Why the Midea Duo is an *Almost* perfect choice for Cooling AND Heating Your Home

[@Bohonk212]

The double vent is for the heat release condenser section. Inside air flow-through is just to move the air through the COOLING condenser section and out the louvered vent. Hence the cat hair.

[@iDONTdoFacebook]

7 cats in my house (all rescued as very small kittens that showed up on the back porch over an 8 year period of time). And two dogs (again, rescues). It’s a hairy situation. I’ve gotta vacuum my portable a/c’s intake filters every 4 to 6 weeks. Should probably do it more often. I bought my unit about 4 years ago at a WalMart here in Arkansas and it is run near CONSTANTLY both winters and summers as it’s the primary a/c source for my 1200 sq.ft. home (my central cool/heat died and I ain’t gonna pay to fix it so I bought my Arctic King). It’s located in the combo kitchen/dining room with an open/doorless 3ft wide doorway separating that area from the rest of the non-air-conditioned house. Have had no problems out of it after 4 solid hard years of use and it seems to work as well as it did the first day I cranked it up, keeping the kitchen/dining room area very comfortable both in summers and in the winters even when it’s near freezing outside. Below freezing and on down to 0 degrees (outside) it must be a real efficient workhorse because although it can’t keep it t-shirt weather in here when it goes below freezing outside, it does manage to keep the temp quite livable in the kitchen/dining room (but you will feel some chill - so we wear sweatshirts and jackets then). What brand is it? It’s an ARCTIC KING (apparently made by Midea as the manual that came with it gives a webaddress of www.midea.com ). BTU/h: 13,500/11,000 SACC: 10,000 Its model# is WPPD10HW0N (‘H’ for heat-pump model). I’m happy with the way it’s held up, as hard as it gets used. When temps drop to below freezing or rise into the high 90s and above 100 - for however long those kind of temps are on us, my trusty Artic King by Midea NEVER shuts down to rest or take a break other than the defrost cycles when running the heat in the winter - then it’s right back to work keeping the cold at bay as soon as the defrost cycle has run its course. This can and has sometimes gone on SOLID for a week or two at a time. It’s forecast to get down to 28 again tonight, same as last night. It’s approaching freezing outside now and I’m here in the dining room at the kitchen table feeling cozy thanks to the constant work of my Artic King by Midea. It’s not the quietest machine in the world but it’s run so constantly that I’ve learned to tune it out.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Yeah, heat pump mode can be pretty loud. It does keep up pretty well, even on some pretty cold days (with the vent trick) With that many animals, id be sure the inside of your unit isn't getting filled with animal hair like both of mine were. I 3d printed some filters for the lower side vents to help but I'm going to clean it yearly most likely.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I absolutely love these things! Lmk if you think they are worth the extra amount for an inverter heat pump. Im considering a third unit because my 1600-square-foot 100y/o Chicago apartment with little insulation might need closer to 36,000BTU, so a third might still be needed. No matter what, its still going to be cheaper than my 170,000 BTU / 200,000 thermal lowperssure boiler. Its old and at best 70% efficient. I hope to release more 3d printing mod videos for it and my other tech so don't forget to like and subscribe!

[@rbrown6808]

It's getting cold now. What are your thoughts on this? Is the heat working?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@rbrown6808 I use it for heat but not as my primary heat source. I really only run it down to 30f or so and then switch to my old boiler. Because they lack emergency heat coils, these definitely can't be used on their own for heat imo. Chicago has also been wicked warm so its been hard to judge

[@Hi-levels]

Very lucky to have this model available...

[@tdgdbs1]

Also rebranded as Toshiba at Home Depot.

[@sterlingsterling4701]

I really hope not because I bought a Toshiba 12000btu at home depot yesterday for a bedroom and it's literally not cooling anything so today I went to Sam's and bought the Midea 12000 btu and I'm REALLY hoping it does better.

[@victorhernandez-nj2xx]

Did it work? Let me know, im about to buy the midea ac ​@@sterlingsterling4701

[@mikeg3950]

@@sterlingsterling4701that’s because Toshiba sells their utmost budget models to big box stores.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

It's all Toshiba. Midea is their refrigeration subsidary.

