topic Re: Mini air conditioners in Community Chat

Mini air conditioners

hennypenny — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:47:50 GMT

I keep seeing ads for mini airconditioners. I was wondering if anyone had tried one?

We had never needed AC due to being a mile or so from the ocean, but weather patterns have changed and we have had some scary heat.

I am tempted to fall for one of the ads, but need to hear from others.

Re: Mini air conditioners

MIHS66 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:54:32 GMT

My sister and I both bought one. They worked great in small spaces. I work from home and set mine on the desk near me and I could really feel the cool air while I worked. I bought mine because my sister liked hers so much. The only problem was that when we tried to use them this season, hers leaked and mine wouldn't stay on. Maybe you will have better luck with some of the newer more expensive models.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:56:21 GMT

What do you mean by a mini a/c? Do you mean those portable units on wheels and the hose goes out your window? If so, I know a few people that have those and love them. For one friend that's her only a/c in her house. Someone else I know uses it upstairs in her bedroom because although she has central air, it doesn't get her upstairs that cool.

I have contemplated getting one for our family room. We do have central air but we get the blazing hot sun on the back of our house and we have no shield from it at all. Consequently, we end up turning the a/c on 68 so we are comfortable in there. If we got a portable unit, we could bump the central air up but I'm not sure there would be any cost savings at all to our bill.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Lucky Charm — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:01:21 GMT

I'm not sure what you're talking about, I'm guessing it's not a small window unit compared to a whole house (central air)?

The ones on wheels that have a hose out the window, I do know someone who had one and the house was cool from it, but the house was more or less in the shade anyways, so I don't know if you have shade trees to help keep the sun off your house.

If you live in a low humidity area of the country, they have those swamp coolers I've seen talked about here on these forums. They seem to be a solution to those who don't have central air.

Re: Mini air conditioners

esmerelda — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:14:35 GMT

@Lucky Charm @Lipstickdiva and anyone else who doesn't know about these things must have popup blocker set to the max and have ads turned off.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Kachina624 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:15:30 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
What do you mean by a mini a/c? Do you mean those portable units on wheels and the hose goes out your window? If so, I know a few people that have those and love them. For one friend that's her only a/c in her house. Someone else I know uses it upstairs in her bedroom because although she has central air, it doesn't get her upstairs that cool.

I have contemplated getting one for our family room. We do have central air but we get the blazing hot sun on the back of our house and we have no shield from it at all. Consequently, we end up turning the a/c on 68 so we are comfortable in there. If we got a portable unit, we could bump the central air up but I'm not sure there would be any cost savings at all to our bill.

@Lipstickdiva I have rooms in my house that were virtually unusable at certain times of the day due to intense sun pouring in at 5800ft in altitude in the desert. Out of desperation, I got some window tint film and applied it myself. It was like night and day. I couldn't believe how it lowered the room temperature. As a bonus it also afforded me privacy in my front-facing bedroom.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:17:39 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Lipstickdiva wrote:
What do you mean by a mini a/c? Do you mean those portable units on wheels and the hose goes out your window? If so, I know a few people that have those and love them. For one friend that's her only a/c in her house. Someone else I know uses it upstairs in her bedroom because although she has central air, it doesn't get her upstairs that cool.

I have contemplated getting one for our family room. We do have central air but we get the blazing hot sun on the back of our house and we have no shield from it at all. Consequently, we end up turning the a/c on 68 so we are comfortable in there. If we got a portable unit, we could bump the central air up but I'm not sure there would be any cost savings at all to our bill.
@Lipstickdiva I have rooms in my house that were virtually unusable at certain times of the day due to intense sun pouring in at 5800ft in altitude in the desert. Out of desperation, I got some window tint film and applied it myself. It was like night and day. I couldn't believe how it lowered the room temperature. As a bonus it also afforded me privacy in my front-facing bedroom.

@Kachina624, never thought about that. Thank you so much!

Re: Mini air conditioners

noodleann — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:22:34 GMT

@hennypenny wrote:
I keep seeing ads for mini airconditioners. I was wondering if anyone had tried one?
We had never needed AC due to being a mile or so from the ocean, but weather patterns have changed and we have had some scary heat.
I am tempted to fall for one of the ads, but need to hear from others.

Since they use water and a fan to cool, I think they'd work best in a hot, dry climate. I'm in a river valley and have to run a dehumidifier in the basement. Rising damp is a problem if I don't. I think those water fans (they're not ACs if they're what I describe) would wind up making me feel clammy at best, and a hot soggy mess at worst.

Re: Mini air conditioners

eddyandme — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:53:47 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
@hennypenny wrote:
I keep seeing ads for mini airconditioners. I was wondering if anyone had tried one?
We had never needed AC due to being a mile or so from the ocean, but weather patterns have changed and we have had some scary heat.
I am tempted to fall for one of the ads, but need to hear from others.
Since they use water and a fan to cool, I think they'd work best in a hot, dry climate. I'm in a river valley and have to run a dehumidifier in the basement. Rising damp is a problem if I don't. I think those water fans (they're not ACs if they're what I describe) would wind up making me feel clammy at best, and a hot soggy mess at worst.

A roll-up a/c has a built-in dehumidfier, but they're not those desk-top mini's.

