12000 BTU 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control

Below grade rooms in Canadian houses hold moisture long after the air upstairs has dried out. A cooling only unit takes the temperature down and leaves the room feeling clammy, so people end up buying a second appliance.

Dry mode is rated at 75 pints a day, which is a serious dehumidifying rate rather than a side effect of cooling. The outfall on the back takes a drain pipe so it can run continuously without anyone emptying anything.

Three jobs, and the numbers behind each

Cooling holds anywhere between 60.8 and 87.8 F. Dry mode pulls 75 pints a day, which is what a standalone dehumidifier of decent size manages. Fan alone moves 476 cubic metres an hour with the compressor off, which is often enough once the sun is off the glass and costs very little to run.

The footprint is the thing to check first

17 by 14 inches on the floor and 28.5 inches tall, which is noticeably bigger than the 8,000 BTU units in this category. Clear a spot before it arrives. The exhaust hose extends from 10.5 to 59 inches, so the unit can sit tight to the window or several feet into the room.

A remote with its own screen

The panel on top carries timer, fan speed, the display, the two arrows, mode and power. The remote has an LCD of its own, which means you can see the set point from a chair rather than reading the machine across the room. Both do the same job, with a 1 to 24 hour timer.

Two filters, and where the water leaves

There is an upper and a lower filter, both detachable and washable, which matters on a machine moving this much air. The outfall on the back is where a drain pipe connects for continuous drainage. A moulded slot on the cabinet holds the remote so it does not vanish down a sofa.

The manufacturer's quoted coverage for this capacity, with 476 cubic metres an hour of air flow behind it.

A dehumidifier grade rate, which is what makes it worth considering for a damp basement rather than just a hot room.

High, medium and low, rather than the two speeds most of this category offers.

An upper and a lower screen, both detachable and rinseable under a tap.

The louvre sweeps through 55 degrees to spread air across a larger room.

Rated power is 1,099 W on R32 refrigerant, as published by the manufacturer.

Stated in the store record and on the manufacturer's page for this model.

115V at 60Hz on a 6 ft cord. An ordinary Canadian household socket runs it.

Ships from a Canadian warehouse. Free shipping on orders over $150. Some remote areas, PO boxes and surcharge regions may be excluded or charged extra.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused, in original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

A 75 pint a day dry mode is dehumidifier grade, and the outfall on the back lets it run continuously to a drain rather than filling anything you have to lift.

450 sq ft of quoted coverage with 476 cubic metres an hour of air flow and three fan speeds to spread it.

The kit covers openings from 25.5 all the way to 73 inches, which is far wider than most kits in this category manage.

What we stand behind

• Ships from a Canadian warehouse, with free shipping on orders over $150
• 14 day returns on unused items in original condition and packaging
• Covered by the manufacturer's own warranty for material and manufacturing defects
• Window kit, extending exhaust hose and remote control are supplied with the unit

Is a drain pipe included?

The manufacturer states plainly that this model comes without a drain hose, and its spec table lists the exhaust water pipe as not included. The outfall on the back is a 0.4 inch connection, so buy a pipe to suit it if you plan to run continuous drainage.

How big a room will 12,000 BTU handle?

The manufacturer quotes 450 sq ft. No seasonally adjusted SACC rating is published for this model, which matters because SACC figures are normally lower than the headline number. Treat 450 sq ft as a best case for a well insulated room.

Does it need a special outlet?

No. The specification gives 115V at 60Hz and a rated 1,099 W, which is a standard Canadian household socket. Give it a dedicated outlet rather than sharing a circuit with other heavy appliances, and avoid light duty extension cords.

How loud is it?

The manufacturer rates it at 65 dB or under at full tilt, which is about the level of normal conversation. Three fan speeds and a sleep mode let you bring that down when the room is at temperature.