Honeywell 470 CFM Indoor Portable Evaporative Air Cooler with Fan and Humidifier for Living Room, Basement, Office, and Play Area, 115V, Evaporative Cooler for Rooms up to 280 Sq. Ft. with Remote

When I first got this cooler, I was a little disappointed because I have bought freezer packs for it only to find that the machine refills from a small drawer at the back. That said, my disappointment vanished once I filled it up with refrigerated water and turned it on. WOW this is the best evaporator cooler for its price. It tackled my big living room that in the summer can't cool down easy. I live in Arizona and my apartment is made to be warm in the winter but that winter blessing turns into a summer nightmare when the sun hits my big window starting a 5:30 am and heats the room up until sunset later at night. I have central air conditioning, but it struggles in the summer and I always have at least one breakdown a summer. I've tried black out curtains and fans but those only brought a little coolness. Last summer I used a small cooler, the kind you can get at a store in the as seen on tv aisles. It worked great, but it died pretty quickly so I knew for the next summer I needed something better. This cooler was it! I turn it off overnight and because it's so cold it radiates coolness that continues to keep the room comfortable. No more running to my air conditioned bedroom at night to escape the heat of the living room. The air conditioner doesn't have to struggle or run hard, and I can stay comfortable. This model seems to be so popular it's hard to find. I had to buy a different model by a different company for my brother's room because it gets stuffy and it doesn't work nearly as well! And those freezer packs didn't go to waste, I use them in the second machine as it has the slide out water tank which turned out to be a bigger pain to deal with. So yeah after using both machines, I can say this one wins hands down. I developed a couple tricks to make sure it keeps putting out the cold air. I keep it in front of the open doorway to my kitchen so it has lots of air to pull from. It needs cross ventilation to work best. I fill ice cube trays only partially, way under half. They freeze faster and fit in the opening to the tank I drop a few in when I refill. Also I keep a few re-used water bottles, the liter/1.5 liter size full of tap water in the fridge. They get good and chilled, and is easier to pour in than a pitcher. I have to chill my water anyway because this time of year it comes out of the tap hot because of shallow pipes. I don't babysit it but I do refill it before it get anywhere near the minimum, if not just to drop a few ice cubes in to keep the water cold. I also have a couple fans that swirl and push the air around as my living room is pretty big, a smaller room might not need it but I like to have lots of air circulation. Anyway, if you keep the small ice cubes and chilled water on hand, even without additional fans, you can keep cool all day.

Updated: After 1 year of use (and proper maintenance), the unit started leaking. At first a little out and then so much that using a pan underneath wasn't enough to prevent cupping on my hardwood floors. The electronics controlling the fan speed are glitchy, resetting the fan speed whenever I use another button. The awkward placement and narrow opening to fill the water tank made it very difficult to fill without spilling. It's a bummer to replace this so quickly.Original: I purchased this to replace a mobile AC unit which was loud, bulky, clunky, and energy-wasting. This is definitely taller than I was expecting (I purchased the 53.6" model) but otherwise, it's been terrific at keeping my 500 sf great room cool. The additional height actually directs the cool air where you feel it and need it most. It's easy to set up, easy to operate and easy to roll into whichever room needed. I especially like that you can turn the oscillation function on or off as well as switch between fan and evaporative cooling. I also have a Vornado tower fan next to it and I've found the cooled air disperses better if I have the Vornado on its lowest setting while I run the Honeywell.I only gave it four stars for a few reasons:~ The placement of the cord is awkward and unsightly. It's on the side and slightly more than halfway up the unit. Because the unit is white and the cord is black, it is super visible. More importantly, the placement is such that the cord gets in the way when I am pouring water/ice into the receptacle (which is in the back).~ There is no timer. I knew this before purchasing it but a timer would really make a difference. Perhaps this was to prevent the evaporative cooling pump from overheating if the water tank runs dry. I would have paid more $ for the electronics to have a timer and a pump sensor for low water.~ Lastly (and this is just my visual pickiness), it would be so wonderful if the unit were a neutral color. The unit is a big thing in my family/dining room. The colors are a stark, cool-tone white and glossy black which just makes it stand out even more than its bulk. Nothing would make it invisible or blend in but a beige or black unit would at least compliment a wide range of decor. Instead, it's the first thing you notice when you walk in the room.Overall, worth the money.

This has been an amazing cooler so far. I’ve previously purchased another brand indoor evaporative cooler, and it never worked right from day 1. And today that heavy piece of junk is only functional as a fan which can’t oscillate anymore. But this Honeywell Cooler is light weight, easy to use and gets the job done. Caution to anyone looking into this type of cooling method, Do Your Research!! This cooler will not be effective if certain conditions outside and inside your home are not met. You will need to crack open those windows in the room you are using this, and you better live in a low humidity environment, otherwise this will not cool your Space. And I emphasized Space because this is not designed to cool your entire home; but sitting in the living room, or standing in the kitchen, laying in bed can feel as if you are enjoying a cool island breeze off the ocean when you use this cooler. But drier air and plenty of ventilation in your space is key to get the most benefits from this. You’ve got to open your windows, this is not an air conditioner where you seal up tight to keep the cold air in. Think of this as a nice breeze on a cozy spring day. And be realistic about your expectations, if temps outside are triple digits this will keep you reasonably comfortable but don’t expect miracles from something that is just a fan and water. If you want that kind of Cooling miracle buy an A.C. Unit.