Re: Mini air conditioners

noodleann — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:59:12 GMT

@eddyandme wrote:
@noodleann wrote:
@hennypenny wrote:
I keep seeing ads for mini airconditioners. I was wondering if anyone had tried one?
We had never needed AC due to being a mile or so from the ocean, but weather patterns have changed and we have had some scary heat.
I am tempted to fall for one of the ads, but need to hear from others.
Since they use water and a fan to cool, I think they'd work best in a hot, dry climate. I'm in a river valley and have to run a dehumidifier in the basement. Rising damp is a problem if I don't. I think those water fans (they're not ACs if they're what I describe) would wind up making me feel clammy at best, and a hot soggy mess at worst.
A roll-up a/c has a built-in dehumidfier, but they're not those desk-top mini's.

I'm not talking about those air conditioners and I don't think the OP is either. They're not "mini."

Re: Mini air conditioners

shaggygirl — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 17:53:50 GMT

I keep seeing ads popping up a lot for the brand Blaux. If you google that you'll see what the OP is referring to. Or at least I think that's what she means. But there are other brands of the same type thing that have better reviews.

Re: Mini air conditioners

hennypenny — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 18:30:46 GMT

I wasn't clear. I apologize!

We do have one of the ones on wheels. It is a problem for us to use as all of our windows are crank out. Our house is about eighty years old. We put it in the den bathroom and have rigged a thing in the window to hold the hose but block the opening so the cats can't escape.

What I was talking about are those little tiny cube like ones you put on a desk. I am getting pop ups for them, along with the clothing ads from places where the models have no heads.

I was afraid they were junk, but it seemed so tempting to try.

We would get real AC but it means ripping up the hardwood floor to access the pit below the house . The last estimate was 15k. Not sure we want to invest in it.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Allegheny — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 19:10:44 GMT

@hennypenny wrote:
I wasn't clear. I apologize!
We do have one of the ones on wheels. It is a problem for us to use as all of our windows are crank out. Our house is about eighty years old. We put it in the den bathroom and have rigged a thing in the window to hold the hose but block the opening so the cats can't escape.
What I was talking about are those little tiny cube like ones you put on a desk. I am getting pop ups for them, along with the clothing ads from places where the models have no heads.
I was afraid they were junk, but it seemed so tempting to try.
We would get real AC but it means ripping up the hardwood floor to access the pit below the house . The last estimate was 15k. Not sure we want to invest in it.

@hennypenny Have you seen the ductless AC systems. First time I saw one was at a beach house that didn't have a basement. They are pretty neat. Believe the model was a mitsubishi.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Spurt — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 22:35:43 GMT

@hennypenny

I remember a tiny one that QVC sold under the Homedics brand and I have also seen it advertised on TV.....I think it was $49....and the reviews were mixed---some people said the thing leaked ... I noticed its not on QVC's inventory any more....

Its still sold at local retailers.....I see reviews with 3 and 4 star ratings.... (google it).....cant post other retailer sites against Forum rules...

Re: Mini air conditioners

hennypenny — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 20:51:50 GMT

@Allegheny that would be our choice but had several companies out to see about installation. Unfortunately the way our house is built the walls where it would be convenient won't work. The house is built like fort Knox with two by four redwood timbers and heavy "mission style" plaster.

Re: Mini air conditioners

hippiechick7897 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:18:22 GMT

I have the homedics one from QVC.

If you are sitting literally directly in front it a foot or so away it’s great.

If you are any further away, higher than or lower than the unit it does nothing.

It cools you, not the room.

The only time it leaks is if it’s tipped backwards. Don’t try moving it with water in it.

Re: Mini air conditioners

hennypenny — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:33:57 GMT

@hippiechick7897 , your post made me laugh.

Last year when we were having a heat wave it was 114 at two in the am. calledcostcoo and all the hardware stores. no portable AC units. Finally called sears and they said they had two. They wouldn't hold one for us so we ran over there. We told a friend what we had done and she said she had one that leaked and ruined her hardwood. So on the way home we stopped at the pet store and bought a huge cat potty box that is under the ac.

What I was thinking regarding the little ones like you have that it would be good on the kitchen counter.

Re: Mini air conditioners

Kachina624 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:39:41 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
@hennypenny wrote:
I keep seeing ads for mini airconditioners. I was wondering if anyone had tried one?
We had never needed AC due to being a mile or so from the ocean, but weather patterns have changed and we have had some scary heat.
I am tempted to fall for one of the ads, but need to hear from others.
Since they use water and a fan to cool, I think they'd work best in a hot, dry climate. I'm in a river valley and have to run a dehumidifier in the basement. Rising damp is a problem if I don't. I think those water fans (they're not ACs if they're what I describe) would wind up making me feel clammy at best, and a hot soggy mess at worst.

@noodleann If that's how they work, they are mini evaporative coolers. I use a big one to cool my entire house but I live where it's very dry, like 6% relative humidity. It's very effective; it's 102° here today and 70° in my house. As soon as the humidity goes up, it becomes less effective. They are very inexpensive to operate with just a fan and some water used.

Re: Mini air conditioners

hippiechick7897 — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:59:31 GMT

@hennypenny I keep mine on a plastic plate 🙃

Re: Mini air conditioners

DiAnne — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 22:22:31 GMT

I have an old fashioned window unit in my bedroom. I live in the PNW so it is not usually that hot but I use it in the summer to sleep. If we have a heat wave (which seems to be happening more and more) I retire to my bedroom to read or watch TV. 90% of time I would not use central air.