Beat the heat and the humidity with Honeywell's Portable Air Conditioner

Summer in the northeast begins and ends with humidity. Even when temperatures are low the damp bleeds into everything making doors and bones alike creak. Then there's the sudden onslaught of heat. There is no such thing as a gentle season change as temps soar from 65 degrees to 95 degrees and back down in a rollercoaster-like fashion.

For many, it's unreasonable to have both the heat and the air conditioning on in a 24-hour span, but that humidity can force your hand, especially to get a good night's sleep.

When you don't have central air the problem isn't solved with a flick of a switch.

That's where Honeywell comes in.

Their portable air conditioner is simple to install, can be removed from the window to let in a cool breeze, but best of all, doubles as a dehumidifier so you don't have to turn on the A/C to be comfortable.

I received model HL10CESWW, which is a 10,000 BTU unit that cools up to 350 square feet. The way my home is laid out, I use this size to cool the bedrooms.

I first used it as a dehumidifier, something I never thought to do in 18 years of using seasonal air conditioners because the dry mode in the window units isn't great. I couldn't believe how much water was sucked out of the air, leaving it cool enough to sleep at night.

Once it became hot enough to turn off the heat, it went into cooling mode. I was nervous at first as I had a system for my window unit that cooled the other two rooms across the hall without having to purchase - and install - one in each room. To be honest, the back of the house is cooler at a higher temperature with the Honeywell A/C.

The biggest issue is floor space - you need to have a place to put it, not just for the unit itself, but space for the exhaust hose to go. What I did find to combat this issue were add-on components, including a sliding door kit for homes where windows are not easily accessible for venting.

It is also not Energy Star Certified since when the room reaches the set temperature the fan keeps running, using a bit more power. However, it does have energy-saving features including a sleep mode which increases the temperature gradually so as the air cools outside you aren't using as much energy to cool inside. It also has a timer which turns the unit on or off after a set number of hours. This is a great way to get things cooled off before you get home from work.

The air conditioner is very, very quiet. No louder than a standard fan on low and medium fan settings. Plus, the wear and tear on your window is significantly less than having a unit vibrating against the window frame.

The filter is easy to access and rinses off with water for quick and easy maintenance.

Replacement parts are easy to find and reasonably priced.

Draining the water while using it as a dehumidifier is not so easy, even with the two drain ports and hose that is included. Our fix, build a base to raise the unit for easy drainage - an idea I stole from my dad. This also helps keep the dehumidifier running longer as you can put a larger collection pan under it and slide it out more easily. Just be careful not to forget about it!

What was most intriguing, as someone who is rather brand-loyal and never owned a Honeywell product, is that Honeywell portable air conditioners are very highly rated. Whether you're reading reviews on Walmart or Amazon or looking at professional critiques on Consumer Reports, the brand is at the top of the list.

All in all, I am thrilled with the Honeywell 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner and would recommend the product and the brand for any dehumidifying and cooling needs.