topic Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help! in Community Spirit

Portable Air Conditioner Help!

adore.clothing — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:07:50 GMT

Does anyone here have a portable air conditioner?

I've just moved into a property with no cooling (didn't even think to check as where I came from never got very hot) so I'm in desperate need of a portable air con unit.

It would be in an open plan lounge dining area in a small townhouse, one of these seems to fit the bill although a bit on the expensive side: http://www.harveynorman.com.au/polocool-6-0kw-cooling-only-portable-air-conditioner.html

I can only vent it to a window that faces my neighbour who are across the driveway, are they likely to get any noise through the open window? Id probably just use it during the day so no night time noise.

If you have a portable air con what do you think of it? In 38+ degree heat does it make a discernable difference? I'm not keen on spending a huge amount of money if there won't be much difference in air temp. I've seen one like this advertised privately for sale at half the price but am worried about having no warranty etc.

Any advice appreciated!

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

adore.clothing — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:09:36 GMT

Forgot to mention I'm renting so no chance of installing air con permanently - and there's no outside wall with enough space as it's just a small place with large windows!

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

debra9275 — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:14:17 GMT

We just purchased a 2nd hand convair unit last weekend. It does work. On a 40 degree day it kept the temp to 23-24 degrees and we have 13 ft ceilings. They're probably all different, & the vent through the window doesn't make much noise, though it does expel hot air.

If I were you, I'd go to Harvey Norman or the Good Guys to check out the working units

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

punch*drunk — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:19:08 GMT

My dad has a Nobo one, very efficient. Just check the guidelines for what sort of area they will cover. Dont try and use it in a room thats too big.

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

bright.ton42 — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:31:16 GMT

I would have thought you could get one a bit cheaper, I went down this path a couple of months ago but did decided on a

split level wall one, but I do own my own home. I did get a lot of really helpful advice on the Whirlpool forums too.

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

adore.clothing — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:33:25 GMT

Thanks Debra, just what I wanted to hear

I don't mind if they are noisy inside, just hoped the neighbours wouldn't complain about any noise from their side of the driveway. Seems like it should be ok. There's enough distance that they won't get blasted with hot air from the vent I hope!

The Nobo's do look very good and are more reasonably priced but unfortunately there's no retailers where I live that sell them, just my luck!

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

purple_haize — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:38:26 GMT

Have you ever thought of buying one off ebay, would probably be alot cheaper.....there are plenty of good ones out there, My MIL got one off ebay at a reasonable price.

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

joz*garage — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:52:18 GMT

the machine you'd want should handle 38+ temps

ive got and recommend the polocool 6.0 kw, handles 44 degrees no worries, in a large room

its a gem

(cost me $1000, depends where you go, and the units rated by choice magazine)

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

joz*garage — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 04:57:09 GMT

oh i just clicked your link, yep.. youre on the right track

(if you can get a second handy for half the price, go for it, coz they wouldnt be all that old, the 6.0kw model only came out a little while ago

just see it working first before you hand over your readies

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

amber-eyed-girl — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 05:57:52 GMT

You will have the unit inside with you, that will be the noisy thing.

The outlet you pop through the window will not be noisy, but as mentioned here, will be expelling hot air.

A lot of it.

So if the neighbour has a window directly opposite, that might be an issue, or any plants outside (wilt).

My mother in law has a neighbour who directs the hot air right through her kitchen window basically as it is only a metre away.

She is not happy.

Hopefully you will be fine. You should be with a driveway in between 🙂

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

fiestas*girl — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 07:45:08 GMT

i have one ....it cant cope with the large lounge area and i cant close a door to dining room and kitchen, it takes the temp down a few degrees, takes hours to get there.

my home is unusually hot, getting full sun all day .

my son says its useless, i however feel like it takes the unbearable edge off......., eventually

Dont expect too much from it

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

fiestas*girl — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 07:46:02 GMT

oh yeah it is noisy too. i bought one of t

he more expensive models thinking it would be quieter.......nup

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

adore.clothing — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 03:26:37 GMT

Thanks for all the replies, I actually decided against getting one.

I had a look at the Polocool and it sounded like a jet turbine! It was surprisingly noisy. The only window I could have vented it out of has a garden next to it so the plants would suffer.

Think I'll just have to bear with the hot summer, hopefully it won't be for too much longer.

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

purple_haize — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 05:26:53 GMT

Why dont you buy a pedestal fan, and you can move it from room to room, they are cheap enough, you could get two.

We do have an airconditioner that does the family room, lounge room and kitchen, and just feel it in the bedroom, so we bought a pedestal fan and it keeps the room really cool.

Plus we can move it to where the air conditioner, cant be felt.

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

adore.clothing — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 06:39:23 GMT

I have 6 pedestal fans in my house

They barely make a difference in this heat!

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

purple_haize — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 06:58:43 GMT

I have one in my craft computer room and it has made a huge difference, I am in Melbourne where it has been really hot.

Re: Portable Air Conditioner Help!

debra9275 — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 04:13:26 GMT

adore, have you seen these new things around. My parent have one and it works really well as a cooler

it sort of rotates I dont know much about them but they're very happy with it and it's easy to move around I think it's called an air multplier