Standing Air Conditioner
- Thread starter Loxa
- Start date
They aren't quiet. I have a couple, because split system just isn't realistic here. For a few weeks a year, a fabric window covering on the window and a half-decent unit works OK.
My experience is that they don't last all too long, maybe 2-3 years before something goes awry, so buying refurbs / returns / sale items off season is my preference. Can usually get something around 10-12K BTU for less than £200 if I wait long enough.
My experience is that they don't last all too long, maybe 2-3 years before something goes awry, so buying refurbs / returns / sale items off season is my preference. Can usually get something around 10-12K BTU for less than £200 if I wait long enough.
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Soldato
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Bought one a couple of years ago when my partner couldn't sleep in the heat. I could NOT sleep with the unit running. It was loud even by daytime standards - louder than a normal talking level by far.
Took it back after 48 hours
Took it back after 48 hours
Soldato
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Assuming we are taking the cheapest aircon type i.e. one hose out of the window, I recommend going for a good rating, say 10000 BTU or more.
The lower BTU ratings (<9000) can't cope with a medium sized room with a gaming PC in, and whilst they will cool they often go full whack and never achieve your target temperature.
I used to have a 12000BTU unit that I picked up super cheap from Facebook, that dripped and had broken wheels. I bought a brand new 9000BTU unit and it is actually not as good.
Noise wise, all the all-in-one units are noisy. There isn't much you can do other than to go for a higher rated unit and set it to low.
Personally I have found that having a unit on before bed does cool the bedroom down nicely, but then I woke up 2h later in a sweat since the bedroom had heated back up again. The heat radiates out the brick walls that have baked in the sun all day, so the aircon effect is lost not long after turning it off.
EDIT - Something like this is good enough for a room with a gaming PC and then wheel it into your bedroom on a hot summer's evening to sleep comfortably.
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
I buy those Velcro window tent things from eBay to try to keep the hot air coming right back in and they do help, but as a single hose aircon creates negative pressure in a room it will always suck warmer air back in as it runs.
The lower BTU ratings (<9000) can't cope with a medium sized room with a gaming PC in, and whilst they will cool they often go full whack and never achieve your target temperature.
I used to have a 12000BTU unit that I picked up super cheap from Facebook, that dripped and had broken wheels. I bought a brand new 9000BTU unit and it is actually not as good.
Noise wise, all the all-in-one units are noisy. There isn't much you can do other than to go for a higher rated unit and set it to low.
Personally I have found that having a unit on before bed does cool the bedroom down nicely, but then I woke up 2h later in a sweat since the bedroom had heated back up again. The heat radiates out the brick walls that have baked in the sun all day, so the aircon effect is lost not long after turning it off.
EDIT - Something like this is good enough for a room with a gaming PC and then wheel it into your bedroom on a hot summer's evening to sleep comfortably.
Refurbished electriQ 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner A2/P12C | Appliances Direct
Buy Refurbished electriQ 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner A2/P12C from Appliances Direct - the UK's leading online appliance specialist
www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
I buy those Velcro window tent things from eBay to try to keep the hot air coming right back in and they do help, but as a single hose aircon creates negative pressure in a room it will always suck warmer air back in as it runs.
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Soldato
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- 27 Aug 2005
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They're really heavy as well so not really that portable.
As others have echoed - they do the job, but really noisy and take up a lot of space.
We had two in our old flat - I used tumble dryer vent kits and a decent core drill to vent them out of the rooms (drastic, but far more effective than leaving a window open for the hose).
Our next big purchase for the new house will be a proper mini split system - thankfully that's one of the few upsides to a flat roof: we've got somewhere central to site the external unit.
We had two in our old flat - I used tumble dryer vent kits and a decent core drill to vent them out of the rooms (drastic, but far more effective than leaving a window open for the hose).
Our next big purchase for the new house will be a proper mini split system - thankfully that's one of the few upsides to a flat roof: we've got somewhere central to site the external unit.
