(Portable) A/C Anticipation
May 11, 2017 10:03 AM Subscribe
I don't want a portable A/C but, to all appearances, I have no other choice. Can you recommend the cheapest, most effective, smallest, lightest one you know (where I don't have to change the water, and which doesn't look like a small factory in my room)? Pretty please?
Despite my best efforts, the window to my room can't handle an ordinary A/C. (It's to do with the flat bar grates, the cellar door beneath the grates — and clearance between the two). I've spoken to the landlord and the property manager. I've discussed it with my roommate. I've consulted Consumer Reports, which won't recommend portables because they're so heavy and inefficient. I can't move ... so I'm at a loss.
The thing is last summer was the absolute worst summer of my life. I don't need my room to be supercold; 70 degrees or so would be fine high summer. But I don't want the machine to take up a lot of space, be a huge eyesore, require much maintenance, or be crazy expensive to buy or run. I'm in NYC. My room is about 150 square feet, with the usual NYC high ceilings.
I'm hoping you can help me find my ... unicorn.
Despite my best efforts, the window to my room can't handle an ordinary A/C. (It's to do with the flat bar grates, the cellar door beneath the grates — and clearance between the two). I've spoken to the landlord and the property manager. I've discussed it with my roommate. I've consulted Consumer Reports, which won't recommend portables because they're so heavy and inefficient. I can't move ... so I'm at a loss.
The thing is last summer was the absolute worst summer of my life. I don't need my room to be supercold; 70 degrees or so would be fine high summer. But I don't want the machine to take up a lot of space, be a huge eyesore, require much maintenance, or be crazy expensive to buy or run. I'm in NYC. My room is about 150 square feet, with the usual NYC high ceilings.
I'm hoping you can help me find my ... unicorn.
Have you looked into mini splits? They'd be the closest thing to what you're looking for that I can think of because, as I read this anyway, your desired features are:
-Cheap
-Effective
-Small
-Light
-No H20 related maintenance
-Somewhat Appealing AppearanceTM
-Not the ubiquitous wall unit form factor
-Lives within the Laws of Thermodynamics
-Doesn't violate any other common physics/physical sciences theories
That certainly is a unicorn level request.
Short of a mini-split, which isn't a portable by the way, I'd say you need to look into whatever medium to heavy modifications might need to be made to make a wall unit work in the window that you do have. That or pursuing legal action against a landlord if HVAC is a right in NYC, of which I have no idea.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:14 AM on May 11, 2017
-Cheap
-Effective
-Small
-Light
-No H20 related maintenance
-Somewhat Appealing AppearanceTM
-Not the ubiquitous wall unit form factor
-Lives within the Laws of Thermodynamics
-Doesn't violate any other common physics/physical sciences theories
That certainly is a unicorn level request.
Short of a mini-split, which isn't a portable by the way, I'd say you need to look into whatever medium to heavy modifications might need to be made to make a wall unit work in the window that you do have. That or pursuing legal action against a landlord if HVAC is a right in NYC, of which I have no idea.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:14 AM on May 11, 2017
Have you considered the options of installing a window A/C either at the top of the window rather than the bottom, or through the wall? Those would be much harder/more expensive, but perhaps better in the long run.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:19 AM on May 11, 2017
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:19 AM on May 11, 2017
I had one of these a few years back. It was portable, which is nice, but it was also loud, fairly big, heavy and ugly and it used a ton of power (1,000 watts?) so it cost about 25 cents per hour to run. It would cool down a single room if you shut the door, but wasn't close to strong enough to cool down our 900 square foot apartment. I don't remember if we had to empty water, but I don't think so. I think it was a Delonghi and we bought it at Lowes for $300 or so.
posted by cnc at 10:20 AM on May 11, 2017
posted by cnc at 10:20 AM on May 11, 2017
I don’t have a recommendation for you, but some other options you might consider if you can’t find one that will work:
Installing a larger window unit in an adjacent space to cool your room as well
Use a dehumidifier to cut the humidity, and fans and linen sheets to help feel cooler
Building a box inside your window to hold a window unit and direct the heat and water outside
Good luck; being overheated is miserable.
posted by metasarah at 10:22 AM on May 11, 2017
Installing a larger window unit in an adjacent space to cool your room as well
Use a dehumidifier to cut the humidity, and fans and linen sheets to help feel cooler
Building a box inside your window to hold a window unit and direct the heat and water outside
Good luck; being overheated is miserable.
posted by metasarah at 10:22 AM on May 11, 2017
It seems like the landlord might be talked into altering the grates to accommodate a window AC. It could increase their potential rent income for the apartment.
posted by Cranialtorque at 10:22 AM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranialtorque at 10:22 AM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
You won't be getting a room down to 70 degrees with a portable AC. I used one for two years and it was generally fine, but I was also using it in the relatively low-humidity Portland, and I don't think it ever got the room below 75 degrees (and it was a small room.)
