Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I’ve waited until summer was over for us to post this review. We purchased this unit for our kitchen. We normally use window units, but our kitchen has none, so rather than put in a window we simply vented this out the wall like a dryer vent. We were nervous since there weren’t many reviews, but we couldn’t be happier with this product. Though it is slightly more expensive than other units in its range, we think the extra cost was worth it. The materials, fit, and finish for this Emerson just look and feel a cut above what you’d expect. Installation for us was very straightforward. As I said, we vented directly through the exterior wall, so I can’t speak to how easy or effective the set up for window exhaust might be. Regarding operation, the unit was more than enough to keep the kitchen cool even with ovens baking or the dishwasher running. Product details state it is designed for rooms up to 150 sq. ft. (which is about the size of our kitchen), but it could easily handle a room twice that size, as other reviewers have shared. It’s controls are simple and intuitive; we haven’t used the remote control, but I have no doubt it would function appropriately. For us, the greatest benefit was the low noise level. A couple of reviews claim this unit is too loud; this was NOT our experience. I suppose if you’ve only ever had central air, it might take getting used to, but for those who’ve grown up with window AC, this unit is a dream. The fan is quieter than a window unit, but it’s not just the volume of the noise, it’s the type of noise. With a window AC, you get the vibrating/pulsing hum that resonates through the window and wall, whereas with this stand-alone unit, it just sounds like air blowing. Another review correctly described it as a softer “white noise.” We knew of these stand-alone ACs, but this is the first one we’ve ever had in our home. This unit has single-handedly convinced us that this is the way to go; as our window units die, we will be replacing them with these Emersons. The only real drawback is the footprint on your floor space versus a window unit, but we feel the benefits are worth it. We whole-heartedly give this product 5 stars. NOTE: When researching for this purchase, we were surprised by the number of people that misunderstand the draining process for AC units. All AC units create condensation; on window units this is simply drained out the back onto the ground and you don’t have to worry about it. For these stand-alone types, most of the condensation is vented with the exhaust, but with heavy use or in areas of high humidity, sometimes it can’t keep up, so it must collect the condensation in a reservoir. Once this reservoir becomes full the unit will stop until it is emptied so that it doesn’t leak all over the floor; simply drain the reservoir and you’re back in business. Many people seem caught off guard by this and get upset; we even saw one reviewer complain about it as a design flaw. If you’re looking at purchasing a stand-alone AC, this is just part of it. It’s the price you pay for having a “portable” air conditioner. If you can’t handle a basic maintenance step like emptying the reservoir, maybe you should look elsewhere for a less labor-intensive appliance.