Educamate me, portable in room AC

[stomachmonkey]

My office is an oven.

Summer time is here and it's only going to get worse.

After about 1 pm starts to become almost unbearable. I have two 12 ft high East facing windows and even though I have blackout curtains and heavy drapes it bakes in there.

It's not the HVAC.

I have 4 desktops, laptop, 5 monitors and miscellaneous other crap that puts out heat.

There is literally a 15-20 degree difference between my office and the hall just outside.

Thinking in room AC is my easiest solution.

Anyone have experience with units they like, or hate?

[Crowbob]

Don't get one that has a condensate reservoir that has to be emptied every 17 seconds it seems like.

Though that may not be a problem if the air in your building is already conditioned and dehumidified. You'll need a window to blow the warm air out of, too.

[stevej37]

I have one..they work ok, if you don't mind the noise.

[BK911]

It is the A.C..
Measure discharge air temp and flow.
Min 55f and 1 cfm per sq ft.

[Heel n Toe]

Do you keep the door to the hall closed?

If so, I suspect it's to keep noise out or to prevent family from wandering in and distracting you from your work.

If that's the case, try putting a couple of 20" X" 20" vents in the door... one at the bottom and one at the top. If you could also put a box fan on the floor in the hallway blowing cooler air into the room, the warmer air would exit to the hallway from the top vent.

If there is no outlet in the hallway, just put the fan inside and against the door and pull the cooler air in.

If you don't keep that door closed, just do the same thing with the fan.

Insulation, reflective tint, or something more to cover the windows would also help.

[stomachmonkey]

It's not the AC. Well yes in a way. It was not designed to accommodate the amount of hardware running in that room.

I'd likely need to convert the office to a 3rd zone. $$$$$$$$

Double french doors to the hallway, always open because cats. Family? I wish they respected a closed door. On evening conference calls I'll inform all family members that I have a call in a minute and I'd appreciate some quiet. Naturally they'll wait until 5 seconds after it kicks off to start yelling to each other from opposite sides of the house. For added drama my wife will usually stand right outside my office. Tried the fan in the door thing. Helps but not enough.

[BK911]

This is in your house? Or office?
Either way you can shut off some air from other spaces to push more cold air into your office.
Measure discharge air temp.
Last resort, install a ductless mini split.

[dad911]

If the ducts are accessible, a competent HVAC contractor can add ducts/vents, and zone your office.

minisplit might be a good solution

[red-beard]

Portable units pull air in from the room for the cooling in the system, so it is not closed loop.

The real solution is adding real closed loop cooling to the room.

Option 1: Window unit. This may be a temp solution until option 2.
Option 2: Mini-Split. They are very efficient and the install is not bad.
Option 3: Add a 1.5 ton A/C unit for that room only.

[Don Ro]

Don't know if these are still available, but you get the idea.
Bought 3 at Home Depot for $300 each when up in Portland back in '09...two weeks of ungodly heat up there.
One for my bedroom, one for the elderly couple's bedroom, and one for the living room.
Sold one and have the other two here in AZ...used one in my patio for a couple of months...just parked next to us as we sat outside for hours at a time...made for an enjoyable patio experience in the 105' heat.
You'll need a window vent and flex hose...those parts come w/the unit.
.
Really a sweet unit...all manner of features...controlled by the remote.
Controllable louvers, sweeping or stationary blowing...etc., etc., etc.
Makes super cool air.
.
https://www.amazon.com/SHARP-CV-P10PC-10000-Portable-Conditioner/dp/B003FL76XU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
.
~~~~~~~~~
.

.

[stealthn]

Only challenge is where/how to vent the hot air from the AC

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by BK911

This is in your house? Or office?
Either way you can shut off some air from other spaces to push more cold air into your office.
Measure discharge air temp.
Last resort, install a ductless mini split.

No place to put a mini split. Front wall is all windows and the only other outside wall is built ins floor to ceiling.

The space has an 18 foot ceiling. It was not designed for use as an office, it was originally intended as a library / reading, sitting room. The actual designated office is in another spot.

The issue is not that the cooling is insufficient for the space, the issue is I have a lot of equipment that puts out a lot of heat in that room.

For a variety of reasons anything requiring altering the existing HVAC is off the table.

Hence my specific request for information re: stand alone portable units.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by stealthn

Only challenge is where/how to vent the hot air from the AC

The portables vent through a window, correct?

That would not be an issue.

[MysticLlama]

A mini-split has an indoor and outdoor unit connected by a couple 3/4" or 1" hoses, doesn't need an outside wall. Has a small compressor that sits outside somewhere, like a regular hvac, but mini.

[look 171]

I agree with Dad911 and Red Beard and all others. A mini split system will make your problem go away. It might even freeze your ass off

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by stealthn

Only challenge is where/how to vent the hot air from the AC

I am installing a roof-top mini split in my data room. I'm moving all heat generating stuff with the exception of computers into a room with a Mitsubishi mini split and heat pump. I am installing a roof top remote condensor also for a slushy machine for the same reason.

[look 171]

One of those window AC will do the trick but not nearly as efficient as the Minisplit. The window AC will more then take the edge off.

[HarryD]

You need to think about noise.

Window shakers are relatively noisy.

The Portable units are quieter but still make their presence known.

A Split unit is fairly quiet.

If it was me and you had a long term need, a split is the way to go to add a bit of spot cooling.

[Baz]

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

No place to put a mini split. Front wall is all windows and the only other outside wall is built ins floor to ceiling.

The space has an 18 foot ceiling. It was not designed for use as an office, it was originally intended as a library / reading, sitting room. The actual designated office is in another spot.

The issue is not that the cooling is insufficient for the space, the issue is I have a lot of equipment that puts out a lot of heat in that room.

For a variety of reasons anything requiring altering the existing HVAC is off the table.

Hence my specific request for information re: stand alone portable units.

A Mini-split does not have to mounted to the outside wall. It can go literally anywhere.