That said, it was better than having no air conditioner.
posted by Automocar at 10:22 AM on May 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
That said, it was better than having no air conditioner.
posted by Automocar at 10:22 AM on May 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Hey, thanks for the rush of answers! Please keep them coming!
But, just to clarify, I just spent two weeks trying to work things out with the landlord. He was openish to altering the grate; then he realized the cellar door was right underneath, and even if he'd **also** altered the cellar doors there was, to be fair, likely still a clearance problem.
Also: There are no other windows. We're ground level, so there are only windows at front and back. Now, erm, for your continued inspirations, please, as I look up what you've said so far!
posted by Violet Blue at 10:42 AM on May 11, 2017
But, just to clarify, I just spent two weeks trying to work things out with the landlord. He was openish to altering the grate; then he realized the cellar door was right underneath, and even if he'd **also** altered the cellar doors there was, to be fair, likely still a clearance problem.
Also: There are no other windows. We're ground level, so there are only windows at front and back. Now, erm, for your continued inspirations, please, as I look up what you've said so far!
posted by Violet Blue at 10:42 AM on May 11, 2017
Response by poster: p.s. @RolandOfEld: What's a mini-split? Also, from what I read last year most of the portables are not portable, either, weighing in at several dozen pounds.
posted by Violet Blue at 10:44 AM on May 11, 2017
posted by Violet Blue at 10:44 AM on May 11, 2017
Agreeing with Automocar, though actually a swampier room might get a little cooler. I use a mid-range 8000btu unit in a decent-but-not palatial bedroom (Los Angeles valley, generally super-low-humidity, sometimes I run a humidifier just to give the AC something to work with), with a hot sunny window kinda blocked with foamcore but still a hot wall of the house, and if the airflow is pointed toward my desk across the room I am sufficiently cool when the thermostat reads 76 but I can tell when I step out of the airflow.
At night, in a large master bedroom, the same unit certainly made it comfortable enough for my delicate self to actually sleep, though I found that boosting circulation with a good Vornado fan (we don't have ceiling fans, that would be preferable) helped a lot. We still ended up rigging a window unit into our side-sliders last year instead, so I could put the portable in my home office. (I'm still strongly considering rigging THAT window for a unit too, though. It's just so much better and cheaper.)
They're ugly as hell and in the way and loud (though the noise was fantastic for sleeping) and I have to use an earbud instead of speakerphone all summer. The hoses are finicky and like to pop out every time you readjust. Getting the hoseplate into the window and insulated without the hose popping out of the plate or the unit was such an ordeal that I just leave the AC there the other 8 months of the year. They're prone to cooling the lower half of the room only (without a good fan assist), but they're too heavy to raise up unless you've got some sturdy furniture.
Still better than no air conditioning.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:45 AM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
At night, in a large master bedroom, the same unit certainly made it comfortable enough for my delicate self to actually sleep, though I found that boosting circulation with a good Vornado fan (we don't have ceiling fans, that would be preferable) helped a lot. We still ended up rigging a window unit into our side-sliders last year instead, so I could put the portable in my home office. (I'm still strongly considering rigging THAT window for a unit too, though. It's just so much better and cheaper.)
They're ugly as hell and in the way and loud (though the noise was fantastic for sleeping) and I have to use an earbud instead of speakerphone all summer. The hoses are finicky and like to pop out every time you readjust. Getting the hoseplate into the window and insulated without the hose popping out of the plate or the unit was such an ordeal that I just leave the AC there the other 8 months of the year. They're prone to cooling the lower half of the room only (without a good fan assist), but they're too heavy to raise up unless you've got some sturdy furniture.
Still better than no air conditioning.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:45 AM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
As someone whose employer offers air conditioners in their product assortment, I can say with some authority that the air conditioner you're looking for does not exist. They're all heavy and pretty industrial-looking. They all use a lot of electricity. They can be loud. The quieter, nicer-looking, more efficient ones with better cooling power are expensive. Even the cheap ones will cost a couple hundred bucks.