Soldato
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Ooh this is interesting! I have a flat roof but our low usage means solar panels would be pointless. I hadn't considered the exchanger unit could go up there.
Our lounge is first floor and bedroom second floor, so it would save pipes and stuff running towards the patio.
Man of Honour
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They are stupidly noisy and pretty costly to run. They do the job though and a lot cheaper than a built in system.
Soldato
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One thing to remember is that the portable units can drop the humidity of a room slightly, so you’ll want to leave another window cracked open.
I have a DeLonghi one rated for 9,500 BTU which uses 510W with the fan at full speed and the compressor running hard. It isn’t quiet, but myself and Herself could both sleep through an air raid, so it’s not an issue for us.
Setting the fan to medium mitigates the noise of the compressor coming in and out once the unit has the room down to the target temperature.
I have a DeLonghi one rated for 9,500 BTU which uses 510W with the fan at full speed and the compressor running hard. It isn’t quiet, but myself and Herself could both sleep through an air raid, so it’s not an issue for us.
Setting the fan to medium mitigates the noise of the compressor coming in and out once the unit has the room down to the target temperature.
We have pipework going from a ground mounted compressor to 2nd floor. Its in conduit and runs next to drain pipe, you wouldn't even notice its there after the first couple of days. Next to it is duct for solar panel cabling, again you forget its there soon enough.
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Soldato
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Yeah to echo the others here, ours is very noisy, due to they way they work you can't really make them quiet, that's what split systems are for.
I tend to use ours to cool a room, normally the bedroom down before we go up, so run it for a couple of hours so it gets chance to cool down all the surfaces in the room so it stays cool for a good few hours after you turn it off.
They're a good match if you have solar panels as i only ever use mine when its sunny so it's essentially free to use.
I tend to use ours to cool a room, normally the bedroom down before we go up, so run it for a couple of hours so it gets chance to cool down all the surfaces in the room so it stays cool for a good few hours after you turn it off.
They're a good match if you have solar panels as i only ever use mine when its sunny so it's essentially free to use.
A good quality ceiling fan sounds like a better option... You'd be supprised how effective they are, not to mention the electric efficiency Vs Air-con!
I only need to use the aircon in my Spanish house on hot nights . I.E over 30c.
Edit, the ones I have are the same make but slightly different model to these:
www.lights.co.uk
I only need to use the aircon in my Spanish house on hot nights . I.E over 30c.
Edit, the ones I have are the same make but slightly different model to these:
Lindby ceiling fan with light Auraya, quiet, steel
Lindby ceiling fan with light Auraya, quiet, steel ✓ 50 days free returns ✓ The UK's largest selection of brands ✓ Flexible payment options. Visit now.
www.lights.co.uk
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might be worth taking a look at 'twin duct' air con systems? They need two or three holes drilling but they are near enough silent in operation as there was a hotel I stayed in once that had them installed in the rooms and they worked really well, think it was an 'olimpia' if you want a starting point to research, probably not the most cost effective option compared to a proper split system but if it's just for one room it might just work.
Feel free to correct me if I'm talking rubbish.
Feel free to correct me if I'm talking rubbish.
Yep they weigh about 40kg, calling it portable is a stretch
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A good quality ceiling fan sounds like a better option... You'd be supprised how effective they are, not to mention the electric efficiency Vs Air-con!
I only need to use the aircon in my Spanish house on hot nights . I.E over 30c.
Edit, the ones I have are the same make but slightly different model to these:
Lindby ceiling fan with light Auraya, quiet, steel
Lindby ceiling fan with light Auraya, quiet, steel ✓ 50 days free returns ✓ The UK's largest selection of brands ✓ Flexible payment options. Visit now.
Problem with fan is it does not lower the air temperature, so your PC runs just as hot, but if you do get a ceiling fan make sure it's a DC motor
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