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5,150 BTU (SACC) single-hose portable air conditioner

Whirlpool WHNP051AW

Below average efficiency for its size: a CEER of 6.2 beats 33% of the certified 5,000 BTU or less portable air conditioners.

The Whirlpool WHNP051AW delivers 5,150 BTU of real cooling (SACC), enough for about 100-150 sq ft, draws about 831 watts and costs about $112 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices. A window unit that cools as much costs about $51 a year.

CEER
6.2 Combined efficiency, higher is better
Below average · beats 33%
Real cooling
5,150 BTU/h (SACC)For about 100-150 sq ft
Energy use
623 kWh/yrAbout 831 W, at 750 hours a year
Design
One hose Uses room air for its condenser

A good fit if…

  • You do not want to empty a bucket - it evaporates the water and sends it out through the hose in normal weather.

Think twice if…

  • Running cost matters most - its CEER is below average for 5,000 BTU or less portable air conditioners.
  • You want the most efficient design - one-hose units pull warm air in through gaps; dual-hose units lead the efficiency ranks.
  • You also need heat - it cools only.
  • You need to cool more than a very small room - this size covers about 100-150 sq ft at most.

Calculate my running costCheck the size for my room

Details

Certified ratings5,150 BTU SACC, 6.2 CEER
Performance
Real cooling capacity (SACC)Seasonally adjusted cooling capacity: what the unit delivers in the DOE test, after the heat it lets back in5,150 BTU/h
CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power6.2
Power drawSACC divided by CEERAbout 831 W
Yearly energy use750 hours of cooling a year623 kWh
Design
Hose designSingle-duct (one hose)
HeatingNo, cooling only
CompressorSingle speed
Water removalSelf-evaporating (exhausts the water through the hose)
Certification
Certified model numbers2 (2 basic models)
Brands2
Size class5,000 BTU and under
Model numbers with these ratings2 from 2 brands

These model numbers are certified with the same capacity, efficiency, hose design, heating, drain type and compressor as the Whirlpool WHNP051AW.They may be the same unit sold under several brands, or different products that test the same: the DOE data has no dimensions or noise figures, so check those with the maker. Ratings within about 2% in capacity and 0.3 in CEER are treated as the same; a model whose own rating differs a little shows it in brackets.

How it compares with the other 5,000 BTU or less portable units19 rating profiles
  • CEER (class median 6.2)6.2, tied with 3 other profiles
  • Yearly cost vs. class median ($109)$3 more
  • Efficiency rank among 19 rating profiles#10
  • Models in the class with two hoses0%
  • Window units with similar cooling (median CEER 13.7)$51 a year

Compared with every DOE-certified portable unit in the same size class (SACC). Each model number counts once. Yearly cost at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.

Yearly running cost by city$15-$224

This unit at each city's cooling hours and state electricity price, against a window unit that cools as much.

CityHours¢/kWhPer yearWindow unit
Phoenix, AZ167515.5$215$97
Houston, TX140016.0$186$84
Miami, FL175015.4$224$101
Atlanta, GA77515.1$97$44
New York, NY52528.4$124$56
Chicago, IL47519.0$75$34
Denver, CO35016.6$48$22
Seattle, WA12514.2$15$7
Ranked around it in the 5,000 BTU and under class#10 of 19
#ModelBTU (SACC)CEERPer year
7Frigidaire FHPC082AC15,5006.3$118
8NINGPU NPP-05H/X1E5,0006.3$107
9BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT5,3006.2$116
10Whirlpool WHNP051AW5,1506.2$112
115,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 6.2 CEER5,0006.2$109
12GARVEE KY-8K/07E4,7506.2$104
135,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, gravity drain, 6.1 CEER5,0006.1$111
Questions7
What size room does the Whirlpool WHNP051AW cool?
5,150 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 100 to 150 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 90-135 sq ft if very sunny), by the ENERGY STAR floor-area table. Size by SACC, not the larger BTU on the box.
How many watts does the Whirlpool WHNP051AW use, and what does it cost to run?
About 831 watts at full power (5,150 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 6.2), roughly 7.2 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $112, which is $3 more than the typical certified 5,000 BTU or less portable unit ($109). Its CEER beats 33% of the 461 certified models in its size class.
Is a one-hose portable air conditioner a problem?
It is the common design: 100% of the certified 5,000 BTU or less models have one hose, with a median of 6.2 CEER. The top-ranked Foshan Hanyang HYAC-TG7 reaches 13.4 CEER.
Do I have to empty the Whirlpool WHNP051AW?
Usually not. It evaporates the water it removes and sends it out through the exhaust hose. In very humid weather the pan can still fill, and most units then stop and ask to be drained, so keep a drain hose or a bucket handy.
Can the Whirlpool WHNP051AW also heat the room?
No, it only cools. 6 of the 461 certified 5,000 BTU or less portable models can also heat if you want one unit for the year.
Is the Whirlpool WHNP051AW as efficient as a window air conditioner?
No. The 3 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 5,150 BTU) have a median CEER of 13.7, against 6.2 here, and the best reach 14.4. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $51, $62 less than this one. ENERGY STAR window units are the more efficient part of the window market, so the gap to an average window unit is smaller. A portable unit makes sense when a window unit will not fit or is not allowed.
Which model numbers have the same ratings as the Whirlpool WHNP051AW?
2 certified model numbers from 2 brands share these ratings: capacity, CEER, hose design, heating, drain type and compressor. They may be the same unit under different brands, or different products that test the same; the DOE data does not include dimensions or noise, so check those with the maker. The full list is on this page.

Running cost calculator

Pre-filled with these ratings. Pick your state and how many hours you run it, or see what portable units cost to run in every state.

1. The air conditioner Whirlpool WHNP051AW
2. How you use it
Per year
$175
Per month of use
$32
Per day
$1.06
Per hour
13.3¢
Power draw
831 W

Electricity used: 1,096 kWh a yearAn old 9 CEER unit of the same size would cost $121

Power draw is capacity divided by CEER, which already includes standby power. Inverter units often run below full power, so real use can be lower. Electricity prices: U.S. EIA residential averages (12 months to July 2026). Days a year start from your state's cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

Closest alternatives

Rating profiles with a similar CEER in the same size class, and what sets each one apart from the Whirlpool WHNP051AW.

ModelCEERCompared with this one
BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT6.2same CEER, 150 BTU more cooling
NINGPU NPP-05H/X1E6.30.1 CEER higher, 150 BTU less cooling, also heats
5,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, gravity drain, 6.1 CEER6.10.1 CEER lower, 150 BTU less cooling, gravity drain
LG LP0524WFR6.10.1 CEER lower, 150 BTU less cooling, inverter
5,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 6.2 CEER6.2same CEER, 150 BTU less cooling

See all 19 5,000 BTU or less portable air conditioners, ranked

Before you buy

The Department of Energy lists every certified model, including some no longer sold: check availability before you buy. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Compliance Certification Database (portable air conditioners), updated 2026-10-14. How we use the data.