Black & Decker 5,950 BTU (12,000 BTU ASHRAE) Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control

First impressions and setup

I rolled this compact Black+Decker portable AC into a sweltering attic bedroom on a 90°F afternoon, and its overall design made a good first impression. The chassis is tidy, the casters are smooth enough to cross thresholds, and the side handles make short moves manageable for one person. The top-mounted LED control panel is straightforward, and the included remote mirrors all the essentials: mode, temperature, fan speed, timer, and sleep. It’s a small thing, but having both is handy when the unit lives in a corner.

Installation is typical for a single-hose portable. The kit includes the hose, inlet/outlet adapters, and an adjustable window panel. In a horizontal slider window, I had it sealed and running in under 15 minutes using the supplied foam strips. In a vertical orientation, plan a bit more time: the panel can fit, but you’ll likely need extra weatherstripping or tape to achieve a tight seal and stop warm air infiltration. If you’re ambitious, it’s also wall-ventable with the right cutout, but most folks will go with the window kit.

One tip: the exhaust hose gets warm. If you’re trying to squeeze the most out of this unit, consider insulating the hose to reduce heat radiation back into the room.

Cooling performance and expectations

This model is rated at 12,000 BTU (ASHRAE) with a more realistic 5,950 BTU under the newer SACC standard. In practice, that puts it squarely in the small-to-medium room category. In my attic space—roughly 220 square feet with dormers—it pulled the room down from 86°F to a comfortable 74°F in a bit over half an hour with blinds closed and the door shut. That’s about what I’d expect from a SACC rating in this range. It’s not going to tame an open-plan living room, but for a bedroom, office, or studio, it’s capable if you set it up for success.

Airflow is better than the size suggests. The large, four-direction outlet allows decent control over where the air lands. I found that angling the louvers slightly upward avoids chilly ankles and helps the cool air mix more evenly.

Noise and day-to-day use

Noise is on par with most portables in this class: a steady fan rush with periodic compressor transitions. It’s not whisper-quiet, but as a sleep companion it worked fine for me after dropping fan speed or enabling Sleep mode. The hum becomes a kind of white noise that fades into the background. If you’re sensitive, park it a few feet farther from the bed and point the louvers your way.

Controls are intuitive. The top panel is readable even in daylight, and the remote saves steps once the unit is tucked near a window. I appreciated the 24-hour programmable timer for pre-cooling a room before returning home, and Sleep mode strikes a practical balance by trimming fan speed and gradually easing the set temperature to prevent 3 a.m. chills.

Moisture management and maintenance

Black+Decker’s auto-evaporation system helps reduce how often you need to drain condensate. In moderate humidity, I could run in Cool mode for long stretches without touching the drain. In muggy weather, expect to intervene: auto-evap can only do so much when the air is saturated. The good news is the unit includes a drain hose, so you can set up periodic or continuous drainage if you have a nearby floor drain or can route to a container.

A few operational pointers helped me avoid hiccups:
- Keep the washable slide-out filter clean. Clogged intake filters reduce airflow and can contribute to icing.
- Don’t peg the setpoint to the lowest temperature in a cool room; you’re more likely to get frost on the coils. A realistic 72–74°F target with medium or high fan maintained steady performance for me.
- Make sure the exhaust hose run is short, straight, and fully seated in the adapters. Kinks reduce efficiency and can lead to heat soak and moisture issues.

As for upkeep, the filter pops out quickly for a rinse, and the exterior wipes down easily. Scheduling a monthly filter cleaning during heavy use is a good habit. If you plan to store the unit over winter, drain it fully and let it run in fan mode for 20–30 minutes to dry the internals before covering.

Efficiency and comfort features

This isn’t an inverter-driven machine, so cooling comes in cycles rather than variable modulation, but the thermostat logic is sensible. Once the room is near your setpoint, it avoids excessive short cycling. The sleep function is thoughtfully tuned, and the 24-hour timer adds real flexibility if you aim to run during off-peak hours or pre-cool.

There’s also a dedicated dehumidify mode. In my testing, it pulled noticeable moisture without over-chilling the space, though without an additional drain setup you’ll be emptying it more in this mode. If your primary need is dehumidification, make use of the included hose.

Build quality and serviceability

Fit and finish are solid for the category. Panel seams are tidy, the hose adapters lock in with a positive twist, and the casters feel stout enough for seasonal moves. The plastic window panel is serviceable, though not the most rigid—back it with extra foam for a tighter seal. The design decisions prioritize simple serviceability: the slide-out filter, accessible drain port, and top controls make regular maintenance easy.

The refrigerant is R410a, standard in this class. Warranty coverage is reasonable: one year for parts and labor, and five years for the compressor part. That doesn’t cover everything, but it’s competitive.

Where it excels and where it struggles

Strengths:
- Realistic cooling for small to mid-sized rooms with the 5,950 SACC rating.
- Easy, familiar interface with a capable remote and a clear top display.
- Flexible features that matter: timer, sleep, three modes (cool, dehumidify, fan), and directional airflow.
- Mobility that’s actually practical—casters and side handles make a difference.

Trade-offs:
- Like most single-hose portables, it draws some conditioned air out of the room, which slightly reduces net efficiency versus dual-hose designs.
- Auto-evaporation isn’t magic. In high humidity, you’ll still be draining—plan for it with the included hose.
- Noise is average for the class. Fine for most users, not ideal for ultra-light sleepers.
- The window kit works, but slider/vertical installs may require extra sealing materials for the best results.

Recommendation

I recommend this Black+Decker portable AC for small to medium rooms if you value straightforward setup, a sensible control scheme, and credible cooling performance aligned with its 5,950 SACC rating. It performed reliably for me through hot afternoons and humid nights, and the everyday conveniences—remote, timer, sleep mode, washable filter, and easy mobility—make it pleasant to live with.

That said, set expectations appropriately. If you’re trying to cool a large open area, or you live where humidity routinely sits near tropical levels, you’ll either be pushing this unit hard or draining it more often. A dual-hose model, a higher-SACC unit, or a window AC may be a better fit in those scenarios. For bedrooms, offices, and attics in the 150–300 square foot range with reasonable sealing, this unit is a practical, user-friendly choice.