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Portable Air Conditioners:
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The best of Portable Air Conditioners by number of unique Reddit comments:
![Evaporative Air Cooler, Portable Air Conditioner Fan, 3-in-1 Personal AC Cooling & Humidifier & Oscillating Tower Fan w/Timer, [Baby Friendly] Bladeless Remote Control Evap Cooler Fan for Room, 3 Speeds for 3 Modes (Silver)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oqo02Ys4L._SL500_.jpg)
Top Reddit reviews mentioning Portable Air Conditioners:
Question comes up every year.
Drop some money and get this bad boy
And cool down your basement beforehand. It should be an icebox before people get in there.
Stop letting large people down there as well. They create a lot of heat.
Our old basement we couldn’t create an airflow, but if you can you should
In the winter use your airmovers to pump in cold ass air
Absolutely get a portable A/C if you can afford it. During the heat wave last year our apartment would breach the 80’s and be unbearable (it was a terrible place, poor circulation and the radiator was always on) and it saved us. We went with this one and it was a life saver. Totally recommend, you will want it if you plan on staying in SF long term.
If you can’t afford or just don’t want a portable AC unit, go with a good fan and point it out your window during the day to get hot air out and inside to get cool air at night.
EDIT: Also, if you work from home at a desk absolutely get this fan it’s small and quiet but lordy it packs a punch and is great while I work.
Surge is working hard to come back, Their twitter is pretty active. you can get it from Amazon too if you want. And sold here on Amazon, notice it's usually bought with munchie foods.
Pretty miserable for a couple weeks. I don't have central A/C but have a window A/C unit that solves the issue. I wouldn't factor central A/C too heavily into your housing search, you can always buy portable unit(s). Yes, it's a bit inconvenient and requires initial upfront costs, but your housing options will be much greater.
This A/C unit has lasted me though 5 hot summers, easily cooling around 600 sq ft. I've tried several different units and that one is a clear winner.
Surge*
Edit: I'm so fucking edgy and cool I buy surge from amazon I drink 5 a day to make sure to get my full daily recommended value of carbohydrates.
This. If you're sweating, it's already too late. Everything will be sold out and you're driving to Seattle to buy a $20 box fan.
A few years and two houses ago, I splurged on a floor-standing AC unit to use as a backup. I've only had to use it twice, but man, did I ever need it those couple weeks. I moved my desk and the dog's bed to the bedroom and we lived in there.
Unfortunately swamp cookers will do little to nothing here. As others have mentioned it's a humidity thing.
A ductless heat pump, mini split. Is the best option if you can have one installed.
You mentioned a window type one won't work. My apartment has windows that won't work with them either.
The property owners won't let me install a DHP system so I've got a portable AC.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AA8WOAK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_X75ABR78S2520WGNKHQQ
Like this One. It's not a great solution but I'm not hot so that's worth it
I bought this portable AC unit back in May and it's been a lifesaver this summer. If you don't have the right style of windows for a window unit, I found it really easy to install and it works great. I don't know if it would be great if you live somewhere where it's regularly 100+, but for a Seattle summer, it's totally adequate.
Might be worth considering a "portable" unit. Since it sits on the floor, there's a much wider range of windows they can fit.
Example: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-Portable-Conditioner-Display/dp/B01DLPUWG2
Its making a comeback slowly, starting from the east side of the country and slowly going west. Sadly it looks like it died out at Louisiana, this is where amazon steps in.
I would like to make note that sadly they didn't have surge in liquid form in the coolers, but this will work for now.
I have a dual hose portable ac unit. It has an activated carbon filter. Is it safe to be running this thing considering the outdoor air quality, or is it just blasting shitty air into my apartment?
I live in a studio apt, and a stand-alone floor unit works great. Here’s an example of one:
Black + Decker BPACT10WT Portable Air Conditioner, 10,000 BTU:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01DLPUWG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gWQvFbHMAPXJC
Happy shopping!
I have one of these. They work really well. And the opening of the window only has to be a few inches. BLACK+DECKER BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner, 8,000 BTU, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DLPUWL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_lM2eFbDMPET0C
if you have a job, consider getting a portable air conditioner
I don't know how much longer you have to put up with his tyranny, but you can always probably re-sell it once you leave
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLPUWL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Get something like this seriously. It'll save your ass, dehumidifier/fan/AC. Don't use it for 1 day after getting it incase it was on it's side (Anti-freeze).
