Austinist Experiences Winter in July With Amcor's PLM 14000E

Unlike most of the window-mount boxes we've struggled with in the past, installation of the PLM-14000E was a cinch, as the device comes pre-configured, pre-installed and supplies all of the attachments you'll need to get cooling. Though weighing in at roughly 75 pounds, it was easy enough to extract from the shipping container by rotating the box a few times. After letting the device sit in an upright position for two hours, as recommended by the owner's manual, we hooked up the accessory components that came with the standard kit. The PLM-14000E comes with the following accessory parts:

• 3M Permanent Washable Air Filter (pre-installed)
• Remote Control (batteries included)
• Insulation Strips
• Drain Pan
• Slide Bar Connector
• Extendable Exhaust Hose (up to 5')
• Adjustable Slide Bar (max 48")

Installation basically consists of fitting the adjustable slide bar to your window frame (max 48"), hooking up the extendable hose to the slide bar connector, and connecting the hose to the back of the PLM. We accomplished this in a little under three minutes.

After plugging in the PLM and programming the thermostat to a balmy 68 degrees, we turned it on and let it go to work in our living room, which is slightly less than the maximum specified area of 400 sq. ft. but has higher ceilings than most rooms. In its full-blast cooling mode, the PLM is about as loud as a bathroom exhaust fan, which is considerably quieter than comparable, non-portable window units. Still, don't trick yourself into thinking that this thing's going to compare, sound-wise or otherwise, with a central cooling system.

While the PLM ran in the background, we reclined on the sofa and waded through a few more pages of a particularly cumbersome novel; about fifteen minutes in, we noticed the room had become noticeably chillier. Half an hour later, it was freezing. Unlike the old climate control in our parents' late eighties sedan, the temperature requested on the PLM was essentially what was delivered!

With the PLM having clearly satisfied our mostly qualitative able-to-condition-the-air test, we looked into its niftier features: integrated into the unit is a pre-installed, permanent air filter made by 3M. This washable filter is meant to trap larger dust, pollen, and bacteria particles, as well as animal dander. What's even more interesting, given the humidity we've been dealing with lately, is the PLM's so-called "evaporative booster technology." Equipped with an integrated water tank, the PLM actually extracts humidity from the air that gets suctioned in during its normal operating mode. This collected water is recycled to cool the unit, allowing it to run more effectively -- and lowering the power consumption, we imagine. Eventually, when the tank reaches capacity (not specified), the PLM's compressor will simply cease to run, until some of the water is emptied via a drain outlet located in the back of the unit. A handy drain pan is included to better facilitate this; alternately, one might choose to use the PLM as a dehumidifier by connecting a standard 20mm tube to the drain outlet and leaving the other end in a sink.

One of the PLM's biggest selling points appears to be its portability; indeed, the device comes with rolling casters so that transportation between rooms on the same floor is relatively painless. Moving the PLM up and down stairs, however, may prove to be a two-person task, owing to its 75-lb weight. Carrying handles are built into both sides to make this easier.

All in all, we were quite happy with Amcor's newest creation. The PLM displays an impressive combination of functionality and design, managing to be both aesthetically pleasing and altogether practical for anyone looking for a single-room cooling solution in a house that might require the system to be used in different rooms. Add to this the PLM's humidity extraction feature and its price (as low as $469 online, see below), and you end up with a pretty compelling solution for those muggy Central Texas summers.

[AMCOR PLM Product Page]

[Shop on Froogle for the PLM 14000E]

Specs:

Dimensions: 20" W x 16" D x 33" H
Net Shipping Weight: 75 lbs
Power Supply: 120V/60Hz
Cooling Capacity: 14,000 BTU/hour
Cooling Power Consumption: 1100 W, 9.8A
Humidity Removal Capacity: 80 pints/day
Recommended Room Size: Up to 400 sq ft
Compressor: Rotary
Refrigerant: R-22
Fan Speeds: 3
Climate Control Range: 64'F - 90'F
Timer Setting: 1-24 hours
Built-in Power Safety: AFCI