Portable air conditioners are a versatile alternative to window units because you can easily move them from room to room. Also known as stand-up air conditioners, they take in air from the room around them and cool it just like a regular air conditioner. The chilled air is directed back into the room and the warm air is sent outside through a vent hose.
LG has a well-earned reputation for designing and making quality appliances of all kinds. This guide will help you choose the best LG portable air conditioner for you by showing you some of the most important features to consider. At the end, you’ll find several LG air conditioner product recommendations, such as top pick LG 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, which is ideal for those who like to control their smart homes with their smartphones
What to know before you buy an LG portable air conditioner
How big of a space can an LG portable air conditioner cool?
LG has models made for rooms ranging in size from 200-500 square feet. The bigger the room, the more BTUs you will need to cool the air. LG’s BTU/room size recommendations are:
6,000 and 8,000 BTUs for rooms up to 200 square feet
10,000 BTUs for rooms up to 300 square feet
12,000 BTUs for rooms up to 400 square feet
14,000 BTUs for rooms up to 500 square feet
Using an LG portable air conditioner for more than one room
If so, you’ll want to choose an LG portable air conditioner that is simple to set up and can easily be moved from one place to another. Look for LG portable air conditioners with smooth, quiet caster wheels that don’t damage your floors.
LG portable air conditioner features
Operating modes
All LG portable air conditioners have the built-in ability to switch between three different modes of operation. Switch your LG portable air conditioner to COOL, set the thermostat for any temperature between 60 and 86 degrees, and your air conditioner functions as a standard room air conditioner. Switch to DRY and your LG portable air conditioner becomes a room dehumidifier. Turn the control to FAN and this mode circulates air in the room on those days and nights where you want a small breeze without the cool air.
Some high-end LG models have a fourth mode that turns your LG portable air conditioner into a unit that can heat a room to 86 degrees.
Noise levels
Most LG portable air conditioners operate at fewer than 55 decibels, about the same amount of noise that comes from your refrigerator. Some higher-end models are even quieter, running at about 44 decibels.
Remote control
Less-expensive LG portable air conditioners can be controlled wirelessly with a small handheld device that looks like a remote control for a television. Higher-end models are controlled from your smartphone via LG’s SmartThinQ app, which operates LG’s entire family of smart appliances. The SmartThinQ app also allows you to remotely monitor the air temperature in the room where your LG portable air conditioner is located.
Dual vent hoses
LG air conditioners with two hoses cool your room more quickly and more efficiently than single-hose models.
Allergy relief
LG offers high-quality filters to remove more particles from the air.
Additional operating modes
Some LG portable air conditioner models are also capable of doing extra duty as dehumidifiers.
Energy efficiency
Designed with energy efficiency in mind, LG’s air conditioners come with the Energy Star label.
LG portable air conditioner cost
Smaller 6,000-BTU appliances cost in the low $300s. Medium-sized 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000-BTU units cost $370-$500, while LG’s largest 14,000-BTU units cost upward of $600.
LG air conditioner portable air conditioner FAQ
What is a BTU?
A. The letters stand for British Thermal Unit, the industry-adopted standard for measuring heating and air conditioning performance. Its technical definition is the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. Generally speaking, larger rooms need larger air conditioners built to deliver higher BTU numbers.
Why do I need to locate my LG portable air conditioner near a window?
A. The air that comes out of the exhaust vent is very hot and needs to be vented outside in order for your LG portable air conditioner to work. The vent hose radiates heat into the room on its way outside, so the closer you can get your LG portable air conditioner to the window, the easier it is to cool the room.
Which LG portable air conditioner should I get?
Best of the best LG portable air conditioner
LG LP1021BHSM 10,000-BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heat and Cool: available at Amazon
Our take: People with smart homes enjoy controlling this four-function LG portable air conditioner from anywhere through their smartphones.
What we like: LQ ThinQ Technology allows users to set the device to heat or cool their homes on the go via a smartphone app. Can cool rooms up to 450 square feet. App works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
What we dislike: Doesn’t work with Siri yet.
Best bang for your buck LG portable air conditioner
LG LP0721WSR Portable Air Conditioner with 6,000-BTU Cooling Capacity, Remote Control: available at Amazon
Our take: Smart small-room cooling at a good price.
What we like: Smart ThinQ technology in a small package. User-friendly panel and remote control. Has an oscillating vent to circulate air evenly to avoid dead spots. Various fan and cooling settings to keep rooms up to 250 square feet comfortable at a quiet 51 dB.
What we dislike: Smaller sizes have to work harder and require more frequent emptying.
Honorable mention LG portable air conditioner
LG LP0821GSSM 18-Inch Smart Portable Air Conditioner with 8,000-BTU Cooling Capacity: available at Amazon
Our take: WiFi convenience and Smart ThinQ technology in a mid-sized portable room air conditioner.
What we like: Ultra-quiet 49 dB in sleep mode. Two-way air deflection. 24-hour timer and auto restart. Excellent LCD remote control. Can cool rooms up to 350 square feet.
What we dislike: It weighs 62 pounds, so moving it around can be a chore for some.
David Allan Van is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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