This best 14000 BTU portable air conditioner review and guide first gives an overview of the top units with bullet points showing why they made our list. The overviews are ideal for those in a hurry that want to know the top features, make a purchase, and move on.
These are followed by complete reviews of the best 14000 BTU portable ACs.
We want to make sure you buy an air conditioner with enough power to cool and dehumidify the room you have in mind.
So, before we get to the overviews and reviews, there is an important note on portable air conditioner output.
Portable ACs Aren’t As Powerful as Window ACs
First of all, portable ACs have their advantages including:
- Less of a window is blocked.
- The exhaust hose, 4-6 feet, allows you versatility in where to place the portable air conditioner.
- Some homeowner associations don’t allow window ACs because they stick out of the house and aren’t attractive.
- A Portable AC won’t fall out the window, as window ACs are a danger to do.
- You can roll these units from room to room – a Window AC has to be carried unless you use a cart.
However, there is one distinct disadvantage – cooling power.
There are two ways to measure the BTU potential of a portable air conditioner. Both rate how many BTUs of heat the unit can remove from the room per hour.
The ASHRAE, or American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, rating is the oldest and the one used to name/label most portable ACs.
All those on this list have an ASHRAE rating of 14000 BTUs.
The SACC, or Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity, rating instituted by the US DOE is significantly lower.
In short, when a portable air conditioner exhausts warm air through the hose, a little bit of warm air is pulled inside through drafty doors and windows.
This is due to the negative indoor air pressure caused by exhausting the air. It isn’t a lot, but it is enough to allow infiltration from outside.
14000 BTUs of Heat Out / Up to 6,500 BTUs In: That means the net effect of removing BTUs is reduced for a portable AC. For some units, if 14000 BTUs of heat are removed per hour, the unit will pull in up to 6,500 BTUs of heat. That’s why the SACC rating for many of these units is 7,500 BTUs.
There are no Energy Star portable air conditioners.
Not all portable air conditioner manufacturers list both ratings, so caveat emptor, or “buyer beware.” Most list just ASHRAE ratings. That’s why this information is shared here – so you can make a good buying decision. We list both ratings in the Reviews below.
Best 14000 BTU Portable Air Conditioners
We have read and tried the best 14000 BTU portable air conditioners in the market to come up with our list of the best ones in the market. These high-powered units provide effective cooling of bigger areas, which is a relief in hot summer days. We have chosen a balance between performance, energy efficiency and ease of use to enable you to find the right cooling solution to fit your needs.
HUMHOLD 14000 BTU Portable AC
This is a flexible portable AC that we suggest because it has strong cooling and heating functions in areas of up to 700 sq ft.
Pros
- Effective cooling and heating
- 4-in-1 functionality
- Easy-to-use controls
Cons
- Needs venting of windows
- Can be loud on high levels
- Too large to fit in small places
We tried this HUMHOLD portable AC in different rooms and we were surprised by its performance. The cooling capacity of 14,000 BTU was able to cool the room fast and the heating mode of 12,500 BTU kept it warm during cold days.
The 4-in-1 capability of the unit was outstanding. We liked the dehumidifier setting on sticky days and the fan-only setting to circulate the air. The remote control and the front LED display were very convenient when it came to setting adjustments.
The AC was easy to move between rooms because of its wheels, but it is rather heavy. It was easy to install using the window kit that was provided. It is quite silent when it is working on low settings, but the increased fan speed may be felt.
HUMHOLD 14000 BTU Portable AC
We suggest this strong and multifunctional portable air conditioner because of its effectiveness in cooling and its convenient functionality.
Pros
- 3-in-1: fan, cooling, and dehumidifier
- Simple remote control with LED display
Cons
- May have to be emptied often in high-humidity areas
- A bit noisy when the fan is working faster
Installation of exhaust hose is cumbersome
The HUMHOLD 14000 BTU Portable AC is a good performer according to our tests. It cooled our 500 sq. ft. living room very fast and it kept it cool even on the hottest days. We were impressed with the 3-in-1 functionality of the unit, which allows switching between cooling, fan, and dehumidifier modes without any problems.
Operation was very easy with the front LED display and remote control. We liked the fact that we could change settings even on the other side of the room. The sleep mode came in handy especially when one wants to have some quiet rest.
The self-evaporating system was good in our arid climate but we found that it needed to be emptied more often in humid weather. Installation of the exhaust hose was a little labor intensive, but once in place the mobility of the unit on casters was convenient to move between rooms.
Whynter ARC-14S Portable AC
This is a strong and multifunctional portable air conditioner that we suggest because of its high cooling power and ease of use.
Pros
- Low noise 51 dBA
- In-built dehumidifier with auto drain feature
Cons
- Quite heavy weighing 73 pounds
- Occupies space on the floor
- Initial installation may be time consuming
The Whynter ARC-14S turned out to be a game changer in cooling our home office. Its 14,000 BTU was able to lower the temperature in our 400 sq. ft. room very fast. The unit was very quiet and this enabled us to work without any distractions.
