Air conditioners can be more of a necessity than a luxury, depending on where you live. They keep the searing heat out from your room or house and give you an ice-cool comfort, allowing you to stay calm and relaxed. With the best dual hose portable air conditioner, you’ll be cooling large open spaces with ease!
The standard portable air conditioners offer the advantage of hassle-free installation and easy transportation. However, they are only good for smaller spaces, and their performance really suffers when you try to cool a large room with them.
If you've got bigger spaces to cover, you're going to need a dual hose portable air conditioner, and we're here to present the best options to you!
Table of Contents
What Is a Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner?
You’re probably more familiar with single-hose portable air conditioners. If you’ve used them, then you already know that they aren’t very reliable for handling larger spaces.
That’s where a dual hose portable air conditioner comes into play. It’s a much more efficient version that offers faster cooling and more space coverage without any issue, although a bit more expensive, which is understandable.
The major difference between these two types of air conditioners is obviously the hose count. Dual hose ACs, as you’ve guessed, comes with two hose units. One of these hoses works as an exhaust hose and the other as an intake hose.
Thanks to the combined functionality of the two hoses, this type of AC can provide a more efficient cooling performance. It’s the ideal choice for cooling larger spaces. However, it’s likely to consume more electricity.
How Does a Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner Work?
A dual hose portable air conditioner works by making the best utilization of the two hoses that it comes with. Each hose offers separate functionality, but their combined performance is required for the AC to work efficiently.
The exhaust hose is designed to blow out the warm air from the inside. This prevents the air from increasing the room temperature. They won’t get to circulate inside your room to cause any discomfort.
Both of the hoses work simultaneously. The intake hose draws the air from the outside and into the AC device. Then, the device cools the air inside before releasing it into the room environment. As a result, you get a consistent flow of cold air that keeps the room nice and cozy.
However, the cooling process causes the compressor and condenser coils to heat up. The intake hose pulls in more outside air to cool these components out so that they don’t overheat.
Aided by this smooth exchange of air thanks to the dual hose system, this type of air conditioner doesn’t have to put as much effort as a single hose unit for cooling. This design allows it to work much more efficiently. As a result, it can easily cool down large spaces quickly.
Being a portable unit, you will find it super-easy to install. It can be moved from one room to another without any issue. All you have to do is place this thing by the window and allow the hoses to draw in air from the outside and expel the hot air from the inside.
You won’t require professional help as you’ll be able to set it up all by yourself. It’s that easy!
Comparison Table of Best Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
Whynter Elite ARC-122DS
Whynter ARC-14S
Haier 14000
Whynter ARC-143MX
Whynter ARC-110WD
Whirlpool 14,000
Avallon APAC120S
7 Best Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners of 2021
Here are our most favorite products. We’ve intensively researched the market and tested out various models before selecting these seven units for our dual hose portable air conditioner reviews. You can feel free to go with any of them to enjoy chilling comfort!
1. Whynter Elite ARC-122DS Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
Let’s begin with a highly reliable air conditioner that you can easily get your hands on to cool your rooms in no time! The Whynter Elite ARC-122DS is designed to purge the hot air out and fill large spaces with cold air with ease.
Thanks to the compact size, you will have no trouble fitting this one up at your home. Aided by the brilliant thermostat control up to 89°F from 61°F, you’ll get to accurately set the temperature to your desire.
Coming with a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU, it can effectively handle up to 400 square feet, which is great coming from a portable unit. This model offers plenty of versatility as you can easily switch between three operational modes—air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan!
Furthermore, the self-evaporative technology will make sure you don't have to drain the machine manually most of the time.
Pros
Cons
2. Whynter ARC-14S Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
The Whynter ARC-14S is the best dual hose portable AC that can help you escape from the hot summer temperature easily. This model offers remarkable efficiency as it is able to cool up to 500 sq. ft within just 30 minutes!
This 14,000 BTU machine comes loaded with a lot of power concealed in a surprisingly compact and portable unit. So, you’ll be able to eliminate the heat from large spaces using this thing.
The hoses are capable of exhausting the hot air quickly and efficiently. They are also very fast in filling your room with cold air. You will have more freedom in installing this device as the hoses are extendable up to 60-inches.
Featuring Whynter’s patented auto-drain system, you won’t have to manually get rid of the condensed water as this unit will automatically dispose of them. Besides air conditioning, it also offers the functions of a dehumidifier and a fan.
Pros
Cons
3. Haier 14000 13,500 BTU 115V Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner
The Haier 14000 is one of the best dual hose portable air conditioner units on the market for plenty of good reasons. First of all, it's designed to offer extensive coverage of up to 600 square feet. So, if you've got a little bit of extra space to cool, this is the one to go for!
