Window air conditioners present an inexpensive different to central programs, however they are usually loud and block a whole lot of your view to the skin. The GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 Sensible Air Conditioner ($529) solves each of those points due to its split-housing design: The majority of the unit sits beneath your window line and all of the noisiest elements stay outdoors. It additionally gives voice and app management, power utilization reviews, and assist for third-party integrations through IFTTT. All of those qualities earn it our Editors’ Alternative award, although simply know that equally highly effective opponents with conventional (window-blocking) designs value much less.
A Sensible, Adjustable Design
The PHNT10 is a ten,300 BTU air conditioner that works for rooms of as much as 450 sq. ft. It has 4 operational modes (Cool, Eco, Quiet, and Fan Solely) and 4 fan speeds (Auto, Excessive, Medium, and Low). The fan runs continuously at a set pace in Cool mode and cycles on and off in Eco mode. It runs extra slowly in Quiet mode however will take longer to chill down the room. The unit has built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for connecting to your private home community and Bluetooth for pairing with the cellular app.
As with the Midea 8,000 BTU U-Formed Air Conditioner, the PHNT10 makes use of energy-saving inverter expertise; basically, it employs a variable pace compressor that adjusts as mandatory fairly than turning on and off. Its 72-inch energy wire terminates in a three-prong, 115V/15A plug. The unit comes with a seven-button distant, foam spacers and climate stripping, mounting {hardware} and brackets, a foam window assist, a foam aspect panel, a window wedge, and a guide.
You need to use the PHNT10 in home windows which might be between 20 and 40 inches broad, that open not less than 13 inches, and that sit a minimal of 10 inches off the ground. It has a white end, measures 12.7 by 19.6 by 28.0 inches (HWD), and weighs 80 kilos. Not like most window air conditioners that use a typical box-shaped enclosure to carry the cooling elements, the PHNT10 makes use of a split-housing design that enables the vast majority of the unit to fall beneath the window line. The fan, air outlet, and onboard controls sit contained in the window, whereas different cooling elements are on the skin. This design not solely prevents the AC from blocking your view but in addition permits for quieter operation.
The realm between the inside and exterior enclosures (GE calls this the chase-way) is adjustable to accommodate window depths (together with the partitions and inside sill) between 4.50 and 13.75 inches. Merely take away the 4 screws (two on either side) and pull the entrance meeting out to one among three adjustment factors, then change the screws to lock the chase-way in place.
The highest of the inside enclosure has a louver you could regulate up or down to vary the airflow course. Beneath which might be a collection of backlit buttons for energy, Wi-Fi, delay (you possibly can set the equipment to activate or off after a selected period of time), mode, and fan pace. There are additionally up and down arrows for adjusting the set temperature, a set temperature readout, and a filter indicator that lights up after 250 hours of use to remind you to scrub the filters. A foam mud filter sits behind a detachable grille cowl on the entrance and the left aspect of the unit features a smaller one. You’ll be able to clear each with heat soapy water. There’s a drain plug on the fitting aspect that lets out any water which may accumulate over time, whereas two adjustable helps on the rear of the skin enclosure assist hold the AC in place.
The PHNT10 helps Alexa and Google Assistant voice instructions, and it really works with third-party gadgets through IFTTT. However not like its much less highly effective and extra inexpensive cousin, the $329 GE Vitality Star 115-Volt Digital Room Air Conditioner AHC08LY, it doesn’t assist Apple’s HomeKit platform. It would not provide Matter compatibility, both.
GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 App Expertise
Whereas the older Vitality Star AHC08LY unit used the now-defunct GE Consolation app, the PHNT10 pairs with the SmartHQ app (obtainable for Android and iOS). The AC seems in a panel on the primary display beneath Related Units. Faucet the panel to open a management display the place you possibly can flip the unit on and off, see and create schedules, view an estimated power utilization (kWH) chart with a scrolling timeline, and test how a lot energy (in kW) the unit is at the moment drawing. This display additionally has a filter standing indicator and a No Demand Response Override setting. The latter comes into play provided that you enroll in a requirement response plan with an area utility or service. It stays grayed out until there’s an lively power administration occasion in progress, however you possibly can at all times override the occasion.
When the AC is on, the highest of the display shows the present and set temperatures, the working mode, and the fan pace. Faucet any of those readings to vary the related settings. A gear icon within the higher proper nook opens the Settings display the place you possibly can allow filter notifications, view a historical past of notifications, test Wi-Fi sign power, select a temperature unit (Fahrenheit or Celsius), and test the firmware model and serial variety of the machine. Faucet the Automation button on the Residence display to configure geofencing (location-based) settings.
Simple Set up, Efficient Efficiency
Putting in the PHNT10 is comparatively straightforward, however ensure that to have another person close by when it comes time to put the unit in your window opening. I began by measuring the depth of my window opening and setting the chase-way to the corresponding place. To take action, I wanted to take away the 2 screws on both aspect of it, slide it out to the proper adjustment mark, and change the screws.
Subsequent, I put in two adhesive-backed foam mounting helps within the backside of the window opening to make the floor stage. My spouse and I lifted the unit and positioned it down over the sill. Then, I used the outside adjustable helps to safe a good match in opposition to the outer wall, lowered the window onto the unit, and made positive every thing was stage. I put in the aspect filler panel on the left aspect of the equipment, however there was nonetheless a small hole on the fitting aspect so I minimize a bit of froth that I had laying round, wedged it into the hole, and used the included foam gasket and climate stripping to seal off any openings. I positioned the wedge within the window to stop an unintended opening and moved on to the app setup.
So as to add the AC to my community, I turned it on and tapped Add Equipment on the cellular app’s residence display (it’s important to obtain the app and create an account first). The app instantly acknowledged the machine through Bluetooth, so I adopted the directions to pick my Wi-Fi community and enter my password. I gave the AC a reputation to finish the set up.
The PHNT10 had no bother cooling down my 360-square-foot bed room. With a beginning room temperature of 77 levels Fahrenheit, I set the unit to 66 levels and the fan pace to Auto; after 24 minutes, the room temperature was all the way down to a snug 68 levels. That’s a bit sooner than the GE AHC08LY, which has an 8,000 BTU score and wanted half-hour to go from 77 to 68 levels.
The PHNT10 is comparatively quiet with the fan pace at excessive, however I can hear a low hum from the compressor when it kicks into excessive gear. It is nonetheless quieter than the comparable Hisense AW1023TW1W window AC, which I had in one other room, although. And in Quiet mode, I can barely hear it in any respect.
The AC responds immediately to app and Alexa voice instructions to activate and off and alter the set temperature, mode, and fan pace. It adheres to my schedule to show off at 6 a.m. each weekday and at 7 a.m. on weekends. Location-based settings work as supposed and the power utilization reviews are according to readings I get from a Kill-A-Watt energy meter.
Revolutionary, Quiet Cooling
GE’s Profile Clearview PHNT10 low-profile window air conditioner packs a ton of sensible options together with app and voice management, third-party integrations, built-in Wi-Fi, and location-based settings. It does a unbelievable job of cooling, runs practically silently in its Quiet mode, and may inform you how a lot power it makes use of. You pay high greenback for all of those premium options, however it justifies its value sufficient to win our Editors’ Alternative award for sensible air conditioners. If you are able to do with out the split-housing design and some integration choices, nevertheless, the aforementioned Hisense 10,000 BTU Window AC ($449) is an inexpensive different that prices barely much less.
