Portable Air Conditioner Advice

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 10:44pm

Due to the odd layout of my apartment I have been contemplating getting a portable AC unit. The prices are much higher than normal window units though and the customer reviews are all over the place.

Does anyone here have any advice/experience with a portable unit? Pros and cons?

Thanks

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 11:17pm

They have a container in them that collects water. Once that reservoir is full, the unit shuts off. I've never been able to get through a night without it shutting off. Usually I have to dump the water about every 5 hours (sometimes less if there is a lot of humidity in the air).

[romantico]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 12:24am

I know someone who has a portable one that has a hose that goes out the window.He said it works fine but in this kind of weather where it's 93 degrees and high humidity,you have to be close to the unit to really feel the air.He says it has problems circulating but I was over at his house yesterday and I thought his place was rather comfortable.He paid about $400 for it (I think it's an LG)He has no regrets but thinks if he had to do it over again he'd get a window AC. We had this discussion because two summers ago I had trouble with my AC and the repair guy fixed the problem temporarily but said I'd need a new AC (which is gonna cost me around $4,000-$5,000) So, two + years later and it is still holding up fine and I'm hoping it lasts me this summer. If not, I may have to look at buying a portable AC myself.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:10am

I've had one since last summer and have never had to empty any water or anything.
I have a SoleusAir GB-PAC-08E4.

ut in this kind of weather where it's 93 degrees and high humidity,you have to be close to the unit to really feel the air.

That is exactly true. Even in the studio that I live in.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:13am

ljay, that's why you spend all the money on a nicer portable a/c and then invest in a smaller cheap fan to help spread that cool air around. A fan for your a/c is kind of redundant, but very helpful.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:14am

HA! I'm doing that as we speak. While the fan oscillates, it's not very powerful.

Updated On: 7/7/13 at 01:14 AM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:16am

That's true. I guess it all depends on how and where you're using it (e.g. for sleep versus for hosting)

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:19am

Yup! On the couch, it works great. Once I get to my bed, not far from the couch, it's not as cool. I get so nauseous in this heat. I have been all day.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:21am

I have never loved central air more than I do now. Spent many many years (15+) in apartments without a/c. And then when window units were finally affordable and practical, I would always end up sleeping next to them in my bedroom. And, if you didn't know, that's supposed to be terrible for your sinuses and allergies. Ugh.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:27am

Ah! My sinuses/allergies were actually acting up a bit tonight. Probably from being glued to the AC.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 9:52am

"I've had one since last summer and have never had to empty any water or anything."

ljay, where does the water that it pulls out of the air go?

[mikey2573]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 10:42am

I had one that worked fine. It was a bit cumbersome connecting the hose to the window, but I could easily move it from room to room. It did have a little drainage plug in the back where you occasionally had to unplug the hoe and attach a little hose to it and tip the unit to drain it (I usually just wheeled it over to the front door for that). I paid less than $300 for it and it was 15,000 BTUs so it was pretty powerful. Bought it at oceat State. Just sold it for $150 a few weeks ago as I decided to get central air in my home this summer.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 12:12pm

ljay, where does the water that it pulls out of the air go?

From an online review
"You really don't ever have to empty water from it. It uses the hot exhaust to evaporate the water that condenses in the unit, and exhausts the evaporated water out the hot air exhaust. A truly great idea, and I can't believe more units out there don't do it this way."

"The KY-80 under my (normal) conditions automatically disperses excess water through the out-take air hose."

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896808070
Updated On: 7/7/13 at 12:12 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 12:35pm

We love ours. We only keep it in the bedroom, though. It pulls a ton of water out of the air, but we only have to change it every week or so.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:40pm

Hope you get some relief in this heat. But a cheap fan or a series of fans really will help any air conditioner. The fan in the air conditioner has a limited radius or arc. An under-$20 fan will double the effect.

Good luck.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:43pm

Currently on sale at Amazon - no idea if it is any good.
Good for a couple of hours

Posted: 7/7/13 at 1:49pm

Mikey the hard part is unplugging the Hoe. They are persistent little ladies

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 7/7/13 at 2:51pm

Thanks for all the responses. I do have a couple fans I could strategically place to help circulate the air.

I think I'm going to go ahead and get one.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 7/8/13 at 11:37am

Having a problem w my lrge living rm one. The water will not evaporate. it's only in its 3rd yr and while it does cool having to empty the damn thing every 30-45 mins is becoming a real pain. Have someone coming to look at it this aft but this is not boding well. sigh. and a Happy freaking Bday 2 me!!!