Portable AC questions

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I live in what used to be a traditional railway apartment. The room I have my computer in (what I call my "middle room") gets extremely hot in the summer despite a ceiling fan. (It can get above 100 degrees in here.) So I was thinking of getting a portable AC unit.

Has anyone had experience with them? Any good reviews for a particular brand?

[damainer]

R you talking about an AC that goes out your window. These work great. Also if you live in an area where you have humid heat, a dehumidifier will drop the temperature quite a bit.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

R you talking about an AC that goes out your window. These work great. Also if you live in an area where you have humid heat, a dehumidifier will drop the temperature quite a bit.

From what I've read on-line about the units (gigetty) I'm looking at, these are portable ACs (with wheels) that have built- in dehumidifiers that I wouldn't have to empty.

I did notice that each unit offers a "window" kit with an exhaust hose. I'm not sure what that means, but I do have two windows in my "middle room" that look out onto a brick shaft (gigetty). So if I need them it won't be much of a bother.

I just can't stand another hot summer in here.

[Tall_James]

I'm sure you wouldn't mind the Long Hot Summer if you could pass the time with Paul Weller.

http://www.pure80spop.co.uk/Images/poppics/paulweller.jpg

[PapaBear]

The exhaust hose is how the water gets out, I believe.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

That's unfair Jim.

And yeah, I wouldn't mind. :wink:

[damainer]

I use two GE window AC. These fit in your window, are very easy to install, but they do drip a little bit out the window so if you have something below you that you do not want a little drippage falling on then you wouldnt want this type. A floor style unit I am sure would work great but I would think you would need to empty it every so often. All an AC really does is pull moisture out of the air. a 5500 unit cools one room very well.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

The exhaust hose is how the water gets out, I believe.

If that's the case then I will gladly buy a portable AC, given that I have two useless windows.

My one "splurge" for the year. I'm getting too old not to have AC in the hottest room in my house. I can't believe I lived without AC in my car until 2002!

[Bob Impact]

If that's the case then I will gladly buy a portable AC, given that I have two useless windows.

My one "splurge" for the year. I'm getting too old not to have AC in the hottest room in my house. I can't believe I lived without AC in my car until 2002!

Do you have any room you can fit a window unit in? I would guess that using an energy star unit that is slightly oversized for the room its in will be cheaper and more efficient than a portable.

[jauble]

Portable Marc with A C costs more than I have heard. Something about him huffing freon. Gvac mobile does have a built in fan.

[PapaBear]

I do have two windows in my "middle room" that look out onto a brick shaft
I'm not sure what you mean by a "brick shaft". If you mean the windows have "obstructed view", but there is still fresh air (e.g. There is space between your building and your neighbor's building), then you should buy a window unit. A window unit will give you more than enough cooling power, and will be more energy efficient. It will probably be less expensive to buy, too. You can probably find one for under $90.

If the window opens to an actual "shaft", and has no access to open air, then you should probably buy a portable unit, and run the exhaust hose out your window.

Side note: I didn't do any actual "research" for this post. I'm just thinking off the top of my head, since I've never actually seen a portable AC unit. If my advice is wrong, blame the rum and Diet Coke. If I'm right, credit the rum and Diet Coke.:drunk:

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

The windows are both less than a foot wide. Like I said, they are useless. And the shaft way is like a big brick chimney. I've never used them for ventilation out of the sheer fact I'm afraid of bugs and perhaps bats.

I'm willing to spend $500 for a portable AC unit, plus the additional PSE&G charges. From what I've read, it's a contained unit that I don't have to worry about dumping water.

I'm just wondering if anyone who's had one can tell me about it and what I should look out for.

[angrymissy]

I think the windows are not regular windows that you can pop an AC unit into.

My brothers bedroom has one of those types of windows and his portable AC works fine. His rolls around on wheels too, so if you decide to use it in another room, you just roll it over. Do the windows slide up and down or tilt out? You need to have that exhaust hose (giggity) sealed up against the window to keep the hot air out and the cold air in.

[Thebazile78]

Hey, Slate did a review on portable A/C units not long ago:

http://www.slate.com/id/2171781/

I use their product reviews all the time.

Matty & I registered for the iron and roasting pan they rated best in the testing articles they wrote about irons and roasting pans. I've been drooling over Dyson vacuums since they rated vacuums. (I know, I have no life.)

Incidentally, the iron we registered for and received as a wedding gift is now my favorite small appliance. It's the best iron ever. (To put it bluntly, I fucking hate ironing, but this stupid appliance makes it soooooo easy and virtually foolproof.)

[MagillaGorillaz]

I work for a place that rhymes with Rome Repo. The portable AC units go quick when we get them in. They should be coming in in the next few weeks. They are about 500 bucks. The cool thing is they are on wheels. If you have casement windows the portable is the way to go.