Coming with 3 separate modes, you will enjoy a versatile operation from this outstanding device. The “cool” mode will almost instantaneously cool the room using the dual hoses. You’ll get to reduce the humidity using the “dehumidifier” mode, and the “fan” mode will ensure amazing air circulation.
The best thing is, you will have complete control over the temperature and fan speed so that you can set everything to your optimum comfort. You will find the control panel to be super-easy to use, and the fully functioning remote control makes things even easier.
Pros
Cons
4. Whynter ARC-143MX Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
The Whynter ARC-143MX shares a lot of similarities with the ARC-14S that we’ve previously reviewed. It’s equally amazing at cooling large spaces of up to 500 square feet, thanks to its 14,000 BTU cooling capacity.
Aside from cooling, you will also be able to rely on it for dehumidifying the room’s environment and offer enhanced comfort using the built-in fan. Just like most high-quality portable ACs, this one is super-compact, easy to move around, and requires a simple installation process to start working.
This one is equipped with the brand’s auto-drain technology, so you won’t have to worry about draining the condensing water manually. The machine will take care of it for you!
Offering a programmable timer and full thermostat control, this thing will allow you to set the right temperature for your comfort while saving a lot of energy.
Pros
Cons
5. Whynter ARC-110WD Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
If you’re tired of sweating even while you’re inside your home but installing a window AC is not an option, then this portable AC can be a great choice! It's astoundingly easy to set up, and thanks to its compact size, it will easily fit any place.
With a cooling capacity of 11,000 BTU and an efficient cooling performance, this thing can turn the room temperature down to a comfortable level within a short time. The highly functional dual hoses will make sure to provide faster cooling.
Boasting four operational modes, you will get a lot of versatility from this device. In addition to offering excellent cooling, it’s also capable of removing the excess humidity and circulating comfortable air into the room like a traditional fan.
This model automatically collects the condensed water and recycles it to make the air cooler using Whynter’s special self-evaporating system. As a result, you’ll be free from having to drain the AC every now and then. It only works effectively under an average ambient environment, though.
Pros
Cons
6.Whirlpool 14,000 BTU Dual-Exhaust Portable Air Conditioner
This dual-exhaust portable air conditioner from the renowned brand, Whirlpool comes with a lot of features to offer fast and efficient cooling. It’s perfectly capable of reducing the temperature to a comfortable level so that you can relax even when it’s extremely hot outside!
Thanks to the brilliant cooling capacity of 14,000 BTU, this portable ducted air conditioner can cool and dehumidify any space up to 400 square feet. The dual hoses work together to quickly take away the uncomfortably hot air from the environment and release a lot of chilly air into the room.
The built-in electronic control and the handy remote control will allow you to set the temperature to your choice whenever you want. Aided by the window exhaust kit that comes in the package, installing and uninstalling will feel like a breezy job.
Moving this portable unit from one room to another won’t feel troublesome either as it comes equipped with smooth-rolling casting wheels.
Pros
Cons
7. Avallon APAC120S Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner
The Avallon APAC120S is an exceptionally effective device that can flawlessly transform a hot and humid room into a cool and comfortable place. You can rely on it to find relief from the blazing hot temperature.
This model offers 40% faster cooling than single-hose units, better air pressure, and more cooling power enabled by the dual hoses. The intelligent mode will automatically adjust the temperature to your liking for your convenience.
Thanks to the dehumidifying mode, it can easily get rid of 80 pints of moisture a day to keep the environment clean and dry. It’s perfectly useful in spaces where permanent installation isn’t possible. Coming with everything needed to install, you won’t have to go to the hardware store to purchase any additional tool.
Pros
Cons
What to Look for in Best Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners?
The rising temperature and scorching heat may tempt you to run to the store right away and buy the first air conditioner that you come across to find quick relief.
Well, don’t really do that because you might end up buying a low-grade dual hose portable air conditioner that can barely keep the room cold. Chances are, it may even go out of service too fast. Your money will go to waste!
There are actually a number of things that you must consider if you want to purchase the best model. We're going to help you out with that, so don't worry!
Setup Process
Naturally, the setup process of a dual hose portable AC will be slightly more complicated than a single hose unit. However, it should still be painless and easy enough for a single person to complete.
If your preferred model seems overly complicated, it would be best to steer clear from that because there are plenty of options that offer simpler installation. Many of the high-quality units even come with all the components necessary for setting up the AC to save you a trip or two to the hardware store!
