Re:Is a Portable Air Conditioner Safer than a Window A/C?

[Guest guest]

Jill,

Portable A/Cs come with the same inefficient filters as window units,

but they are far less efficient and can get moldy. If you already have

a window A/C, and you use it rarely, I'd stick with it. Just clean it.

(See my earlier post on cleaning and necessary supplemental filtration).

Jeff May

Author, " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips "

________________________________________________________________________

> 18. Is a Portable Air Conditioner Safer than a Window A/C?

> Posted by: " jill1313 " jenbooks13@... jill1313

> Date: Mon Jun 9, 2008 5:03 pm ((PDT))

>

> If anyone can answer this asap I'd really appreciate it.

> I find that my window a/c's tend to get moldy. I tend to use window

> fans unless it gets above 80-85 or so. I was wondering if portable

> a/c's are safer? I can just empty out the water like a dehumidifier,

> right? I only spot use an a/c when it's really hot. Those days/nights

> it's necessary, but that might be about 10 nights the whole summer.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jeff. I searched your name but did not find a post on cleaning

air conditioners. Can you reference the # for me so I can go find it?

The thing is, I don't like putting the window a/c's in. I've had a

terrible time the last 2 nights in this heatwave and slept poorly last

night because it was so hot and humid but most of the time my window

fans work great and are all natural, no mold, no chemicals, etc. So

when I install the window a/c for the summer, that blocks one window,

I have to put the fan in another, and it takes up a lot of window

space and light. Also, I do get congested after a few weeks of use

(mold) as I'm sensitive. And I've got the a/c in there for 3 months

for about 10 days worth--though those 10 days in NY are terrible (as

the last two) and much needed. So if they are relatively equal,

wouldn't a portable allow me to take it in and out of the window as I

please (from what I understand, the plastic thing with hoses you put

in the window is very easy to install, doesn't need all the drilling

and screws and heaving of a window a/c). The other thing is, does

water stand in a portable? I found that water will not drain out of a

window a/c no matter what. I've drilled extra holes at times. I think

that's one reason they get moldy?

Any further thoughts much appreciated as I see a few used ones on

craigslist for reasonable price. All I'd want it something to cool my

bedroom to tolerable during heatwaves ie in the 90's.

>

> Jill,

>

> Portable A/Cs come with the same inefficient filters as window units,

> but they are far less efficient and can get moldy. If you already have

> a window A/C, and you use it rarely, I'd stick with it. Just clean it.

> (See my earlier post on cleaning and necessary supplemental filtration).

>

> Jeff May

> Author, " Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips "

>

> ________________________________________________________________________

> > 18. Is a Portable Air Conditioner Safer than a Window A/C?

> > Posted by: " jill1313 " jenbooks13@... jill1313

> > Date: Mon Jun 9, 2008 5:03 pm ((PDT))

> >

> > If anyone can answer this asap I'd really appreciate it.

> > I find that my window a/c's tend to get moldy. I tend to use window

> > fans unless it gets above 80-85 or so. I was wondering if portable

> > a/c's are safer? I can just empty out the water like a dehumidifier,

> > right? I only spot use an a/c when it's really hot. Those days/nights

> > it's necessary, but that might be about 10 nights the whole summer.

>

[Guest guest]

I had a portable ac and really liked it. It was at different apartment

but put it in the sliding glass door. Not much water had to be drained.

My daughter has one but she has to empty hers more. Mine had a

dehumidifier with it. You can put them in most windows, they give you

sliders.

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I talked to two people today who have them and love them. It

avoids the hassle of putting them in and out of windows every year,

and the venting tubes can be cleaned out. So I " m going to try one. I

only like to spot air conditioner one room anyway and only in

uncomfortable levels of heat. It seems to me given the dirt and grime

of NYC and the fact that standing water ends up in ac's because they

don't drain well, and then with temperature fluctuations leads to

mold, that they have to be better than window ac's.

>