What do we know about portable window air conditioners?

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Don’t you have to empty the condensate tank routinely? That water has to go somewhere.

Ours has a drain hose, we just set it up in our shower stall since the bathroom is the only window in the bedroom other than a sliding glass door.

But yes, if this is a somewhat "always there" install, you'll want to make sure you have drainage arranged.

[nota]

old a/c units used f-22 a CFC as a working gas
then they used 410 a different gas

the new units use ISO-butain like propane a flammable gas as the working refrigeration gas

many claim the portable units as pictured do NOT out put as well as the wall units do

a 16x 30 ft room needs far more then 14 k btu

and the newer units do drain by the expelled air no tube needed
ever in s fla

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Don’t you have to empty the condensate tank routinely? That water has to go somewhere.

That was my concern when i got it. Unit claims it can dehumidify max of 6.9 pints per hour, yet the condensate tank is 2 pints…

Running over 2 weeks now and condensate tank remains empty.

Unlike a dehumidifier the ac vents to outside. Device attempts to carry condensate out the vent tube. Instructions cryptically claim tank will need to be emptied under ‘some conditions’, probably some asymptotic behavior involving the outside vapor pressure.

Weve had what feels like ‘high humidity’ but its not what would be called humidy anywhere else.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

the HOA/ARB Nazis caught on to me and told me I had to remove it.

Yeah, No to that.
A portable unit inside is basically a fan with an open window.
Remind them of the definition of personal vs common areas and right to quiet enjoyment.

I prefer that style. It's less likely to damage the window frame. I had to build a platform/ledge for a tenant because the plastic windows with a ridge would break otherwise.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by id10t

The $350 unit Lowes sells works fine and cooled a large room like that well enough for her to sleep and me to live to see the next morning, for several days/nights in a row.

The key is to check label and be sure you aren't getting an "evaporative cooler", or something water needs to be added to ,etc. This means it is basically a swamp cooler and will only work in a dry environment (ie, not the South East)

Swamp cooler will be worthless in South Carolina.

I lived in El Paso for a couple of years. They have really migrated to A/C from swamp coolers which were the rage forever.

You can really tell which buildings have each system. Both are cool/cold but the swamp cooled buildings have a certain humidity inside and you end up feeling sticky.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

No worries. Thanks, Paul

I ordered the Whynter ARC-14S unit. It’ll be delivered Friday and I’ll see how it goes.

Please post a followup report with your experiences, Rocket - thanks!

[A930Rocket]

Will do.

It’s interesting in reading one of the reviews at Amazon, someone mentioned having the AC unit sit for 24 to 48 hours before using it. What’s going on with that?

[stevej37]

^^^ some say the same thing about moving fridges and freezers.
I think it might have been true 50 years ago. I doubt it applies now.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ some say the same thing about moving fridges and freezers.
I think it might have been true 50 years ago. I doubt it applies now.

I went through the setup instructions and no word of letting it sit. Fridges used to have huge signs saying to let them sit… perhaps old timey compressors couldnt prime themselves?

[nota]

the compressor was a piston pump that ran in oil
if shipped on it's side the oil can flow out of the compressor
and in to the lines leaving a dry pump at start up

letting it sit allow the oil to flow back into the pump

modern compressors use a scroll style pump still needs oil
but drains back faster not having a piston in the way

also my propane refrigerator had no pump
it worked by boiling the gas by heat from a flame
and the gas went thru a tube of liquid gas that was need to be in place
wakes/wave rocking the boat moved the liquid out of place
and the unit had to be placed inverted to restore the liquid placement
about once a month or after a storm

so maybe a folk memory from units before el was common ?

[jyl]

I have a Whynter freestanding AC unit in my office. It cools the large room down pretty well. The exhaust duct gets warm so wrap it with some insulation so that heat doesn't get into the room.

[A930Rocket]

It was scheduled for delivery tomorrow, but has now been bumped to Monday. I’ll let everybody know Tuesday how it set up and worked. Fingers crossed.

Last night I had my work apartment set on 60° and at home tonight, I have it set on 70°. Since I foot the bill at home, it’s not going any lower. I’ll raise it back up to 75° in the morning.

[john70t]

I only usually use the central A/c to remove moisture. 75deg max usually.
A small unit could get overloaded.

I usually only get a few years out of small A/C and dehumidifier units. Odd.

Fans make everything more pleasant despite any temperature outside.

[A930Rocket]

It showed up today after all. Got it installed and turned it on a little while ago. We’ll see how it works tonight.

It’s quieter than the window unit I had.

If I keep it, I need to seal up a few gaps in the window and wrap the hot duct

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

It showed up today after all. Got it installed and turned it on a little while ago. We’ll see how it works tonight.

It’s quieter than the window unit I had.

If I keep it, I need to seal up a few gaps in the window and wrap the hot duct

Good deal!

Please keep us posted on continued observations and feedback - thanks, Rocket!

PS - are both of those ducts for the exhaust?

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Baz

Good deal!

Please keep us posted on continued observations and feedback - thanks, Rocket!

PS - are both of those ducts for the exhaust?

Last night was the first night and it was good. We will see how night number two goes. When I was looking at it this morning, I looked at the vent on top and when I pulled on it, it opened up more. I was thinking it would open and close automatically. So, we’ll see how tonight goes and if there’s any difference.

The two ducts are intake and exhaust.

Being a typical guy, I assembled it without looking at the instructions 😂…. I wonder if it’s got a recirculate?

[flatbutt]

Intake from the outside rather than the air in the house?

[john70t]

With a small space, which is LEED certified (sealed up tight), it will actually run out of air inside.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Intake from the outside rather than the air in the house?

That is why I asked and wondered why it was drawing air from outside instead of the inside air. I just went to the Amazon product site and sure enough, as Rocket confirmed, one is for intake and the other is for exhaust.

I'm not knowledgeable enough on HVAC to understand the physics, but I'm sure it's part of how this machine is designed to efficiently do it's cooling.

One thing I read in the reviews is commentary about providing separation between the two tube outlets so the outgoing hot air does not get sucked back in through the inlet of the other tube. Some of the configurations have the tubes in vertical alignment with the exhaust above the intake so the hot air will at least tend to go upwards. Another person mentioned using a piece of wood as a divider.

I really don't know if this is a legitimate issue at all. You read all kinds of stuff in these product reviews and I've learned over the years to take everything with a grain of salt.

I do know this.......there have been MANY times when I was so grateful to have air conditioning I have felt it should be considered one of the "Seven Wonders of the World"........so can fully appreciate not only this thread for more information but more importantly that our fellow Pelican is able to get some relief in the face of that local semi-fascism....

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Being a typical guy, I assembled it without looking at the instructions 😂…. I wonder if it’s got a recirculate?

What a great, honest line

My old one has exhaust only. At least I think it does...the instructions are around here somewhere.