Whynter ARC-14SH Review

The 14,000 BTU Whynter ARC-14SH offers a lot of cooling power and is on the quieter end of the spectrum. It is a solid choice if you look past its above-average power consumption.

Cooling

The ARC-14SH delivered one of the group's better performances in our cooling tests. In order to test cooling capability, we set up the portable ACs in a 14x10ft space with 12ft ceilings (1680 cu ft.). We ran the hose through the included window kits into our warehouse, which was partitioned off and heated up to maintain consistent temps to simulate “outdoor” summer heat. Likewise, the “indoor” space was warmed to a consistent starting temperature between 82 and 84 degrees before we began the test. Next, we ran the unit on its highest, coldest setting for 60 minutes and recorded the averaged results from four temperature-sensing dataloggers placed around the room. The ARC-14SH dropped the temperature from 83.3 to 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit or down 8.1 degrees after 60 minutes — one of the largest drops of the group, and a noticeable difference standing in the room before and after the test.

Portability/Install

For the portability and installation metric, we graded and scored how much effort it took to roll each unit around, carry them, and install and remove the exhaust hose and its window insert. The Whynter ARC-14SH is slightly below average overall in these tests, which accounts for 25% of the total score.

This AC is easy to roll around, though we found some weirdness with its steering. It only has a small amount of rolling resistance but will pull to one side every so often. Overall, it's one of the best units for rolling around flat spaces no matter whether the terrain is wood, carpet, or concrete. Still, it is also one of the heaviest units out of the entire group, weighing in at a little more than 74 pounds, making it horrendous to carry. The handles are on the small and shallow side, creating lots of pressure on your hands and making this one of our least favorite air conditioners to carry up or down a flight of stairs.

Initial installation with the window kit takes around 10-20 minutes, depending on your window. We found the ARC-14SH more annoying to set up in the window than most others. The included instruction sheet mentions that you may have to modify the window kit's duct interface panel if your window is too narrow or wide. Ours was too narrow, so we had to cut the panel down to size and then painstakingly work around the large dual hoses to get everything fitted and properly secured.

Noise

The Whynter ARC-14SH did well here, scoring well above average and producing only 59.5 decibels from our sound meter. This metric makes up 20% of each units score, as loud noise can be a huge deterrent when purchasing an AC.

The unit is quiet overall, with the fan registering a little louder than the compressor in the subjective listening test. Altogether, this scores as one of the quieter units in the review.

Energy Consumption

The energy metric totals 15% of the score for all portable ACs we tested since more efficient units are easier on the power grid and environment and are more economical to operate during the summer. The 14,000 BTU Whynter ARC-14SH came in well below average in energy efficiency, as many of the more powerful units do.

The Whynter ARC-14SH consumed 4.9 kWh of energy. Using the unit for 12 hours a day over 90 days, it's projected to use 1382.4 kWh of power and will run up around $223.12 in electricity costs.

Convenience

The final 5% grades each unit on how convenient they are to use. The Whynter ARC-14SH scored fairly average throughout this metric, with no real stand-out features apart from its quality air adjustability.

As mentioned, the vents that direct the air have a good bit of vertical adjustability and a slider to direct air horizontally, which is a better design than most units we tested. Other than that, the ARC-14SH has pretty standard controls, modes, and a remote but no Wi-Fi connectable app for advanced programmability.

Should You Buy the Whynter ARC-14SH?

Though it has a complicated initial install and costs quite a bit to run, if you live in a scorching climate, you're going to want a unit that can really crank out cold air. This machine is among the best at that.

What Other Portable Air Conditioners Should You Consider?