Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner Review

Summer is on a roll, and if you’re on a lookout for a great all-rounder, hassle-free cooling solution, we have the perfect product for you.

The Black + Decker BPACT10WT is an excellent portable air conditioner that can easily cool a space of up to 250 sq. ft. It’s very powerful at 10,000 BTUs, and it’s quite affordable for the punch it packs. Overall, I would highly recommend buying this if you need a decent portable AC unit.

Alright, now that we’ve got the quick summary out of the way, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details.

First, let’s a take look at the pros (and the cons) of the Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner.

Pros of the Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner

• This portable air conditioner lets you enjoy the benefits of an air conditioner all around the house, without having to install one in every room. It also comes with four castor wheels that make mobility easier.
• It is capable of cooling a small room of up to 150 sq. feet very quickly. It also comes with an excellent auto mode that helps adjust the temperature throughout the day and night.
• The remote control feature of this unit is particularly good. You can control all the features from the comfort of your couch or bed.
• It has a compact size (16.5 in x 11.5 in x 26 in). This means it won’t be taking a lot of space in the room.
• It comes with a 5 feet exhaust hose and a window kit that makes it convenient to connect the exhaust of the air conditioner to the window. And since this AC has a self-evaporating operation, it doesn’t require a bucket or a drain pan.
• It also doubles as an air dehumidifier. You will also be keeping the air dry while you’re cooling it, preventing the growth of mold, mildew, or bacteria.

Cons of the Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner

• This air conditioner can get a bit noisy, with an operating noise of 75 decibels. This is much louder than a fixed air conditioner, although it isn’t a deal breaker unless you’re very sensitive to noise.
• The window kit that connects the exhaust hose to the window can be a bit difficult to install.
• This particular model is only suitable for rooms that are under 150 sq. feet. Fortunately, there are other higher BTU models of this same AC that can be used to cool bigger spaces.
• The price is a bit high compared to other cooling solutions like fans, but you will be paying for the convenience of an AC.

Should you get this?

We’ve just finished looking at the quick summary of the Black + Decker BPACT10WT portable air conditioner’s pros and cons. In this section, we will help you figure out whether not you should get this product.

If you like the idea of having an air conditioner cool the temperature of the room you’re in, but wouldn’t want to spend too much money installing an air conditioner in every room of the house, this portable air conditioner could be just the thing you’re looking for. Sure, there are much cheaper alternatives in the market like fans. But nothing beats the quality of an air conditioner. And there’s actually a reason behind that.

Fans use their fast-rotating blades to move the air around the room. The rapid breeze of air comes in contact with your skin, evaporating the sweat off of it. This is what gives the fan its cooling effect. Unlike an AC, a fan doesn’t actually lower the temperature of the air. An air conditioner, on the other hand, actually lowers the temperature of the air in the room. This is why the result is much more satisfying.

Perhaps the best thing about the Black + Decker BPACT10WT is how easy it is to install and move around. This unit isn’t particularly heavy for an AC, weighing in at less than 26 pounds (12 kg). However, it comes with four castor wheels, making it incredibly easy to move it around the house, between rooms.

The AC can be used in any room with an electric outlet and a double-hung or sliding window. Once you’ve moved the portable AC to the room you’re going to be staying in, simply attach the exhaust hose and the window adapter to the window, and then plug the unit to an electric outlet. And just like that, the AC is really for business!

This 10,000 BTU Black + Decker portable air conditioner is the perfect blend between the fan and an air conditioner. It offers the portability of the former while offering the cooling effect of the latter. If this combination is something that appeals to you, you should consider getting this portable AC.

Another factor to consider is that this AC can only realistically cool a room that is under 150 sq. feet in size. While this is sufficient for most household rooms, if you have bigger rooms that need cooling, you might want to consider a more powerful AC. 

Black + Decker offers more powerful versions of the same model of portable air conditioner. You might want to consider the 12,000 and 14,000 BTU versions. But for most cases, the BPACT10WT should do just fine.

One thing about portable air conditioners like the BPACT10WT that bothers a lot of people is that they tend to be much louder than your typical fixed AC. While a decent fixed AC operates at around 40 decibels (which is less noise than that of a table fan), portable air conditioners tend to be a bit louder. The Black + Decker BPACT10WT, for instance, operates at 75 decibels at high mode. This could be too much noise for most people.

The noise will be equivalent to that of a large fan running at full capacity. Of course, you will be getting the convenience of an AC, which means you won’t have to leave the unit running the whole time as you would do with a fan. Once the temperature of the room has been lowered, you can tune the AC down.

Why the Black + Decker BPACT10WT Is Worth It

Let us now look at the different reasons why the Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner might be a worthy investment.

It Is Easy to Install or Move and Does the Job Very Well

The first point that makes the Black + Decker BPACT10WT a worthy purchase is that it is very good at doing its job. This unit lets you enjoy the comfort of an air conditioner without the expense of installing an individual unit in every room of the house.

You can simply roll this portable unit to any room you want. As long as the room has a sliding or a hung window and an electric outlet, you’re good to go. Use the window kit that comes with this portable ge air conditioner to connect its exhaust hose to the window. Next, connect the power cord to the outlet, and you’re ready to roll.

And the best part is, you can just as easily disconnect the whole thing and move it to a different room. The four caster wheels make moving the air conditioner very easy.

This unit is also incredibly compact, at just 16.5 x 11.5 x 6 inches. This gives the Black + Decker BPACT10WT both the portability of a table fan and the cooling ability of an air conditioner. This unit works in rooms that are 150 sq. feet or smaller. It can cool the room down to 65°F (18.3°C) in the coolest setting.

