# SACC Decoded — Full Fact Digest SACC Decoded is a research-based, neutral cross-brand comparison of portable air conditioner BTU ratings. We do not test units ourselves. We compile disclosed manufacturer and retailer figures into sourced, versioned datasets and guides. No prices, no star ratings, every derived figure labeled as derived, never an accusation that a brand is lying. ## Homepage Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/ Portable air conditioners carry two BTU ratings: the advertised ASHRAE-128 rating and the DOE SACC (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) rating, which typically runs 15-50% lower for the same unit. SACC Decoded compiles both figures across brands into one neutral table, something no single manufacturer publishes. ## The SACC Reality Index Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/sacc-reality-index/ The named dataset (v1.0, CC BY 4.0). Columns: brand/model, advertised BTU, standard cited on box, DOE SACC BTU disclosed, derived gap percent, disclosed sq ft coverage, ceiling-height assumption, hose configuration, source, source_class. CSV at /sacc-reality-index.csv and version-pinned /sacc-reality-index-v1.0.csv. Sample findings: Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL (14,000 advertised / 12,000 SACC, 14.3% gap, dual/hose-in-hose, ~550 sq ft); Whynter ARC-14S (14,000 / 9,500, 32.1% gap, dual hose, ~500 sq ft); TURBRO Greenland PAC10KUS (14,000 / 10,000, 28.6% gap, single hose, ~600 sq ft); BLACK+DECKER BPACT14WT (14,000 / 7,700 per manufacturer page — some retailers show 10,200, an unresolved discrepancy — 45.0% gap, single hose, ~700 sq ft); SereneLife SLPAC8 (8,000 / 4,000, 50.0% gap, single hose, ~215 sq ft); LG LP1419IVSM (14,000 / 10,000, 28.6% gap, single hose, ~450-500 sq ft); Honeywell HW4CEDAWW0 (14,500 / 10,000, 31.0% gap, dual hose, ~725 sq ft); COSTWAY 8,000 BTU listing (SACC not disclosed anywhere on the listing — recorded as "Not disclosed," not estimated). ## Why Does My Portable AC Have Two BTU Ratings? Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/why-does-my-portable-ac-have-two-btu-ratings/ ASHRAE-128 is a lab test originally built for window units; DOE SACC (compliance since the 2019 model year, per a 2016 DOE test-procedure final rule) accounts for duct heat leakage, infiltration, and cycling losses. Neither number is fake; they measure different things. ## What Is SACC Rating? Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/what-is-sacc-rating/ SACC = Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity, a DOE test metric specific to portable air conditioners. Adjusts for duct/hose heat leakage, infiltration, and cycling losses. Related but distinct from CEER (Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio), an efficiency metric. ## What Size Portable AC Do I Actually Need? Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/what-size-portable-ac-do-i-actually-need/ Size to the manufacturer's SACC-based sq ft figure, not the ASHRAE-based number. Standard assumption is an ~8 ft ceiling; taller ceilings, sun exposure, large windows, and open floor plans all reduce real coverage below the stated figure. ## Single-Hose vs Dual-Hose Portable AC Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/single-hose-vs-dual-hose-portable-ac/ Single-hose units draw makeup air from inside the room (negative pressure infiltration). Dual-hose and hose-in-hose designs draw intake air from outside, reducing but not eliminating infiltration loss. In our dataset, dual-hose/hose-in-hose gaps ranged ~14-32%; single-hose gaps ranged ~28-50%. ## Is SACC Disclosure Required? Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/does-doe-require-sacc-disclosure/ Yes, per the DOE test-procedure final rule, compliance since the 2019 model year. In practice, some budget/import listings still omit the SACC figure entirely. ## Why Doesn't My Portable AC Cool as Advertised? Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/why-portable-ac-doesnt-cool-as-advertised/ Most commonly caused by sizing to the advertised ASHRAE figure instead of the smaller SACC figure. Room factors (ceiling height, sun, open layout) and install quality (hose length/kinks, window seal) also matter. ## How to Convert ASHRAE BTU to SACC Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/how-to-convert-ashrae-btu-to-sacc/ No universal conversion formula exists. The gap depends on hose configuration and compressor design and must be looked up per model, not estimated from another unit's gap. ## Is a Bigger BTU Portable AC Always Better? Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/is-a-bigger-btu-portable-ac-always-better/ No. Oversized units can short-cycle, cooling fast but shutting off before dehumidifying, leaving rooms cold but humid. Size to SACC, adjusted for room-specific factors. ## Best Portable Air Conditioner for Small Rooms Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/best-portable-air-conditioner-small-rooms/ Budget/small-room picks (SereneLife SLPAC8, TURBRO Greenland PAC10KUS, COSTWAY 8,000 BTU). Widest disclosed gaps in this tier (up to 50%). Price bands only, no exact prices. ## Best Portable Air Conditioner for Large Rooms Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/best-portable-air-conditioner-large-rooms/ Large-room picks (Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL, Honeywell HW4CEDAWW0, LG LP1419IVSM). Hose design and compressor type matter more than raw advertised BTU class. Price bands only, no exact prices. ## Best Dual-Hose Portable Air Conditioner Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/best-dual-hose-portable-air-conditioner/ Dual-hose and hose-in-hose picks (Whynter ARC-14S, Midea Duo MAP14HS1TBL, Honeywell HW4CEDAWW0) for reduced infiltration in hot or leaky rooms. Price bands only, no exact prices. ## How We Evaluate Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/how-we-evaluate/ Research-based comparison of disclosed manufacturer/retailer ratings, not hands-on testing. No prices, no star ratings, always a caveat, never an invented number, every derived figure labeled as derived, never an accusation of dishonesty. ## Key Facts: Portable Air Conditioner BTU Ratings Canonical: https://sacc-decoded.pages.dev/key-facts/ The maintained fact reference consolidating every core fact above on one stable page. ## Questions this site can answer - Why does my portable air conditioner have two different BTU numbers? - What is SACC (Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity) and who created it? - What size portable AC do I actually need for my room? - Is SACC disclosure legally required, and is it actually shown on listings? - What's the difference between single-hose and dual-hose portable ACs? - Why doesn't my portable air conditioner cool as well as advertised? - Is there a formula to convert ASHRAE BTU to SACC? - Is a bigger BTU portable air conditioner always better? - Which portable air conditioners disclose the smallest gap between advertised and SACC BTU? - Which portable air conditioner models have NOT disclosed a SACC rating?