Review on 🌬️ Whynter Elite ARC-122DHP 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner and Heater, Dehumidifier, Fan | Activated Carbon Filter | Autopump | Storage Bag | Up to 400 sq ft | Multi-Function by Brian Wesley

After reading many reviews and explaining the flaws, I finally bought a portable air conditioner for my computer room. This is after years of my computer hardware turning my computer room into an oven. I chose a portable unit because window units are unsightly, block natural light, and are difficult to install/close/remove depending on the time of year. I chose the Whynter Elite ARC-122DHP after reading some reviews but having been using this device for the past few days my feelings towards it are mixed and down. Yes, it cools a 100x100 room fairly well (with fears that the room will be much larger), but it has very big downsides in my opinion. 1) Can't speak for all portable units, but this one has a serious design flaw. In the evening after a quick installation, I turned off the device for the night and went to bed. When I woke up, the inside of the air-conditioned room was hot, humid and smelly from the outside. When I decided I needed to seal the window better, I purchased an AC weatherproof window seal and completely sealed the AC window sash kit and the space between the top non-opening window and the sash window. The next day I had the same problem. I was confused looking at the window for an air leak until I realized the problem was NOT in the window. The problem was in the design of the unit! There are two inlets and one outlet. An air intake is located at the rear of the AC unit and is used to draw room air in, cool it and expel it at the front of the AC unit. The other air intake is part of a two-hose system that draws in outside air to cool the compressor and expels heat to the outside. It also helps maintain constant air pressure in the room. Air conditioning intake and hose system MUST be separated from each other internally. Just like with your car, I should be able to get fresh air from the intake hose if I wanted to, but I should also be able to shut it off and use only the inside air. Here this device has a terrible disadvantage. After the air conditioner is turned off, outside air (hot and humid) enters through the twin hoses and exits through the air intake at the rear of the air conditioner. There is NO way for me to prevent this other than manually disconnecting the two hoses from the sash window kit and plugging the holes in the kit. I don't know if other brands do this or if mine is defective, but this is the worst design I've ever seen. All other air conditioner designs I've seen have a vent that closes manually or automatically when the unit is turned off. It prevents air from escaping your room or outside air from entering. There is nothing in this device or model to prevent this and if there is then it will not work. 2) I had to take care of it myself. The manual says NOTHING about this problem. Zero. 3) This unit is incredibly loud for what it is and most of the noise comes from the fans. 4) Window plate and hose fittings are garbage. Tons of tears, seams, holes and leaks. The exhaust hose connection even has a drilled hole, for reasons I swear on my life I can't figure out why. The hole blows hot air into the room every time you turn it on. I've searched the manual for the purpose but found nothing. To stop the hot air I had to cover the hole with aluminum tape. As I said. I don't know if other devices have the same issues as this one, but so far I'm unimpressed and more than a little disappointed. about this unit. I would return the item but trying to do that would be so hassle, it would be better if I just try to sell it myself and look for another solution. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this conditioner in its current form.