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Portable Air Conditioners Buying Guide

Our buying guide will explain which type of portable air conditioner would suit you most, how much you can expect to pay for one, and which features are worth looking out for.



Reviews

3.2

17 reviews
5
(2)
4
(7)
3
(4)
2
(0)
1
(4)
  • Build Quality
    3.8 (4)
  • Value for Money
    4.0 (4)
  • Ease of Use
    4.0 (4)
  • Cleaning & Maintenance
    4.3 (4)
  • Room Type
    • Large Bedroom (2)
    • Small Bedroom (2)
  • Noise Level
    2.8 (4)
  • Heating / Cooling Speed
    4.3 (3)
  • Portability
    4.3 (4)
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John K.

John K.Central, SA

  • 8 reviews

Great

published

Bought this unit due to having big aluminium windows . I had to buy a bigger vent kit for the window but I knew the original was too small . Cools 2 double bedrooms quickly, it makes a bit of noise but I have had others noisier, people must remember the compressor etc are all in the room with you, slight price to pay when its 42 and the unit lowers the temp to 23 in an hr or so . Just excellent overall for rooms where a window fitted aircon is not an option

Build Quality
Ease of Use
Cleaning & Maintenance
Noise Level
Value for Money
Heating / Cooling Speed
Portability
Home Insulation Level Good
Room Type Large Bedroom
See all answers
1 comment
Dimplex
Angela C.Dimplex

Hi John K,
Thank you for taking the time to review the DC10RC.

Sam L

Sam L

  • 13 reviews
  • 1 like

Cools and heats a small area OK

published

I do like the small form factor of this Dimplex machine. While a bit noisy, unit worked OK in a limited area. One small but disappointing feature of most Dimplex portable air conditioners is a paper thin exhaust duct that is both flimsy and radiates back into the room a lot of heat/cold - that the machine is trying to remove from the room. Dimplex, this is false economy, try sourcing a more robust and better insulated exhaust duct like the rest of manufacturers do.
If you do not want to be bothered by constant E4 (condensate tank full) codes, the only practical way is to attach a small hose draining condensate into a bucket. Not the prettiest solution but simple and effective.



Purchased in February 2021.

Build Quality
Ease of Use
Cleaning & Maintenance
Noise Level
Value for Money
Portability
Home Insulation Level Poor
Room Type Small Bedroom
See all answers
1 comment
Dimplex
GLEN D.Dimplex

Hello Sam
Thanks for posting a review on our product, we really appreciate your feedback.
Your comment regarding the exhaust hose will be passed onto our research department.

Matthew

MatthewSydney Surrounds, NSW

  • 6 reviews

Reasonable product if used wisely!

published

Purchased in January 2021 at JB Hi-Fi for A$550.00.

Build Quality
Ease of Use
Cleaning & Maintenance
Noise Level
Value for Money
Heating / Cooling Speed
Portability
Home Insulation Level Average
Room Type Small Bedroom
See all answers
Portable Air Conditioners

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Gordon

GordonAuckland

  • 5 reviews

Good for drying clothes

published

Great in dehumidifier mode for drying clothes in the winter.
Heating mode is 10c above ambient room temperature so forget that side of things.
Aircon is only good for just blowing cool air at you.
I made rigs to go in the windows and sliding doors but what I found be a waste of time as this unit struggles to cool down a small room.
I found just having the door open and the exhaust out the door worked best.
Yes it is very noisy.

Date PurchasedJul 2015
1 comment
Dimplex
GLEN D.Dimplex

Thank you Gordon for taking the time to provide feedback.

jaysblueaus

jaysblueausAU

  • 18 reviews

Would I recommend the answer is no

published

As I live in a rented property, I wanted a portable reverse cycle air conditioner, the product was not that efficient, was not overly good at cooling my one bedroom unit down. later on last year I brought 2 fans from big W that threw a mist of water out of them, that were actually cheaper to run and even more efficient. So mine went to cash converters, I had wished i did not wate my money on it, even the heating part was also absolute hopeless.

Date PurchasedJan 2017
1 comment
Dimplex
GLEN D.Dimplex

Hello jaysblueaus.
Thanks for posting a review on our product, we really appreciate your feedback.

TCS

TCSAuckland

  • 2 reviews

Excellent options for renters

published

This unit has been extremely handy in both summer and winters. Cools and heats well and doesn’t blow up the power bill either. This is an excellent choice for renters, if the rental has no heat pumps or air cons installed. It does require sliding windows to instal though and it quite noisy and bulky. But overall I’m very satisfied with the unit. Has made both summer and winters much better for us.

Date PurchasedNov 2017
1 comment
Dimplex
GLEN D.Dimplex

Hello TCS
Thanks for posting a review on our product, we really appreciate your feedback.

Goose

GooseMelbourne

  • 4 reviews

Its OK Nothing Like Installed Aircon

published

It was a relief to have this in the bedroom but I was hoping for better performance than we got. It makes a difference is a small room but it was near useless in larger spaces unless you sat right in front of it. It needs to be set up near a window to put the widow kit and hot air exhaust pipe out, so that limits the places we could use it. My overall reaction was "meh" its OK not amazing.

Date PurchasedNov 2017
Amy

AmySydney

  • 7 reviews
  • 4 likes

Good enough for us

published

This was the first portable air con we have ever purchased, so didn’t really know what to expect. At first I was quite disappointed that the quality didn’t match built in units but once I adjusted my expectations to consider that the unit is set up in a sliding door that can never be fully insulated, I felt better about the purchase. With the vent placed directly on the bed it kept us cool through hot and humid summer days. The reverse cycle will soon come in handy. While others have complained about the noise, it never kept us up at night:m. Overall good value for a mid range unit.