[@repeatman]

I run a portable ac unit backwards to heat my bedroom and bathroom in my 5th wheel. Thats a potential unit for me to get in the future.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

It's pretty versatile. It makes a decent amount of water in heat pump mode sometimes. I don't think I remember it being over something like a gallon overnight and I'm sure it would be less in a trailer. This paired with a big ecoflow or a digital inverter gen would be a good combo.

[@mikeg3950]

It’s actually manufactured by Toshiba and sold many different names. A solid unit by most reports, ordered mine yesterday

[@casper2yall]

Great review, I just ordered one..

[@cryptickcryptick2241]

This is really nice tech. I do wish they were sealed better and worked in colder outdoor temps. I have an unheated crawlspace, and am thinking about putting one of these in it. This would have the effect of warming the floors in the house all winter. Main problem is it would not work in the colder months.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Yeah, it's hard to blame the units because it's really down to physics and the fact that it's been mostly 240v mini splits that have been getting all the love and attention. Midea does seem to be pioneering the 120v window unit market in the last year or two and I'm certain we will see some "hyper heat" models with drain pan heaters and other stuff, in the not-so-distant future!

[@MstrB0ss]

Awesome video. Wondering if you ever figured out how to clean the space between where the air blows out and the blower motor. If you take a flashlight and look down in there you may see some bigger stuff or caked on somethings. Anyhow, I'd be super grateful if you did a video on that as well. Liked and subbed ad well!

[@Steve-bm2zm]

I just bought one and it’s about to get a workout. I’m guessing in winter if you let some warm air from inside in the hose and it can be 32 outside and it will still run.

[@roberttaylor9259]

I was wondering, if a person wanted to run just the dehumidifier would you need to remove the dual hose from the window. I mean if it's sucking air in from the dual hose then that hose would need to be inside the space you intend to condition, correct?

[@Steve-bm2zm]

The hose is cooling the coils. It’s taking the hot air outside. It’s better than a normal dehumidifier.

[@tantilus998]

Need to 3d print an intake filter for these. I use a towel around mine to help minimize the air it sucks through the bottom. Unit would be really great if they did a better job of enclosing the interior so it wouldn’t pull so much air from the inside.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

I believe they do this as a minor cheat. A little air mixed from the inside closer to the target air temp helps to (minimally) reduce wattage for slightly better test numbers. This way, even though it still pulls down a very slight vacuum indoors, the outdoor vent provides that differential path so that it won't be forcing drafts in through door and window seals throughout the house like the single stovepipe models do.

[@budmartin3344]

Great video. Can you please explain about the heating mode when it is too cold outside? I see that you remove the hose from the windows at 3:42 to be able to run heat mode when it is too cold outside. Costco has 14KBTU with a heat pump on sale at $449 and I am thinking about getting one just to use it in winter time. Thanks!

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Yeah, so the unit will shut itself off and stop heating when the temp outside drops under around 35f. Opening up the vent like that allows the unit to pull in and mix some indoor air which allows it to heat in lower temps. That's at the cost of efficiency and heat output though. If I had to guess, it makes it output 2000btu - 3000btu less since it causes a large amount of negative pressure in the room and will suck in cold air from outside. I've only tested it down to 20f with the vent pipe like that. I can't say I would recommend it as a primary heat source but I use it to supplement as long as I can until I'm forced to turn on my massive antique boiler. There are plenty of single hose heat pump units that work just fine like that so mixing in air should still be more efficient than a single hose portable heat pump

[@SteveVall]

Whats the trick in order it to function below 32 degrees? Leaving the vent disconnected on one end?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Exactly, popping out the screw on that side allows warm air to mix with cold outside air. It still slightly more efficient since it's not sucking entirely from inside. I'm going to start running it with some sort of filtered mesh over the hole/opening though because the inside of my Midea was pretty gross.

