Hisense AP55023HR1GD Smart 8,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heat Pump (Renewed)

Hisense Smart SACC 8,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heat Pump ReviewIntroductionLiving in Palm Bay, FL, means dealing with both hot summers and mild winters, so a versatile air conditioner is essential. As a retiree spending most of my days in my home office and bedroom, I needed a reliable, cost-effective cooling solution. The Hisense Smart SACC 8,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner with Heat Pump seemed like the perfect fit. Here's my experience with this unit and how it has integrated into my daily routine.Personal ExperienceSetting up the Hisense AC was straightforward with the snap-assembly window kit. Within minutes, it was up and running, providing immediate relief from the Florida heat. My typical day involves working in my home office and relaxing in the bedroom, both of which are connected by a short hallway that I've blocked off with a thermal curtain to isolate these rooms from the rest of the house.In the mornings, I set our central AC to 83°F and use the portable AC to cool my office and bedroom down to a comfortable 75°F. Around 5 PM, the central AC kicks back in to cool the entire house to 77°F, so that the house is cooled down when my wife arrives home between 6 and 7 PM. This approach has proven to be both effective and economical.Key Features and BenefitsDual Hose System: This feature helps cool down the room more efficiently by balancing air pressure, which I noticed made a difference compared to my previous single hose unit.4 Operating Modes: While I’ve primarily used the cooling mode and occasionally the dehumidifier mode during humid nights, it’s good to know that the heating feature is available if needed. I haven't used the fan mode or hooked up the drain hose for heating yet, but having the option is reassuring.Remote and App Control: The ConnectLife app is fantastic, allowing me to set pre-programmed settings and even set the fan speed to "auto," a feature not available on the unit itself or the remote. Through some research, I discovered that the remote and AC unit use Hisense iFeel technology. This means the remote sends the temperature at its location back to the AC, acting as an additional sensor. This ensures more accurate temperature control and enhances comfort.Performance AnalysisThe cooling performance is robust for an 8,000 BTU unit, efficiently bringing down the temperature in my 300 sq. ft. space (two 12x12 rooms and a small hallway). It's much quieter than my older single hose unit, though you can still hear the compressor. I would compare the noise level to that of a mid-sized microwave oven. I haven't used the heating mode yet, but the dehumidifier mode works great during the swampy Florida nights when the central AC is running.Refurbished Unit ExperienceAlthough this is a refurbished unit, it showed absolutely no cosmetic signs of imperfections and works perfectly. I did register the unit with Hisense to activate the 2-year Hisense warranty, which adds peace of mind.Energy Efficiency and Cost SavingsAs an analytical and technical person, I did all the math prior to purchasing the AC to ensure it was the most cost-effective solution for my needs. Here’s a detailed analysis:Cooling Capacity: The Hisense AP55023HR1GD has a cooling capacity of 8,000 BTU, which is suitable for spaces up to 550 square feet. Given that I am cooling two 12x12 rooms (each 144 square feet) and a small hallway, the total area is approximately 300 square feet. This falls well within the capacity of my portable AC unit, ensuring effective cooling.Energy Efficiency: By using the portable AC to cool a smaller, confined area during the hottest part of the Florida day, I am reducing the load on my central AC system. This targeted cooling approach ensures that I am not wasting energy cooling unoccupied spaces.Cost Savings:Portable AC Cost: The portable AC costs approximately $0.17 per hour to run. Over 10 hours (8 AM to 5 PM), this amounts to $1.70 per day.Central AC Cost: The central AC costs about $0.55 per hour to run. By setting it to 83°F during the day and 77°F from 5 PM to 10 PM, I use it for 5 hours at a cost of $2.75 per day.Total Savings: If I were to run the central AC for the entire day (15 hours), it would cost $8.25 ($0.55/hour * 15 hours). By using the portable AC for 10 hours and the central AC for 5 hours, my total daily cost is $4.45 ($1.70 + $2.75). Therefore, my daily savings amount to $3.80 ($8.25 - $4.45).Pros and ConsPros:Quick and easy installation with the snap-assembly window kit.Efficient cooling and heating with the dual hose system.Multi-functional with four operating modes.Convenient control via remote and app.Easy maintenance with a washable filter.Cons:The unit is quite bulky and may be cumbersome to move between rooms.At 75 pounds, it's heavy for one person to handle.The noise level, while not excessive, is noticeable during quiet nights.RecommendationFor anyone needing a comprehensive climate control solution for a mid-sized room, the Hisense Smart SACC 8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heat Pump is a solid choice. Its versatility and ease of use, combined with efficient performance, make it a worthwhile investment. However, consider the size and noise level if these factors are critical for you.Overall ImpressionOverall, I'm pleased with the Hisense AC unit. It delivered on its promises of efficient cooling and heating, with added convenience through smart controls. The minor drawbacks are overshadowed by its performance and functionality, making it a valuable addition to my home.

