Not so long ago, having an air conditioner in your house would require that you have a technician come over and get it installed for you, but nowadays, there are so many other different types of top-performing air conditioners that you could get set up without any external assistance. You could go for a tower fan, a mini-split system, stick with the traditional window air unit, or opt for a portable air conditioner. The Homelabs portable air conditioner for example is pretty flexible in where you can put it, and has a rating of 12000 BTU. It’s got what it takes to rival even the best tower air conditioner, but whether it’s the best portable air conditioner for RV is a completely different subject. Get to the end of this review to find out whether or not it’s the best for you.
Why We Like It – HomeLabs 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
The HomeLabs 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner is a perfect source of cool air for rooms that aren’t larger than 450 sq ft. It’s quiet, easy to control, has a 24-hour timer, and boasts of 3 fan speeds.
- Guarantees quiet operation at a maximum of 53 decibels
- Check filter indicator
- 24 Hour Timer
- No drain hose
Performance
Best suited for a floor area of about 450 square feet, the HomeLabs portable air conditioner should be able to sufficiently cool down most rooms, and is also a pretty good alternative for anyone who has got young children in the house since it’s very quiet. If you’re looking for a unit that has a larger coverage area, consider the Hessaire MC37M which serves up to 950 sq ft. The HomeLabs portable AC has a dehumidifier built-in, so you’ll easily be able to remove any excess moisture from your air, while also being able to cool your room down. This is something that the Dyson Cool AM07 won’t be able to do, so if your air gets a lot of moisture every now and then, it would be the right pick to make.
Energy Efficiency
Unlike the hOmelabs 14,000 BTU portable A/C, the HomeLabs 12000 BTU portable AC unit will draw about 11 amperes of electricity on its normal setting, making it arguably energy efficient. It does also have a built-in sleep function that has it use less energy overnight. You don’t really have to use the sleep function only at night though, you can have it as your default setting if you don’t want your electricity setting to increase. You may also opt for the Honeywell 525-729CFM Evaporative cooler because these types of units use up to 80% less energy than a typical air conditioner.
Moreover, to have more control over your A/C unit, you’ll want to opt for a smart unit, like you’ll read about in our Hisense AP10CW1G 10000 BTU Wi-Fi smart air conditioner review.
Filtration
The HomeLabs 12000 BTU unit has got a washable filter inside that keeps all the dust and fine particles from getting through to your room, and in doing so, ensures that you’re always able to enjoy clean air. You’ll have to take out the filter to wash it every two weeks, and washing it basically entails running it under a faucet. Unlike the TaoTronics Tower Fan, the 12000 BTU portable air conditioner has also got a check filter indicator that lets you know when washing is due, and has an exhaust hose that you should attach to the window for warm air to escape through.
Durability
Backed by a 1-year warranty, the HomeLabs 12000 BTU portable air conditioner has pretty much the same warranty standard as other air conditioners do, so there’s nothing really unique about that. It is however of good build quality, and comes with a remote control for convenient operation. Unlike most portable air conditioners, it does come with a window unit for easy installation of the exhaust hose, so you won’t have to purchase anything separately.
Value
Most portable AC units that are in the same price category as the HomeLabs 12000 BTU AC are not really built in the same way that it is, and this isn’t that much of a bad thing. The HomeLabs quiet AC cools rooms through its horizontal air outlet, and it also doesn’t have a water collection basin. Just like the Lasko T42951, it does however have different cooling modes, though it is substantially bigger and more powerful.
HomeLabs 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner Wrap Up
Made in the United States, both the HomeLabs 12000 & 14000 BTU ACs have received rave customer reviews as units that look fundamentally different from what you’ll find in the market today, but still function just the same if not better than other alternatives.