[@SteveVall]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru have you ever had an issue where the P1 code continues to persist on heat mode? I recently purchased the 14k BPU unit and have the P1 indicator turningnon within an hour of operation.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@SteveVall do you have the condensate drain line hooked up? I've had the P1 error but the pump will kick on for a couple minutes usually and it will come back. With a low enough temperature, it's possible the unheated drain pan could freeze but I haven't experienced that down to nearly single digits. I believe the drain pan is heated enough from being indoors

[@rdd594]

Have you had any problems with the draining of condensate on heating mode? Mine just leaks and leak no matter what connector I attach my hose to.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

It should just be the second to bottom drain port. thankfully have not had drainage issues. Does it leak when the pump is on or just all the time?

[@rdd594]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru thanks for getting back to me! I have never heard a pump turn on? It’s on the second to lowest drain port, with a garden hose adapter to some drain pipe

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@rdd594 it's a quiet hum that comes on usually every hour or every defrost cycle. It's just for the condensate pump in heat mode. It's very slow but powerful. I have mine adapted to a small 5/16 silicone tube that is feeding into a kitty litter jug. It should only expell water when the pump is on. It's usual only for 1-2 minutes at most

[@jayreg123]

Thanks for the video! Two questions: 1. Did you finish the added fur filter add-on? I worry about all my dog's fur breaking this faster. 2. In heat mode, do you need to vent it at all? Does it lose any efficiency? It seems like heating the already warmer inside air without be more efficient. Any reason not to do this?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I need to vent it when it's around 38f or lower outside in heat mode. It is less efficient but definitely still way more efficient than a space heater. I only got the sides done so far. The one's on the back are harder to seal off. It does work pretty well though. I'll upload it to my printables profile soon. Opening the vent up also opens it up to more hair btw. I'm probably going to wrap window screen over the hole in the future.

[@fish4fun354]

Very similar to my Dreo Twincool.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I'd try the Midea MSmartHome app and see if it works. I saw that one online recently. How do you like it?

[@fish4fun354]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru So far I like it, room stays around 88f without it on 100+ days and is able to keep my room at 74. Just hope the plastic hardware on the tube stays together because I take it off the window when I leave the house. (Got about a 1-inch crack along one of the sliding panels.)

[@vectorcollector4893]

I never took the time to properly. Thank you for the video you made. The only thing I would ask is if you can show the remote control. That actually comes with The black unit and the winter branded unit. Because I hear The One with Midea Duo Is much nicer than the one with the winter unit. Also, there is a new brand popping up which is just a license version of this. It is Cooper and hunter. By the way, thank you so much for that video.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

The Midea branded remote is absolutely a nicer remote for whatever reason. I'll see if I can make a community post of the two. It's mostly a visual and ergonomic thing, I think they mostly work the same.

[@vectorcollector4893]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru That's what I was thinking. But honestly I don't know of any other portable air conditioner heater combo that can compete with this.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@vectorcollector4893 I'm hoping that in the next few years we will start to see some cold climate heat pump window units! Midea is already working on a cold climate 120v heat pump. They got pretty massive funding from New York (70 million)

[@vectorcollector4893]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru You know something that would make this unit that much better electric supplemental heat.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@vectorcollector4893 id love that! If it could heat down to like 20f and then have emergency heat, it would basically be a full on air handler

[@sobiea]

Hi. What about power consumption? For example 40F outside average, how many kwh it takes per day? How many sqfeet it's heating? Thanks

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

My kw/h meter died last year so I didn't get enough data but I can tell you it operates at around 900w-600w power draw depending on how recently it has defrosted. The unit usually will defrost every 1-2 hours when it's very cold, it will draw 900w right after the defrost cycle and heat a lot. After about 30min to an hour it will slowly drop to 800-700w. It will then switch to defrost where it pulls 300w-700w for a couple of minutes. Essentially, it doesn't pull more than 1KW per hour. Please note, if you're planning on using this to heat at a lower outdoor temperature, you need to pull part of the vent off. That does reduce efficiency but it does allow it to heat down too much lower temperatures

[@ronaldharrison74]

Hello, I would be interested in a set of your roller mounts. i have the Midea duo and could really use these. i use my unit in Camping Canvas Tent. Please send any info. Thanks,

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I can absolutely do that! I have the footage of installing them sorta edited but sadly it was shot vertical so it will look kinda silly. I'll upload it in the next day or two and link the Printables.com link. I'll try to remember to message you :) I'd recommend wheels with locks. I had to drill out two of my four locks because they hit the underside of the unit but just the two alone stop it from rolling on my uneven floor

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

www.printables.com/model/562629-midea-duo-office-chair-wheel-adapter-use-new-and-s

[@CajunsYouTubeChannel]

Great review. Thanks I am in the market for a PAC. I think Midea may be the choice.

