RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (Full Version)

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pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:38:06 PM)

The cheap ones can be bought for just over $100.    Lately I wish I had 2 of them.   When we had the heat snap-- I live in just one room.  Before that- I could get 2 rooms out of the one unit.




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:41:16 PM)

pssssssssst:


watcha wearing hun?




SL4V3M4YB3 -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:42:30 PM)

Are those the type that harbour bacteria and other microbes leading to conditions such as Legionnaires' disease?




Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:48:42 PM)

Our window's are nice, the problem is they are tiny,  When my dad took out the huge sliding garage door, and built a wall, he didn't ever intend to  need a big window.

you have less than 14 and a quarter inches to put it in the window , Same with the wall.

The wall is a false wall, I guess you'd call it, since it's not original to the building and was just built out of wood and stuck in a frame.

and so the wall would of been a good option, if the space wasn't so tiny. My dad's not willing to put it through any other parts of the wall though, because he says who knows what you'd be cutting into and through, besides the stucco being a bitch to cut.

So you're awfully limited in the size you can have, if you want a window unit.

Window units are 99 dollars to 500 - 600 dollars. The one I want is 199. That's not a bad price to pay in my mind.

I don't really want something to go on the floor, either, but when we re arrange furniture like we want to, I will have room for a unit  that's on the floor.

My first choice was a professional mr slim unit, but they wanted 5 thousand for it, and no way in hell we could then, or now, afford 5 k for an air conditioner, and if we had 5 k, it sure in the hell wouldn't go for an AC unit, it'd go to pay back the loans we owe.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddysInkedSlut

I have had both the protable units and the window units. For me there was no difference in how they cooled the area it was about space for me. I prefer the window units b/c I didnt have alot of floor space at the time and I had at least 2 windows in every room. The window unity I had last summer, cooled my entire apartment. It had a thermastate, timer, ect so it wasn't constantly running. The windows in that apartment were horrible I could litterly fit my hand through the gaps between the panes due to how they were installed so I used the winterizing plastic sheets to seal them year round. It sucked b/c I couldnt open the window but it kept the heat in in the winter and the cool air in the summer in. They also make plastic strips that go at the bottom of doors to keep the draft ect from coming in and they are rather inexpensive.

Money wise I personally wouldn't buy a new AC this time of year go to your local pawn shop 1st you will get a 30 day warranty typically and pay half the price as from a retail store and if you want a new unit wait til the end of summer when they go on clearance. Then you have 2 units for next summer. lol




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:49:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SL4V3M4YB3

Are those the type that harbour bacteria and other microbes leading to conditions such as Legionnaires' disease?


take off your clothes!!!


NOW




Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:50:21 PM)

Who ya asking? [:D]
quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

pssssssssst:


watcha wearing hun?





angelikaJ -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:52:44 PM)

Tfb: They make window units that are energy star rated.




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:53:14 PM)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legionellosis

I doubt this is a threat in a regular house.




DesFIP -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:57:13 PM)

The Man has installed three or four air conditioners this week. The window units are superior. The portable ones are used in places where you aren't allowed to install one permanently in the wall or don't want to remove them and put them in every year which is a pain. But the portable ones produce just as much heat as the window units however the heat is vented through a long hose which releases the heat back into the room in the process. So perhaps only 2/3rds of the heat produced is vented inside. Then you need to run it longer to remove the original heat you produced.

Call your local appliance store and ask if they have an installer. If so have him mount the thing in a hole in the wall. He should trim it both inside and out, outside trim to be painted or stained. And he needs to caulk it outside. This is done once which is a hell of a lot better than having to haul that unit up and down twice each year and you needing to stuff it full of insulation to keep bugs out.




Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 6:57:36 PM)

Yes, but energy star ratings isn't the problem, does it fit where we can put it is lol.

All the units I have seen, they were pretty much biger than 14 inches.
quote:

ORIGINAL: angelikaJ

Tfb: They make window units that are energy star rated.




igor2003 -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:00:01 PM)

First, I need a little clarification. When you say "portable" I'm not sure what you mean. Is this one that you can move from room to room? But you talk about a "hole in the wall" If it is mounted to a hole in the wall doesn't that make it fixed instead of portable? If you get one that you have to remodel your house to accomodate then you would be best off just leaving it when you move. Or do you mean a swamp cooler instead of an AC?

I'M SO CONFUSED!!

If you are getting a swamp cooler you don't need to mount it air tight. You just need to keep the water out when it rains. In fact, with a mounted swamp cooler you need to keep windows opened just a bit to let the air circulate.

If you are getting an electric AC then you need to have one that is either mounted in a wall or window. It sounds like this is what you are looking for. The size you need for either a wall mount or a window mount depends on the amount of area you need to cool, and to a lesser degree how well your house is insulated. Figure out your floor area, and if you have really high ceilings you might want to take that into consideration as well, Then find a place with a knowledgable sales person, give them the information and let them direct you to what they have that will be adequate.

Another consideration that has not been mentioned is power source and supply. Swamp coolers are VERY inexpensive to operate and can at least keep your house tolerable even on the hottest days. Some people say there is more humidity with them, but I really don't think there is that much more since cool air of any type is going to attract moisture just like a glass of ice water attracts condensation.

