portable a/c units

[rh71]

What do you think of portable A/C units? I'm moving soon (within a year) and I'd hate to have to pay $400 for them to put a hole in my parents' wall if I won't be using a regular A/C for that long. Can't put it in the window because these windows have a vertical bar right down the center - they're not slide up windows, they're open-out windows.

Besides, if I move to a house with no A/C, I can just bring along the portable. So what do you guys think?

Do they work? I think it was about 7500 BTU for about $500.

[vass0922]

My dad's had a window AC for ... can't remember how long
They're ok for cooling a room or two, but not real great for cooling a whole house :/
And no matter what it takes quite awhile to cool a whole house if you turn it on later (given it can't blow cold into every room simultaneously like central air).
However, given the price of a portable vs installing central air.. They'd work fine for me

Errr wait...
1. Cut a hole in a wall for 400 bucks
2. AC for 500 bucks
3. Move out
whats the point?

[thekingofpain]

There are solutions for every situation as its an EXTREMELY common thing---you need someone that knows whats up to advise you properly...

I made the mistake of putting too much cooling on my pad at one point---(ive been here 25 years)...

My house is small and the insulation is key---I put the largest unit that would run off of 110 and was going from one extreme to the other---too cold---or too warm before the cold kicked in again...

I switched to an evap cooling system...

[rh71]

vass, maybe you misunderstood me. It costs $400+ or so to purchase an in-wall A/C unit and have them install it (hence put a whole in the wall).

But for $500+, I can purchase a portable unit instead and no holes (installation) is involved.

I may be moving out within a year so the $400 unit may become useless in a short time while the portable unit I can take with me if/when I move. So here I am, asking about the quality/usefullness of a 7500BTU portable A/C for a regular-size room (40' x 15').

THanx.

Portable

[Imanage]

Sounds like you have a lap pool in that 40'x15' regular size room(unless that was a typo). Portable A/Cs still have that big "clothes-dryer" vent hose you stick out the window and there's a condensate bucket you have to empty like a dehumidifier.

Maybe dear old dad or mom can spring for part of the installation fees since that would add value to the house. The portable units are less energy efficient and a 7500 btu a/c might be too big or small for your next place. If you have it installed, it'll be there if you ever go back.

[ClubMed]

We are planning to buy a portable system (sits on wheels) for the house, that way you can take it into any room you like.

A good one sells for around $600 here.

[jman01pa]

And where does the exhausted nasty air go?

[zen]

I'm sure you need to hook up some sort of ductwork to exhaust the heat.

[thekingofpain]

How much noise does it make sitting in the middle of the room?

A window mount usually has all the noisey part outside the wall, and im curious like Zen, how the heck do you run the exhaust out?