Performance
Check and compare the performance of dual hose portable air conditioners before buying. The reason you’re getting one of them is that you want your home to be cool. If it fails to offer consistent cooling performance, what's the point of getting one?
The best dual hose AC comes with effective hoses that effectively expel the hot air from the room and fill it up with chilly air. In addition to offering great cooling performance, it should also allow you to set the temperature to your liking.
Cooling
The cooling power of your dual hose portable air conditioner is a crucial thing to consider. You should figure out the effectiveness of the dual hoses. If they’re unable to perform as effectively, the AC device will struggle to deliver the cooling that you want. It should be very quick to reduce the temperature of your room as well.
Energy Efficiency
Compared to window air conditioners, portable ACs tend to be much more energy-efficient. They can help you cut down your electric bills. You should still find out how efficiently your preferred model runs because not all of them offers similar efficiency level.
EER or Energy Efficiency Ratio is used to measure the efficiency of a portable AC. The higher the EER, the better the overall efficiency. So, compare the devices and choose the one that comes with the highest EER. In general, a rating of 10 EER is considered to be decent.
Portability
The best dual hose portable air conditioner is designed to be incredibly portable. So, you should opt for the one that comes with features that makes them easy to move around. It must have a compact and space-saving design so that you can easily fit them wherever you want.
Even with a compact design, portable air conditioners are still pretty heavy. They can be hard to move around unless they are equipped with smooth-rolling caster wheels. So, look for products that come with high-quality casters.
Ease of Cleaning
Your dual hose portable air conditioner is going to pick up a lot of dust and debris. It will degrade if you don’t clean it up regularly. Besides, it will collect condensed water inside the drain that needs to be cleared on a daily basis. The air filters will need cleaning as well.
So, look for the models that are designed to reduce the complexity of maintenance. Many of the ACs offer an automatic draining feature which will be more convenient for you.
Sizing a Portable AC
It’s important to pick an AC with the right cooling capacity if you want to cool your entire room. If it lacks enough capacity, the AC won’t be able to cover everything.
The power of the AC is generally measured in BTU. So, the higher the BTU, the more space it will be able to cover. You will have to find out the space of your room and choose a product that can handle that.
Most manufacturers mention the BTU of their AC as well as how many square feet of space it will be able to deal with. If you can’t find that, there are plenty of charts available on the internet that will give you an idea about how many BTU you will require.
Noise
No matter which model of dual hose portable air conditioner you pick, it will produce noise. You will hear the fans rolling. Fortunately, most of the ACs don’t get loud enough to be annoying. They can be considered as simple "background noise."
However, some can get a bit too noisy. So, it’s best to check the noise level before buying.
Accessories
Some accessories are considered “must-have” that can enhance the performance of your AC. For instance, you should make sure to get an AC that comes with filters for cleaning the air. Remote controls can be very useful as well.
Other important accessories include security window locks, weather seals, and vent kits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a dual hose portable air conditioner better?
Dual hose portable units are a bit more expensive than single-hose units, but they're definitely worth it. That’s because they’re more efficient at cooling the room, and they offer faster cooling.
2. Why do portable air conditioners have 2 hoses?
Dual hose portable air conditioners come with two hoses for increasing performance and efficiency. The separate functionality of the dual hoses allows the device to eliminate the negative pressure problem for offering better and faster cooling.
3. Do portable air conditioners use a lot of electricity?
Portable air conditioners do use more electricity compared to central units mainly because they lack an outdoor unit. They take longer to cool a room and therefore require more power.
4. Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room without a window?
One of the biggest advantages of a portable unit is that it doesn’t require windows to be used. However, you’d still have to vent out the hot air for getting an effective cooling performance. There are many ways of doing that. For instance, you can exhaust the warm air through the wall, a door, or even the ceiling.
The Verdict
After much speculation, we’ve concluded that the Whynter ARC-14S is the best dual hose portable air conditioner. It’s equipped with top-notch features and offers everything you expect from a premium portable AC.
This model offers easy coverage of large spaces and faster cooling. You won't have to wait a long time to enjoy the comfort of chilly temperatures in the summer. Moreover, it keeps the room dry and features an auto-drain system for convenience.
All in all, this is a highly efficient and eco-friendly device that can ensure maximum comfort when the weather gets super-hot!
Conclusion
A dual hose portable air conditioner can be the perfect alternative to window units to enjoy the luxury of cold air during the hot summer days. It’s also more affordable compared to conventional devices. With fast cooling and portability, it can make your life a whole lot easier!
Finding the best dual hose portable air conditioner can be a difficult job, but with our buying guide and reviews, it should be at least a little bit easier. If you’re still confused, you can go with any of the products that we’ve reviewed.