For electric AC you will have to decide between 110 volts and 220 volts. With 110 you can probably find a place to operate it without additional wiring. With 220 you might have to run a 220 volt circuit in order to have power where you need it, but the additional cost would probably be well worth it if you have a very hot house and a long summer. A 220 volt air conditioner will cost a LOT less to operate, and the unit will most likely last a lot longer and need less maintenance.

Hope my confusion hasn't confused you.


edited to add....some of my confusion was answered and made less so in other posts while I was writing my confusion.




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:00:36 PM)

The 5000 btus units are not that hard to put in and take out.  they do not weigh like they did 20 years ago.




Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:07:13 PM)

Some of them are portable in that they can go from room to room easily, I am not sure why they are called portable, if they need a venting hole, but that's what the stores call them.  I think even ones that need to vent outside can be portable, because you can just stick their vent hose in a window, or a door.



No, they're not swamp coolers, they're  air conditioning units. and yes, they'd be 110.



We don't need to remodel the house, just re arrange the furniture, which we wanted to do anyway.

We may replace the window, however, make it from one that slides to the side, to one that slides up and down, since that would give you more room for a unit that sticks into a window.

,
quote:

ORIGINAL: igor2003

First, I need a little clarification. When you say "portable" I'm not sure what you mean. Is this one that you can move from room to room? But you talk about a "hole in the wall" If it is mounted to a hole in the wall doesn't that make it fixed instead of portable? If you get one that you have to remodel your house to accomodate then you would be best off just leaving it when you move. Or do you mean a swamp cooler instead of an AC?

I'M SO CONFUSED!!

If you are getting a swamp cooler you don't need to mount it air tight. You just need to keep the water out when it rains. In fact, with a mounted swamp cooler you need to keep windows opened just a bit to let the air circulate.

If you are getting an electric AC then you need to have one that is either mounted in a wall or window. It sounds like this is what you are looking for. The size you need for either a wall mount or a window mount depends on the amount of area you need to cool, and to a lesser degree how well your house is insulated. Figure out your floor area, and if you have really high ceilings you might want to take that into consideration as well, Then find a place with a knowledgable sales person, give them the information and let them direct you to what they have that will be adequate.

Another consideration that has not been mentioned is power source and supply. Swamp coolers are VERY inexpensive to operate and can at least keep your house tolerable even on the hottest days. Some people say there is more humidity with them, but I really don't think there is that much more since cool air of any type is going to attract moisture just like a glass of ice water attracts condensation.

For electric AC you will have to decide between 110 volts and 220 volts. With 110 you can probably find a place to operate it without additional wiring. With 220 you might have to run a 220 volt circuit in order to have power where you need it, but the additional cost would probably be well worth it if you have a very hot house and a long summer. A 220 volt air conditioner will cost a LOT less to operate, and the unit will most likely last a lot longer and need less maintenance.

Hope my confusion hasn't confused you.




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:13:52 PM)

http://www.google.com/products?q=swamp+cooler&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=LXo6TOD1N4WKlwfDzpzVBw&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CF4QrQQwAg




DesFIP -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:14:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

The 5000 btus units are not that hard to put in and take out.  they do not weigh like they did 20 years ago.


He's put in three and they've all come in around 140 pounds. Lighter than 20 years ago but still a bitch. The teen is on call for removal of the old and putting in the new as it takes two people to do so easily.




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:35:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

The 5000 btus units are not that hard to put in and take out.  they do not weigh like they did 20 years ago.


He's put in three and they've all come in around 140 pounds. Lighter than 20 years ago but still a bitch. The teen is on call for removal of the old and putting in the new as it takes two people to do so easily.



I own a GE- and it weighs like a sack of potatoes.  I paid about $100 for it.




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:36:37 PM)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=hro&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=5000+btus+units+weight&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

around 40 lbs if you scan this list.




TheHeretic -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 7:54:56 PM)

How well insulated is the house? If the house, tends to get hot and stay that way (and be cold in the winter), you are going to need a higher power unit to keep up.

I have known people to build a tent over the bed and window unit, when what they had in the window didn't have the power to cool the whole room.

Improvise!




Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 8:09:06 PM)

It's not hardly insulated at all. That's why it's so fricken hot in the summer and frigid in the winters. Winters we got covered, we got a space heater, and an electric blanket, works like a charm, even when the electric blanket stopped heating, the space heater did just fine.

I wanted to get it insulated at one point but the technician that came out, wouldn't do just the one area over the bedroom, he said he'd have to do the whole place, and that was 500 dollars.
quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

How well insulated is the house? If the house, tends to get hot and stay that way (and be cold in the winter), you are going to need a higher power unit to keep up.

I have known people to build a tent over the bed and window unit, when what they had in the window didn't have the power to cool the whole room.

Improvise!




pahunkboy -> RE: Which is better in terms of cooling, a portable AC or the window unit types of AC? (7/11/2010 8:20:59 PM)

pour yourself a glass of water.




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