So, hit the reset button on your cooling goals and go take a look at what's available, so you get an idea of what features come with which price point. Turn them on, listen to how loud they are, read the specifications for weight. Decide what you're willing to pay for.
In addition to cooling bedding suggestions, I'd also suggest getting a few reusable ice packs, storing them in the freezer, and then putting them in your bed at night to help cool things down.
posted by Autumnheart at 10:45 AM on May 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
So, hit the reset button on your cooling goals and go take a look at what's available, so you get an idea of what features come with which price point. Turn them on, listen to how loud they are, read the specifications for weight. Decide what you're willing to pay for.
In addition to cooling bedding suggestions, I'd also suggest getting a few reusable ice packs, storing them in the freezer, and then putting them in your bed at night to help cool things down.
posted by Autumnheart at 10:45 AM on May 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also seconding the Vornado recommendation. I find Vornados to be powerful, very quiet, and generally superior to their Honeywell inferiors that look the same.
posted by Autumnheart at 10:47 AM on May 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 10:47 AM on May 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Final commentary for context: I slept in my swimsuit last summer. I haven't lived in NYC for more than a few years, but Louisiana's swampy rep has got nuthin' on NYC in my experience. All we're missing is the alligators.
So a dehumidifier isn't a bad idea. I had four fans running last year. (Also, as a sidenote, I was trying to put the A/C in the upper part of the window; no dice.)
Keep 'em coming. I hold out hope. Perhaps a mefite has invented something nice!?
posted by Violet Blue at 11:01 AM on May 11, 2017
So a dehumidifier isn't a bad idea. I had four fans running last year. (Also, as a sidenote, I was trying to put the A/C in the upper part of the window; no dice.)
Keep 'em coming. I hold out hope. Perhaps a mefite has invented something nice!?
posted by Violet Blue at 11:01 AM on May 11, 2017
A mini split will be far more expensive than a portable unit and will require your landlord's action, as it means mounting an air conditioning unit on your wall, running line sets through the nearest external wall, where a condenser unit about the size of a large check in suitcase will then need to sit or be mounted against the wall. This is easily $3-$4k, and arguably adds value to the rental property, but I can't think of a landlord who would be willing to do it, and second, even if they did, wouldn't turn around and make you pay for it, either up front or through increased rent.
A dehumidifier will similarly be ugly and take up floor space and will require that you empty it from time to time. I don't see why you wouldn't just get a portable a/c unit at that point.
Agree that it's time to hit the reset button on expectations. I was in a similar situation to you when I was in college, and having that big noisy ugly portable air conditioner taking up floor space in my tiny bedroom in a shared apartment was completely worth not being miserable in the summer heat.
posted by Karaage at 11:02 AM on May 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
A dehumidifier will similarly be ugly and take up floor space and will require that you empty it from time to time. I don't see why you wouldn't just get a portable a/c unit at that point.
Agree that it's time to hit the reset button on expectations. I was in a similar situation to you when I was in college, and having that big noisy ugly portable air conditioner taking up floor space in my tiny bedroom in a shared apartment was completely worth not being miserable in the summer heat.
posted by Karaage at 11:02 AM on May 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have a slightly cheaper version model of the Haier sweethome recommends above. It mostly cools my bedroom to a temperature at which i can sleep, around 75F or so from about ~90F outside, as long as the door is closed. It's pretty loud and uses a crap ton of electricity (such that the lights flicker when it turns on). Where I am we don't need AC for more than a month a year; I'd definitely want something better for a muggier warmer summer.
posted by cgg at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2017
posted by cgg at 11:04 AM on May 11, 2017
Yep, Karaage is spot on as to what a mini split is, with all the issues listed succinctly.
I stand by the recommendation as to it being the best option at hand due to what Autumnheart also says, quite accurately, regarding the alternatives.
This is a situation that parallels the common saying of "You want cheap, fast, or good? Pick one." I'm sorry, and my off-the-grid aspirations wish there was a solution that fits your criteria, but there's simply not a good answer here.
You could look into something like this mattress air conditioner if your issue is mainly sleep. I've wondered about them myself but have no data to go by necessarily.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:31 AM on May 11, 2017
I stand by the recommendation as to it being the best option at hand due to what Autumnheart also says, quite accurately, regarding the alternatives.
This is a situation that parallels the common saying of "You want cheap, fast, or good? Pick one." I'm sorry, and my off-the-grid aspirations wish there was a solution that fits your criteria, but there's simply not a good answer here.
