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May 30, 2008
Portable Air Conditioners
Does anyone have an opinion about portable air conditioners. We have a top floor room which has only one window. We've used a window unit the past few years, but we we do so we lose use of the window. I don't know how effective the portable units are?
Comments
You have to provide for drainage for condensate for the portable units but there are several on the market that are supposed to work well. I've heard that Delongis are good.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:49 PM
They work but the effective btu rating is probably 30 to 40% less than a window unit
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:03 PM
Use as last resort, by definition they cannot work efficiently, since some of your conditioned air is pumped out to cool the coils and obviously hot air from somewhere is replacing it. Also noisy because the entire unit is in the room.
Maybe if you place in closet with an outside air source....
Posted by: cmu at May 30, 2008 1:03 PM
Make sure you can drain well or that the machine has a large tank. Got one of the earlier models in 2005 and it's better as a dehumidifier than actually cooling a room.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:05 PM
we have one in our bedroom taht we have had for 4 years now - it works fine but not as good as a window unit
I bought a maytag and it doesnt drain out - you have to dump the drain container at the start of the season -which is very easy
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:09 PM
I bought a Sharp portable AC unit from Home Depot last year. (Can't remember model name/number). Cost about $499, easy to drain, runs quietly. The unit collects the water and will notify you when it needs draining. Drain in about 30 seconds at the press of a button. Worked great last year.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:31 PM
As tragic as it is to sacrifice a window, the window mounted ACs are much much better. We had a portable unit in our bedroom last summer because the bars outside our window are too close and it's kind of a drag.
First of all, the heat that is produced is directed out the window via a tube and you feel it. So it's this constant battle between the heat the ac is creating and the cool are it is trying to pump out.
Also, the moisture that it draws from the air is pooled in a reservoir that has to be emptied, usually at least once a night if not more during the dog days.
You may feel like you'd rather give up floor space (within 8 feet of your window) than window space, but they're not exactly small objects.
Finally, I hear they're less energy efficient.
Of course, you could also skip the whole ac thing and get a fan, but that may be too tropical for your tastes.
Good luck!
Posted by: henrystreet at May 30, 2008 4:13 PM
I use a DiLongi in my kitchen. The damn thing cost over $1000 and is only marginally effective. However, it works great when i roll it into my tiny darkroom.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 30, 2008 4:38 PM
Op Here,
Thanks for all your comments. Sounds like we may just stick with the window unit. The thing I dislike is that once we put the AC in the window, we can't use the window anymore. So, we start using the AC more, even on nights we might otherwise be just fine with a window open.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at May 30, 2008 5:01 PM
Boerum Hill, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT go for the portable unit. I researched the hell out of them and then I got one last year so I could remove my window unit and: 1) it is a monstrosity - even though I got one of the most advanced, pricey models and 2) it was completely inefficient - even though I got one of the most powerful models (i.e., 18,000 BTU I believe). I went through hell after that trying to return it. Stick with the window unit, it's far better!! I would never ever consider getting a portable unit again.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 5:27 PM
You cn make a simple frame for your ac and still be able to crack the window when you need to.
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:19 PM
Right, 6:19. Or, you can open the window from the top!
Posted by: denton at May 30, 2008 6:55 PM
Some AC's have a ventilation only choice, that actually draws in air from the outside. Most though simply recirculate the air in the room. The first one would help some at times you don't really need the AC...
Thanks for the post, I was about to ask the same question!
Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:56 PM
the bottom floor of this brownstone is slightly below ground level so the windows are small and there isn't much light. Having window AC isn't really an option. I was thinking of getting pricey $500 portable AC units for the rooms but after reading through this i think will just try to find some nice looking fans
Posted by: reno911 at May 31, 2008 12:01 AM
If you don't need more than 7000 btu, which might be ok for a lower level bedroom, check out LG/Kenmore "low profile" units which are only 12" high instead of 16-18. Makes a big visual and light difference. Gets good reviews too
Posted by: cmu at May 31, 2008 10:16 AM
We have "low profile" AC's even though we have big windows, just because we wanted them to be just that, low profile and not as bulky. I wanted the LG but they were sold out everywhere.
For rooms in the house where there are small windows, you could do a Split AC system just in those rooms. The big unit you have to hang on the wall isn't pretty but it won't block the window then.
Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 10:16 AM
Am I the only one who loves the Sharp CV-10MH Portable AC? Room is 12 x 12 and plenty of cooling, has movable vents, remote, water evaporates, never had to drain it. Bought May 2007. Half the weight of others, and very quiet.
Posted by: guest at June 10, 2008 2:09 PM
Nope. I own Sharp CV-10MH too that I bought june 07, And I love it as well. It dose a pretty good job cooling my relatively big attic bedroom, So long as I turn it on early enough. Brings the temp down to around 80*f as opposed to 140*f.
Posted by: Appule at June 12, 2008 6:45 AM
I have a Sharp CV-10MH Portable AC which is suddenly making a "rattling" noise every time the compressor comes on. Anyone have any ideas? It is one year old.
Posted by: guest at June 12, 2008 5:42 PM
Don't know what to do about that. Mine doesn't make any strange noises. Is it loud? Hopefully nothing is wrong with it.
Posted by: Appule at June 12, 2008 7:33 PM
Portable Air Conditioners work great. Make sure you understand that you still need to exhaust the hot air from your space to the outdoors -- this means you will still be using a window. Good luck.
http://store.h-mac.com/suwapoaircof.html
Posted by: guest at June 13, 2008 5:20 PM
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