[@Matt-rq6wz]

⁠ I really appreciate the response! I hate that the drains aren’t labeled. Is it the lowest center drain or the drain just above it right of center that drains on the heat pump setting ? Also thank you for the print files! Printing on ABS-GF right now.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@Matt-rq6wz it's the one slightly higher up and to the right. The unit comes with a crappy piece of tube that fits in there. I printed an adapter to fit onto a smaller silicone tube. Also, keep the wheels around just in case for warranty but I personally really like the smoother wheels.

[@Matt-rq6wz]

​@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru I bought mine used and didn't receive the tube that it comes with. I'm working on printing an adapter now, did you just find one on the market place? link? Did you use TPU? Thanks for the info. I'm happy with how the adapters printed.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@Matt-rq6wz I used petg for pretty much all my prints. The little adapter I printed to go to a much smaller piece of tubing was also petg but printed solid infill with slower speeds. I'll see if I can find that file too

[@Matt-rq6wz]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubarunice! That would be great. I’m modifying a basic hose adapter to size now we’ll see how it goes - I’m still a newbie.

[@vectorcollector4893]

Theoretically, you could move the temperature probe on this unit to get it to operate below freezing in heat mode. But I wonder if that would have any other facts on operation.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

It could definitely be moved. I'm wonder if it's COP would just be super low. It still puts out a lot of heat with the vent opened up, I've run it down to something like 10f but didn't want to damage it so I stopped.

[@vectorcollector4893]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru The thing is. The Duo uses R32 refrigerant, making it extremely efficient. Along with the inverter compressor you could theoretically get heat levels out of it to very low temperatures. But also where is the temperature pro located?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@vectorcollector4893 it's main exterior temperature thermistor is right in the intake side where the hose attaches to the unit. It's housed within a clear vinyl tube within a gray tab. I assume that's it anyway. I kinda wonder if the defrost doesn't work effectively at a lower temperatures because it has no pan heater. Or at least that's why midea sets it to stop above freezing point?

[@vectorcollector4893]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru True But there's really no reason Fred to stop there. I could understand below 0° werebello like 10° or something like that, but most people are gonna buy this. To use the heat functions well. And also They really should do some updates to get this thing to run better. And heat mode mainly lowering the temperature cut off point.

[@smaldon1]

Love the video!!! Could you post the wheel adapters??

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Definitely! I want to go back and make sure I'm happy with the design first but I'm putting together a bunch of printable upgrades for it. I'll try to remember to message you when I get it uploaded

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

www.printables.com/model/562629

[@austing.3164]

In the heating mode does it not evaporate the condensation? I noticed you said you had a jug there for when you run it in the heating mode. I'm just curious looking to upgrade but my current whytner model self evaporates condensate in cooling and in heating. We should have pretty similar weather if you are in Chicago i'm just a few hours south of you. Definitly would be a desciding factor for me. Great video by the way.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

It does need somewhere to pump water in heat mode. It's just kinda the nature of the beast. I has a very strong little lift pump built in for when it needs to drain and I usually have it pump outside unless it's below freezing and I want to continue to heating using the tube trick. It's an amazing unit though

[@Matt-rq6wz]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaruany thoughts on why in heat mode, I get water that leaks next to the condensate drain? Is this a gravity system? I assumed it would pump up and out.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@Matt-rq6wz the unit doesn't pump it outside as is. You need to run a hose to the lower drain port. It's a small pump with a lot of pressure. You can also pump it outside but you risk the pipe freezing. That's why I use a jug

[@1SqueakyWheel]

It can't evaporate condensation in heat mode because the only heat source capable of doing this is "exhausting" indoors, thereby potentially evaporating all that steam INTO the house. So that's why they collect it in the tank instead. Btw, the lowest drain is a simple gravity drain. The middle one is the pump output drain. And to my knowledge, the top drain is for running in dehumidification-only mode; I'm not sure why it doesn't also utilize the same method as the AC mode. If somebody has the answer to this, I'd love to hear it!

