Standing A/C Unit
We live in a wood frame house with a porch and would like to have a/c in our living room on the parlor floor. I’m not interested in installing a window unit for security reasons (we don’t have bars). The split a/c is not the right solution for us right now, but I am curious…
We live in a wood frame house with a porch and would like to have a/c in our living room on the parlor floor. I’m not interested in installing a window unit for security reasons (we don’t have bars). The split a/c is not the right solution for us right now, but I am curious about the free standing units. Does anyone have experience with these? Do they work well? I’d really appreciate any input about whether that is a reasonable path to pursue in our pursuit for a more comfortable environment. Thanks!
I have a free standing unit. Needs to be vented out a window. Is big and ugly. Is far less effective than window unit. Is far more expensive than a window unit. Condensation needs to be vented somewhere too (a bucket in my case that is emptied on occasion).
I agree with those that say you can make a window unit as secure as a window without a unit. The noise and commotion associated with removing the AC from the outside surely matches the noise and commotion of just taking a hammer to a window.
This article from Slate is a few years old but might be useful:
http://www.slate.com/id/2171781
If you screw the a/c to the wood frame all round and replace the plastic side screens with heavy plexi that’s also screwed to the frame, I don’t see how it’s any less secure than the plain window.
Agree with above on free-standing units.
I’ve never heard anything positive about free standing units. Keep in mind you will still need to vent the free standing ones which could entail putting a vent attachment to a window anyway.
I have A/C window units on my first floor. I tightly fitted 1×2 piece of wood between the top of the lower window sash and the bottom of the upper inside window frame once the a/c was in the window. It’s some security that the window can’t easily be opened or the window wouldn’t move up by itself and have the a/c fall out.
You may want to consider something similar.
Are you windows facing out to the porch and is the porch open or closed? Air Conditioning may be hard through these windows if the porch is closed, and it would make the porch hot!.
My experience with them is not good. Maybe I got a bad one, but here are my observations. I purchased it because I figured it would be easier to remove than a window unit because it has wheels, etc…
1) The unit that I got does not catch the condensation. Instead, it blows hot moist air out through an exhaust tube. Using an infrared thermometer, I measured the temperature of the tube, and it read about 110 degrees. So, unless you insulate the tube, it will be heating your room. I’m not sure if the units that catch the condensation create any less heat in the exhaust.
2) I purchased a 12,000 BTU unit, and in comparison to an 8000 BTU Window unit, it doesn’t even compare when it comes to cooling power. The free standing unit does cool the room a bit, and does a good job at reducing the humidity.
3) The noise is comparable between the two.
4) You will still need to keep your window open enough to install the exhaust tube, so from a security standpoint, your window will still be open. You can install a device that keeps the window from opening beyond the amount needed for the tube.
For a point of reference, I purchased a Royal Sovereign from Costco.
I bought a DeLonghi about 6-7 years ago. I’d never buy another one. Perhaps they have gotten better.