This item arrived on time and well packed. I was very pleased that the cosmetic damage was not even noticeable. I spent and hour getting the unit unplugged and installed. When I turned the unit on in heat mode it sounded like marbles in a clothes dryer. I am returning the unit. It was obviously not tested in Heat Mode before it was sent out otherwise the noise would have been caught.

Well, cooling season is over and this A/C unit performed well, keeping a large room cool (9 ½ foot ceilings, two walls with windows, and 350 sq.ft. with two doors no one ever closes, sigh) and comfortable without my EVER, EVER having to empty the water container. The great advantage of dual hose portable A/C units.
I decided to use the heat mode, but have found that-- contrary to the manual's instructions-- my unit will not allow me to set a temperature. The panel light jumps from "Set Timer" to "Room Temperature" and skips "Set Temperature". I have a giant fan blowing already cool air rather than a heater blowing warm air. Half of the product works. If I could find the remote (How do those devils grow feet?) I will try to bypass the panel. I purchased this through Amazon's Warehouse Deals, Inc. ( which I am now beginning to regret), and will ask them for help. If I am successful, I will update this review.
Update...("Why Five Stars?)
Just finished chatting with Nithin at Amazon, who asked me to ship it back to them at their expense (only need to find big, sturdy box) and they will credit my account. Thank you! No regrets. This is customer service and why I am impressed with Amazon.

I live in Seattle. There are only a few days per year that one needs or wants air conditioning here. Assuming you do not live on a very busy highway, most of the year here, you just open your windows.

I got this portable air conditioner because the windows of my rented condo will not hold a window air conditioner. This product got a very high rating on Consumer Reports.

The air conditioner has a hose so that you can drain the condenser if necessary -- I have never had to drain the condenser.

As noted the portable units just are not as powerful as a window unit, so if one had windows that would hold an air conditioner, I would tend to get one of those.

The unit was powerful enough that it cooled both our bedroom and our front room. I intend next year to buy a second one so that we have one just for the bedroom -- I think it could more effectively cool our front room if it wasn't trying to cool both rooms.

As noted in other reviews the hose gets very hot and so throws heat back into the room. I would use the detailed instructions in one of the other reviews detailing how to insulate the hoses to prevent having them kick heat back into the room.

Also the piece that fits in the window, it is long and narrow, but not quite long enough. We could extend it with a little balsa wood or something else to completely cover the window.

If you have a window that will fit a window air conditioner, just get one of those. Use Google to determine the BTUs for the space you want to cool -- you need the right number of BTUs to cool your place.

If you are a home owner or own your condo/apartment, consider paying to get a wall unit and get someone to install it.

If your windows will not hold a window unit and installing a wall unit is not an option (you are a renter, not an owner), then get one or two of these portable units.

The best

I may be sending this review too soon. Have only had this unit for a couple of days, but it is doing what I wanted it to do when ordering it. After the season ends, and, if it is still performing as well, then the five stars is correct.