[@CrazyCowPie]

Have you read the operating instructions regarding the operating temperature of the Portable AC? if it is above 95F, the the unit will not work or possible turn off. I confirmed with Midea about this operating range.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

I cooled a cargo trailer with my black duo this past summer, with temps reaching over 100°F on many days, and never observed it cuttinh off due to outside temps. Heating, though... when they say 42°F is the outdoor threshold, they mean it!

[@nortropgrumann9594]

Does control panel become wet during dry function because of condensation? Does drain plug work?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I do occasionally notice a little bit of condensation on Midea branded unit but never actual drops. My drain plugs do work but I have to tip the unit back to drain it for whatever odd reason. The heat mode condensate pump works fine on it's own. I have heard some complaints of full drain pans errors but I think that's for extreme humidity. It's pretty insanely humid here in Chicago and I haven't had that with either unit. Something worth mentioning though

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

It actually just happened for the first time today. Only on the Black Midea branded unit. It was insanely humid today though. Chicago was 92 but a "real feel" of 105 with humidity 🙃

[@zacharynunez8820]

Looking a new unit for an indoor garden. I’m concerned with particulates coming into the space. Is it possible to utilize a single hose extension to run it solely as a single hose unit?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

If you wanted to run a single hose it would be possible but you would have less negative pressure if you ran it as is.

[@zacharynunez8820]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Would you happen to have a schematic for the hose hookup on the rear of the unit?

[@kalebstout7673]

Hey man I greatly appreciate your videos! I am full time living in a 35' 5th wheel camper and bought a midea like your black one and curious what other mini splits or heaters would you recommend? I am renovating the RV and already have to replace the roof ac and heat so now looking into more mini splits.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I've been shopping around for 120v stuff and there are not a massive amount of pre-charged equipment for sale. A few years back you could get small 8000 btu mini splits with flexible lines attached that were supposed to go in the window somehow but they stopped selling those due to leaks I think. If you're fully renovating, id look at some of the 120v "floor" unit mini splits from pioneer. If you're feeling a little more spendy, id get a more expensive LG unit so that when it comes time to repair, you can still buy parts for it. I definitely think well see a lot more cold climate 120v stuff in the next few years. if that's what you're after.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

Another option to keep in mind while replacing RV units... There are some nice smaller inverter units on the market that run on 12v, 24v, 36v and 48v... thereby allowing you to bypass the inverter and run them straight off the house batteries. I've seen them in both mini split and roof unit configs. I'm looking at installing one each of the 24v units myself. But now that you've mentioned it, I'm gonna look into that 120v floor mini split too, thanks!

[@SebastienCARE-fq4pj]

Thank you for this video. Could it be possible to adapt this 115V version to 230V (for Europe) ? This unit has a DC inverter so maybe it is possible don't you think ?

[@davebruessow6842]

You need a vacuum dude (it will cut down on the cat hair problem/LOL). Nice breakdown video though. I just bought two of the heat pump models from Costco ($399/ea)...

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I think I need less animals too. Haha. 4 cats and a border collie is just a lot of hair. Im 3d printing some filter adapters right now for the back grill that will hopefully help 🤞 I saw that costco deal and I'm so tempted to buy another couple!

[@KonvosWithKinu]

I’m confused. I bought a Midea 12,000 portable A/C but it only shows “Cool” “Dry” mode & I think another one but I haven’t seen a heat mode. How would i be able to make it heat for the winter in Chicago?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

You must have bought the cool only model. You can't heat with it unfortunately

[@tovyaweissberg47]

Have you noticed any strange odor ? After one day of use mine was already putting out a strange odor during the moments the fan was only running.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Actually, today I investigated my Whynter branded unit because the smell wasn't great and found it's full of mildew! Guess I'm cleaning that soon It's normal on any mini split and air conditioner but it's still worth mentioning. I'll upload picture if it because it's pretty nasty.

