Kelvinator KPK35CRA

UPDATE: I finally found one – This a/c "is" an a/c. You put water, a lot of water (high bill) in an evaporator, but since "this is an a/c, you take water out". This is water taken from the air with which you can wash the car, water plants, etc., thus reducing your water bill & at the same time conserving water and still being able to use it -free. All a/c's probably do the… Read more

same thing, but my review is for this one. After Kelvinator stopped making this model (I don't know why, because it was at the top of Choice's best a/c) I finally found one (possibly the last one in the country) upstairs in a warehouse hidden in the corner. It's worth it to keep searching for the Kelvinator KPK35CRA. This modal only cools so it doesn't also Eight years later (yes, that is 8 years) I have just had my second problem with this great machine. The first came 2 yrs ago when the hose started cracking, so I taped it together with aluminumm foil & packing tape. That solved the problem for another 2 yrs. Now, it isn't cooling at all. The fan still works perfectly. This year, I decided to just go ahead & buy a new window hose. I should have bought one 2 years ago because now they don't make that size anymore, so I went back to using packing tape. This time I decided to cut a Coles freezer bag, you know, the ones you can get with the zipper closing lid & silver foil already inside. I cut it & put it where the foil used to be because after a while the foil tears. The Coles bags are strong enough not to tear for this purpose. Problem solved. I'm repairing it where possible to save from having to buy another dear a/c. So, after 8 years problem #2 arose. This time, it isn't cooling anymore. I'm not sure whether to have it repaired because parts are very scarce & are not made anymore. I found some on the Kelvinater site, but they are pretty much the last available. I think Kelvinater thought they wouldn't last as long as they have. As with all portable a/c's, they are all quite noisy & don't cool a room as much as you hope. They are best suitable for small rooms, but after being on for a while, the larger rooms do also feel cooler, esp. if you step outside your door. I think the length of hoses for all a/c's is bad & for the life of me, I cannot understand why. They are also very heavy, so, you have to be ultra strong to lift them, unless Arnold (Conan) happens to be your neighbour. If Kelvinator had the sense to make this model again, I would definitely buy one. Considering Choices list of the best being what I follow, they were right about this one. The water holder is large so you dont have to empty it all the time, that tray is easy-peasy to take out. The buttons on top are clear & easy to use & the remote is clearly labled & easy to understand. If I happen to find one somewhere, I will jump at buying it again even though the parts are scarce. I'd do this because the hose laster 6 years (I was able to fix that for another 2 yrs) & my only other problem showed up after 8 years. I think that is lasting a long time, without having any servicing. I will probably see whether it can be repaired because it is so reliable & easy to use & empty. My only cons are basically the same for all portables; the hose lengths are always too short; the heat from the back is a bit of pain, esp. since you're trying to cool the room, they are all heavy & all noisy. If I owned the place where I lived, I would go with internal a/c, inside the ceiling, like in the shops. Window a/c's are supposed to be good, so I would try one in a roon. Split systems seem to be cooler that portables, but if you live in a place where the owner doesn't want anything damaging the window or even changing it, a portable is the best way, or only way. So, to make a long review short, if I could find another one of these, I would jump at buying it, even though it stopped being made approx, 8 yrs ago. I know this is very good, very reliable, & great quality. I might just need to buy a new a/c after all this time & I have chosen Choices second best, even though that has also just been discontinued. Who knows, I might find one stuck the the corner of a warehouse again. "IF" I definitely need to buy another a/c, this time I will make sure I buy a second hose. Stay cool everyone & pray for winter to get here. lol.