The two-hose system was impressive in terms of efficiency. We observed quicker cooling than on single-hose models we have used in the past. The inbuilt dehumidifier was a good addition, which maintained the humidity level comfortable without additional devices.
Installation of the window kit was not very easy but after installation, the unit was very easy to operate. We liked the remote control to change settings even when we were in the other side of the room. It is not tiny but the smooth design did not conflict with our decor.
SereneLife Portable AC
This is a powerful multi-purpose portable air conditioner that we would suggest to anyone who needs a strong unit.
Pros
- 3-in-1 (AC, dehumidifier, fan)
- Simple installation window exhaust kit
Cons
- Fairly loud 57 dBA
- Large size (32″ x 18.5″ x 15.4″)
- May not cope with very hot environments
We have tried this SereneLife unit in different rooms and we were amazed by its cooling ability. It rapidly reduced the temperatures in rooms as large as 700 sq ft. It also had an in-built dehumidifier which was a good addition to keep off the moisture during humid days.
The remote control helped to adjust settings easily. The 24-hour timer and auto-swing mode were also welcome to distribute air more evenly. The noise was not very disturbing to most users although it was not as quiet as a whisper.
The caster wheels made it easy to move this AC around the rooms, but its size is something to take into consideration. The installation of the window kit was approximately 15 minutes. In general, we think this unit is a good option when you need a powerful and portable cooling.
JustSmart 14,000 BTU Portable AC
This 3-in-1 unit is very powerful and we suggest it as a great choice of cooling, dehumidifying, and fan in an area of up to 700 sq. ft.
Pros
- Multi-function modes
- User-friendly controls
Cons
- A little loud with 53 dB
- Needs installation of windows
- Bulky size
We have just tried this JustSmart portable AC at home office. We were impressed by its 14,000 BTU cooling capacity, which cooled the room quickly even on a hot day. The dehumidifier feature made things comfortable and it removed up to 90 pints of moisture a day.
It was easy to operate with the LED display and the remote control. We also liked the automatic swing, which evenly spread cool air. But it is not the most silent one as it is 53 dB.
Installation was easy, but the device is rather big. The window kit that comes with it is simple to install, although it needs a nearby window. In general, this AC is a powerful unit that can be used in bigger rooms and is a combination of power and convenience.
14000 BTU Portable AC Buying Guide
There are a couple topics that might assist in your purchase decision.
Window ACs vs Portable ACs – Effective Cooling Power
Window air conditioners don’t pull in warm air, so if the rating is 14000 BTUs, you can trust they remove that much heat.
As a result, they are rated for up to 650 square feet.
Portable ACs with an ASHRAE rating of 14000 have a SACC rating of 7,500 to 10,000 BTUs, so they can keep just 250-450 square feet cool and comfortable.
Those are the facts, and you should know them before buying a portable air conditioner. Other sites that list the Best Portable ACs don’t mention the lower SACC ratings, so their readers buy units that won’t cool and dehumidify the space. The sites either don’t understand the difference or don’t care that they are passing along misleading information.
If you realize a portable air conditioner won’t get the job done in the room you have in mind, you might benefit from these guides:
These window ACs are beefy enough to cool and dehumidify 450 to 750 square feet.
The 14,000 BTU portable ACs in this guide are the largest PACs available. If you have more than 500 square feet to cool, a window AC or through-the-wall AC is going to be a better choice.
The Importance of Dehumidification Power
The best portable air conditioners on our list vary significantly in how much moisture they remove per hour.
At the top is the LG Dual Inverter PAC capable of removing 6.8 pints per hour. That’s more than 10 gallons of water over 12 hours.
The Whynter ARC-148MHP removes just 3.0 pints, or 4.5 gallons over 12 hours.
Here’s the list, with a nice cascading flow : )
- LG Portable Air Conditioner: 6.8 pints/hour
- Ivation Portable Air Conditioner: 5.0 pints/hour
- HomeLabs Portable Air Conditioner: 4.2 pints/hour
- Whynter ARC-143MX Portable Air Conditioner: 3.8 pints/hour
- Whynter ARC-148MHP Portable Air Conditioner: 3.0 pints/hour
If you live in a humid area like the South or Southeast, then removing humidity is crucial to making indoor air more comfortable.
It can be quite humid in the East, Northeast and Midwest too. The Mid-Atlantic region is hot and sticky in summer, so a good dehumidifier is nice to have.
It’s less important in dry areas of the Western plains and Southwest.
Keep that in mind as you shop for a portable air conditioner, and you’ll be happier with the one you choose. LG and Ivation do a great job. Whynter falls short in summer.
