What size room does the GE APHS08W +RAP04 cool?

8,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 250 to 350 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 225-315 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 GE APHS08W +RAP04 use, and what does it cost to run?

About 1096 watts at full power (8,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 7.3), roughly 9.5 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $148, which is $0 less than the typical certified 8,000 BTU portable unit ($148). Its CEER beats 42% of the 710 certified models in its size class.

Why does the GE APHS08W +RAP04 have two hoses?

One hose brings outdoor air in to cool the condenser, the other sends the heat out, so no cooled room air is wasted. 8% of the certified 8,000 BTU models have two hoses, and at 7.3 CEER this one is above their 7.3 median.

Do I have to empty the GE APHS08W +RAP04?

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 GE APHS08W +RAP04 also heat the room?

No, it only cools. 146 of the 710 certified 8,000 BTU portable models can also heat if you want one unit for the year.

Is the GE APHS08W +RAP04 as efficient as a window air conditioner?

No. The 30 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 8,000 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 7.3 here, and the best reach 17.0. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $72, $76 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.

8,000 BTU (SACC) dual-hose portable air conditioner

GE APHS08W +RAP04

Average efficiency for its size: a CEER of 7.3 beats 42% of the certified 8,000 BTU portable air conditioners.

The GE APHS08W +RAP04 delivers 8,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC), enough for about 250-350 sq ft, draws about 1096 watts and costs about $148 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices. A window unit that cools as much costs about $72 a year.

CEER: 7.3 Combined efficiency, higher is better
Average · beats 42%
Real cooling: 8,000 BTU/h (SACC)For about 250-350 sq ft
Energy use: 822 kWh/yrAbout 1096 W, at 750 hours a year
Design: Two hoses Draws outdoor air for its condenser

A good fit if…

You want the better cooling design - with two hoses it does not pull warm outdoor air into the room to replace what it exhausts.
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…

You also need heat - it cools only.

Calculate my running cost Check the size for my room

Details

Certified ratings8,000 BTU SACC, 7.3 CEER

Performance
Real cooling capacity (SACC)Seasonally adjusted cooling capacity: what the unit delivers in the DOE test, after the heat it lets back in	8,000 BTU/h
CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power	7.3
Power drawSACC divided by CEER	About 1096 W
Yearly energy use750 hours of cooling a year	822 kWh
Design
Hose design	Dual-duct (two hoses)
Heating	No, cooling only
Compressor	Not reported
Water removal	Self-evaporating (exhausts the water through the hose)
Certification
Certified model numbers	1 (1 basic model)
Brands	1
Size class	8,000 BTU

Model numbers with these ratings1 from 1 brand

These model numbers are certified with the same capacity, efficiency, hose design, heating, drain type and compressor as the GE APHS08W +RAP04.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.

GEAPHS08W +RAP04

How it compares with the other 8,000 BTU portable units23 rating profiles

CEER (class median 7.3)7.3, tied with 5 other profiles
Yearly cost vs. class median ($148)about the same
Efficiency rank among 23 rating profiles#13
Models in the class with two hoses8%
Window units with similar cooling (median CEER 15.0)$72 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$19-$296

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

City	Hours	¢/kWh	Per year	Window unit
Phoenix, AZ	1675	15.5	$284	$138
Houston, TX	1400	16.0	$245	$119
Miami, FL	1750	15.4	$296	$144
Atlanta, GA	775	15.1	$128	$62
New York, NY	525	28.4	$163	$79
Chicago, IL	475	19.0	$99	$48
Denver, CO	350	16.6	$63	$31
Seattle, WA	125	14.2	$19	$9

Ranked around it in the 8,000 BTU class#13 of 23

#	Model	BTU (SACC)	CEER	Per year
10	8,250 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.6 CEER	8,250	7.6	$147
11	8,250 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.6 CEER	8,250	7.6	$147
12	Gasbye CoolPrime 8000-B	8,300	7.3	$154
13	GE APHS08W +RAP04	8,000	7.3	$148
14	8,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.3 CEER	8,000	7.3	$148
15	8,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.3 CEER	8,000	7.3	$148
16	LG LP0825WFR	8,000	7.3	$148

Questions6

What size room does the GE APHS08W +RAP04 cool?: 8,000 BTU of real cooling (SACC) suits about 250 to 350 sq ft with normal sun and two people (about 225-315 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 GE APHS08W +RAP04 use, and what does it cost to run?: About 1096 watts at full power (8,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 7.3), roughly 9.5 amps if it runs on 115 V. At 750 hours a year and 18.0¢/kWh that is about $148, which is $0 less than the typical certified 8,000 BTU portable unit ($148). Its CEER beats 42% of the 710 certified models in its size class.
Why does the GE APHS08W +RAP04 have two hoses?: One hose brings outdoor air in to cool the condenser, the other sends the heat out, so no cooled room air is wasted. 8% of the certified 8,000 BTU models have two hoses, and at 7.3 CEER this one is above their 7.3 median.
Do I have to empty the GE APHS08W +RAP04?: 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 GE APHS08W +RAP04 also heat the room?: No, it only cools. 146 of the 710 certified 8,000 BTU portable models can also heat if you want one unit for the year.
Is the GE APHS08W +RAP04 as efficient as a window air conditioner?: No. The 30 ENERGY STAR certified window units that cool about as much (within 15% of 8,000 BTU) have a median CEER of 15.0, against 7.3 here, and the best reach 17.0. At 750 hours a year a window unit with that median would cost about $72, $76 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.

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 GE APHS08W +RAP04

Cooling capacity BTU/hCEER efficiency, higher is better

2. How you use it

StateElectricity ¢ per kWhHours a day at full powerDays a year from your state's climate

Per year: $231
Per month of use: $42
Per day: $1.40
Per hour: 17.5¢
Power draw: 1096 W

Electricity used: 1,447 kWh a yearAn old 9 CEER unit of the same size would cost $188

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 GE APHS08W +RAP04.

Model	CEER	Compared with this one
LG LP0825WFR	7.3	same CEER, single-hose, bucket
8,000 BTU single-hose portable AC with heat, 7.3 CEER	7.3	same CEER, single-hose, also heats
AUX APACM08V1	7.2	0.1 CEER lower, single-hose, gravity drain
8,000 BTU single-hose portable AC, 7.3 CEER	7.3	same CEER, single-hose
Gasbye CoolPrime 8000-B	7.3	same CEER, 300 BTU more cooling

See all 23 8,000 BTU 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.