Perfect Aire

I've waited three months to write this review so I could be fair about my experience with HVAC Direct. As with most big-ticket orders, the price listed on their website doesn't reflect the total cost. You'll need additional accessories like line sets and electrical disconnect switch boxes, which add $400-$500 to the order.

My package arrived on time, but I was surprised when a local HVAC installer quoted five times the unit's cost for installation. As a retired handyman, I handled the electrical setup myself and completed the rest of the installation through YouTube tutorials. The real challenge came when assembling and operating the air handlers – two units that are essentially identical but come with different remote controllers.

I thought it would be easy to swap them out, but they're not interchangeable in the way you might think. Each unit has its own unique quirks, and if you mix them up, they won't work together seamlessly. For instance, using both units at once will cause one of them to shut down temporarily unless you follow a specific routine.

These air handlers can be finicky, shutting down unexpectedly when you enter too many commands too frequently. It's like they're spoiled children! To avoid this, I discovered that removing the batteries and replacing them after a minute can often get things working again (it works 9 out of 10 times).

Through trial and error, my family and I figured out the best settings for our specific needs. We learned to avoid certain modes altogether, like Super mode, FEEL, and SLEEP, which didn't seem to make much sense.

The QUIET and SLEEP MODE 4 combination has worked out well for us because it prevents the units from shutting down too quickly when they reach a set temperature. However, this also means that they can switch to fan mode and blow stale air until they need to cool again – which is annoying at night and makes you sweat.

To get through the night comfortably, we've developed a routine:

1. Set the temperature to 73 degrees.
2. Engage the low fan setting.
3. Activate the QUIET mode.
4. Use SLEEP mode 4 to keep the unit stable until we change it.

This has worked for us, but I do wish some of these settings made more sense.

As for the winter season, we switched to heat mode and encountered a problem with the Swing function not working as expected. We've tried to troubleshoot this issue, but so far, no luck. It's clear that parts are covered, but labor costs can add up quickly.

Overall, when the units work smoothly, they're reliable, quiet, and cost-effective. However, the learning curve and troubleshooting challenges have earned me a 7-star rating instead of a perfect score. The reason for this is the hassle of figuring things out – it's just not as straightforward as using a conventional AC unit where you press a button to change temperature.

I picked up this AC at my local hardware store and it's hands down the best unit I've ever had. Given the hurricane-prone area I live in, I've bought plenty of ACs over the years. The deal that sealed the deal for me was the significant price cut from Home Depot - it was a full hundred dollars cheaper.

We needed a solution to cool our loft bedroom without relying on central AC. Initially, we'd lower the entire A/C to 68 degrees, but that seemed excessive for long-term use. I opted for Perfect Aire instead, which has been a great choice - now we can set the thermostat to 62 degrees, keeping us comfortable at night. The system works well and allows the rest of the house to maintain a cozy temperature of 72 when we wake up.