[Costco] Danby 12,000 BTU air conditioner discussion - Page 158 - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (2024)

darkspider wrote: ↑What’s error PC 02?

I don't recall PC02 error on this thread.
There's been alot of P2, means lower drain pan is full.

I bought the 14,000 BTU unit for $420 online after seeing this thread: danby-14000-btu-air-conditioner-419-99- ... e-2485964/

It's cold here, but I saw people had issues with these units in particular so I figured I should test it... and sure enough, it's garbage. It immediately started making an increasingly loud banging sound, shaking violently and after I turned it off it sounded like plastic bits were spraying inside.

Has anyone figured out what's causing these to fail? I have the 12,000 unit and they look almost identical except for the colour, and that one had no problems at all.

Does anyone have experience with doing returns for delivered items from Costco? Is there a way for me to avoid having to drag this monstrosity back in?

I thought I was being clever for getting it at a discount compared to the $480 I paid for the 12,000 unit and I'm regretting all this extra pain now.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

ArchZeratul wrote: ↑I bought the 14,000 BTU unit for $420 online after seeing this thread: danby-14000-btu-air-conditioner-419-99- ... e-2485964/

It's cold here, but I saw people had issues with these units in particular so I figured I should test it... and sure enough, it's garbage. It immediately started making an increasingly loud banging sound, shaking violently and after I turned it off it sounded like plastic bits were spraying inside.

Has anyone figured out what's causing these to fail? I have the 12,000 unit and they look almost identical except for the colour, and that one had no problems at all.

Does anyone have experience with doing returns for delivered items from Costco? Is there a way for me to avoid having to drag this monstrosity back in?

I thought I was being clever for getting it at a discount compared to the $480 I paid for the 12,000 unit and I'm regretting all this extra pain now.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

Unfortunately you draw a short straw. It's been discussed in this long thread. Many units were sold. Some were OK, some have a problem with the plastic rotary fan that's wobbly/breaks in pieces.

Contact Costco for a return. You don't have to bring it back to a store if you ordered online.

Temporel wrote: ↑Unfortunately you draw a short straw. It's been discussed in this long thread. Many units were sold. Some were OK, some have a problem with the plastic rotary fan that's wobbly/breaks in pieces.

Contact Costco for a return.

Do you know if they do exchanges considering the sale price is over? Is it even worth a try or do I have to be lucky to even get a good one?

ArchZeratul wrote: ↑Do you know if they do exchanges considering the sale price is over? Is it even worth a try?

If I were you, I would first check my local stores to see if they have any stock left. Some people reported they are liquidating at $300. If they have stock, I would carefully chose a box that seems unopened (straps intact) and I would let Costco pick up the one ordered online for a refund.

If they don't have stock locally, it's the luck of the draw if you want to order another one online.

Maybe ask Costco because you are going to have to call them anyway for the return.

Just updating my situation in case anyone is still reading.

I called the lower mainland stores to see if they have any units on clearance, but it seems they are all out for the season until next spring. I'm not sure if I'm late or there just never were any, it looks like there were some in Alberta based on what another RFDer said.

It's not as hot as $300 on clearance, but I got one for $530 - $100. It was a dud so I requested an exchange by calling in, it looks like I should keep the same price and not have to carry this heavy piece of garbage to the store.

For anyone who bought some for next season, I highly recommend you at least set it up to turn it on, if not run it for a few hours. Mine died violently as soon as I powered it on so I didn't have to freeze my place just to test it.

ArchZeratul wrote: ↑As an aside, does anyone have experience in comparing the 12,000 BTU to the 14,000 BTU? I'm saving $80 by returning the 12k for the discounted 14k, but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the effort and if the 14k units are just built less reliably.

I'm not sure but if IIRC, the 12,000 BTU does not have the new inverter technology? (less efficacious)

To say that you have zero chance of getting a second 14,000 BTU dud would be dishonest. But you have to take into consideration that there are a LOT of people who bought that unit with zero problem. Those tend NOT to post about it. I followed the thread from the beginning and let me tell you that during the heat wave in the West earlier, Costco could not keep that item in stock. There were, re-stock, after re-stock, after re-stock. Hundreds of units each time were sold in a few hours @ $519 a pop! That's online, there were also many in store, by the skid load! They must have sold many thousand"S" of units. Admittedly, the Quality Control was low because there were maybe a dozen people who posted here all experiencing the trouble you described and not everyone is on RFD. But I'm sure Costco is aware of the high return rate and if you get a second dud, don't be shy to return it again!

If you are lucky, from what I read in the thread, it seems to be a great model, powerful, efficacious and quiet for a portable AC.

Good luck!

Temporel wrote: ↑I'm not sure but if IIRC, the 12,000 BTU does not have the new inverter technology? (less efficacious)

To say that you have zero chance of getting a second 14,000 BTU dud would be dishonest. But you have to take into consideration that there are a LOT of people who bought that unit with zero problem. Those tend NOT to post about it. I followed the thread from the beginning and let me tell you that during the heat wave in the West earlier, Costco could not keep that item in stock. There were, re-stock, after re-stock, after re-stock. Hundreds of units each time were sold in a few hours @ $519 a pop! That's online, there were also many in store, by the skid load! They must have sold many thousand"S" of units. Admittedly, the Quality Control was low because there were maybe a dozen people who posted here all experiencing the trouble you described and not everyone is on RFD. But I'm sure Costco is aware of the high return rate and if you get a second dud, don't be shy to return it again!

