Air Conditioners/Air Coolers?

[Finner]

Hey Guys,

Just looking for some advice regarding A/C. I live in an ~830 square foot apartment, that is directly above the condo pool. I get sunlight nearly the entire day through my windows, and as such my condo heats up like CRAZY, especially during the summer.

I am looking for either a portable air conditioner or an air cooler that doesn't need to have anything hanging out a window. I live on the second floor, with the street being within jumping distance to my balcony, so leaving my windows unlocked and open is not really an option when i'm gone/sleeping.

So basically i want an air cooler that is cheap, can at least cool my bedroom (~180 square feet), and doesn't need any parts hanging out the window.

Anybody know anything that could work for me?

[Dion]

Jeebus! My concern would be the roof collapsing and the pool draining into your apartment.

[ken0042]

(note to Dion- on this planet water runs down; not up.)

I think your best bet would be a dehumidifier. Most AC units require some sort of venting; as unlike with a heater- it is physically possible to create heat, but you cannot create cold; you can only remove heat. Meaning that heat needs somewhere to go.

[Finner]

Originally Posted by ken0042

(note to Dion- on this planet water runs down; not up.)

I think your best bet would be a dehumidifier. Most AC units require some sort of venting; as unlike with a heater- it is physically possible to create heat, but you cannot create cold; you can only remove heat. Meaning that heat needs somewhere to go.

Yah i know. Any idea where i could find something like that? You have no idea how hot it gets in here. Currently with the weather outside still fairly chilly, the temperature in my condo is getting pretty close to 30 without a window open.

[ken0042]

How opposed are you to having something outside your window? Like if something was pressed up against the inside of the screen, would that be OK?

Also, you say condo. Do you own or rent? If you own, would you be opposed to using some nails in the window sill to lock the window open enough to let the unit exchange air, but closed enough to keep people out?

[Finner]

Originally Posted by ken0042

How opposed are you to having something outside your window? Like if something was pressed up against the inside of the screen, would that be OK?

Also, you say condo. Do you own or rent? If you own, would you be opposed to using some nails in the window sill to lock the window open enough to let the unit exchange air, but closed enough to keep people out?

Something outside the window against the screen is fine. Could I seriously just buy a aircondition and just leave it outside, with it pressed against the screen? I guess that would work. I was renting and am in the process of purchasing it right now. Another issue is that I have a cat, so havving the window open a little bit would mean it would escape.

[bradster57]

I picked one up last summer from Home Depot. It's a portable and you can move it around the apartment. I usually only turn it on in my room about an hour before I want to go to sleep and close the door. My bedroom is nice and chilly before before then I turn off the AC and close the window. Really easy unit, I just stick the vents out the window for the duration of it. Was about $500, totally worth it for a good nights sleep through the summer!

[Burninator]

Delonghi is a good brand. They have a built in dehumidifier that vents the moisture outside.

[photon]

Yeah the ones you roll around are great. I'd get one of those and then try and figure a way to vent it whilst maintaining your security. Maybe offer the landlord to pay for bars for the window if you can install them.

[gcycheun]

I picked up a Sharp airconditioner off futureshop.ca it was a bit expensive ($799) but it is very quiet and runs at about 36dB per the box. I know some units are quite loud and that was one of my biggest concerns. This one is also portable and has a built in air purifier. It cools down my big room approx 400sq ft quite well.

[mac_gurl]

Originally Posted by bradster57

I picked one up last summer from Home Depot. It's a portable and you can move it around the apartment. I usually only turn it on in my room about an hour before I want to go to sleep and close the door. My bedroom is nice and chilly before before then I turn off the AC and close the window. Really easy unit, I just stick the vents out the window for the duration of it. Was about $500, totally worth it for a good nights sleep through the summer!

We bought one of these for our condo at Costco, and it was the best money we ever spent! Highly recommend picking one up.

[Finner]

Originally Posted by mac_gurl

We bought one of these for our condo at Costco, and it was the best money we ever spent! Highly recommend picking one up.

So is costco the best place to be looking for these? Or futureshop? Or Home Depot?

[DEvans]

^^^ also picked up the rolling A\C unit last summer and also consider it a great buy. It cools down our whole upstairs in about 30-45 minutes so I don't have it running when I'm not home...

[DEvans]

Originally Posted by Finner

So is costco the best place to be looking for these? Or futureshop? Or Home Depot?

I think any of the above, I priced them out last summer from various places and ended up buying at C-Tire.

[Rifleman]

I got a unit last summer at Wal*Mart. I think it was only $299 or something. Best purchase I've made in a long time. I put it up against the mosquito net in the summer, and it cools down the computer room really well. It even starts to get a little chilly.

And don't listen to those things on the box that say it is only meant for a room no bigger than XX' x XX' x XX'. As long as the room isn't taking in more heat than the air conditioner is cooling, eventually, the room will get cold. And if not, at least it will be cooler than before.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Rifleman

And don't listen to those things on the box that say it is only meant for a room no bigger than XX' x XX' x XX'.

I tend to agree. The room dimensions are likely meant for different climates, like the southern states, where the temperature and humidity get much higher than here, and the A/C unit needs to be on 27/7 becaues the outside temperature doesn't drop at night. (Unlike Calgary where it cools down most nights.)

I did just get central A/C installed at the end of last summer, but prior to that I had a window A/C unit that was intended for 150 square feet, and it was good enough to keep my 1300 sq ft house 24 degrees most days, then on the couple of really hot days I would just close my bedroom door and it would cool down my 300 sq ft bedroom nice and quick.