Air con solutions

[GlumyGloomer]

Dh has his home office in the loft conversation, and it gets really hot in summer. We can't really afford full on proper AC, do any of the portable type units actually work? Any recommendations?
TIA

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This thread is from a few years ago so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but we’ve recently updated our best air conditioner page with lots of great Mumsnetter-approved portable, compact AC units to help you beat the heat this summer! We hope it’s useful.
MNHQ

@GlumyGloomer

Dh has his home office in the loft conversation, and it gets really hot in summer. We can't really afford full on proper AC, do any of the portable type units actually work? Any recommendations? TIA

I have an Arlec unit from Homebase. Yes, it works wonderfully and I don't know what I ever did without it, but it is noisy as are most of them. Not really good for conducting zoom calls with it in the background.

You can buy the proper units now though how hard they are to install I don't know. I believe they are quieter though:

www.cooleasy.co.uk/2-5kw-9000btu-premium-inverter-srk25zs.html

I have the takoma goodhome portable from B&Q - got it last year for the heatwave and it cooled a 4mx4m room really well, but it was quite loud for 5 mins every hour or so once temp was reached. Also needed to have the pipe through the window, but they had a temporary kit for that and did add £2-£3 a day to electric, but so so so worth it when it hit 37!!!

Thanks for the replies,
Oodle how can you make a temporary hole in a window? We've been a bit flummoxed by that.
Alan does your one need a hose out the window? I'm a great fan of your ducks btw

I have no experience of them but would one of those really expenisve funny looking Dyson fans work to save you knocking holes in things?

Look up Dyson air purifiers. They have various models. I'm sure there are competitor models too if you shop around.

What you need, surely, is a window air conditioner. I have heard, anecdotally, that the portable thingies don't work very well.

Here's a link on how to install a window air conditioner. www.clerawindows.com/blog/how-to-install-window-air-conditioner-units/

Please note I am in Canada, and building methods are different on this continent.

@GlumyGloomer

Thanks for the replies, Oodle how can you make a temporary hole in a window? We've been a bit flummoxed by that. Alan does your one need a hose out the window? I'm a great fan of your ducks btw

Haha! Sorry, I should have explained it better! The kit I got, you stick velcro tape around edge of window and then it's like a nylon screen with a hole for the pipe - it doesn't look like it would work, but it really did!!!

@GlumyGloomer

Thanks for the replies, Oodle how can you make a temporary hole in a window? We've been a bit flummoxed by that. Alan does your one need a hose out the window? I'm a great fan of your ducks btw

It does. It has a kit like oodles. I put it in the doorway of the en suite and vent it through the window in there. DH was quite taken by a wifi version in B&aQ the other night but we don't need it.

And thank you 🦆😘

We don't have an AC unit in our conservatory but we do have an air cooler and it's made a lot of difference in there compared to a standard fan.
We add water to it, and ice packs as well if we really want the water cold, and it blows our cold air. Comes with a remote control. It has different speeds and settings from normal fan to air cooler and also has an air purifier. We bought this one when it was in Home Bargains last year.

Should have said though, it can be noisy, and will constantly bleep at you when it's time to top up the water.

I have heard, anecdotally, that the portable thingies don't work very well

They work wonderfully if you buy the right BTU for the size of the space you want to cool. If you put a small one in a big room it won’t do much.
One of the best things I’ve ever purchased. The water one above is ok, but the vented ones are another league and don’t need any top ups or ice to work. The only thing you ever need to do with a vented is empty the water trap occasionally from where it collects moisture from the air. It needs doing probably twice a summer.

We have a loft conversion, and the portable AC is excellent. We bought this one from Screwfix which is very reasonable. Re. Venting out the window I cut a hole in the box of the AC and stuck the tube out then duct taped to the open window. You need to do this to create a well sealed room for effective cooling.www.screwfix.com/p/goodhome-takoma-mobile-air-conditioner/551hv

I got something off eBay (but new) for about £290. Use it for a couple of months in the summer in the bedroom and it's bliss. Stick the pipe out the window.

Just looking at air con for my conservatory- is there a maximum temperature that they can operate in? It was 47 degrees in there earlier! Would love something that would bring the temperature down considerably!

I had the same problem, I decided to buy myself a portable air conditioner from Samsung, but it did not work properly for a long time, for some reason the indicator started blinking. For a long time, I could not understand what the problem was. The warranty has long expired and calling the wizard or going to the service was a paid service, so I decided to look at the solution to my problem on the Internet. I came across an interesting ac light blinking blog. Fortunately for me, I was able to solve my problem, it didn't even take a lot of time, I think it's all because of the detailed step-by-step instructions.

The main problem with single hose portable units, is they reduce the air pressure in the room, so warm air is drawn in from outside through the floor/ceiling/ doors/ vents etc.

Ideally you want a dual hose one, they are much more efficient, as the "suck 'n' blow" are both outside.

If really want to know....