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September 27, 2010 7:11 AM   Subscribe

I'm a newbie on all matters relating to air conditioning. Please help me buy and install a split air conditioner for my bedroom.

Though it's late in the season, I'm hoping that I can find a bargain or two for the air conditioner, which I'll use next summer.

Actually, that's not entirely true. It's still damn hot here, and I'm losing sleep from restless sultry nights. So I'd like to install the air conditioner ASAP, and enjoy a night or two of sound sleep.

The bedroom is 300 square feet, and I'm located in a high humidity zone, so other solutions such as swamp coolers are out. I'm thinking that a small split air con is my best bet, with the condenser unit installed outside on my first floor deck, and a vent running behind the wall to the inside air conditioner unit in my 2nd floor bedroom.

-Does this setup sound doable?
-What manufacturers should I be looking at for maximum reliability?
-What would be the approximate BTU number for my 300 sq ft room?
-What's the easiest way to buy the air con? Can I purchase it online, or do I need to go to a big box store?
-How do I arrange the installation? Will plumbers and HVAC people cover this, or do I need to hire an installation specialist?
posted by Gordion Knott to Home & Garden (2 answers total)
 
Split air conditioners don't have a vent. The two sides are connected via two small pipes. Even easier to install.

The BTU depends on not just the size of the room, but the heat load. Windows that catch sunlight, expansive south-facing walls, lack of insulation, etc. You might want an hvac person to do the calculations for you. Or there are some decent back-of-envelope calculators if you search google.

Depending on the shape of the room and the location available for the indoor unit, you might require a ceiling fan or some other kind of circulator to maintain an even temperature.

If you buy too big of a unit, the room will get cold before it dehumidifies. Cold and clammy. Too small and it will run all day and never be particularly cool. But it will be dry, and more comfortable. If it was me, I would always err to slightly under-capacity than over-capacity. I'd rather be a little warm on the hottest days than clammy all the time.
posted by gjc at 7:22 AM on September 27, 2010


Use the BTU calculator here to see how much you need in the way of BTU power.
posted by deezil at 7:34 AM on September 27, 2010


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