[@tovyaweissberg47]

@theinappropriatemaker no mildew in my midea but the evaporator coil that looked like new because it is lol.. is what smelled really bad. I sprayed it with a product called evap fresh and it seems to be okay. Just finished with it, also I put drain pan treatment. Really hoping it doesn't smell again anytime soon because it's a pain to disassemble.

[@BadNewz5000]

Help! Where is the capacitor?

[@tom7471]

Cats are people, too! Terrific video. Is their a preference to you personally between these two units as there is a difference in pricing? Do they work better in high or lower humidity? And will this cool 550 square feet? Is there a limit regarding how low it will cool in relationship to outside temperatures? Wow, what a lot of questions!

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

From what I can tell, they are identical. I like the more simple style of vent on the "Whynter" branded unit but that's just personal preference. These would have no problem with cooling 500 Square feet. Just be sure that you have enough fans to keep the unit working hard. Inverters compressors should have a constant load on them and it seems like they do better in a big space. Chicago has pretty wicked humidity in the summer and both units don't seem to mind when it's dry or humid. The cooling performance isn't overly affected by the outside temp but when it gets cold, the heat pump functionality will struggle when you are near freezing. That's when I use the vent trick to let it intake warmer indoor air. No idea how badly that impacts the coefficient of performance but they both only use 800-900 watts in heat mode and make easily double or triple that in heat. Efficiency for heating is a relative term for me since my only other option is a massive 200,000 btu 70% efficient boiler from the stone ages. Shop around for the best price on these. The costco near me has the 4-1 reversible heat pump unit for 499 or 799 for two units. I paid 699 for just one last year and I wish I had seen that deal.

[@tom7471]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru Thanks so much for all of the good info! Much appreciated.

[@mobettaspice]

Why does it still suck air from inside the home and has two hose?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

It seems like the unit isn't sealed up very well at all. The issue is that if you fix that completely, I would worry that it would heavily impact its heating performance. Since it probably helps it not ice up as frequently pulling in warm air. I might try to seal it up better

[@fish4fun354]

It has two hoses in that one big hose. No negative pressure from cracks.

[@MrEugeneleo]

which one is the best/ midea or toshiba or others?

[@seangriffon6502]

There is like only one or two companies manufactoring all these brands of window, and portable ac units.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Yeah, I believe that Midea is the manufacturer for these units and the others that appear to be identical. Midea is pretty obsessed with copper evaporators and condensors in all their products, presumably to maximize efficiency, and all of these units have big copper coils! The weird thing is that the whynter has thermal foam insulation missing from certain areas where the black Midea unit has it but they were manufactured almost one year apart so that's hopefully all it is?

[@MrLabarr123]

Do u know the wattage when fully running

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

In cold weather, at the beginning of a fresh defrost cycle, around 900w and after 1-2 hours it will slowly drop as the coil ices up to around 600w. It seems so make at least twice that if not more in heat. Rather unfortunately, Midea doesn't seem to publish the COP data as far as I can tell. It's efficient but it really depends on how much electricity costs where you live. For my application, this makes sense because my other method of heating my 1600 Square foot apartment is a massive 200,000 btu 70% efficient boiler. I'm planning on actually doing the math on if these actually save me money this winter. I suspect that they do but only a small amount since they become much less efficient when it gets much colder out here in chicago

[@MrLabarr123]

@theinappropriatemaker I'm in south ga heating is no problem. It's cooling on high max cooling wattage.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@MrLabarr123 My Kill-a-watt died a while back but I don't think I ever saw it pull more than 1150 watts and it drops down fast as long as it's not in a room that's too big for it. You can also just set it for a fixed speed and it will pull significantly less power. If you just set it to manual speed, you can set it to low (400-600 watts), medium (700-900 watts), or high (900-1150 watts) At night here in Chicago, it usually will drop to 400-500 watts as long as I'm not trying to make the room too cold. This is by far still one of the most efficient portable air conditioners you can currently get. They also have a Midea Window unit (MAW12HV1CWT) that's basically the Window unit version of this unit that has a CEER of 13.3 vs 12.3 That the Midea duo achieves. The Midea MAW12HV1CWT is also only 330ish USD at costco right now!

