Re: Window air conditioner question

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Your friend would probably have much better luck with a ductless air

conditioner. They are about $600 at Home Depot. An exhaust must be installed

in a window, but it is quite easy. The condensate fills into a compartment,

similar to a dehumidifier, which is much better than the drain line on a window

system. I have seen many cases where this condensate runs into a wall cavity.

The ionizers are not effective in removing spores in the air, as they only

charge spores and other particles, causing them to deposit on surfaces.

Additionally, many ionizers also produce ozone; although the manufacturer might

call it super oxygen or activated oxygen. Ozone is not recommended in occupied

spaces.

Good luck,

Connie Morbach, M.S., CHMM, CIE

Sanit-Air, Injc.

cleanlinest.wordpress.com

>

>

> My friend with the duct issues that were so kindly addressed here, had them

cleaned anyway because the landlord paid for it. Like everyone said, it did not

work, being the flex duct. As a matter of fact, it seems to have made matters

worse. Now he wants to try window air conditioners, instead of moving. Does

anyone know of any type of window AC that would be better than any others? and

is there any special way to keep them from not molding? Also I have heard that

electrostatic air filters actually irritate the mold spores and make matters

worse. True anyone?

>

> -

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry Connie,

But I have to disagree with you about the portable A/C. They are very

inefficient (most only exhaust air so they are constantly drawing in warm, humid

air, rather than just reciruclating the indoor room air as a window A/C would;

also, none of the units I have seen come with adequate filtration, so they are

subject to mold build up on the cooling coil which is not as accessible as the

coil on the window unit for cleaning.

Of course, no window unit comes with adequate filtration either, but this is

easily gotten around: just use supplemental (approx. MERV 7,

<http://www.webproducts.com/Detail.bok?no=53>) filter material, cut to size, to

cover the entire air intake grille of the window unit.

You could buy about 6 window units for the cost of one portable!

Also, the drain plug should be removed from the bottom of the A/C so that

condensate can drain out;otherwise, the splash ring aerosolizes crud from the

condensate. (If no drain plug is present, drain holes have to be drilled at the

back end.)

You may have observed wall decay because an A/C was not pitched properly; the

unit must be installed at a slight angle so that water drains to the exterior.

May

" Jeff May's Healthy Home Tips, A Workbook for Detecting, Diagnosing, and

Eliminating Pesky Pests, Stinky Stenches, Musty Mold, and Other Aggravating Home

Problems, " s Hopkins University Press.

>

>

> Hi ,

> Your friend would probably have much better luck with a ductless air

conditioner. They are about $600 at Home Depot. An exhaust must be installed

in a window, but it is quite easy. The condensate fills into a compartment,

similar to a dehumidifier, which is much better than the drain line on a window

system. I have seen many cases where this condensate runs into a wall cavity.

>

> The ionizers are not effective in removing spores in the air, as they only

charge spores and other particles, causing them to deposit on surfaces.

Additionally, many ionizers also produce ozone; although the manufacturer might

call it super oxygen or activated oxygen. Ozone is not recommended in occupied

spaces.

>

> Good luck,

> Connie Morbach, M.S., CHMM, CIE

> Sanit-Air, Injc.

> cleanlinest.wordpress.com

>