You could look into something like this mattress air conditioner if your issue is mainly sleep. I've wondered about them myself but have no data to go by necessarily.
posted by RolandOfEld at 11:31 AM on May 11, 2017
I'm an HVAC engineer although I am not your engineer and this is not professional engineering advice... a mini-split (also known as a ductless AC system) would far and away be the best solution if you can afford it.
A dehumidifier is going to make things worse by adding heat to your space. The reduction in humidity will not be enough to offset that. A portable AC unit will be much better since it is rejecting heat to the outdoors. If you can't do a portable AC unit, open all the windows you have and do some evaporative cooling.
posted by beandip at 11:42 AM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
A dehumidifier is going to make things worse by adding heat to your space. The reduction in humidity will not be enough to offset that. A portable AC unit will be much better since it is rejecting heat to the outdoors. If you can't do a portable AC unit, open all the windows you have and do some evaporative cooling.
posted by beandip at 11:42 AM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sweethome actually changed their pick a few weeks ago (without changing the article for some SEO reason) and this is their new one....
We’re changing our picks. We’ve found compelling evidence that dual-hose portable ACs are much more efficient than single-hose models in very hot weather. This is a change from what we reported last summer, and we’re sorry that we didn’t find this data sooner. Our new pick will be the dual-hose Whynter Elite ARC-122Dposted by jessamyn at 11:45 AM on May 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
from what I read last year most of the portables are not portable, either, weighing in at several dozen pounds
Sure, they're heavy, but they have wheels. Mine is pretty portable (I paid the delivery folks a ton of money to get it up all my stairs).
posted by unknowncommand at 1:10 PM on May 11, 2017
Sure, they're heavy, but they have wheels. Mine is pretty portable (I paid the delivery folks a ton of money to get it up all my stairs).
posted by unknowncommand at 1:10 PM on May 11, 2017
I bought this Honeywell one and have been happy with it in my bedroom. I don't move it from room to room so weight doesn't matter. It gets the room down to 75 when it's 95 out and you don't ever need to empty out the water. The noise helps me fall asleep but I have to turn it off if I'm talking on the phone. Be sure to check that the hose will reach from the bottom of the unit to the middle of your window.
posted by SyraCarol at 1:17 PM on May 11, 2017
posted by SyraCarol at 1:17 PM on May 11, 2017
I am planning on The Bedfan which seems like it will work for my space. It's small, cheap, and designed for people who have night sweats.
I live in a tiny NYC apartment with no A/C whatsoever and no possibility of A/C (our windows are small, our electricals are old, and our landlord is a jerk.) Last summer I slept in a soaking-wet tshirt and boxers with a fan pointed directly at me (don't forget lip balm) and I did OK. It's miserable, but it's only a couple months.
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:27 PM on May 11, 2017
I live in a tiny NYC apartment with no A/C whatsoever and no possibility of A/C (our windows are small, our electricals are old, and our landlord is a jerk.) Last summer I slept in a soaking-wet tshirt and boxers with a fan pointed directly at me (don't forget lip balm) and I did OK. It's miserable, but it's only a couple months.
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:27 PM on May 11, 2017
/I live in New York and have a portable from LG it's slightly ugly and heavy but it's easy to ive around (it has wheels) and the dehumidifying function turns off and then water doesn't have to be emptied. It's also a bit loud but I can sleep through it and it does a decent job of cooling. I don't think there is a tiny cheap quiet solution. But from my point of view the portable is way better than nothing.
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 2:51 PM on May 11, 2017
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 2:51 PM on May 11, 2017
For efficiency (and thus cost of running), by far the most important thing is to get a dual-hose unit. All portable air conditioners have at least one hose for exhaust, but units with an exhaust hose *and* an intake hose waste quite a bit less energy.
Dual-hose details and a Mefite endorsement here
posted by Juffo-Wup at 4:36 PM on May 11, 2017
Dual-hose details and a Mefite endorsement here
posted by Juffo-Wup at 4:36 PM on May 11, 2017
I have an ancient DeLonghi. The model is too old to recommend but it's certainly reliable, even after 10 years.
What I came here to suggest is that first you should cover your window with a heat film. My apartment used to get into the upper 80s and I would pull the AC unit out every summer. Then I put on this heat/privacy film, and the following summer came and went and then I realized I didn't use the AC. This is actually the third year and I'm going to give away the AC because it uses up a ton of valuable closet space in my tiny apartment. The few days at a time we might get a heatwave I just crank the fan higher; in the past I ran that AC nearly 24/7.
