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  3. Test Bench 1.1

Test Bench 1.1  
Changelog

 0
By Evan JakabUpdated Sep 15, 2026 at 12:48 pm

Version 1.1 of our air conditioner testing methodology updates how we measure and score air conditioner capacity, as well as secondary performance metrics like efficiency and stability, to provide more consistent data that's more applicable to real-world circumstances.

What's Changed?

New Performance Usage Boxes

  • Capacity
  • Efficiency
  • Stability
  • Size

Updated Testing Methodology

  • Capacity
  • Efficiency When Cooling
  • Efficiency When Maintaining Temperature
  • Temperature Stability
  • Humidity Stability

Why Are We Making These Changes?

Our previous testing methodology produced performance data that varied drastically depending on ambient environmental conditions, with the previous methodology tracking performance as the tested A/C brought the temperature down to an established setpoint.

Our cold room used for version 1.0 of our testing methodology. There's a smaller 500W space heater near the center of the room.
Our cold room used for version 1.0 of our testing methodology. Notice the smaller 500W space heater near the center of the room.
Our cold room used for version 1.1 of our testing methodology. There's a larger 5600W space heater near the center of the room.
Our cold room used for version 1.1 of our testing methodology. Notice the larger 5600W space heater near the center of the room.

Our new methodology aims to rectify that by testing performance in a room-agnostic fashion, allowing us to test new A/C units at any time, regardless of temperature and humidity levels. This was done by tracking unit performance in an environment where humidity and temperature are held stable, rather than being brought down to a setpoint by the A/C itself. This difference in philosophy is reflected most clearly in the results of our 'Capacity' test:

A graph illustrating cooling capacity for the Black+Decker BPACT12HWT in version 1.0 of our test bench
A graph illustrating cooling capacity for the Black+Decker BPACT12HWT in version 1.0 of our test bench. Observe how performance is tracked as the ambient temperature inside the testing room is brought down to a setpoint.
A graph illustrating cooling capacity for the Black+Decker BPACT12HWT in version 1.1 of our test bench
A graph illustrating cooling capacity for the Black+Decker BPACT12HWT in version 1.1 of our test bench. Observe how the temperature is held at the desired setpoint at the start of the test.

This new methodology ensures that the results aren't being skewed by differing ambient conditions and allows our testers to produce consistent, repeatable results that more closely align with other independent sources across a spectrum of ambient conditions. This also pays dividends when measuring unit efficiency, particularly in the case of lower-capacity models:

A graph illustrating maintenance efficiency for the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 in version 1.0 of out test bench. The graph illustrates very rapid compressor cycling, which isn't necessarily indicative of real-world performance.
A graph illustrating maintenance efficiency for the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 in version 1.0 of our test bench. The graph illustrates very rapid compressor cycling, which isn't necessarily indicative of real-world performance.
A graph illustrating maintenance efficiency for the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 in version 1.1 of out test bench. The graph illustrates much slower compressor cycling, more representative of how the unit performs in a real-world context.
A graph illustrating maintenance efficiency for the Frigidaire FHWC054TE1 in version 1.1 of our test bench. The graph illustrates much slower compressor cycling, more representative of how the unit performs in a real-world context.

Let Us Know What You Think

If you just have suggestions to improve our A/C reviews, we encourage you to leave a comment on any page or email us at feedback@rtings.com. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without the support of users like you!

15 Air Conditioners Updated So Far

We are retesting popular models first. So far, the test results for the following models have been converted to the new testing methodology. However, the text might be inconsistent with the new results.

6 Air Conditioners Planned To Be Updated

We are also planning to retest the following products over the course of the next few weeks:

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