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Portable Air Conditioner and Heater Combos – The Best Ways To Solve Your Heating and Cooling Needs

If you live in an area where you experience all four seasons, you’ve more than likely encountered days where the temperature is erratic. It’s cold in the morning, blazing hot in the afternoon, and chilly in the evening. Rather than investing in both an air conditioner and a heater to tackle these temperature changes, why not purchase a portable air conditioner and heater combo? Not only will it take up less space, but it also costs less than investing in two individual units.

Portable Air Conditioner

When selecting an air conditioner and heater combo, however, where do you start? Here, we’ll provide detailed product descriptions of 6 air conditioner and heater combos. We’ll also talk about the benefits of investing in this combo, along with some things you should consider and look out for when purchasing your unit.

What are the Benefits for Air Conditioner and Heater Combos ?

There are multiple benefits from investing in an air conditioner-heater combo. For starters, most of these units are lightweight and compact. That means you can quickly move them around without having to struggle. In fact, you might not even have to carry most of them as the majority of these units are on wheels.

Since these units have two functions in one, they take up less space than if you were to purchase a separate air conditioner and heater unit. They’re suited to smaller apartments and are also great for studios.

One of the greatest benefits of investing in this combo is cooling or heating the room in one nifty unit. Feeling warm? No worries, turn on the A/C setting on the unit. Likewise, if you’re feeling cold, the heater functions in this unit will warm you right up.

Using a portable heater/air conditioner combo is also much more energy-efficient than running two units separately. You’ll be saving quite a bit of money in the long-run by investing in this unit.

Lastly, air conditioning and heater combos are easy to install. You won’t have to drill any holes, and all you’ve got to do is place it at your desired location, install the exhaust hose, and you’re good to go. No complicated installation procedure is required.

Factors to Consider

The first thing you need to consider is the unit’s heating and cooling capacity. This is measured in BTU’s (British Thermal Unit), and all units come with their individual capacity. The BTU you require is dependent on the size or space of the room that you’ll be placing the unit.

To determine this, you should measure your space’s size beforehand so that you’ve got a good idea of what the number of BTU will be. For example, a 200 square foot space will require an 8,000 BTU unit while a 500 square foot space needs a 14,000 BTU unit. Usually, the higher the BTU rating also means that the unit can cool and heat the room more efficiently.

Another thing to consider is how energy efficient the model is. If you plan on using it often, energy efficiency is vital. Not only will it keep your electricity bills down, but it’s also better for the environment. For this, you’d want to consider the energy efficiency ratio. The higher the rating, the better the energy efficiency of the unit.

If you plan on moving your air conditioner and heater unit around, you’d also need to consider unit weight and size. Usually, the units don’t weigh more than 95 pounds, but if you’d be shifting it around, it’s better to opt for a lighter model. If you’ve got minimal space in your home, you’d also want to go for a unit that takes up less floor space. Ideally, you should look for something that’s between 12 to 18 inches in width.

When it comes to purchasing your unit, you should also consider if you need additional features such as an adjustable thermostat or dehumidifier. An adjustable thermostat will allow you to custom set your preferred temperature while a dehumidifier will eliminate any dampness in the air and provide additional comfort.

Pros and Cons

To sum it all up, here’s a quick pros and cons list of purchasing an air conditioning and heater unit.

Pros:

  • Portability. Most of these units are light and portable so that you can move them around with no issues at all.
  • Budget-friendly. They’re much cheaper than paying for a separate air conditioner and heater. You also won’t have to invest as much money for installation or your electricity bill.
  • Doesn’t take up as much space. Since you’ve got two functions in one, this unit can fit in small spaces – making them ideal for a small apartment or studio.
  • Easy to install. No holes need to be drilled, so installation is a breeze. Just place it where you want, and it’s all ready to go.

Cons:

  • Noise. Perhaps the only con in investing in an air conditioner and heater unit is the noise you’ve got to deal with. While it’s minimal, it’s still something to consider – especially in the evening when you’re trying to go to sleep.

Top 6 Best Air Conditioner and Heater Combos

1. Whynter ARC-14SH 14,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner

Portable Air Conditioner

This popular unit can cool a room that’s up to 500 square feet in size and comes with a dehumidifying capacity and a fan with three fan speeds and heating functions. Other features include full thermostatic control with a digital readout and a 24-hour programmable timer. The auto-drain function also means that this unit will fully recycle moisture that’s collected to produce cool air.

Upon purchase, you’ll get pretty much everything you need, from remote control to an activated carbon filter and a washable pre-filter. It also comes with wheels so you can move it wherever you need. It’s truly a mobile and powerful model that’s also easy to install.

In case you encounter a power outage, this unit also comes with auto-restart. Customers who have purchased this unit mentioned that it’s a great product. Not only has it decreased the expenses of some of their electricity bills, but they’ve also said that installation is easy, customer service at the company is excellent, and runs well as both an air conditioner and a heater.

Pros:

  • Comes with heating, cooling, and dehumidifying functions
  • Has a full thermostatic control
  • 24-hour programmable timer
  • Auto-drain function
  • Easy to install

Cons:

  • Some customers have mentioned that it’s a tad noisy

2. Honeywell, MN14CHCSWW Portable Air Conditioner with Heat Pump

Portable Air Conditioner

This 4-in-1 portable unit comes with an air conditioner, dehumidifier, fan, and heat pump. It provides powerful airflow and also operates quietly. It can effectively cool rooms up to 700 square feet and cool rooms that are about 500 square feet. Upon purchase, you’ll receive all the accessories you need for quick installation, and the unit will also reduce energy consumption and our electricity bills in the long-run.

