Black+Decker BPACT14WT Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Black+Decker BPACT14WT | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner | Best Portable Air Conditioner On a Budget | |||
Price | $570 List | $633 List $551.85 at Amazon | $330 List $339.97 at Amazon | $350 List $295.99 at Amazon | $339 List $389.70 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This unit is one of the most straightforward to set up and has impressive cooling power, but it trails behind in energy efficiency | This powerful portable air conditioner has more cooling capability and innovative features than any other to help you beat the summer heat | This versatile unit goes easy on the wallet in terms of power-consumption and purchase price | This portable AC is easy to install and even easier on the budget | This portable AC is a breeze to set up and take down and demonstrates excellent energy efficiency, but it's loud and underperforms in cooling |
Rating Categories | Black+Decker BPACT14WT | Whynter ARC-1230WN | Black+Decker BPACT08WT | SereneLife SLPAC10 | Midea MAP08R1CWT |
Cooling (35%) | |||||
Energy Consumption (15%) | |||||
Noise (20%) | |||||
Portability / Install (25%) | |||||
Convenience (5%) | |||||
Specs | Black+Decker BPACT14WT | Whynter ARC-1230WN | Black+Decker BPACT08WT | SereneLife SLPAC10 | Midea MAP08R1CWT |
Manufacturer Recommended Cooling Area | Up to 700 sq ft | Up to 600 sq ft | Up to 150 sq ft | Up to 450 sq ft | Up to 350 sq ft |
Single or Dual Hose | Single | Dual | Single | Single | Single |
Wi-Fi / App Enabled | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Modes (fan speeds) | - Cold (1-3 + Auto)
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- Cold (1-3 + Auto)
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- Cold (1-3 + Auto)
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- Cold (1-3)
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- Cold (Auto)
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Energy Star Certified | No | No | No | No | No |
BTU | 14000 BTU (ASHRAE) 8400 BTU (DOE) |
14000 BTU (ASHRAE) 12000 BTU (DOE) |
8000 BTU (ASHRAE) 4000 BTU (DOE) |
10000 BTU (ASHRAE) 6000 BTU (DOE) |
8000 BTU (ASHRAE) 5300 BTU (DOE) |
24-Hour On/Off Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Control Type | Touch | Button | Touch | Button | Button |
Remote Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Washable Dust Filter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Manufacturer Window Width Minimum | 26.5" | 26.7" | 20.5" | 26.7" | 19.4" |
Manufacturer Window Width Maximum | 48.4" | 49" | 59" | 50.1" * | 62.2" |
Measured Window Kit Width | 6.4" | 9.8" | 6.5" | 4" | 6.5" |
Refrigerant Type | R32 | R32 | R32 | R410a | R32 |
Child Lock | No | Yes, for the remote only | No | No | No |
Manufacturer Dehumidify/Moisture removal | Not Specified | 87 pt/day | Not Specified | 3.1 pt/hr | Not Specified |
Measured Weight | 63 lbs 4 oz | 75 lbs 1 oz | 46 lbs | 52 lbs 4 oz | 50 lbs 14 oz |
CEER | 6.05 | 12.3 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 6.5 |
Estimated Summer Cost | $231.83 | $216.15 | $156.88 | $167.34 | $132.48 |
Average dBa Reading on High | 58.9 | 58.4 | 58.6 | 61 | 60.2 |
Difference of averaged temps | 8.3 | 11.9 | 7 | 6.3 | 5.4 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Black+Decker BPACT14WT is an all-around solid performer with impressive cooling capability and an especially quick and intuitive setup. We also appreciated some of its finer details, like a generous latitude for directing airflow through the adjustable vent louvers and the grate on the end of the exhaust hose meant to keep animals from sneaking in.
Performance Comparison
Cooling
A portable air conditioner's primary task is to cool down the air in a given space, which is why our cooling metric weighs so heavily in the total score for every product. The 14,000 BTU Black+Decker BPACT14WT tested well here, finishing near the top of the pack.
For this metric, we simulated consistent summertime heat inside and outside of the space that was going to be air-conditioned. When the temp of our test room finally reached 82.1 degrees Fahrenheit, we turned on the BPACT14WT and let it do its thing. One hour later, the air temperature dropped to 73.85 degrees Fahrenheit. That's an impressive 8.3 degrees of change and one of the best results we saw in this category.
Portability/Install
The Black+Decker BPACT14WT was an average scorer in this metric overall, but it did excel in some areas. It weighs in at just over 64 pounds, with the most weight tipped toward the front left of the unit. It's not terrible to carry around compared to some others, but we wish the handles were a little bit deeper for more comfort and confidence when lugging it up stairs. Rolling resistance is higher on this unit than others, but it does track reasonably straight. It did fine rolling across hard surfaces, but when we got to the medium-long pile carpet traverse, we felt there was a high risk of tipping the unit over if we weren't careful.
Initial installation of the Black+Decker BPACT14WT's window kit is among the quickest and most straightforward we tested. It takes five to ten minutes to set up the first time, and you'll just need basic hand tools to dial in a good fit with the window interface. There is some cutting and trimming of foam involved to get a good seal with your window and the window interface panel; then you clip in the pre-assembled hose assembly — overall, it is a much better experience than with some other units.
Likewise, packing the Black+Decker BPACT14WT up for storage is easily done and among the best units tested in this regard. Both the hose and window kit are designed for quick removal by twisting and unclipping pieces by hand, without the need for tools. The only thing separating this unit from the best is that it lacks convenient onboard storage features. All you get with this one is a velcro strap to tie down the power cord.
Noise
This metric scores the level of noise the portable AC produces while the fan is set to its highest (and loudest) setting. The Black+Decker BPACT14WT was slightly quieter than the average for all portable ACs we tested.
The Black+Decker BPACT14WT delivered 58.9 dBa, running a few feet from the SPL meter. We noticed a loud hum coming from the compressor on this one. Overall, the BPACT14T was a pretty average portable AC in terms of its noise level compared to the test group.
Energy Consumption
This metric scores power consumption. Units with lower power consumption are better for the power grid and our wallets, which is why energy efficiency is so important. The 12,000 BTU Black+Decker BPACT14WT turned out to be a power hog compared to the rest of the class, scoring well below average.
At 90 days with 12 hours of use per day, the Black+Decker BPACT14WT is projected to consume 1371.6 kWh for approximately $221.38 in electricity costs, making it one of the more inefficient and expensive units to operate.
Convenience
This metric rates each portable AC unit on the quality of its onboard features and how helpful they actually are. The Black+Decker BPACT14WT was pretty average here.
We appreciated the adequate range of vertical motion with the vents, which can blow air lower than many other units, and the ability to move the vents left and right. We also found the display to be above average and easily viewable from a moderate distance and many angles. Mode selection was above average on the Black+Decker BPACT14WT as well due to the incorporation of a handy dehumidifier setting.
Everything else about its features was standard. There's a remote, child lock, and a basic timer, but no mobile app or other smart features to compare to the models that scored highest in this metric.
Should You Buy the Black+Decker BPACT14WT?
The Black+Decker BPACT14WT was a middle-of-the-road performer across most of our metrics, but it excelled where it mattered most in cooling capability, and it's straightforward to set up. If you aren't looking for a unit with fancy features and can handle its below-average energy efficiency, you could do much worse than the BPACT14WT.
What Other Portable Air Conditioner Should You Consider?
If you need even more cooling power, your best bet is the Whynter ARC-1230WN. If you're more concerned with good value than producing polar air, check out the versatile and budget-friendly Whynter ARC-1230WN.