Pretty sure I've had this one for like 8 years now.
The bad reviews of course pop up first and I've heard people say their customer service sucks, but it's been great for me.
I was in a 500 sq ft studio for years in a brick building and it kept it at 75 all summer vs. 87. Moved to a 1 bedroom that is a couple hundred more and it can't keep the whole place that cool. Put it in the bedroom and it does keep it that cool with the door closed or open the door and the room is cooler and the living room is about 5 degrees warmer. Almost bought a second one the other day.
You mileage may vary obviously and it's certainly not quiet, but it's been great for me working at least 3-4 months of the year constantly for 8 years.
>0in MERV 13 hvac filters and a box fan. You should get the largest hepa filter you can afford for the bedroom. Buy these now, because you will not find them later. Get extra filters.
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>Get an extra cabin filter for you car.
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>The portable AC usually comes with a single exhaust tube. This sucks for two reasons. It sucks hot air into the house and blows your cooled air out. That can suck smoky air into your space.
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>Go to the hardware store and get a 6in aluminum flexible duct, aluminum tape, 10x4 to 6in aluminum flange.
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>Tape the duct to the flange and stick it in the window next to the other tube. Route the duct to the AC intake on the bottom (the hot side).
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>Cover the intake with aluminum foil, then peel it
My AC Unit already does this. But I'm concerned about the smoky air circulating through the unit. Adding a filter to the intake would help but then I'm concerned it might limit the air intake too much.
I got curious, and yup... they are on Amazon.
SURGE, 12 ct, 16 FL OZ Cans
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OK0I4AO/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_O2Wavb1KAE0DT
....
Trying to decide if I want to risk ruining the memory with the reality.
I love Orange Dry. For the uninformed, I would describe it on a spectrum as Orange Juice -> Orangina -> Orange Dry -> Sunkist. Less pulp and more soft drink-like as you move left to right.
Also a PSA to my fellow 90s kids: you can buy Surge from amazon. Just saying.
You can pick some up on Amazon but they had it at gas stations for a limited time in the US this summer. It is also under the name Urge in other countries.
Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028AYQDC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vKXlFb6TKCZFS
This thing is a beast, I use it along with a box fan and I get a great wind chill that’s cooler than the whole room temp
I have an AC in my fire escape window, I have this one: Whynter Elite ARC-122DS 12,000 BTU Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier, Fan with Activated Carbon Filter plus Storage bag for Rooms up to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AA8WOAK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_834yhKiNzhV8C
Works super well and could be a good option for a second AC. Plus it doesn’t screw into the wall or anything or require any bracing so if there ever was a fire you would still have your exit
how loud is that unit? and do you ever have to empty out the water collection?
I saw this one on amazon thats highly rated with dual hose design:
Tripp Lite has an a/c unit, sounds like you will have to use one.
Just vents into the ceiling, no drip pan to mess with. Has worked well for us.
For those that can't get window units but want ac, I'd recommend looking into these portable style ac units. The ac vents itself via a hose that can be routed to a window. While you will have to keep the hose somewhat hidden, it would be a lot less visible than a window unit.
Where is your exhaust going? You could run a standalone window unit like this and just run the exhaust where ever you are exhausting now
is this too expensive?
Whynter ARC-14SH 14,000 BTU Dual... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002W87P9C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I bought one and love it. Cooling spikes up to around 3kwh. Runtime is about 1.6kw
Thanks for the reply! Dont't want you to feel like you have to reply further or anything, but would you say that this portable ac is good for a largish room?
If you can afford it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLPUWG2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
VERY effective in cooling a single room.
I grabbed a dual hose few weeks ago. Amazon: Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU Dual... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028AYQDC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
So far, pretty darn happy I made the decision, the 90 degree weather came and I was ready. I have it next to me in my office and it’s legit chilly in there all day while I work. Sounds like a hotel AC when it’s blasting, but I like the white noise. The room is like 120 sq ft for reference, it probably wouldn’t cool down large spaces as effectively. I’ve used it for only a few weeks, so can’t speak to longevity. We’ll see how it fares in hotter temps, but so far I’ve been straight up cold in that room!