Date PurchasedOct 2017
1 comment
Dimplex
GLEN D.Dimplex

Thank you for taking the time to write a review.

Travis

TravisSmithfield plains

  • 2 reviews
  • 2 likes

Works great indoors but not suitable for caravan

published

We originally purchased for our caravan and was assured by retailer it would cool our van on a 40degree day... NOT TRUE.. it failed to work so weve had to use in our bedroom instead... works well but not suit what we wanted it to do. And when discussed with retailer was toldit wasnt a fault

Date PurchasedJan 2018
Portable Air Conditioners

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Art House

Art HouseMatamata NZ

Falsely specified as portable, but needs to be ducted out a window

published

We required a portable unit able to be shifted between rooms, and ordered this unit.
The box specifies "self evaporative system - no drip tray or hose required", but when we collected the product a sticker had been added "external ducting is required to lower room temperature and dehumidify".
The unit was totally unsuitable for our purpose!! Fortunately the retailer refunded our purchase price.
Full marks to Noel Leeming NZ; but zero marks to Dimplex for false promotion

Date PurchasedFeb 2018
Casey

CaseyAuburn

  • 4 reviews

Can't live without it

published

I love my unit not only does the air conditioning component work well but the heating and dehumidifier is amazing as well not to heavy to move around and not bulky that it's takes up heaps of room, love the sleep option so it turns it self off and I don't fall asleep with it on reasonably sound in regards to how load it is, I've owned it for just under a year and i have had no problems with it at all and I constantly use it

Date PurchasedMar 2017
Tim R

Tim R

  • 5 reviews

Good quality, noisy but better than a fan

published

Cooling performance is good directly in front of the machine. The uni works continuously to maintain the set temperature in the room, so is not incredibly efficient compared to a fixed unit (to be expected). Fairly noisy, easily blocked out with earplugs, however the noise is not painful like some appliances. Unit is unobtrusive, the ability to reverse the ducts for heating in winter makes it very useful. Tested in a 15 m2 bedroom. Hose for window is fairly short (but normal for a portable air conditioner, so take that into account when deciding where to put it.

Date PurchasedNov 2017
Laura

LauraMelbourne

  • 5 reviews

Works perfectly in a small room

published

I bought this air conditioner to be placed in a my study room to cool down during hot summer days. The instructions are quick to understand which makes this model very easy to use. On top of that this unit is so portable so I can move it between my study room into my living room without much effort.

Date PurchasedFeb 2017
Fiona M

Fiona M

  • 2 reviews
  • 5 likes

Scary experience.

published
Date PurchasedNov 2016

Would not recommend

published

Had the unit for 12 days, says it's rated to 42 degrees, my room temperature was 35 and the compressor overheated and cut out. Turned it off, let it cool down for an hour, turned back on and same thing. Basically became a radiant heater. Also very noisy! The 3 fan speeds have no effect on the noise either. Will be returning it today and getting my $600 back.

Portable Air Conditioners

Find out how Dimplex DC10RC (3kW) compares to other Portable Air Conditioners

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Wise Willow

Wise Willow

  • 22 reviews

Solved my cooling problems within budget.

published

Unit does what the manufacturer says it will do. Easy installation though window kit needs some redesigning and sealing up larger sliding window required unattractive patchwork. Unit is a little noisy but it is machine after all. Ear plugs an easy solution. Cools down small room quickly affording much improved comfort. TV remote switches unit off and on when adjusting volume so position away from other electronics. Overall pleased. You get what you pay for.

S.Prasad

S.PrasadSydney, NSW

  • 2 reviews

Good for All year around.

published

Good product. Good for summer and winter season. Cools down the room very fast in hot days and great for winter too. Compact size and fits in any room. This product is energy efficient.

Purchased at The Good Guys for A$700.00.

Build Quality
Ease of Use
Cleaning & Maintenance
Noise Level
Value for Money
Heating / Cooling Speed
Portability
Room Type Large Bedroom
See all answers
1 comment
Dimplex
Angela C.Dimplex

Hi S.Prasad,
Thank you for taking the time to review the DC10RC and that you are pleased with its performance.

See all Dimplex DC10RC / DC12RCBW / DC15RCBW reviews

Questions & Answers

Brett O.

Brett O.asked

DC10RC (3kW)

Hello
I have a dimplex dc10rc . Is there anywhere I can buy the window kit for it . The adapter the pipe the window piece. Tried a few places but all sold out or they don't stock them
Thanks Brett

1 answer
Dimplex
Angela C.Dimplex

Good morning Brett O,
The spare parts you require can be purchased directly from Glen Dimplex. Please contact our Customer Care team on 1300 556 816 for price and availability.

Jenny

Jennyasked

DC10RC (3kW)

Can you buy an outlet hose extension? We have the wrong windows and the hose is too short so we get the heat back at us too!!

2 answers
Dimplex
Eleonore E.Dimplex

Hello Jenny
There are no extension available for the exhaust hoses, these units are designed to operate with the length of exhaust hose that is provided with the unit. If you extend the exhaust hose you may damage the unit.

Jenny
Jenny

Thank you!

Jason B.

Jason B.asked

DC10RC (3kW)

Hi have had one of these units for about 4 years, been awesome. Just recently on cooling mode the unit has stopped blowing hot air out the vent hose. The bottom fan FAN1-DOWN has correct voltage coming from plug, same as FAN2 but the red wire returning from fan motor to C61-P2 capacitor has no voltage. Does this mean the motor has packed up?

1 answer
Dimplex
Angela C.Dimplex

Hi Jason B,
If you contact an air conditioner repairer in your area they may be able to have a look at your model and advise if there is an electrical fault. During the warranty period the warranty is a replacement only so we are unable to refer you to a repair agent.

Get an answer from our members and Dimplex representatives

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