of the dual-hose design. It cools very well and operates well by setting a temp and then using the auto features. Worth the extra cash money for the quiet compressor / dual-hose design.

Very surprised by the power of this portable a/c as I had not heard of this brand much, but this thing is a beast. I will have to check back in later for longevity but it seems to being the job very well so far. The inverter thing is great instead of my old one that would slam on and off all the time. I saw a lot of reviews about the noises. Compared to our old Frigidaire it is extremely quiet. But of course with any air conditioner unit running completely inside your home there is going to be some noise. But I can certainly tell you this is way quieter than units of the past.

I’ve had this Whynter portable AC for about a year and it’s been a solid unit. I use it in my garage in Arizona where summer temps regularly hit 120°F, and it does a great job bringing the temperature down to something comfortable to work in. It struggles to keep up a little during the hottest part of the day but my 18’x20’ garage isn’t insulated so the fact that it can make it comfortable in there is impressive. The cooling power has been reliable and consistent even during the hottest part of the summer. Setup was straightforward, and the portability makes it easy to position where it’s needed most. One feature I really appreciate is the app and scheduling. Being able to turn it on ahead of time or set a schedule means the garage is already cool when I go out there. Overall, it’s been dependable, powerful, and convenient. If you need a portable AC that can handle extreme heat, this one has worked great for me. I’d buy it again, given the choice.

AMAZING!! Well constructed, puts out COLD air, my favorite! VERY quiet! Easy to install, fit my very tall window, which was a problem with my 2 previous units from other makers. Can't think of any downsides, couldn't be happier!, Well worth the money! :0)