there was a thread about a/cs but i can't find it.
i'm having trouble finding a new 240 a/c that will fit my window.
i'm running a 115w, but the room is too big.
i'm reading about these portable ones but i don't understand.
do they really work without venting?
do you have one?
if they do work, please tell me any model you are happy with.

thanks, guys.

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susie

Here ya go.

Portable Air Conditioner

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

The last company I was Maintenance Supervisor for had 1400-1600 living units. We owned about 6 of the portable units. They had a flexible plastic duct like dryer vent, it ran to a window or even a dryer vent would do. It moved the air around the room but we just couldn't get the apartments they were used in to cool off. I personally think the people who lived there messed with them and constantly had the compressors in an over pressure shut down!

They were high priced compared to window units (cost about double) and may have been good for one small room but just wouldn't handle a whole apartment. This was 8 years ago, but all three supervisors felt it was a failed experiment!

Ivan

thanks, rusty.
[ guess they have to be vented outside

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susie

thanks, ivan.
if i have to cut holes in walls, i see no advantage.

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susie

Free standing portable AC must be vented outside using a plastic duct. They are not nearly as efficient as window units. Get one with a higher BTU rating than you think you need.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

thanks, can.
they are sounding like a less good idea.
i had a 240w unit that worked great, but it was only 16'' high so it fit in my window. all the ones i'm seeing are taller than that.
this sucks, because i ran a 240 line to that window n now i can;t use it.

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susie

What is wrong with the 240V unit? Maybe it is worth it to you, to have it repaired?

Ivan

great idea, ivan. i should have don that, but i wrecked it.
i can be a stupid person.

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susie

16 1/2" minimum window height on this one.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Are Portable Air Conditioners a Lot of Hot Air? - Consumer Reports


Basically they are not worth it, plus you need to empty or drain the condensation pan or provide a hose for that also.
Cost more get less than a regular room A/C.

Window Air Conditioner | Global Industrial

How big is the area (square feet/cubic feet) needed to be cooled.

You need to do a "calculation" to determine the number of BTUs needed to cool. Do you want it to provide heat also??


Is the structure wood, concrete?? Insulation??What direction does it was. South, West?? How many windows? Ceiling height? Heat/coll lose areas


Choose wisely Too small and it wastes electric, does not cool. Runs too much

To big and it will not remove humidity well


Poppa Bear. Momma Bear, Baby Bear

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Still Running Against the Wind

We had a good portable unit during a remodel, and it worked fine. But as mentioned, it needed to be ducted, and it needed to be drained. I can't imagine it being anything other than a temporary measure.


Something I learned the last time shopping for a 220v ac unit, LG makes the major components in many of the major brands. Getting an LG branded unit was substantially less costly yet was mechanically identical to some name brands.

On a wood framed home, creating an opening for a wall mounted unit is relatively easy.

Split-type air conditioners are substantially more expensive, but you get what you pay for in increased efficiency, silent operation, and mounting ease/flexibility.

Good luck.

susie:

My lady friend bought a used portable for her living room, and it keeps her small house around 75 degrees regardless of the temperature outside. Her living room is roughly 13 x 16, and has open doors to the kitchen on one end and the bedroom on the other. So it works pretty well for her. There is no need to cut a hole in the wall; the vent hose is supplied with the machine and has an adjustable-length slat on the end to fit any normal size window. It also comes with a flexible plastic tube running through the center of the hose which expels the condensation out the window, so it doesn't require draining. As I recall, hers cost her around a hundred dollars; I don't know what a new one would cost.

It's not as efficient as a window unit and makes more noise, but it definitely meets the need in her case. I would assume that others in similar circumstances would have similar results.

I don't know the make and model off the top of my head; I will see her this evening and see if I can get that information for you.

I wish you well in your search.

Regards,
Andy

thanks everyone. your help is invaluable.

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susie

Suzie I'm not sure of your window size. I got a 220-240 volt LG 17,000 BTU window unit it fits in a 27 1/2"W x17"H window.

I have it set up in my living room window that is the size of 3 normal rooms it also cools my large kitchen and dining room and 3 bedrooms. The layout of my house is wide open except for the 3 bedrooms. The total footage on this floor is just over 1100 square feet.

I got it a few years ago from Home Depot and have been very happy with it.

i'm far from an expert on portable ac units but i have done a little bit of reading and studying about them because a normal window unit wont work in my casement style slider windows.

from what i learned much of what already was said above is true in that the portables don't work as well as a standard unit. another thing is that that more humidity in the enviornment the worse the cooling results.
example, portable units will work better in the dry southwest than they will in the humid southeast so i imagine living on the high plains means less humidity so a portable may work better for you than for people in other parts of the country but it still doesn't mean that it will do what you desire.
in my situation i'm going to bite the bullet and buy a couple vertical casement window ac units next summer which cost around $500 each.

A friend used one of those in her RV and it didn't do very much good at cooling the RV.
She also had an electric heater that was supposed to heat 1000 sq. ft. area and it barely did much good either. It also used an unreal amount of electricity.
She wanted me to use it to compare. I used it in my 1200 sq. ft. house and it barely did any good yet it ran non stop.

It seems these portable coolers and heaters are only good for very small rooms.

You can get a 14000 or 15000 110 window unit for $450 to cool 850 sf 8 feet tall. I cool a 2000 feet living area with 2 of them & my top bill for the summer set on 75 degrees running on energy mode and never turned off was $180 for the month. Insulation is a very large factor. They measure 17 3/8 high x 24 wide.

The portable units that blow the heated exhaust outdoors, suck hot air in to the house from outside via all of the gaps and cracks. If the house was airtight it would implode. Not very efficient.

ok, portables are out.
bob, what model do you have?
4barrel, what model do you have?

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susie

It is a GE and looks like the AEM14AX--and the AEW14AV. I just measured and 24x17 3/8. The window has to raise 19 inches. It takes two people to install. The case has to be fitted to the window first and supported because it weighs 100 pounds with the finished product. Then the unit slides in and install the screws. There is a world of cooling difference between a 12000 and 14000. I had to go to the confession booth when I got finished. My living room is 23 feet wide and you can feel the air from the other side on low and is super quite. The windows may sweat a little in some weather but I had rather be cool.

thanks, 4barrel.
a 110 unit sounds good but that's too big.
i'm limited to 16'' high without major construction/

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susie

Suzie sorry for the delay{bad night no sleep} I just looked I think it is a LG model LW1812ER iF I read it right.

They might make a220 volt smaller unit that would fit your window.

The newer units are probably bigger since the change to R-410 and the search for efficiency.

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Release the Kraken

thanks bob. i'll go look.

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susie

thanks everyone. especially thanks for mentioning the LG company, that i never heard of.
they have one that fits.
it has a different kind of 240 plug, but i bet i can change it.

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susie