Sunpentown Portable Air Conditioner SPT WA-9020E
Uncategorized December 4th. 2011, 2:32pm
The WA-9020E Sunpentown portable air conditioner is the latest offering from one of the best portable air conditioner manufacturers Sunpentown, often abbreviated as the letters SPT. This unit has all the most intricate features that a portable air conditioner could possibly have, including but not limited to double fan speed, digital thermostat, 12 hour timer as well as a 1 year limited warranty. It weighs around 63 lbs which is average for a 9,000 BTU unit, and can cool areas up to around 16′ x 16′ (or equivalent – approximately 250 square feet). As with many of the higher end portable air conditioners, the SPT WA-9020E unit can also be used as a dehumidifier, a function which is especially useful in places which are uncomfortable not only due to the heat, but also because of the humidity. The dehumidifier function can remove approximately 23 liters of moisture from the air each day. As for the cooling function itself, it is powered primarily by evaporation, which essentially means using water to cool air down. A nice feature of the WA-9020E is that it can essentially re-use water that it takes from the air with the dehumidifer function to cool the air down, which greatly improves its efficiency and eco-friendly status. Sunpentown portable air conditioner reviews are easy to find online, however this comprehensive review encompasses not only general customer sentiment, but also my own tests with this particular unit.
The Sunpentown portable air conditioner WA-9020E boasts the following features:
- 9,000 cooling power capable of cooling indoor areas of up to 16′ x 16′ (approximately 250 sq. ft.)
- Dehumidifier functionality in addition to cooling
- Self-evaporative cooling technology
- Double fan speed
- Remote control and 12 hour timer
- Covered by 1 year limited warranty
- Weight approximately 70 lbs
The Sunpentown portable air conditioner WA-9020E is available on amazon for just $565. Click here to find out more.
**February 2012 Update** The WA-9020E is temporarily out of stock on Amazon however its older brother the WA-9000E is available here at a 34% discount.
Customer opinion of the Sunpentown portable air conditioner WA-9020E is generally mixed: one reviewer makes a useful note that the WA-9020E costs just $0.50 per day to run, which is a tiny amount in comparison to central air conditioning; while another customer is not pleased with the cooling effect of the unit. Replies to such portable air conditioner reviews, and my own personal experience as daughter of an engineer for such AC units, indicate that many owners of even the best portable air conditioners are not leading the AC hose outside and otherwise sealing the room in question. If you do not seal the room, no matter how much cold air the air conditioner pumps out, warm air from outside will be able to seep back in. Also, the hose will be very hot and if you do not insulate this properly before it reaches the outside, then the heat will dissipate back to your room, rendering the AC unit useless. It’s preferred to put the portable air conditioner near a window so that the hose doesn’t have much chance to dissipate heat back into the room, in addition to proper insulation. In my experience, if you are going to find it impossible to reasonably seal your room, e.g. close windows and doors properly, and insulate the AC unit hose, then you shouldn’t get a portable air conditioner and you should opt for a window AC unit instead.
In other portable air conditioner reviews for the SPT WA-9020E, other customers report problems maintaining the unit, due to the difficulty in accessing the intake filter. I agree that this is a less than desirable method of construction but the filters do not have to be cleaned as often as one would think – but when you do need to clean, you have to take some time over it otherwise it will not be effective. Just as with any high value item, there has to be a certain degree of maintenance, whichever portable air conditioner you choose. Some customers accept this, while others are unhappy with this fact of reality. It’s not unlike maintaining one’s car, or making sure you have a good antivirus on your computer and scan for spyware once in a while. Many manufacturers do not specifically recommend cleaning intake filters, in any case.
Generally, customers who have taken all the necessary installation steps notice a vast decrease in room temperature when using the Sunpentown portable air conditioner WA-9020E, provided the room in question is under 250 square feet in size. Sunpentown is a reliable, well known manufacturer and the 1 year limited warranty gives customers a little extra reassurance when purchasing such a high end item.
Pros of the Sunpentown portable air conditioner WA-9020E:
High energy efficiency rating of 10.31 – cheap to run
Comprehensive list of features, including dehumidifier and timer
Covered by 1 year limited warranty
Cons of the Sunpentown portable air conditioner WA-9020E:
Sometimes takes time to install and achieve optimal performance
Unit may need to be placed near the window and hose insultated to prevent heat dissipation