Just in time for the hottest North American summer in recent memory, Haier America introduces its newest models in a full range of “home comfort” products that include some well-designed and fully-functional Portable Air Conditioners with cooling capacity rivaling many fixed space models. Indeed, we have had opportunity to test the “HPR09XC5” for the past several weeks, and found the 9,000 BTU unit to be perfectly capable of keeping a modestly sized room cool even under the most oppressive conditions, without having to resort to installing a fixed unit.

For the uninitiated, “portable” air conditioners are slightly less portable than their name implies, as most such units typically weight around 65, 70, 75 or 80 pounds and require about as much space as a smaller bar fridge. While the portable units are easily rolled from room-to-room using the built-in castor wheels, they still require installation of a plastic panel in the side or bottom of a window, to which a long, flexible hose is connected to the back of the air con unit.

In other words, to use the portable unit in separate rooms, you would also have to install the window panel and hose connection in each room’s window (or purchase several window panels for each room in question). Many users who require air condition in a single room like a bedroom may just find that installation of a fixed windowsill unit is the better, less obtrusive, and MUCH cheaper choice.

Indeed, portable units such as the “HPR09XC5” tend to the pricier side of the range, often going for $500 or $600 at retail, as compared with a $100 or $200 windowsill unit that you might find in most appliance shops.

With these caveats in mind, and assuming that you have the space in the corner of your room to hold a 65 pound unit like the “HPR09XC5,” there is much to be said not only about the limited portability of the device, but its functionality. The “HPR09XC5” blows cold immediately, and requires a remarkably short period of time to completely cool a bedroom or small living room. The unit can be positioned so as to blow directly into the most opportune corners of the room, another advantage of the unit’s ultra-flexible hose and wide “swath” of cooling power.

Moreover, the “HPR09XC5” comes with an electronically-controlled remote unit that allows operation from anywhere within the room. Settings for the “HPR09XC5” include the air con function, adjustable to a desired temperature, as well as dehumidification and a simple fan. Combined with the dehumidification of its capabilities, the auto evaporation allows for continuous operation without ever having to remove water from the unit. These features are truly worthy, as they work nicely to control not only the temperature of your home but its level of humidity.

There are several strong contenders in the portable air con market, from several of the dedicated manufacturers in this space, but Haier America puts its best foot forward into the ring with its new line, including the “HPR09XC5.” Haier’s line is priced competitively with similar-featured alternative brands, and functions in comparable fashion. Yet the “HPR09XC5” offers some very nice options that might not be available on others – the remote control functionality and the dehumidification setting make this portable air conditioning unit one of the top contenders as you weigh your options for keeping your home cool in a steaming summer that has most of the continent firmly ensconced in a heat wave…