[@MrLabarr123]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru thank u it was very helpful

[@SteveD518]

How wide is your window opening? It looks like you modified the exhaust. My window is just under 19 inches and according to Midea the minimum opening is 19.05 inches. So before I buy I'd like to know if I can trim it to fit.Any help would be appreciated.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

You can definitely trim to fit but just do it on the larger side (away from the vent) so you can add the extension back if you install it in a bigger window. I have mine in a 20 inch wide window and I did have to trim it

[@SteveD518]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru Thanks for getting back to me.

[@davekent20]

When you use the heat do you need to use the window exit hose ?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

What do you mean?

[@davekent20]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru do you need to put the air hose out the window or can you just have it collapsed on the unit just for the heat

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@davekent20 the hose is required as it absorbs heat from outdoors. It doesn't work under 38f-40f unless you partially unhook the hose like in the video. It's not something you want to use for super cold weather. The technology isn't there yet

[@LowLight24x]

Great video. I too am in Chicago in a 100+ year home that only has radiator heating. I was looking for a new AC for my bedroom and came across this unit with the heating option. Based on your usage, would you recommend this over a window AC unit for summer and space heater for winter? Or is the heating option not sufficient enough or too expensive? I noticed my electric bill sky rocket with the space heater. Thanks again!

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I wouldn't buy this unit for the heating alone. It's more efficient than my boiler but not by a lot. It's the best portable ac on the market but those Midea u shape window units can be had for under 300 if you shop around and that's a lot cheaper than this unit. The u-shape units use a lot of the same parts and are also veryyy quiet.

[@LowLight24x]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru Yes, I'm primarily looking for cooling, but if I can get heating too. Then I can keep the unit setup year round. Again, I appreciate the info you provided. It would be great if you can do an updated video with your comments on how well this unit did for the summer and winter weather.

[@Bunkysworkshop]

My husband and I was just looking at these yesterday. The black one was the one and we think its a great idea for a backup unit. What was it that you was saying about using them for heat and changing something with the hose? BTW Happy Pride as well.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

So the unit will give up heating once it's under 35+/- Fahrenheit but if you take part of the hose off like you see at 3:30 you can heat until at least 20f but the unit becomes much less efficient.

[@Bunkysworkshop]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru We live on the eastern shore ( Ocean City Md ) so when winter hits we freeze 🥶. Lol 😂. Where about are you ?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@Bunkysworkshop Irving Park, Chicago. It definitely gets pretty dang cold here too. Haha. How cold does it get near the ocean? It looks like a beautiful place to live! 😍

[@nicola3060]

The empty cat litter jug for the draining situation is interesting and innovative. I use pex tubing and drain my midea right outside.

[@box420]

What is there inrush current?

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Not sure the exact amount but it's very minimal since it has an inverter compressor

[@danieltimisan6820]

anyone knows how many watts it needs pick and average … thanks

[@dkleath8697]

I use my kitty litter jugs for the accumulated water 😅too!!

[@stefanhorlacher1583]

how is really the noise level pls

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

In cooling mode, it's usually very quiet. It starts loud but once it gets the room cooled down, the unit knows and slows down and it gets much quieter. It occasionally might get loud on very hot days too. Heat mode is loud

[@stefanhorlacher1583]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru tku...appreciate

[@Jeff-rz6kr]

Is the unit fan a bit noisy during the first 10ish seconds of operation? It's like a fast clicking sound from what I believe is the compressor fan. It always goes away after the fan spools up after 10ish seconds or so. I just got this unit and noticed that sound. I want to make sure it is normal.

[@Jeff-rz6kr]

It also has a very strong fish tank kind of smell when the fan is running without the AC. When the AC kicks in the smell goes away so the smell is constantly going and stoping. This is on my first day using the unit so there is no way mold is the cause of the smell plus I live in a very dry climate (15 to 20% humidity). I am at a loss as to what is causing the smell.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

That first loud sound you hear for 10 secs, is it kind of a low frequency sound? If so, that's the sound of the unit shuddering as the compressor ramps through lowest level of its slow-start routine. The lowest speed is so slow that it resonates below the effective speed threshold of the balancing mechanism within the pump. It's weird, and I'm not a fan of it, but it doesn't seem detrimental to the unit... so you just get used to it after awhile.

