I have years of experience testing top home and kitchen products. We've sent this story to your inbox. Portable air conditioners are worth buying in many situations. Many models are now designed for ...

Based on Consumer Reports’ testing of portable air conditioners, they should be seen as a last resort for cooling a home when fans aren’t enough or other types of air conditioners aren’t an option.

Midwest summers are a hot, sticky affair, and my old house was never outfitted with an HVAC system. So, I have to rely on window and portable air conditioners to cool this 4,000-square-foot space.