Other great features of this unit include the dual motor technology for lower noise levels, a smart digital thermostat system for precise climate control, and an advanced LCD display. If you run into any issues, you can also call the company’s support team that’ll help you with all of your needs.

This is a highly-rated machine that’s popular with its customers. Individuals have stated that its lightweight, takes seconds to set up, and is a powerful unit that does the job. They also like how there are rolling casters to move the appliance to different rooms with ease, and mentioned that both the cooling and heating features of this unit works great.

Pros:

  • 4-in-1 portable unit
  • Operates quietly
  • Smart digital thermostat system
  • Advanced LCD display
  • Comes with customer service support

Cons:

  • It’s heavier than some of the other units, so carrying it is not recommended

3. SereneLife 10,000 Portable Air Conditioner + 9000 BTU Heater

Portable Air Conditioner

This lightweight unit is both handy and portable. Since it comes with rolling wheels, you’re able to move it around different rooms efficiently. In terms of features, it comes with a built-in dehumidifier that helps reduce humidity levels along with four operating modes. You’ve got cooling, heating, a dehumidifier along with a fan. It’s also got automatic swing mode if you’d like to maximize the circulation in your room.

To control the features, the unit comes with a remote control that has a digital touch button. You can set the temperature, power, mode, timer along with fan speed settings. In terms of BTU, it has 10,000 BTU of cooling power and 9,000 BTU of heating power – making it a great option for saving both space and money.

Those who have purchased this unit mentioned that it’s good value for money and cools great. They also like how it’s easy to install, turns on beautifully, and like how it can be used year-round. Other great features include shutting off when it reaches the desired temperature, and a customer service department that can help you run into any problems.

Pros:

  • Handy and portable unit
  • Comes with rolling wheels so you can move it around
  • Four operating modes
  • Comes with an automatic swing mode
  • Has a remote control with a digital touch button

Cons:

  • Some have commented that it’s quite loud

4. COSTWAY Air Cooler and Heater

Portable Air Conditioner

This multifunctional unit can be used for various purposes – as an air cooler, heater, humidifier, fan, and air purifier. To customize it to your individual needs, feel free to use the unit’s function that includes a swing feature, an 8-hour timer, along with three different fan modes and speeds.

It even comes with a cooling pad and two ice-crystal boxes to ensure superior cooling. To operate your unit, you can use the electronic display and remote control. The control panel is user-friendly, and it’s both a compact and lightweight unit that fits into tight spaces.

Customers mentioned that it’s great for dry areas, is easy to use, and not difficult to move around. Perhaps the only tip that customers have said is that you need to keep an eye on the water level. Either than that, customers mentioned that it works as advertised.

Pros:

  • Multifunctional unit
  • Can be customized to your individual needs
  • Comes with a cooling pad and ice crystal boxes
  • Has an electronic display and remote control
  • Lightweight unit

Cons:

  • Some have mentioned that it doesn’t really produce cool air

5. Black + Decker BPACT12HWT Portable Air Conditioner, 12,000 BTU with Heater

Portable Air Conditioner

Another fantastic dual unit, this air conditioner and heater will keep you cool during the summer and warm during the winter. It produces over 12,000 BTU and is great for smaller rooms up to 250 square feet. Installation is simple, and the unit even comes with handles along with castor wheels to move it around with ease.

Other features that you’ll get with this unit include a remote control with an LED display along with a 24-hour timer. There are four energy-efficient modes that you can pick from – cool, fan, heat, and dehumidify. The vertical motion means that you’ve consistent automated temperatures in your room, and there are three different fan levels – low, medium, and high.

Customers who bought this unit like how it’s easy to set up, and mentioned that it does blow cool and warm air – depending on the functions you select. They also like how it has a window fitting that’s long enough for tall windows and mentioned that it seems to be sturdy and made of high-quality materials.

Pros:

  • Simple installation
  • Comes with handles and castor wheels
  • Comes with a remote control and a 24-hour timer
  • Has four energy-efficient modes
  • Has a window fitting that’s long enough for tall windows

Cons:

  • Not great for larger rooms

6. NEWAIR AC-14100H Portable Air Conditioner and Heater

Portable Air Conditioner

This portable heater and air conditioner unit heats and cool rooms that are up to 525 square feet. It also comes with a fan and a dehumidifier, automatic cooling mode, a programmable timer, and a remote control. The intuitive interface makes it easy to use, so it’s not difficult to set up modes or the timer. The unit also comes integrated with a cooling tank that helps with maximizing air conditioning efficiency.

It’s a powerful unit that produces 14,000 BTUs of power, and also comes with casters so you can wheel the unit around your home. In terms of fan speed, the unit comes with three fan speeds, so you can select the one that suits you best.

Customers that have purchased this unit mentioned that it works well for the price, easy to install, and has a temperature sensor that works great. They also appreciate how it doesn’t take up too much space, has an auto-evaporate function, and comes with a hose that is of a pretty good length.

Pros:

  • Heats and cools rooms up to 525 square feet
  • Has an intuitive interface
  • Comes with a programmable timer and remote control
  • Integrated with a cooling tank
  • Temperature sensor works well

Cons:

  • The medium or low function for the fan settings

The Bottom Line

We hope that this article was helpful and you’ve got a better idea of air conditioner and heater units. When selecting your unit, it’s essential that you know how powerful of a unit you need. The last thing you’d want is to purchase a unit that’s only suited to cooling a smaller room. Air conditioner and heater units are helpful devices that are great purchases for anyone on a budget or have minimal space in their home.