If you are lucky, from what I read in the thread, it seems to be a great model, powerful, efficacious and reasonably quiet for a portable AC.

Good luck!

Thanks for the quick replies again. Fingers crossed that I get lucky with the second unit and don't have to do a third! It's a relief to know that UPS will take care of all the shipping, this thing is such a pain to move around.

I was one of the poor suckers who didn't buy AC in time when there was a shortage and had to go through the first BC heat wave (42C) with just a fan and soaking wet shirts. The 12k helped a lot, but even then it wasn't cool enough during the second wave, so I'm counting on the 14k to be a bit more powerful.

Temporel wrote: ↑To say that you have zero chance of getting a second 14,000 BTU dud would be dishonest. But you have to take into consideration that there are a LOT of people who bought that unit with zero problem. Those tend NOT to post about it...

... If you are lucky, from what I read in the thread, it seems to be a great model, powerful, efficacious and quiet for a portable AC.

Good luck!

You're right, when something runs properly, most people don't need to write about it. Well here's my "it works!" story.

ArchZeratul wrote: ↑Thanks for the quick replies again. Fingers crossed that I get lucky with the second unit and don't have to do a third! It's a relief to know that UPS will take care of all the shipping, this thing is such a pain to move around.

I was one of the poor suckers who didn't buy AC in time when there was a shortage and had to go through the first BC heat wave (42C) with just a fan and soaking wet shirts. The 12k helped a lot, but even then it wasn't cool enough during the second wave, so I'm counting on the 14k to be a bit more powerful.

My 10 year old 12K unit kicked the bucket during the BC heat dome. I bought the 14,000 BTU Danby AC in store just after the first heat-dome wave. I had to call the store at the crack of dawn, arrive v. early, wait in line, etc. They were sold out before the store even opened.

Anyway, my 14K unit works like a dream. Its quiet, powerful, and I'm super happy with it.

(Sidenote: I was very careful transporting it home. I placed it away from any other objects, always kept it upright, and I waited 3 days before even plugging it in to allow any fluids to "settle".)

ArchZeratul wrote: ↑As an aside, does anyone have experience in comparing the 12,000 BTU to the 14,000 BTU? I'm saving $80 by returning the 12k for the discounted 14k, but I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the effort and if the 14k units are just built less reliably.

My experience is far back in this thread.
I bought the 12000 BTU online which was defective. The inner hose wasn't connected and blew hot air after 2 minutes.
But when the hose was standing upright it made the connection and I used a 5 inch aluminum hose to blow the exhaust out.

I posted pictures. I used a wooden window adapter that I made for my old Danby.

As soon a the 14000 BTU was in stock online I bought it and got a refund on the 12000. I managed to get UPS to deliver the 14 and pick up the 12 at the same time.

The 14000 has been great. I also got the $100 refund when the price dropped to $399.

I still use the a/c on sunny days but I removed the big window kit and use the smaller one that I made with the hose sitting upright and the 5 inch hose exhausting the hot air like the 12000 setup.

ArchZeratul wrote: ↑Just updating my situation in case anyone is still reading.

I called the lower mainland stores to see if they have any units on clearance, but it seems they are all out for the season until next spring. I'm not sure if I'm late or there just never were any, it looks like there were some in Alberta based on what another RFDer said.

It's not as hot as $300 on clearance, but I got one for $530 - $100. It was a dud so I requested an exchange by calling in, it looks like I should keep the same price and not have to carry this heavy piece of garbage to the store.

For anyone who bought some for next season, I highly recommend you at least set it up to turn it on, if not run it for a few hours. Mine died violently as soon as I powered it on so I didn't have to freeze my place just to test it.

Someone reported in a Costco thread that Burnaby Brighton had them a few weeks ago, but they were full price.

Anyone else on here buy the 12,000 BTU model?

I had two different issues with this A/C.

1. There was a noise coming from the inside of the A/C and it sounded like a fan, so I had reported this issue to Danby and they had said to stop using it as there may be bits of plastic that could fly out and hit someone. This issue eventually stopped and no noise came from it anymore.

2. The compressor stopped working and producing cold air. Granted, I had it running 24/7 almost. The thing is, it shouldn't matter if it's running 24/7 or 8 hours a day, it shouldn't break down after only using it for 4 months .

So Danby gave me a company in my city to contact, they NEVER picked-up their phone and after searching them they we're basically out of business. I informed them of this issue, then they tried to get me to find a local company of my own to take it to and have it services

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is it 299.97 yet???

No??

Alright I'll settle with 399 then

Temporel wrote: ↑Anyone saw stock anywhere lately?

Or they shipped them all back to the manufacturer?

I saw it online the other day. Price was like $10 higher than a few months ago. Now $519.99 but remember that this includes free delivery.

https://www.costco.ca/danby-14%2c000-bt ... 15465.html

I’ve been searching for a portable AC for a while. They were either out of stock or regularly priced. Costco finally got this one on sale, not a bad price for 14000 BTU. Mixed reviews but worth it a try given it’s Costco.

EDIT: I know it’s not the best time for buying an AC but you will never know what will happen to the supply chains next year.

This is a good deal. I paid 500$ for a single hose unit. This is dual hose, which by all accounts is always better.

From the reviews, though, you should probably test it upon reception to see if you have the broken rotor problem common in many of the reviews.