I'm not saying you shouldn't get the AC, but I'd start with the window film because at the very least it will probably mean slightly less use of the AC. The privacy part is optional. And there are different films that block different UV levels, but the privacy part works great (in the daytime.)
posted by Room 641-A at 5:04 PM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
What I came here to suggest is that first you should cover your window with a heat film. My apartment used to get into the upper 80s and I would pull the AC unit out every summer. Then I put on this heat/privacy film, and the following summer came and went and then I realized I didn't use the AC. This is actually the third year and I'm going to give away the AC because it uses up a ton of valuable closet space in my tiny apartment. The few days at a time we might get a heatwave I just crank the fan higher; in the past I ran that AC nearly 24/7.
I'm not saying you shouldn't get the AC, but I'd start with the window film because at the very least it will probably mean slightly less use of the AC. The privacy part is optional. And there are different films that block different UV levels, but the privacy part works great (in the daytime.)
posted by Room 641-A at 5:04 PM on May 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I meant to add that I live in a small studio apartment so its not unlike your setup.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:05 PM on May 11, 2017
posted by Room 641-A at 5:05 PM on May 11, 2017
I also had a DeLonghi--I think that it was an earlier model of this, basically. I was cooling a fairly large bedroom, usually with the door at least partly open, and it worked much better than I would have expected. It wasn't especially quiet, but neither was it jarringly loud--I've had window units that were louder.
I'd turn the temp control all the way down and blast it, and definitely had the room under 70. That said, it's expensive to buy, and moderately expensive to run, tho my experience is that they cool things down right quick, so I only ever turned it on when I was in the room.
posted by mishafletch at 10:25 PM on May 11, 2017
I'd turn the temp control all the way down and blast it, and definitely had the room under 70. That said, it's expensive to buy, and moderately expensive to run, tho my experience is that they cool things down right quick, so I only ever turned it on when I was in the room.
posted by mishafletch at 10:25 PM on May 11, 2017
Response by poster: A belated note saying it **is** possible to put an A/C in a window blocked by flat bars!
An old friend suddenly heard of my dilemma and knew of an A/C guy known for his innovative solutions. The key is to get an A/C that only "bleeds" condensation out the back, through the screen, and right up to the bars, and onto the street. Then the rest of the machine can be propped up on the windowsill, if need be, with a couple of boards, with the accordian sides removed (at least in this case) and replaced with plexiglass to hold it tight in a neat way. I don't know if that's super clear, and I don't know how common A/Cs that bleed from the back are — he gave me a used one he had in his warehouse — but, man, what a difference it makes. If anybody wants pictures, the guy's name or has other questions, let me know!
Anyway, I'm thrilled to have it, thrilled to have only shelled out a fraction of what a portable would cost, and thrilled not to take up any of my precious floor space with equipment!
Cheers to a comfortable summer, everyone!
posted by Violet Blue at 12:18 AM on July 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
An old friend suddenly heard of my dilemma and knew of an A/C guy known for his innovative solutions. The key is to get an A/C that only "bleeds" condensation out the back, through the screen, and right up to the bars, and onto the street. Then the rest of the machine can be propped up on the windowsill, if need be, with a couple of boards, with the accordian sides removed (at least in this case) and replaced with plexiglass to hold it tight in a neat way. I don't know if that's super clear, and I don't know how common A/Cs that bleed from the back are — he gave me a used one he had in his warehouse — but, man, what a difference it makes. If anybody wants pictures, the guy's name or has other questions, let me know!
Anyway, I'm thrilled to have it, thrilled to have only shelled out a fraction of what a portable would cost, and thrilled not to take up any of my precious floor space with equipment!
Cheers to a comfortable summer, everyone!
posted by Violet Blue at 12:18 AM on July 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: One final note for those scouring the internet for solutions: The Frigidaire FAH086S1T 8,000 Cooling Capacity (BTU) Through the Wall Air Conditioner is the unit that finally did the job. I don't think others with my conumdrum need this unit, per se. Instead, you just need a unit that goes "through the wall," which means air conditioners with no "holes" for condensation on either side of it.
posted by Violet Blue at 3:38 PM on July 20, 2017
posted by Violet Blue at 3:38 PM on July 20, 2017
Response by poster: More examples of "through-the-wall" or "in-wall" air conditioners: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Home-Kitchen-Through-Wall-Air-Conditioners/zgbs/home-garden/3737711
posted by Violet Blue at 3:53 PM on July 20, 2017
posted by Violet Blue at 3:53 PM on July 20, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by soelo at 10:14 AM on May 11, 2017 [4 favorites]