Key Specs
This Black & Decker portable air conditioner is best suited to small-room cooling, perhaps even supplementing a central-air system in a tall condominium or townhouse that has an uncomfortably warm upstairs room. We liked the BPACT14H’s air distribution. You manually set the output louver vertical direction to adjust the appliance’s throw (HVAC lingo for how far the air conditioner pushes the air), but behind those louvers is an oscillating louver that shifts automatically left to right. The result is smooth, clean, cold air softly delivered over a broad area.
The portable a/c’s maintenance is pretty easy. The owner’s manual says that you’ll need to drain condensate only under extreme conditions. We found no condensate in our test; we’re left to conclude that was an accurate statement. Grill removal was not as simple as the other portable air conditioners, but it’s still pretty good. The top grill is removed tool-free; the side grill is held by two thread-forming screws for plastic. The third filter slides out. Three filters, two screws. That’s a pretty good score in our book.
Key Specs
Two specific design attributes of the Frigidaire make it attractive: powerful, high-BTU cooling capacity and a cylinder shape that is unlike any portable air conditioner we’ve reviewed. And if you like to automate your tech, you’ll dig the Frigidaire app that lets you run this appliance remotely. The on-machine controls are simple and intuitive: A large panel on the front with a row of buttons below helps you set modes and fan speed. And a cleanly designed, pancake-shaped remote control nests into the appliance’s top. By pancake shape, we mean something like the iconic Honeywell wall thermostat: round and simple. Finally, Frigidaire makes it easy to get service or parts should the air conditioner break or wear out.
