SPT WA-8070E Portable Air Conditioner In Review

Vital Statistics

• Incredibly lightweight and easy to move about the house.
• 8,000 BTU cooling capacity.
• Housing fabricated from fire resistant PVC.
• Fully programmable up to 24 hours.
• Attractive price point.

The SPT WA 8070E (say that 3 times fast!) is a quiet portable air conditioner that kicks out 8,000 BTUs of cool produced by non-ozone depleting R410A coolant. The unit features intelligent restart for those pain in the drain times the power goes out and is one of the more energy efficient units in its class. It also features auto-evaporative capability that eliminates the need for you to keep checking on the pan to see if it needs emptying.

Pros

• Lightweight construction – Besides being one of the most energy efficient units in its class the WA 8070E is also extremely light, tipping the scales at an (almost) feather-like 51 pounds. As such you don’t have to be a weightlifter to move the unit from room to room. The high quality casters also contribute to a nice smooth glide across just about any surface. The unit also cuts a very slim profile.

• Affordability – Whereas some portable air conditioners will send a shock through your bank account the WA 8070E is just the opposite. You get many of the features of a much more expensive unit at a price most people can afford without breaking a sweat. It’s nice to know some manufacturers are still interested in helping consumers get the most for their money.

• Multiple functions – The WA 8070E features air conditioner mode, fan-only mode and dehumidifier mode for when you just want to dry the air out without having to cool it down as well. That last is a feature you don’t find on a lot of units at this price point and as such it helps make this SPT portable air conditioner an exceptional value.

Cons

• Design – We hate to beat the design drum again but in this case there’s no way to avoid it. The look of this unit is a significant drawback for anyone who wants their portable air conditioner to go about its job without drawing attention to itself. It just look well, cheap. And that’s never something you want from your appliances. A little less brown and a little more white would go a long way toward solving the image problem of this unit. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for the next generation.

• Noise – For a smallish 8,000 BTU unit the WA 8070E can kick out some decibels alright. To a degree that’s a matter of “you get what you pay for” but that doesn’t negate the fact that the unit is loud for its size.