Re: Which AC advice, please?

[Guest guest]

Surella,

Sorry I can't give you a particular brand but what is important is that you can

fit the " Web Products " supplemental MERV-8 filter material behind the louvered

plastic intake grille and that there is enough room for the filter to be in the

space without touching the damp cooling coil. This means you need the style of

A/C with a hinged front panel. (Otherwise the foolishly-thin original filter

just slips in from the top or bottom and it is impossible to put the MERV-8

filter inside.)

Also, you want to be able to have the A/C drain to the outside. The problem with

all A/Cs today is that in order to meet the stringent gov't SEER requirements,

they have a splash ring and festering puddle of water at the bottom. This is

what gets moldy no matter how well you filter. So you HAVE to drain the water.

The older A/Cs had a removable rubber plug but the newer ones may not have a

plug (as removal defeats the increased energy efficiency). So if you can't get

one with a rubber drain plug, you'll have to drill some drain holes at the back

(and be sure that the water drains free and clear from the holes to the air

outside, not onto anything).

We used to have some Emerson A/Cs that had plenty of room at the inside in front

of the coil for the filter, and a removable drain plug, but I don't know what

they look like now. We took the covers off every spring and disinfected the

entire A/C before re-installing it. Never had any mold in 8 years.

It's OK to put the filter in front of the louvered intake grille but it doesn't

look as nice and taping it on so it is airtight and completely covers the intake

can be tricky.

Final tip: don't use corn starch body powder around the A/C. The granules build

up in the A/C and feed the microorganisms.

May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

www.mayindoorair.com

>

> I'm going to buy a small window ac to replace the moldy one in my wall in the

bedroom. I need to do it this week because it's going to be hot again and

honestly, my husband is really angry.

> So I need a 7,000 BTU approx-Sears Kenmore has some inexpensive ones and I

can't understand the specs at all. What's good? What's not? Anyone ever buy a

Sears or an LG? I had bad luck with a Frigidaire and Friedrich I love but it is

too expensive for me right now. I assume this one will get moldy within 3 years

so I figure the less I spend the less I'll be angry when it happens.

> I need some quick specific advice!

> Thanks-Surella

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you! I will print this out, make my husband memorize it and send him to

the store!

By the way, when you say disinfect it every year-how do you do that? What do you

use?

Surella

> >

> > I'm going to buy a small window ac to replace the moldy one in my wall in

the bedroom.