Model comparison
Honeywell HJ CES vs HES: heating, cooling and drainage
The Honeywell HJ Contempo family includes both cooling-only CES models and heat-pump HES models. The last letters are not decoration: the exact U.S. HJ0HESWK7, HJ2HESWK8 and HJ5HESWK0 pages describe heating, while HJ4CESWK9 is a cooling-only example. The shared U.S. owner manual names all seven HJ codes and separates the heat-mode instructions from ordinary cooling. This guide is for comparing those real operating differences, not treating the entire HJ name as one configuration.
Compare the verified HJ HES choices
| Exact model | Cooling figure on exact page | Maker’s room estimate | Heat mode | Dehumidifying claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJ0HESWK7 | 10,000 ASHRAE / 7,100 SACC | Up to 450 sq ft | Yes; heat-pump operation | Up to 65 pints/day |
| HJ2HESWK8 | 12,000 ASHRAE / 8,050 SACC | Up to 550 sq ft | Yes; heat-pump operation | Up to 78 pints/day |
| HJ5HESWK0 | 15,000 ASHRAE / 10,800 SACC | Up to 775 sq ft | Yes; heat-pump operation | Up to 100 pints/day |
| HJ4CESWK9 | 14,000 ASHRAE / 9,300 SACC | Up to 700 sq ft | No; cooling-only CES model | Up to 90 pints/day |
These are manufacturer listings and estimates, not controlled room-performance comparisons. For U.S. portable AC shopping, compare SACC to SACC rather than comparing a 15,000-BTU ASHRAE headline with a 10,000-BTU SACC requirement. In this group, HJ0HESWK7 clears 7,100 SACC but not 8,000; HJ2HESWK8 clears 8,000 but not 10,000; HJ5HESWK0 clears 10,000 but not 12,000; and HJ4CESWK9 clears 8,000 but not 10,000. The estimated room area can help screen options, but sunlight, ceiling height, air leakage and open doorways affect the load.
Heat mode changes water handling
Heat mode is not just another temperature setting. The manual says the heat pump collects water in the internal tank; when full, the unit pauses until the tank is emptied. A continuous drain hose cannot be used while heating. Honeywell recommends heat mode in a room at 50% relative humidity or lower and warns against adding moisture with a kettle or humidifier. Heating activates only below 77°F ambient and the temperature setting spans 61–88°F; the manual does not state a lower operating boundary. If you need a guaranteed cold-weather minimum or a drain hose running during heat, these documents do not establish that requirement.
The Dry mode routine differs again. The manual recommends continuous gravity drainage if the unit will mainly dehumidify, but says this mode should not be expected to perform like a dedicated dehumidifier. There is no humidity percentage target or humidity display. In cooling, condensate is normally carried out by the exhaust, though high humidity may fill the internal tray; the manual discourages continuous drainage while cooling is running because efficiency may fall. A product being listed for 65, 78, 90 or 100 pints/day does not turn its Dry mode into a setpoint-controlled dehumidifier.
Plan the hose and window before choosing
The exact family manual calls for one 5.9-inch hose, 10.23–47 inches long, and at least 20 inches of clearance behind the unit. Do not lengthen or replace the hose, and avoid a sharp bend. The assembled sliding-window panel range is 28.9–38.2 inches. One generic page FAQ mentions a 19.7-inch panel piece, but the full A+B installation is narrower than that single component; use the model-named manual’s 28.9-inch assembled minimum when measuring. All four listed pages describe the HJ body as 18.9 by 15.4 by 30.7 inches. The product-page 75- or 79-pound numbers are shipping weights, not verified net cabinet weights.
All four models are marked discontinued on their exact Honeywell Store listings. If you are evaluating a used or old-stock unit, verify the nameplate suffix, the remote and installation pieces, condition of the exhaust hose, return terms and what warranty—if any—the seller actually provides. The CES/HES distinction is especially important for someone who needs heat: a cooling-only HJ4CESWK9 does not satisfy that request, while the HES choices do add heat but require the tank check described above. Choose by the operating plan and the published rating, not the largest number on the cabinet or the family name.