Black+Decker BPACT08WT Review

We appreciate the Black+Decker BPACT08WT for its good value. It's one of the cheapest products in this class and one of the more capable coolers in the 8,000 BTU subcategory. It's among the easiest units to set up and move around, and it has above-average energy efficiency.

Cooling

Our cooling metric makes up 35% of the review's score and is one of the most important of them all. The Black+Decker BPACT08WT demonstrated middling cooling performance overall, but it did well for a lower 8000 BTU unit.

To conduct consistent cooling tests, we set up a 1680 cubic feet indoor space (14x10ft. room with 12ft. ceilings) with carefully controlled start temperatures between 83 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded and averaged from four temperature-sensing dataloggers placed around the room. Next, we partitioned off an adjoining section of our warehouse and warmed it to much higher temps to simulate summertime outdoors. Between the two spaces were a wall and a typical home-styled window where we set up the portable AC units' window interface kits and hoses. This unit managed a temperature drop of 7 degrees Fahrenheit after 60 minutes, from a start temp of 82.4 degrees to a final temp of 75.4 degrees, which brought it in towards the back of the pack at large but highest among the lower 8000 BTU units.

Portability/Install

The Black+Decker had an above-average showing in our portability tests. We based this score on how easy it is to carry the AC, roll it around, and set up the exhaust ducting. Combined, this trio of tests accounts for 20% of the final score. This unit is relatively easy to carry, with handles that are decently comfortable to grab.

There is enough contouring to make them relatively ergonomic, though we wish they were a bit bigger. The Black+Decker is one of the lighter-weight AC units we tested, weighing in at 51.3 pounds. This also makes it very easy to roll around, offering only the slightest rolling resistance. It also maneuvers very easily, tracking straight while pushing without any pull to one side or the other.

The exhaust duct installation requires a screwdriver to complete, but it isn't overly difficult. You use pre-drilled holes to screw the pieces together, so you don't have total adjustability in its 20.5" to 59" range, but you can always drill your own if you need to make it fit better in your window.

Noise

We evaluated the noise metric by listening to each and every unit set to low, medium, and high. We then brought out our SPL meter to measure the decibels put out by the units when set to high.

The Black+Decker BPACT08WT put out 58.6 dBa with the fan on high, and we noticed a loud humming from this machine that we found somewhat annoying, especially for those who would have to spend most of their time around the unit. But overall, this was fairly average in terms of its noise level compared to the rest of our test lineup.

Energy Consumption

Energy efficiency is more important now than ever, and electricity costs can add up over time, which is why the energy metric makes up a hearty 15% of the total score for each unit in our review. The 8,000 BTU Black+Decker BPACT08WT scored well above average in this metric.

This unit consumed .88 kWh in our test. Over 90 days with 12 hours of daily use, the Black+Decker BPACT08WT was projected to consume 950.4 kWh for approximately $153.39, making it one of the more efficient and economical units reviewed.

Convenience

The last 5% of the review score comes from our convenience metric, which grades each portable AC unit on its modes, display, controls, and extra features. The Black+Decker BPACT08WT did respectably well in this metric but wasn't among the highest scorers.

It has a nice and legible blue settings display viewable from most angles and from a moderate distance and features a touch interface with good modes, including a Dehumidfy program. It comes with a remote, child locks, and a pretty basic timer, but no smart mobile app that you'd find on the highest scorers in this metric.

The most surprising omission of the Black+Decker BPACT08WT is its poor vent adjustability. You can't move it much vertically, although the tiny shift it does allow seems relatively effective.

Should You Buy the Black+Decker BPACT08WT?

If you don't require top-notch cooling power from a larger BTU unit and high energy efficiency is important to you, it's hard to go wrong with the BPACT08WT. Not only is it the most capable of the smaller 8,000 BTU units, but it's also one of the most portable and easiest to install.

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