Good price/performance in the low-BTU class
Pros:
One of the few units in the 7000 BTU range, affordable price.
Cons:
Window mount and duct not well-insulated. Need additional air circulation.
The Bottom Line:
These units will not please everyone, but this one offers a unique BTU point (7000), affordability, and decent performance.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I live in Mountain View, CA, which is not usually very hot. However, I run a small Linux cluster (5 machines), and I need spot cooling. My window opens to the side, so the conventional window units were not applicable. Also, I wanted the luxury to move the unit into my daughter's room on really hot days.
The unit was purchased at Fry's Electronics. To my knowledge, it was the only unit in the 7000 BTU class, which is designed for single room use. The unit weighs about 70 pounds and can be moved fairly easily on its casters, even over carpet. The controls are simple and easy to master. The hot air vents from the rear of the unit, through a provided dryer duct. An adjustable window mount affixes the duct to the window.
The unit will spot cool part of a room readily. However, as the cool air outflow is near to the ground, hot air stays near the ceiling, and the two do not readily mix. One could place the unit higher off the ground (not easy), or run a second fan to aid air mixing.
A key consideration is insulation of the duct hose. The hose can get quite hot, and will radiate lots of heat, defeating the purpose of the A/C. Also, the plastic window mount should be insulated, and air leaks should be mitigated if possible. I bought a roll of aluminum insulation material at Home Depot (looks like bubble wrap, but is metallic). I covered the duct with this material, and also covered the window mount with it, allowing some overlap to mitigate air inflow from the window.
