Question 1

Is the 13,000 BTU rating real or misleading? I've read a lot about false claims and since they don't have a EER ratings I remain skeptical.

Accepted Answer

I can understand the doubts on huge numbers and don't like some of the virtual "scams" many products play with such (like one example being many battery packs labeled for "jump-starts" will say "2000 peak amps" in huge letters but the manuals say "Don't ever crank a car engine for even 5 seconds or you'll damage our (tiny) battery and void warranty" to hint it's real power ability under ~100 amp load).  I can tell you that most space heaters give you ~5000 BTU per hour from 1500 watts electricity (and you should be able to easily verify that).  Virtually all heat pumps/AC units are much better than those in "pumping" the heat versus burning the power, so 13,000 BTU per hour does seem realistic for such a unit as this that needs ~1200 watts power (where you can see nearly the same power use but over double the heat transferred).  If they start saying 20,000 btu or more I'd put it more in question (unless it has 1800+ watt power to prove size ratio), but for this size that seems reasonable.

Question 2

Is it necessary to use the intake port?  And if you can opt not to use it, I assume just cap it off?

Accepted Answer

I have a dual hose AC.  Where I live, the sun shines directly on my wall for 8 hours, till dark.  Total sunshine.  [The bathroom, behind a door, is 90 degrees, though the bedroom has been less than  80 all day.  The bathroom has no windows, so the heat just comes through the solid brick wall.]

Bedroom is about 15 by 15 feet.  It has a 12,000 BTU unit, which Should be more than enough. But the room is not so cool.
So - the dual hose system works well except in MY situation, because instead of recirculating the cool room's air, even if the door opens once in a while, it gets the hottest possible air to cool, as if I had the intake hooded up to an oven!  It's like a car with AC - they tell you to use the recirculated air.  If I lived on a dark spot, the dual hose would be perfect, but for me it makes it worse.  Took three years to figure that out.

Question 3

Does it come with a warranty? If so, what are the terms?

Accepted Answer

1 year limited warranty & Three year warranty on compressor and, Amazon return policy within 30 days.  The WHYNBTER portable air conditioner is warranted, to the original owner within the 48 continental states, for one year from the date of purchase against defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service.  Should your WHYNTER portable air conditioner prove defective within one year from the date of purchase. return the defective part or unit, freight prepaid (within two months of purchase; after two months to one year, customer will be responsible for freight cost to WHYNTER's service department), along with an explanation of the claim to Whynter LLC.  Please package the portable air conditioner carefully in its original packaging material to avoid damage in transit.  PLEASE RETAIN THE ORIGINAL BOX AND PACKAGING MATERIAL.  Under this warranty, WHynter will repair or replace any parts found defective.  This warranty is not transferable.  After the expiration of the warranty, the cost of labor and parts will be the responsibility of the original owner of the unit.DOES NOT COVERActs of God, such as fire, flood, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes.Damage, accidental or otherwise, to the air conditioner while in the possession of a consumer not caused by a defect in material or workmanshipDamage caused by consumer misuse, tampering, or failure to follow the care and special handling provisions in the instructions.Damage to the finish of the case, or the appearance parts caused by wear.Damage caused by repairs or alterations to the product by anyone other than authorized by the manufacturerFreight and Insurance cost for the warranty service.Hope this helps

Question 4

We have two portible AC units in our bedrooms and don't have to empty any water - it evaporates.  We live in humid MN.  Do you have to empty this one?

Accepted Answer

The first few months of ownership from May 2014 to July in San Diego, i didn't have to drain it in AC mode. The weather got more humid in July and August which apparently caused the unit to shut off due to being full. I had to drain the top knob twice in two days. I decided to attach a $5 garden hose (cut to about 4 feet) to the top drain plug and have it drain into a 5 gallon water bottle as suggested by a Home Depot worker. Problem solved but the bottle will fill up after about 2-3 days in humid conditions.

ASIN	B00CHQKISE
Additional Features	Patented auto drain function fully exhausts all condensate automatically in most environments, with upper gravity and lower drain ports for continuous operation
Air Conditioner Application	Indoor
Air Flow Efficiency	1.82 Cubic Feet Per Minute Per Watt
Annual Energy Consumption	1150 Watts
BEE Star Rating	No Energy Star
Best Sellers Rank	#1,189,855 in Home & Kitchen ( See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen ) #1,447 in Portable Air Conditioners
Brand Name	Whynter
Capacity	91 pints
Color	Gray
Compressor Type	rotary_scroll
Control Method	Remote
Controller Type	Remote Control
Core Material	Synthetic material and activated carbon
Customer Reviews	3.3 3.3 out of 5 stars (205)
Efficiency	5.88
Filter Type	Activated Carbon Air Filter and Washable Pre-filter
Floor Area	420 Square Feet
Form Factor	Portable
Global Trade Identification Number	00850956003194
Included Components	Window installation accessories, remote, and storage cover bag with pocket
Installation Type	Window
Inverter Type	No Inverter
Is Outdoor Unit Required	No
Is Product Cordless	No
Item Dimensions D x W x H	17.3"D x 30.5"W x 15.4"H
Item Type Name	13,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier, Fan plus Storage bag for Rooms up to 420 sq ft
Item Weight	68 Pounds
Manufacturer	Whynter
Model Name	ARC-131GD 13,000 BTU (6,345 BTU SACC)
Model Number	ARC-131GD
Noise	52.5 Decibels
Number of Power Levels	4
Operating Mode	Cooling
Power Source	Corded Electric
Refrigerant	R-410A
Room Type	Bedroom
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)	5.88
Start Year	2020
UPC	850956003194
Unit Count	1 Count
Voltage	115 Volts
Warranty Description	1-year limited manufacturer's warranty and 3-year compressor warranty.
Warranty Type	Limited
Wattage	1150 watts
Window Opening Maximum Height	46 Inches
Window Opening Maximum Width	6.5 Inches
Window Opening Minimum Height	20 Inches
Window Opening Minimum Width	20 Inches

Whynter ARC-131GD 13,000 BTU (6,345 BTU SACC) Dual Hose Cooling Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier, and Fan plus Storage bag for, up to 420 sq ft in Grey

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