[@aspinthereddragon9302]

major downside with these units is not being able to clean the coils very well, since its such a tight space and they're not as water proof as window ac's

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I am going to attempt to seal both units up better next time I clean them. I'd say the less waterproof aspect is more because it's a full inverter system which is much more complex.

[@aspinthereddragon9302]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru you also have window inverter system's too like the LG dual inverter, and it would also be cool if there is a way to place a pleated filter in the commpressor intake to prevent high dust build up in the condenser

[@krslavin]

For some reason, the white Midea Duo units are a lot cheaper than the black ones.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

I'm not positive, as I only have the black one, but I think I read on reddit that the cheaper white model isn't reversible for heating

[@fabianholder5053]

shame you cant buy them in the uk

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Yeah, these are pretty good. I'd imagine the UK will get a better 240v version in the future. I wish 240v was standard here

[@fabianholder5053]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru we have 18,000 btu single hose units and there was one dual hose inverter Amcor branded unit but they don't manufacture it anymore so the uk market is just single hose or split ductless systems

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@fabianholder5053 I'm hoping with the increasing popularity of cold climate inverter minisplits, we will see more low temp portable units. 🤞

[@playerroku4412]

Rip electric bill.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

Haha yeah, it's better than an even worse gas bill though

[@vectorcollector4893]

​@@AnIdiotwithaSubaruAs a blind person, I'm heavily considering this but I have no real knowledge of any of the sounds of this unit will make. I've looked at other videos, but people don't describe what they're doing. Or they just talk over the sounds. Is it possible? You can make the sounds or make a video of all the sounds these units make.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@vectorcollector4893 absolutely, is there anything I can compare it to that would help? I don't have a decibel meter. These are very quiet for the most part but in heat mode that's usually not the case. The exhaust fan works very hard in heat pump mode and is not quiet. (it's about as loud as a conventional ac in heat pump mode) For me, the efficiency is worth it but I can imagine something loud being even more annoying for you. Let me know how I can help

[@vectorcollector4893]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru I'm actually very surprised you're willing to help. Not many people are that nice, thank you so much. Well, I'm just looking for all the possible sounds this unit can make. To start up the different fans and motors. The unit just generally starting up The compressor and also the reversing valve. All the different modes, I'm also kinda curious the sounds. This will make a few switch it from cooling mode to heating mode abruptly. The different speeds of everything. A bit unrelated, but could you also do an overview of the remote control? Cause I can't find much information on that either. I can't find Many people willing to help. So it's much appreciated.

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@vectorcollector4893 no worries, I'm happy to help! I did some filming today and I will do a little bit more tomorrow. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the Midea branded remote only the whynter branded remote. Despite the two units being almost identical, their are remotes are not. The Midea has a much nicer remote that would be much easier to use for someone who is visually impaired. Bigger buttons, bigger layout, bigger screen. I also recorded a quick video of my old two hose Danby traditional portable ac to hopefully help compare to.

[@bikebudha01]

What I learned from this video: Don't own a cat....

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

@@bikebudha01 don't own too many cats and a dog. Too much damn hair

[@mrmped1]

These are complete garbage. If the outdoor temperature gets above 90* they turn off. They don't tell you this anywhere except in the manual which of course you don't see until after you buy it. Why would anyone make and sell an AC unit that won't work in heat above 90 * 😅

[@AnIdiotwithaSubaru]

I've had both run just fine at 101° last summer here in Chicago

[@mrmped1]

@@AnIdiotwithaSubaru it says right in the manual, up to 95* mine shut down at about 91* had to return it. The Toshiba version sold at Lowes said the same thing and the store said they were all being returned here in Las Vegas. I showed the store manager and he just laughed.....

[@Mr549er]

@@mrmped1 hi is this true ? i looked in the manual dint see anything stating this

[@mrmped1]

Look in the manual under temperature range. It will show a high of 95*. But this is nominal. I've had two. One shut off at 90* and the other at 94*.

[@N2LADIES55]

How do you keep insects, birds, squirrels, mice...out of the hoses?