De’Longhi PAC review
The sun and hot weather go hand in hand with beach trips and pool days. While the warmth makes for a welcome companion when you have refreshing water lapping at your feet, the heat isn’t as appreciated when you’re stuck inside on a sweltering day. Those who live in a building without central air conditioning often turn to window units to cool their home. However, window units can be challenging to install and aren’t permitted in all buildings.
De’Longhi claims to have a more convenient way to cool down your home with its Pinguino UV-Carelight Portable Air Conditioner. This 3-in-1 model, capable of cooling, dehumidifying and fanning, touts the ability to provide powerful and quiet room cooling while lowering your energy bills. In addition, it promises to eliminate germs in your home using its top-of-the-line UV-C technology.
We tested the De’Longhi Pinguino UV-Carelight Portable Air Conditioner to see if it delivers on its promise of providing powerful cooling, even in large rooms. Here’s what we found.
How we tested the De’Longhi Pinguino
We tested the De’Longhi Pinguino for several weeks in an apartment with one large 700 square foot room, a 200 square foot bedroom and a 100 square foot office. To see how effectively it cooled down rooms of different sizes, we moved this portable AC unit to each room in the apartment.
What is the De’Longhi Pinguino?
The Pinguino UV-Carelight is a 3-in-1 portable ac that cools, dehumidifies and fans. It’s more than just your average portable ac unit — the brand claims its top-of-the-line UV-C technology protects against 96.4% of bacteria and 99.5% of viruses in your room while being 30% more efficient due to its Eco Real Feel technology.
The product promises to deliver powerful cooling in large rooms up to 700 square feet. De’Longhi engineered the Pinguino UV-Carelight to be user-friendly while adding lasting value.
How do portable air conditioners work?
Portable air conditioners are known for being easier to install than other methods, such as window air conditioning units. They sit on the ground and usually have wheels to transfer the unit between rooms or are small enough to carry from one room to another. Attaching the hose to an exterior window is the only required installation.
The primary purpose of a portable air conditioner is to suck the hot air out of a room and replace it with cool air. A fan spins around, collecting hot air from the room, and pushes the hot air and moisture through the tube and out a window. During this process, cold coils cool the air and extract moisture before venting the cold air back into the room.
By pulling the water from the air, your portable air conditioner can also act as a dehumidifier. Not all portable air conditioners offer a dehumidifier setting, and those that feature this option will have a tank that needs to be drained.
While each portable air conditioner model is slightly different, all generally work the same way to provide cool air to your room.
How did the De’Longhi Pinguino perform?
Setting up the De’Longhi PAC was straightforward and quick. After placing it by the window and plugging it in, we attached the hose to the included bracket and adjusted the bracket in the window. Closing the window keeps the bracket snug. The entire set up took no longer than a few minutes. The four wheels made transferring the unit between rooms effortless. However, bringing it up two flights of stairs was a demanding task, as the unit is pretty heavy.
When set to cooling, the unit allows you to choose a temperature between 64-90 degrees using the panel on the unit or their small included remote. The remote also has a specifically designed holster, so you don’t have to worry about misplacing it. In our large 700 square foot space, it was able to cool the room down 10 degrees in just under an hour. In the bedroom and office, which are 100-200 square feet, we saw a decrease in temperature within 30 minutes.
When operating at full capacity, the De’Longhi Pinguino PAC is very quiet compared to other portable air conditioners. It’s almost silent when on the lowest setting, although the lowest setting doesn’t cool as quickly and effectively as higher settings.
We enjoyed the fan function and used it as a white noise machine in the bedroom. Switching between settings was as simple as pressing a button. It also has a timer, allowing you to set the unit to run for a specific amount of time. This feature could be beneficial overnight or when you’re away from the house.
De’Longhi Pinguino cost
The De’Longhi Pinguino UV-Carelight Portable Air Conditioner costs $649.95. It’s 1,600 watts and available in black and white.
Where to buy the De’Longhi Pinguino
Right now, you can only buy the De’Longhi Pinguino PAC at Amazon.
De’Longhi Pinguino pros
Portable air conditioners are generally straightforward to install, and the Pinguino UV-Carelight is no different. The only installation required is the venting hose, and De’Longhi includes all brackets and material, so you don’t have to buy anything extra.
The De’Longhi Pinguino is very quiet, even during its strongest output. When the unit is on the lowest setting, it silences even further to a low hum. Being a 3-in-1 unit could save you money on additional appliances, especially for those who frequently utilize a humidifier or a fan. Plus, the UV-C filtration kills 94.6% bacteria and 99.5% viruses.
De’Longhi Pinguino cons
As a new product, the downsides are yet to show themselves. However, some previous De’Longhi models have received complaints about longevity. It’s unclear whether we’ll see the same with the Pinguino UV-Carelight.
While the brand claims this unit will save energy, those in moderate climates who don’t need to cool all rooms around the clock will likely see the most savings. Also, the included mounting brackets may not fit in every window.
Is the De’Longhi Pinguino worth it?
Overall, we were impressed with the performance of the De’Longhi Pinguino UV-Carelight Portable Air Conditioner. It delivered on its claims to cool rooms up to 700 square feet and did so quietly and in a short amount of time. It’s user-friendly, easy to operate and a breeze to transfer between rooms.
We recommend this portable air conditioner to anyone looking for a convenient way to cool down a room. Those who care about the quality of air in their home and those who live in a humid climate and are able to take advantage of the built-in humidifier will find this unit especially beneficial.
Breanna Richey 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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