Update, same day as last update (just to keep you up to date)I had to open the top drain port and tilt some to ensure it was fairly empty. I also did the lower one which had a bit, just because. I'd been getting odd shutowns and bizarre panel behavior. Then I remembered this had happened last summer around this time, extremely humid here. I had tried the three reset methods, which took me a while to find (and didn't fix it). Here they are, just because I had trouble finding them. Still the drain was my fix.Reset- Power off. Unplug for 30 seconds. Can give it up to 30 if you want all the innards to dischargeReset- Remote control. Press mute and fan at the same time for about 5 seconds. You should get a beep and a light on the panel.Reset- Plug safety reset. The plug has a button on the back of it, that will cause it to click/spring the blob just above it. Wait a few seconds, then push that blob back down, should click in place, and green light.Update: I have used the heat pump this past winter. It works pretty well. It will dry the air, and you will be dumping your water tub. I recommend you make the front wheels about 1/3 inch higher than back to help it drain. I found out it does heat even down to 22 where I am, but the cost of running goes up, as some inner workings will ice up because of how cold the outside air is, and it has to run more often and shorter cycles the colder it is as well. Which adds to the cost. Unlike the summer, I did not save much switching to this and two 1500W oil radiators spaced around the house, but I didn't spend any more either.Orig. review:I am using this in a 900 s.f. house. I have a Midea inverter window rig at the other end of the house. I'm actually keeping the house 1 degree cooler than I usually do this summer, and as the summer heated up, my bills ran 17, 23, 62, and now 70 bucks cheaper than with the HVAC (which I still could use if I wanted). Plus just by chance the months all had the same average this year for monthly temps as last, other than one that was 1 degree hotter on average this year. I'm in the deep south, btw. The Midea is probably doing the journeyman's work on savings, but this does really well at that end of the house, plus has a heat pump. Last year we had maybe 29 days that would have been too cold for the heat pump to work, but probably 140 I needed heat, so I'm looking forward to real savings with the heat pump as well.

First the good - for a refurbished unit, I was pretty pleased with the quality. Very minor cosmetic issues on one of the plastic pieces that you place in the window that the hoses connect to. Otherwise, it was as close to new as you can get. It's also pretty easy to install. Took me maybe 10 minutes. Plugged it in and it ran just fine. Air was blowing out at around 53°F.The bad - the claim of being able to cool a 550 sq ft room is either a typo or a lie. After running the unit for several hours and the temperature in the room falling only several degrees, I did a little research into the BTU SACC rating of this unit. Costco has a very similar Hisense 8000 BTU unit, and the coverage area states it's good for 350 sq ft. There is absolutely no way this thing can cool a 550 sq ft room. It just can't keep up. You'd need, mathematically, at least an 11000-12000 BTU SACC rating. I should have done more homework before purchasing. But if you're reading this, at least now you won't have to repeat my mistake. Overstating the coverage area by roughly 37% is inexcusable. Now I have to Tetris this thing back into the packaging and lug it down to whole foods to return it. Just an absolute pain in the neck. Or I guess more of a pain in the back, because this thing isn't exactly light.Update: Well I've had it for one full day, and the unit simply displays 81. I believe this is an error code for a faulty indoor temp sensor. What a piece of garbage this unit has turned out to be.