Portable Air Cond.
- Thread starter theo2
- Start date
I have a solairus 13k btu in my bedroom and the good news is it cools that room down no problem but that's it and the room is plenty small to so don't plan on cooling down big areas with one.
The bad parts are it was expensive, the intake/exhaust tubes are ugly and a security issue, its loud and power hungry for the amount it cools off.
I would look into a window unit because they do a lot better job, even consumer reports says that potables are lacking compared to other options.
The bad parts are it was expensive, the intake/exhaust tubes are ugly and a security issue, its loud and power hungry for the amount it cools off.
I would look into a window unit because they do a lot better job, even consumer reports says that potables are lacking compared to other options.
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
I have a Pinguino that I picked up at Costco in a 12 x 16 shed that is my small workshop. Thus far it has worked fairly well pulling down the heat and humidity in that small space. August may be a different story. It is a single tube unit which I understand is not as efficient as a twin tube. It is not too loud and isn't real big but probably knowing what I know now I might have opted for a wall installed window unit and indeed may make that change if August proves to be too hot. I might add that the shed at present is uninsulated but that will likely change over time. After that is done it might be perfectly adequate. I think it is about a 12,000 BTU unit.
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
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- Oct 22, 2009
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We have 4. I had a window unit before it rusted out. I prefer the portable.
Shiftless
Well-known member
As I understand it, those units blow hot air out through that tube. That air comes from the room. So that creates a slight vacuum aka negative air pressure. No structure is air tight, so hot, humid outside air comes in through the cracks and into your room. That is why those units are not as efficient as window mounted units which use outside air to cool the condenser.
I have a 250 sq. ft. single car insulated garage and have a 10,000 btu portable unit and it barely keeps up in the Pennsylvania summer. It takes the edge off but that is about it. I have small slider windows so a window unit would not fit. I would have been better off tearing out one of the windows, enlarging the opening, and putting in a cheap 5000 btu window unit. One of these days i may end up doing that anyway.
The unit throws out nice cold air, but when you see the amount of air it is exhausting to the outside, that makeup air has to come from somewhere so you are just sucking in an equal amount of warm outside air back into the building. I don't know, but the portable ones that have 2 hoses, one for intake and one for exhaust, probably work better.
The unit throws out nice cold air, but when you see the amount of air it is exhausting to the outside, that makeup air has to come from somewhere so you are just sucking in an equal amount of warm outside air back into the building. I don't know, but the portable ones that have 2 hoses, one for intake and one for exhaust, probably work better.
nh_yota
Well-known member
Different models have different features - such as dual air ducts for intake/exhaust and an auto drain so you don't need to empty the condensate bucket.
Shiftless
Well-known member
^^^^^^^
That would be the only portable that I would consider.
Here we have the benefit of what locals call "natural air conditioning" (Fog)
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
I learned about that after I bought my single tube unit. There are some ideas on You Tube about boxing in the intake and installing a second hose which gets around the negative pressure problem. I think I might try this. If you are buying new a double tube appears to be the right way to go if you plan on using a portable.
I honestly won't bother trying to get that all boxed in, mine is a 2 hose unit and I broke one of the air tubes so I had to run it for a week sucking air from the room and didn't really notice much difference.
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
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- Oct 22, 2009
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All ours are single tube. We keep our bedrooms at 66 or cooler. No issues
cory58
Well-known member
I'm wondering how much difference 1 tube vs. 2 tube really makes.
1 tube - ***** air in from the room, creating negative pressure, which ***** unconditioned air into the room, BUT after the unit's been running for a few minutes, the air entering the unit has already been conditioned, so the unit either cools better or doesn't work as hard to cool the same air again.
2 tube - no negative pressure issue, but 100% of the air entering the unit is unconditioned, causing the unit to work harder to cool the air.
My only experience is in commercial buildings, where we absolutely don't want negative pressure, but also don't want to introduce any more outside (unconditioned) air into the system than required during heating and cooling seasons.
