We Tried It: The Chillwell 2.0 Portable Air Cooler
Is the Chillwell a replacement for your window air conditioner?
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Heatwaves in 2024 have been relentless, with many states having record-setting triple digit temperatures for days at a time. With window AC units and portable air conditioners costing anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to over $1,000, it’s tempting to look for a cheaper alternative to keep your home cool in the summer months. The makers of the Chillwell 2.0 Portable Air Cooler say that this small unit can cool whole rooms in your home for a fraction of the price, but is it too good to be true?
I tested the Chillwell 2.0 in our lab and at home to see if it is worth its $90 price.
How the Chillwell Portable Air Cooler Works
The Chillwell works as most evaporative air coolers do, by blowing air from a small fan inside the unit through a wet cooling cartridge (a water-soaked, honeycomb-shaped pad included with the unit) and reservoir of cold water. You can add ice to the tank, too, but I found that doing so created some condensation under the unit and didn’t really make the air blowing on me any cooler.