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Who knows about window AC units?
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Author:  Taamar [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Who knows about window AC units?
OK, so we don't live in the humid hot South, but summer has come to Denver and Shel and I need to do something about the heat. We're in a rental, so we don't want to do anything permanent, but the fans just aren't enough. The large back window of the upstairs faces southwest... the upper rooms will hit 120 midday and the walls will actually radiate the heat through the night. The downstairs isn't as bad... runs out 90 mid-day and cools off at night because the walls don't get as hot. The problem is that I have to get to bed early with my new job, and I can't sleep when it's hot. Sure, my room gets cool around 2AM, but I have to be up at 5!

So... do those window units actually work? How much volume will they actually cool? Do I need to install one for upstairs and a separate one for downstairs? Is this the sort of thing I can do myself? It looks like they are all for double-hung windows, I have side-sliding windows... is that OK? How much will they jack my utility bill (more or less than running 4 fans 24/7?)
Author:  LadyKate [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:28 pm ]
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I've had success with those little $110 window units in the past. They worked really well for one or two rooms. Definitely worth it.
Author:  LadyKate [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:29 pm ]
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And yes, get one for upstairs, one for downstairs, and you can put it in yourself.
Author:  Aegnor [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
My parents use them since their air conditioner got fried. They use one in the kitchen, one in the living room, and one in the bedroom, and one for the guest bedroom when they have someone using the guest room.

I don't think a single unit will cool the whole downstairs, so you might want to get two, or just put it in the room downstairs where you spend the most time.
Author:  Taamar [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re:
Aegnor wrote:

I don't think a single unit will cool the whole downstairs, so you might want to get two, or just put it in the room downstairs where you spend the most time.


My downstairs is half-submerged (seriously weird design) and consists of three small bedrooms and a bathroom... about 500 square feet. Some of the larger window units say they can handle that. The upstairs is a huge living area, the kitchen, a half bath, and the laundry room... about 700 square feet.
Author:  Sasandra [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Up north where I live windows units are pretty standard, they work great, you just need to make sure you get the right size for the area cooled, too high of a BTU capacity and the room will cool too quickly without removing humidity, too low and it will work 100% struggling to cool, here's a good guide of the BTU's to sq ft for buying a window AC unit. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=r ... erly_sized

Also I would recommend getting a Kenmore from Sear, they really are the best for window AC units, while they are a bit more expensive they are the most reliable and also they are significantly quieter than other brands like Fridgeaire. And when cooling multiple rooms with one unit it's idea to have the unit situated in that it blows thru the room it's in towards a doorway into the connecting room it's also cooling. Also electricity costs depend on the units and the temp you have them set at, I have a 12,000 BTU and 8000 BTU Kenmore unit, both energy star versions in energy save I think the worst case on a bad month in the summer the electricity bill was maybe $35-40 over average, and to me that's a small cost to pay to be comfortable.
Author:  Müs [ Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
http://www.homedepot.com/Appliances-Hea ... ogId=10053

I have something like this in my bedroom because of the window problem, all my windows open to the side. Double hung windows aren't as common out west I spose. Was easier to vent to the outside, and the window is still pretty secure.
Author:  NephyrS [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:16 am ]
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When we got our first little house, we used 2 of those small units to cool the whole place, they can work quite well.

And this is in the hot, humid south.
Author:  Aizle [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Who knows about window AC units?
Taamar wrote:
So... do those window units actually work? How much volume will they actually cool? Do I need to install one for upstairs and a separate one for downstairs? Is this the sort of thing I can do myself? It looks like they are all for double-hung windows, I have side-sliding windows... is that OK? How much will they jack my utility bill (more or less than running 4 fans 24/7?)


Yes they work. They can be a bit noisy, as the compressor, etc. is all basically in the same room with you, but you get used to it.

For your type of windows you'll need a casement style window AC unit. If you google "casement window air conditioner" you should find some results that will work for you. They are self install devices. Basically you set them in the window (careful you don't drop it out the window!) then slide the window closed to hold it in place. Some have slide out wings that help to close off the rest of the window space, otherwise you need to cut some wood or plastic to fit the remaining open space on the window.

I'm not sure how much energy they draw, but if you only run it at certain times, etc. it probably won't be terrible. If you put it upstairs and then use some fans in various rooms to move the cool air around, you should be able to bring the overall house temp down and not just the room the AC unit is in.
Author:  Midgen [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:02 am ]
Post subject: 
We use rollaway units here. They can be moved from room to room and stored easily during winter. They also work with any type of window.
Author:  Lonedar [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:05 pm ]
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I use 3 units, one large and two small and it cools our entire 1500-ish sq ft house, sans the kids rooms...but they're kids so they get to learn what it was like when we were kids without AC (real reason is they are on the street-facing side of the house and nothing says "break into me" quite like a window AC unit).
Author:  Diamondeye [ Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:20 pm ]
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they work reasonably well, but if you only have one or two keep the door to that room closed.

Also, they're heavy to install and remove. Be prepared.
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