Friedrich Zoneaire Portable Air Conditioner review: A powerful yet quiet AC

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I like to be cold as an ice cube when I'm sleeping. Unfortunately, my house doesn't have central air, and my bedroom window won't accommodate a window air conditioner. So, I turn to portable air conditioners to make summer sleeping bearable. My favorite is the Friedrich Zoneaire Portable Air Conditioner (model ZCP12DB). It's the quietest of the 14 units I tested for our best portable air conditioner guide. Best of all, it did the best job cooling.

I've tested five Friedrich air conditioners over the last six years, and they consistently offer outstanding cooling power. In fact, a Friedrich tops our best air conditioner guide. Below are my experiences with the dual-hose Zoneaire portable AC. 

Design

While most portable air conditioners have a single hose that sends exhaust outside the room, the Friedrich Zoneaire Portable Air Conditioner has two hoses. The extra hose brings in outdoor air to cool the condenser. This contrasts with single-hose ACs, which use indoor air, creating a vacuum in the room that is usually filled by hot air coming in from outside the room. This makes single-hose units less efficient. If that's confusing, you just need to know that dual-hose portable ACs do better at keeping larger spaces cool but tend to cost more. 

Our review of the Friedrich portable air conditioner

Setup

Though there were a few annoying parts, I had no trouble installing the Friedrich Zoneaire. Thanks to the clear instructions, the process took about 15 minutes, and the only tool I needed was a screwdriver. 

The setup includes assembling and installing the window slider and connecting the hoses. One of the hoses had a loose connector, which I had to fix, adding to the setup time. The battery cover for the remote control was held in place with a screw, so I had to grab a screwdriver to install the batteries. The app connected seamlessly.

Cooling performance

I test cooling performance by cranking my house's boiler to 75 degrees and running the portable AC on high fan speed and its lowest target temperature (usually about 60 degrees) for two hours in a 550-square-foot room. I use a thermometer placed on the opposite side of the room to assess how much the unit decreases the room's temperature.

The Friedrich Dual-Hose Zoneaire was the best at cooling of any portable air conditioner I've tested. During the two-hour test, it decreased the room's temperature by four degrees Fahrenheit, about half a degree more than the runner-up, the Whynter ARC-14S Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner.

I've noticed the Friedrich portable AC is great at maintaining its target temperature. I like to keep my bedroom at 69 degrees. Once the temperature drops below that threshold, the compressor turns off. As the temp creeps into the 70s, the compressor comes back on.

Energy efficiency

I used a smart plug to gauge the unit's electricity use during the cooling test. The Friedrich used 1.74 kilowatts, a smidge less than the average in my tests. This is impressive, considering its cooling performance. 

However, even the best portable air conditioner doesn't compare to your typical window air conditioner when it comes to energy efficiency. For instance, the July window air conditioner is relatively energy inefficient and isn't Energy Star-certified. Yet, it used .37 fewer kilowatts per hour than the Zoneaire. Based on the average electricity prices, the Friedrich portable AC costs an extra $15 monthly if you run it on high for eight hours daily.

Noise

I measure how loud an air conditioner is by holding a decibel meter 6 feet from it. On high, the Friedrich Zoneaire Portable Air Conditioner registered 54.4 decibels, which is quieter than a normal conversation and the quietest I've tested. It's 48.8 decibels on low, which is softer than a moderate rainfall. 

Since the Zoneaire is so quiet and doesn't produce any jarring sounds as the compressor turns on, it's an excellent option for bedrooms. I use the Friedrich in my bedroom and haven't experienced any sleep disturbances from it. I'd also recommend it for rooms where you like to watch TV, as it stays silent enough for you to hear "Baby Reindeer."

Smart features

The Friedrich Zoneaire Portable Air Conditioner can be controlled with your phone using the FriedrichGo app (iOS and Android). The app features all of the same functions found on the actual AC, including mode, fan speed, and temperature adjustments. However, the app also offers scheduling, so you can automatically turn the unit on or off at certain times to save electricity. I like to turn it off when my utility company charges extra for electricity, like summer afternoons. The Friedrich AC pairs with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to give you voice control. 

Maintenance

The best way to keep the Friedrich Zoneaire — and any portable air conditioner — operating optimally is to clean the filter regularly. Unfortunately, the Zoneaire doesn't have an indicator to let you know when the filter needs to be cleaned. I recommend setting a reminder to clean the filter every two weeks. Cleaning it is easy. Just remove it and vacuum it with a handheld vacuum or wash with lukewarm water. Allow it to dry completely before reinstalling it.

Before storing the AC for the colder months, pull the plug from the drain port and drain any water from the unit. Then, run the fan for a few hours to dry any moisture.

Cons to consider

The Friedrich Zoneaire Portable Air Conditioner arrived with one of the caster wheels busted off. According to a Friedrich representative, this is covered under warranty, and they offered to replace the AC free of charge. I chose to keep the unit as the broken wheel has not affected the Zoneaire's performance, though it makes it a little harder to move it from room to room, and it wobbles when you apply significant pressure to it. If your portable air conditioner arrives damaged, call Friedrich's customer support line.

The Friedrich AC doesn't come with foam to seal any cracks between the window slider and your window. Foam seals help keep hot outside air from sneaking in. Fortunately, you can pick up adhesive insulating strips on Amazon for $5. Or, you might consider the LG portable AC I mention below, which comes with foam seals.

What are your alternatives?

At $750, the Friedrich Zoneaire is undoubtedly expensive. Another Friedrich option I tested that's about $300 cheaper is the single-hose Zoneaire (model ZCP08SA). It used less electricity, but the cooling abilities weren't as impressive. 

The top pick in our best portable air conditioner guide is the LG Dual Inverter Smart WiFi Portable Air Conditioner (LP1419IVSM). It's $200 cheaper than the dual-hose Zoneaire and impressed us with its low energy consumption and portability. It did a great job of cooling, though the Zoneaire cooled the test room by over a degree more than the LG. Read our full LG portable air conditioner review.

If your window can accommodate one, I strongly recommend buying a window air conditioner. They're much more affordable and use much less energy. Check out my article on portable air conditioners versus window air conditioners to help you decide what type of air conditioner is best for you. If a window air conditioner sounds appealing, get buying advice from our best air conditioner guide. 

Our top window AC pick is the Friedrich Chill Premier. It cooled the 650-square-foot test room 5.3 degrees in an hour and used about half as much electricity as the Friedrich Zoneaire. Plus, it's cheaper and only operates slightly louder. Read our full Friedrich Chill Premier Air Conditioner review.

The bottom line

Despite its price, I recommend the Friedrich Zoneaire as the quietest portable air conditioner. If you have the budget and can't put a window AC in your window, this is the best unit to buy for your bedroom, living room, or any other space where you need powerful and quiet cooling. It offers unparalleled cooling and smart features that help you limit energy costs.