1 tube - ***** air in from the room, creating negative pressure, which ***** unconditioned air into the room, BUT after the unit's been running for a few minutes, the air entering the unit has already been conditioned, so the unit either cools better or doesn't work as hard to cool the same air again.
2 tube - no negative pressure issue, but 100% of the air entering the unit is unconditioned, causing the unit to work harder to cool the air.
My only experience is in commercial buildings, where we absolutely don't want negative pressure, but also don't want to introduce any more outside (unconditioned) air into the system than required during heating and cooling seasons.
TX63CONV
Well-known member
I second everyone's opinion...I have a 12,000btu unit in my 20' race trailer and it wont keep up at all during the day but at night once it cools down, it works fine. The trailer is un-insulated which doesn't help.
DieselPills
Banned
Don't buy a single tube. They are EXTREMELY inefficient. Much more than you think. The cold air going over the condenser vs hot outdoor air does not increase efficiency if that cold air came from the same unit.
Imagine leaving the bathroom exhaust fan on 24/7, that's what it is like having a single hose unit. You are losing that much conditioned air every minute of every day. And they blow a TON of air, more than your average bathroom exhaust fan.
For years I had a cheapo 5000 BTU window unit in my bedroom, never had a problem keeping it super cold. Then the HOA got upset about the window unit so I replaced it with a 9000 BTU portable unit. (single hose) If the temperature outside is more than 90, I can't get my bedroom below 75, even though the unit is supposedly almost twice as powerful! Even if you buy one big enough to keep up you are literally paying to air condition the outside.
Dual hose units are nice, but they aren't cheap. I'm going to put the window unit back in and tell the HOA to f*** off. Cooling season will be over before they can actually enforce anything on me.
The one thing that is nice about single hose units is they are always pulling fresh air into the house, but, you could get the same effect by running the A/C and leaving a window open at the same time!
Imagine leaving the bathroom exhaust fan on 24/7, that's what it is like having a single hose unit. You are losing that much conditioned air every minute of every day. And they blow a TON of air, more than your average bathroom exhaust fan.
For years I had a cheapo 5000 BTU window unit in my bedroom, never had a problem keeping it super cold. Then the HOA got upset about the window unit so I replaced it with a 9000 BTU portable unit. (single hose) If the temperature outside is more than 90, I can't get my bedroom below 75, even though the unit is supposedly almost twice as powerful! Even if you buy one big enough to keep up you are literally paying to air condition the outside.
Dual hose units are nice, but they aren't cheap. I'm going to put the window unit back in and tell the HOA to f*** off. Cooling season will be over before they can actually enforce anything on me.
The one thing that is nice about single hose units is they are always pulling fresh air into the house, but, you could get the same effect by running the A/C and leaving a window open at the same time!
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65ranchero
Well-known member
Dual hose units are nice, but they aren't cheap. I'm going to put the window unit back in and tell the HOA to f*** off. Cooling season will be over before they can actually enforce anything on me.
Whats HOA's problem? is it sticking out from the front of the house or are the "Karens" walking around the house being nosey?
Max Capacity
Member
Wow, talk about "back from the dead"...
I'll be putting a used window AC in my garage in the summer time. You can pick up used ones for little money. It's a garage...
I'll be putting a used window AC in my garage in the summer time. You can pick up used ones for little money. It's a garage...
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
Sometimes an old thread can contain useful info. To amplify my previous contribution to this thread I can now state for sure NEVER buy a single hose portable. I was sold a bill of goods on this one. In fact NEVER buy a portable at all. Small window unit is the way to go for cheap and mini split for anything nicer.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Finding high efficientcy unit is difficult and expensive.
maximized98
Well-known member
I have a customer that uses one in his 15x15 garage. It actually seems to work pretty well considering the heat and humidity. I'm considering getting one. The high price tag of the mini splits deters me
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