Portable air conditioner guide
Dreo Smart Air Conditioner 318S (DR-HAC008S), White
A room within Dreo's stated coverage (150 sq ft on its site menu, 100 sq ft on the listing) with a hung or sliding window 18 to 53 inches wide
A portable AC with 8,000 BTU ASHRAE and 5,000 BTU SACC ratings, with Cool, Fan Only and Dry modes, Sleep and ECO functions, app and voice control, and a self-evaporating design. It needs a drain hose in Dry mode and can still stop with a P1 code when its tray fills.
Listing checked . Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Published specifications
- Maker: 8,000 BTU ASHRAE 128 / 5,000 BTU SACC-DOE; SEER 6.1
- Maker: 45 dB at lowest setting; 115 V; 55 lb
- Maker: 15.16 x 13.98 x 24.8 in (D x W x H)
- Manual: window kit 18-53 in; 6.5 ft exhaust hose; 115 V/60 Hz
- Manual: Cool 61-86 F; Dry 30-80% RH; timer up to 12 h
- Manual: 12 in clearance all round; 12-month warranty
Fit and limits
Strengths
- Self-evaporating design whose tank the manual expects to fill only in high humidity
- Dry mode with a set humidity target, plus Sleep and ECO functions
- Window kit range of 18 to 53 inches for hung or sliding windows
Caveats
- Dry mode needs a drain hose led to a drain lower than the unit
- Coverage figures differ: 150 sq ft on Dreo's site menu, 100 sq ft on the listing
- The manual is an image-only PDF shared with the AC319S
Two BTU figures for one small-room unit
Dreo's specification list for the 318S gives a cooling capacity of 8,000 BTU under ASHRAE 128 and 5,000 BTU under SACC/DOE. The listing gives the same pair, along with a SEER figure of 6.1 that also appears on Dreo's page.
Coverage figures differ between sources. Dreo's site menu describes the 318S as 8,000 BTU, 14 ft and 150 square feet of coverage, while the listing's details table gives a floor area of 100 square feet. Dreo's specification list does not give a room size.
The manual covers two models, the AC318S and AC319S, under model numbers DR-HAC008S and DR-HAC009S, and its specification table gives 115 volts at 60 Hz and R32 refrigerant. The listing adds 1,040 watts, which neither Dreo's page nor the manual prints. The manual is an image-only scan that we read with text recognition, so check any manual figure you rely on against the printed page.
Self-evaporating, with a hose for Dry mode
The listing says the unit evaporates excess water automatically, with no drainage needed in environments under 90% humidity, and that the included drain hose is needed above that. The manual puts it more loosely: the built-in evaporator means the water compartment is not expected to fill unless the room is highly humid.
When the tray fills, the manual lists a P1 code, and it describes draining through the bottom drain cap into a drip pan that is not included, with the unit placed higher than the pan.
Dry mode is different. The manual says a drain hose is needed on the main drain outlet in Dry mode, for continuous drainage into a drain lower than the unit. For Cool and ECO use it recommends keeping the drain cap on.
Cool, Fan and Dry, plus Sleep and ECO
Cool mode runs from 61 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, with Low, Mid, High and Auto fan speeds. In Dry mode the manual gives a humidity target from 30% to 80% in 5% steps, a default of 60%, and automatic fan speed.
Sleep works only in Cool mode. It turns off the beeps and the display, reduces the louver swing, raises the target by 2 degrees Fahrenheit every hour up to 86, and switches itself off after 8 hours. ECO also works only when cooling, with savings options chosen through the Dreo app.
The manual also covers a timer that the control-panel page gives as 0 to 12 hours and the features page as 1 to 12 hours, a memory of previous settings except the timer, a child lock shown as LC, and a remote meant for use within 26 feet. The listing mentions voice control through Siri, Alexa and Google Home.
A window kit for 18 to 53 inches
The manual gives the window kit's standard range as 18 inches minimum and 53 inches maximum, for hung or sliding windows, and says to contact Dreo support for openings wider than 53 inches. It allows panel A to be cut down for openings under 18 inches. The listing gives a compatibility range of 17 to 53 inches.
The manual's accessory page lists an exhaust hose of 6.5 feet, a window panel and extension pieces, foam seals, a butterfly bolt, a drain hose and the remote control. The listing says a drain hose is included for use above 90 percent humidity.
The manual asks for the unit to stand upright for at least six hours before its first use. Dreo's page lists the unit at 55 pounds and 15.16 by 13.98 by 24.8 inches, and the listing repeats the same weight and dimensions.
A foot of space and no extension cord
The manual asks for an air path of at least 12 inches all around the unit and nothing placed on top. It rules out wet rooms, including use near a bathtub or shower, and areas where the air holds combustible gases or oily or sulphurous fumes.
The manual says not to cut or remove the grounding prong and not to use an adapter or an extension cord, and it says a loose-fitting plug should not be used. The switch on the control panel, not the plug, is meant for starting and stopping the unit.
The cord has an LCDI plug, and the manual asks for it to be tested before each use; the steps are in the manual. If the cord is damaged, the manual says it cannot be repaired and must be replaced with one from the manufacturer.
Filters every two months, and a 12-month warranty
The manual asks for the filter to be cleaned at least once every two months. The outer case is cleaned with a damp, lint-free cloth and a mild detergent; flammable liquids and chemicals are ruled out.
Error codes E0, E1 and E2 are listed as reasons to contact customer service. If the indoor temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or ice forms, the troubleshooting table points to Fan Only mode.
The manual gives a 12-month Dreo warranty, which it says can be extended at dreo.com/warranty. It excludes accidents, misuse, unauthorised repairs, commercial use and normal wear, and says Dreo can only provide after-sales service for units sold by Dreo or its authorised sellers.
Check the current listing
Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.
Primary sources
- Dreo product page for the Smart Air Conditioner 318S
- Dreo AC318S/AC319S user manual (DR-HAC008S/DR-HAC009S), linked from the listing (PDF)
Primary sources checked .
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