Question:
the Southern California, USA, temp is in the mid-90's where I
live, and my wife and dog are passed out on the floor of the coolest
room in the house like victims of some kind of gas leak, so it must be
time for me to think about air conditioning again.
We have windows that slide sideways and have blinds on them, so window
air conditioners won't work for us. So, I am thinking of getting a
Sunpentown 12000 btu portable air conditioner for the bedroom (which
appears to be about 320-400 sq. ft). Any thoughts about this unit?
Do portable air conditioners of this variety work at all or are they
complete garbage? I am sure it is not the best solution, but it is
only around $500 and postpones the expense and hassle of dealing with
mini-split installation until some future point when I am better able
to deal with it.
Answer:
In Southern CA, its pointless for your situation...and you still have to
move the heat outside, most of those use a 4 inch flex duct, and then
you have to open a window, new issues suddenly..
As far as not being the best solution, it should not even be an
option...portable AC units were originally designed for enviroments like an
auto shop, where they could use spot cooling, or the air flowing over one
small area...like the underhood area of a car...
That $500 would buy you a PTAC, and might even get itinstalled by a few
contractors...if the timing was right as far as pricing. IF you have one of
the old flat tops, and it sounds like you might, your best option MIGHT be
like everyone else there does..a package unit on the roof, with ducts
leading to the areas with the duct coming from the roof area....or a
MasterCool with a precooler might be an option...at least you would have
some cooling, and IF you are in the PS area, there is a sheetmetal fab man
there that is familiar with making the upduct covers for the flattops...
After having installed prob close to a hundred mini splits in the area, the
hassle of installation is about 4 hours....with two guys. They are simple to
install, and do what they claim to do...at least the Mitsubishi and SAnyo
ones. Might want to serously reconsider that, and figure out how much you
think you will save by throwing $500 at a unit that isnt in your best
interest even if it looks mightly promising.
You can prob find a contractor, that would take that $500 as a down payment,
and financethe rest, and then, you are where you need to be....I cant
imagine living out there and not having AC, particularly with pets...
