Air Conditioning & Cooling

[banjoeskimo]

So, this probably isn't relevant to guy guys atm, but I could use some help.

It's summer in the States right now and I'm looking to cool my apartment from the 40+ degree heat. I've just discovered that there's very little possibility I'll be able to rig up an actual air conditioning unit, as it would require some modification of our windows and the landlord isn't a fan. So, I'm looking into evaporative coolers. Problem is, I've never used one, I've no idea what features I should be looking for and what a reasonable price is. I'm only looking to cool a small 2 bedroom apartment (primarily a small to medium living room), if that helps.

Any advice is welcome, and links to good or bad examples on Amazon or the like would be extremely helpful. Discuss!

[Stevorooni]

I've always found evaporative coolers pretty useless.

You can get portable refrigerated airconditioners that don't require you to modify your windows, they just have a fat pipe that you stick out of your window. They're around $500AU over here.

I bought one a couple of years ago and and it worked pretty well. Didn't make my unit icy cold but it made it less hot and it was great if you aimed it directly at you.

I don't have air conditioning in my house I have now but I live in a cooler climate so my portable should still do the job.

[incompatible with life]

Evavopartive coolers really only work on really hot days where there is pretty much low humidity. Otherwise it's just a fan blowing water vapour.

As I understand, it relies on being able to use the water vapour to absorb the heat and then disperse outside where there it is dry (hence why you alo need to open a window in the room). If it's humid outside there won't be a great enough concentration gradient to work effectively.

Granted, even under ideal circumstances you're not going to have cooling nearly as good as an aircon. But it does still do the job quite well on very hot days.

I got a $99 one from bunnings two years ago. It's worked quite well for me so far, but certainly isn't quite enough to really cool down a room.

[TrinityJayOne]

I have no idea what it falls under, but my mum has what I believe is a portable air conditioner. It has no pipes that go outside, you just fill it up with water and by some sort of witch magic it converts that into cool air. Not as good as a proper wall-mounted air conditioner, but better than a fan.

[incompatible with life]

Yep, that's an evaporative cooler

[Ryan Hayward]

If you settle on a portable aircon, avoid a brand called tecoair.
I purchased one from Fridge & Washer City that had to be recalled for safety concerns. The upgraded replacement model died after only a few uses and was terribly loud, couldn't sleep with it on.

[Spazzallo]

Working at Sam's Warehouse, we had some Portable Air-Cons for $300. Needed the pipe out the window though. We sold 12 and 6 came back faulty. 2 blew up and the other 4 smelt like smoke.

What I am trying to say is if you buy one of these things make sure it has a decent warranty and that it is not some cheap shit brand.

[Stevorooni]

Also don't buy electronic goods from discount warehouses

[Spazzallo]

Also don't buy electronic goods from discount warehouses

Exactly :p.

Meh the DVD players are alright and TV's aren't too bad for how much you pay for them... Not including the 40inch televion we had in a few weeks ago with resolution at something like 800x750.

[Big Kev]

Ridiculous contraptions.

In order for them to function properly you have to open your doors and windows. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Get a pedestal fan.

[aubergine]

I'm keen on looking into de-humidifiers for this coming Queensland summer. Evap coolers are pretty useless here where the humidity is the issue. Probably a different story in Canberra (where we had an exap cooler as a child) which is drier than a lizard's arsehole all year round.

[incompatible with life]

Ridiculous contraptions.

In order for them to function properly you have to open your doors and windows. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Get a pedestal fan.

not really, because it's to let the water vapour out. Assuming you're not opening the window on the same side a hot breeze is blowing into, it does end up workggn quite well, again, assuming you're in a dry environment.

[Big Kev]

There's the catch cry.

Assuming you're in a dry environment.

Consider how inconsistent weather is, and then judge how effective it will be.

[TAT]

Ridiculous contraptions.

In order for them to function properly you have to open your doors and windows. Kind of defeats the purpose.
Not true. I've got a reverse-cycle air conditioner that came with rectangular inserts which fill the gap of the window created when you open it to fit the pipe out.

When Melbourne had the heatwave at the start of the year (not as bad as SAs, but still...) I wouldn't have been able to sleep without it. I ended up putting it in my bedroom with the door shut, and even then the 40-degree inside temp could only be lowered by 15 degrees at most - not SUPER EFFECTIVE, but more than enough to be able to sleep through the night.

[Big Kev]

Reverse cycle is not evaporative cooling.

[TAT]

Isn't it?

[incompatible with life]

Isn't it?
Nope, It's essentially just an aircon and heater mashed into one.
edit:Okay, maybe not quite as simple as that. (http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/Reverse_cycle_AC.pdf)

There's the catch cry.

Assuming you're in a dry environment.

Consider how inconsistent weather is, and then judge how effective it will be.
From memory, it did the job fairly consistently. Certainly at the very least a step above a fan.

[texta]

So, this probably isn't relevant to guy guys atm, but I could use some help.

It's summer in the States right now and I'm looking to cool my apartment from the 40+ degree heat. I've just discovered that there's very little possibility I'll be able to rig up an actual air conditioning unit, as it would require some modification of our windows and the landlord isn't a fan. So, I'm looking into evaporative coolers. Problem is, I've never used one, I've no idea what features I should be looking for and what a reasonable price is. I'm only looking to cool a small 2 bedroom apartment (primarily a small to medium living room), if that helps.

Any advice is welcome, and links to good or bad examples on Amazon or the like would be extremely helpful. Discuss!

IMO just toughen up. I love hot weather.

[Ryan Hayward]

Oxymoron there, you live in tasmania. You're lucky if the weather exceeds 26c during the summertime.

[banjoeskimo]

IMO just toughen up. I love hot weather.

It was above 35 C in my apartment at 1AM for 3 weeks running. F-- off. :p