Portable A/C

E92inNC · 06-09-2016, 09:18 AM

Just wanted to get some info from any appliance experts in here. Looking to get one for my room, about 200-250 sq. feet, so I don't have to have the house A/C running all the time. Any info helps regarding electricity costs, maintenance, BTUs, brand(Honeywell, LG, Frigidaire?)etc.

Its gonna be triple digits for the next four months and a good month and a half of 110+ so it'll be on a lot.

TIA

Alfisti · 06-09-2016, 09:48 AM

A split system would make more sense than portable if your residence allows it.

overcoil · 06-09-2016, 10:10 AM

My home is full Mitsubishi ductless - fantastic however these split units are pricy and the lines can be unseemly if not designed into the original plans or hidden by moldings.

EALm4 · 06-09-2016, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxyblue

Just wanted to get some info from any appliance experts in here. Looking to get one for my room, about 200-250 sq. feet, so I don't have to have the house A/C running all the time. Any info helps regarding electricity costs, maintenance, BTUs, brand(Honeywell, LG, Frigidaire?)etc.

Its gonna be triple digits for the next four months and a good month and a half of 110+ so it'll be on a lot.

TIA

For your needs:
http://www.newair.com/portable-air-conditioners

UglyBuzzard · 06-09-2016, 10:21 AM

When I lived in the Bay Area it would get very hot a couple of weeks a year. Did not have whole house AC so bought a bunch of R2D2 units. All 12K BTU+. If it is over 95, you will need to sit in front of these units. They will not keep up with the heat to cool a whole room - maybe a small bedroom with door closed but nothing like a master, family, or living room. Just sharing a real world experience.

Alfisti · 06-09-2016, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

My home is full Mitsubishi ductless - fantastic however these split units are pricy and the lines can be unseemly if not designed into the original plans or hidden by moldings.

This.

overcoil · 06-09-2016, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EALm4

For your needs:
http://www.newair.com/portable-air-conditioners

How do these units work? Where does the heat from the condenser coil get expelled to?

EALm4 · 06-09-2016, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

How do these units work? Where does the heat from the condenser coil get expelled to?

No idea and dont care. Was able to turn my tiny studio into a meat locker for $400

jwzimm · 06-09-2016, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

How do these units work? Where does the heat from the condenser coil get expelled to?

They exhaust out the window just like all other portable A/C units. The product graphics are really deceptive though.

I recently bought a dual-hose 12kBTU unit off Groupon that is working really well. The dual-hose setup is much more efficient too as it does not use air from the room to extract the heat and dump outside.
https://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-120...d-dehumidifier

E92inNC · 06-09-2016, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EALm4

For your needs:
http://www.newair.com/portable-air-conditioners

Thanks, the small 10100E looks like it'll fit my needs. How long have you had it and what kind of upkeep are needed? How often do you replace the filters, refrigerant, and any other maintenance since you've had it? How much does it add to your electric bill?

eluded · 06-10-2016, 01:57 AM

i have a 14K BTU, enuf to cool few hundred square feet. Costco carries it.

DDD31 · 06-10-2016, 09:17 AM

I went with a Whynter (ARC-131GD) dual hose portable AC unit that provides 13,000 BTU. I've had it for 2 years now to keep my upstairs bedroom cool while allowing me to turn the central AC unit to a higher temperature. The cost to run the unit is very low, probably less than $15 month. The only maintenance issue with the unit is to periodically (once/week) drain water out of the evaporator collector. I am very happy with it and it will get the room down to a chilly 65 degrees with no problem.

Be sure to get a dual hose unit because the dual hose allows the unit to pull in outside air to cool the condenser rather than using the cool air in the room that the AC just spent energy cooling.

bimmerboyE92 · 06-10-2016, 09:34 AM

I bought a portable unit (10,000btu) for the bedroom when the central AC went out. It took 4-days for my preferred contractor to get an appointment (happened on a Friday).

Bedroom is 20x30 or so. It easily cooled it to 74deg. The only thing is that it was LOUD!!! It had a timer function so we would turn it off at night. Room would stay cool enough until morning.

The mini splits would be a better solution for the noise. Or get a 2-stage AC unit and automated ducting???

06-09-2016, 09:18 AM	#1
E92inNC Captain 1710 Rep 606 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: woods by the sea iTrader: (2)	Portable A/C Just wanted to get some info from any appliance experts in here. Looking to get one for my room, about 200-250 sq. feet, so I don't have to have the house A/C running all the time. Any info helps regarding electricity costs, maintenance, BTUs, brand(Honeywell, LG, Frigidaire?)etc. Its gonna be triple digits for the next four months and a good month and a half of 110+ so it'll be on a lot. TIA
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06-09-2016, 09:48 AM	#2
Alfisti Brigadier General 6501 Rep 3,030 Posts Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Combi Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	A split system would make more sense than portable if your residence allows it.
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06-09-2016, 10:10 AM	#3
overcoil Major General 3074 Rep 5,577 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	My home is full Mitsubishi ductless - fantastic however these split units are pricy and the lines can be unseemly if not designed into the original plans or hidden by moldings.
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06-09-2016, 10:21 AM	#5
UglyBuzzard Colonel 6356 Rep 2,329 Posts Drives: F90 / M5 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	When I lived in the Bay Area it would get very hot a couple of weeks a year. Did not have whole house AC so bought a bunch of R2D2 units. All 12K BTU+. If it is over 95, you will need to sit in front of these units. They will not keep up with the heat to cool a whole room - maybe a small bedroom with door closed but nothing like a master, family, or living room. Just sharing a real world experience.
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06-10-2016, 01:57 AM	#11
eluded 2JZ-GTE 3031 Rep 3,992 Posts Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sofia iTrader: (0)	i have a 14K BTU, enuf to cool few hundred square feet. Costco carries it. __________________ A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
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06-10-2016, 09:17 AM	#12
DDD31 Captain 1649 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 24 M3CS, 95 E320, 85 300CD Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	I went with a Whynter (ARC-131GD) dual hose portable AC unit that provides 13,000 BTU. I've had it for 2 years now to keep my upstairs bedroom cool while allowing me to turn the central AC unit to a higher temperature. The cost to run the unit is very low, probably less than $15 month. The only maintenance issue with the unit is to periodically (once/week) drain water out of the evaporator collector. I am very happy with it and it will get the room down to a chilly 65 degrees with no problem. Be sure to get a dual hose unit because the dual hose allows the unit to pull in outside air to cool the condenser rather than using the cool air in the room that the AC just spent energy cooling. __________________ 2021 MBB M5C (retired) 2018 Daytona Violet M3 ZCP (retired), 2016 AW 550i (retired) 2013 EBII 335i (retired), 2008 Platinum Bronze 535xi (retired), 2007 Monaco Blue 335i (retired) 1999 Hellrot M3 coupe (retired)
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06-10-2016, 09:34 AM	#13
bimmerboyE92 Captain 412 Rep 737 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Louisville, KY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2001 Miata NB K24Z3 [0.00] 1990 Miata NA 1.8 VVT [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	I bought a portable unit (10,000btu) for the bedroom when the central AC went out. It took 4-days for my preferred contractor to get an appointment (happened on a Friday). Bedroom is 20x30 or so. It easily cooled it to 74deg. The only thing is that it was LOUD!!! It had a timer function so we would turn it off at night. Room would stay cool enough until morning. The mini splits would be a better solution for the noise. Or get a 2-stage AC unit and automated ducting???
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