It also features an environmentally friendly refrigerant, R410a. So, you can rest assured knowing you’re doing the environment a favor by not polluting it. The unit also features auto water evaporation. This means it won’t be needing a drain pan or a bucket.

It Is Easy to Operate

Another thing about the BPACT10WT that makes it a worthy purchase is that it is incredibly easy to operate. The top-mounted LED display makes it easy to visualize and adjust the settings. This unit also comes with a remote control that is incredibly intuitive and easy to operate. You can easily control the unit from the comfort of your

The 24-hour timer makes it easy to control the air temperature very easily. It also helps save energy (and as a result, money) by preventing any waste when you don’t need the air conditioner to run at full power. The sleep-mode is another cool feature that automatically controls and regulates the temperature of the room at night. It also makes the AC significantly quieter so as not to disturb your sleep.

The fan in this air conditioner can be operated at three different speeds: low, medium, and high. Furthermore, it also has an auto-fan setting. This setting helps regulate the fan’s speed automatically, regulate the room temperature, and save energy.

It Also Doubles as a Dehumidifier

Another noteworthy feature of this portable air conditioner is that it also doubles as a dehumidifier. That means, it won’t just be making the air in the room cooler, it will also be making it drier.

This has plenty of notable advantages. Hot and wet air is known to be a breeding paradise for bacteria. You will be preventing this. Furthermore, you will also be preventing the growth of any mold or mildew in your room.

Flaws but Not Deal Breakers

The Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner is a great unit. But it isn’t without its flaws. While neither of these is a real deal breaker, we felt it was important to point them out as part of the full review.

It Is Only Suitable for Small Rooms

One of the biggest drawbacks of this unit is that it is only suitable for small rooms that are 150 sq. feet or smaller. While that’s the plenty for most household rooms, it may not be sufficient if you’ve got bigger rooms.

This doesn’t mean that the BPACT10WT won’t get the job done in bigger rooms. It will, but it won’t be performing at its optimum.

Fortunately, Black + Decker offers the same model of portable air conditioner with higher BTU ratings. 12,000 BTU and 14,000 BTU options are also available.

It Can Be Quite Loud

Another noteworthy flaw of this unit is that it can be quite loud. The BPACT10WT, at its highest setting, operates at a noise level of 75 decibels. This is the same as a loud fan. Fixed air conditioners, in contrast, are much quieter. And fans are much less expensive.

But is this a deal breaker? Not quite. Unless you’ve got extremely sensitive ears, this won’t be too much of a bother for you. Furthermore, unlike with a fan, you won’t have to leave this air conditioner running the whole time you are in the room. 

Since an air conditioner actually cools the air temperature in the room, unlike a fan, you can simply turn the AC off, or better yet, put it on sleep-mode when you need some quiet time. The room will stay cool for some time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

As we’re approaching the end of the article, let us now look at some of the most frequently asked questions about this portable air conditioner:

Where Do I Vent the Warm Air?

The BPACT10WT comes with a handy window/installation kit that makes it easy to vent through any sliding or hung window. If that isn’t possible for you, you can also vent the exhaust hose through the door into the hallway or another room if you don’t mind getting that room warm.

Do I Have to Use the Vent Hose?

This is a question you might have if you’re new to air conditioners. An air conditioner basically creates both cold and warm air when it’s operating. The exhaust vent is meant to expel the warm air out of the room while the cooler air takes its place. So yes, you will have to use the vent hose, or the AC won’t work.

How Do I Connect the Unit?

The BPACT10WT operates at 115V, 60Hz, and 9 amperes. The power cord is 7 feet long and goes into a three-prong outlet. You can leave the unit connected. If there is a power outage, the system turns back on once the power is back. Also, you can program the unit to automatically turn on within a 24-hour timespan.

Does It Come With a Warranty?

Yes, it does. This is an expensive investment, so a warranty is a must. Black + Decker offers a 5-year warranty on the compressor parts (the core of the air conditioner) and a 1-year warranty on all the other parts.

How Heavy Is This Unit and Will I Be Able to Move It Around?

This unit is quite heavy, at 52.9 lbs (24 kg). This makes it much heavier than your typical table or pedestal fan. But the BPACT10WT comes with four castor wheels that make it easy to move it around. That is unless you’re planning on carrying it between floors.

Will It Release Water Onto the Floor?

No. The BPACT10WT comes with an auto water evaporation feature. This means it will get the job done without releasing any water.

Does It Need Cleaning and Is It Easy to Clean?

Like any air conditioner unit, it is recommended that you clean this unit every once in a while. The BPACT10WT however, is incredibly easy to clean. All you’ll have to do is slide out the filter and rinse it under running water. If you do this twice a month, you will be set.

How Noisy Is It?

At its low setting, the BPACT10WT is as loud as a typical window unit. At a ‘high’ fan setting, it operates at 75 decibels, making it as loud as a typical pedestal fan.

Final Thoughts

The Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner offers the perfect balance between the portability of a fan and the cooling effect of an air conditioner. If you’re in the market for a home cooling solution for this summer, we definitely recommend you get this unit. Its compact size makes it unobtrusive. But don’t let that fool you as it is incredibly efficient at getting the job done!

The BPACT10WT offers plenty of noteworthy features such as a remote control for easy control, a handy top-mounted LED display and control panel, a 24-hour timer, a sleep mode, an auto-fan setting and auto water evaporation among others. It also doubles as a dehumidifier, helping you keep the air in the room dry.  

Steve Rajeckas

Steve Rajeckas is an HVAC hobbyist with an avid interest in learning innovative ways to keep rooms, buildings, and everything else at the optimal temperature. When he’s not working on new posts for Temperature Master, he can be found reading books or exploring the outdoors.