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Using a window AC unit as a portable indoor unit.

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Stealthy

Member
I was at one of the home improvement stores today and I noticed that the portable AC units are much more expensive than the window units. Why couldn't I just purchase the inexpensive ($125.00) 6000 btu window unit and mount it inside, over a removable drip tray rather than buying the $400.00 portable unit?
Just wondering??
 
G

Guest

rofl

there's a reason half the window AC is OUTSIDE buddy... it needs a place to vent the hot air i believe

the first time i got a window ac i set it up in my bedroom and noticed infront of it is really cool but behind the ac is super warm... hmmm lol

portable ac's must have an extra feature (which is probly why they're 500 bucks)
 
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globel

Member
the newer window ac units dont have a drip they evaporate the water. also if using co2 the portable ones will take your co2 out evean if you duct it right. There also alot more expensive cuz there portable.

I use a window unit mounted inside. there rear is in a ventilate room. you need air in and out. it gets very hot. before i was done with my room i dident have an air intake and exhaust behind the ac and it was 156 F witch will peal paint... after ventilation system it is always below 100.


Also I would get a bigger ac then 6000 btu the more BTU the FASTER it cools the less it has to be On the less electricity.
 
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S

Stealthy

Member
Thanks Globel. That's exactly what I was talking about. Mounting it inside (maybe have the back of the AC venting into my storage room).

Alienweed,
There are people around here making chillers out of friggin water dispensers for shits sake. I assumed someone around here has figured out a way to make it economically efficient to use a window unit instead of a portable.
Attitudes like that are the reason I left OG years ago. BTW thanks for all of your help and input.
 
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hazeywonder

Member
I did this last year, found it to be very easy what I did was. Make a box out of mdf that fit around the back of the ac leavening about 4" on each side mounted the ac in it. From there I split my 6" fan into the top of the box and cut the bottom 18" off so a bucket would fit under it. The air draws up from the bottom and thought the ac and out the top. The ac front of course is mounted in the room. I did find something interesting that with the fan on it, it never once dripped water out of the bottom during 90+deg days. I'm going to take advantage of that this year and mount it up at the top of my room.
 
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hazeywonder

Member
Not really non that are all that good at least here is the front and the bottom of the box on the opposite side. When i make my next one(next few days) ill take some pics..
Front Sealed up


Bottom of the box from the back. Next to the cooler. I have since put up drywall and like i said well be making a new box soon.
 
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hazeywonder

Member
anytime guys. the key to these running well is keeping the back cool, your going to need a fan and not a pc fan or anything a real fan or blower. This will do two things it will keep the air moving so that condensation doesn't build up and drip and it will remove any heat from the other room.
 
2buds

2buds

Active member
I seen one done before using a rubbermaid tote, 4" blower and some flex duct. As stated, you have to have airflow/ventilation around the back. All that heat has to go somewhere, if it sits in a room and builds for hours and hours I could see it peeling the paint off the walls. I have yet to see one that didn't drip some, especially on a rainy day, lots of humidity, a window ac unit can produce enormous amounts of water from condensation. I've seen mine with a stead stream running out the back. My unit is mounted in a knee wall that was about 16" thick so the rear barely cleared the outer wall so I installed a drip hose to route the waste outside.
 
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hazeywonder

Member
2buds- yes they will drip but its when the water condenses on the case and beads up.. with a big fan you should be able to remove the water before it condenses. On that point I also have a dehumidifier. But that was a new acquisition. Also when I think about it now the air that it draws through the case was also heated in the veg room so it might have lost most of its humidity on those days.
 
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Guest

Stealthy said:
Thanks Globel. That's exactly what I was talking about. Mounting it inside (maybe have the back of the AC venting into my storage room).

Alienweed,
There are people around here making chillers out of friggin water dispensers for shits sake. I assumed someone around here has figured out a way to make it economically efficient to use a window unit instead of a portable.
Attitudes like that are the reason I left OG years ago. BTW thanks for all of your help and input.
Click to expand...

Yeah but it isn't a safe thing to do bro... they aren't made for that...

Are you implying I had an attitude? Lightin up... I said nothing rude... wtf

Edit: I really dont see what I said that could be taken as 'having an attitude'... but whatever it is... sorry? I was just trying to help... not sure what I said?

But anyways... dont you think blowing all that hot air/moist air from the AC into another room will eventually build up and cause problems in the room? You'll need to ventilate the room you're exhausting your AC into to make it safe.... seems like more work and money
 
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2buds

2buds

Active member
The drip I get is condensation from the inner coil cooling the air inside. The condensation from the inner coil runs through tiny passages to the rear where it puddles in the tray for the rear fan to pick it up and sling it against the rear coil to help keep things cool. This condensation is generally consumed with the heat and fan in the rear cooling the coil but on high humidity days the fan just doesn't pick enough of it up and the rest runs out the drain spout. That's why window units have to tilt slightly to the rear so the condensation doesn't drip inside. You ever remove a window unit after its been running a while, all that water running inside your shoe ain't just condensation on the outside of the case, all that water comes from the tray(steel pan that makes the bottom of a window unit) that all the components mount to. The condensation puddles there as it makes it way to the drain at the rear. Good luck with your projects. If you get a window unit that slides out of the casing you'll see what I'm talking about, you mount the case then slide the unit in. Great for maintenance each year. I like to pull mine out in the spring and wash it out with bleach water to kill any mold or fungi living in there.
Peace
 
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gratefuldawg

I bought a portable one on ebay for $50 +$100 shipping. If your not running c02, they work great. It came with a big exaust tube that I just blow out the ceiling. Probably stinks up the neighborhood, but I'm legal biatch. I've seen rooms made out of wood with the window unit. i think you'll be good. Make it so in the winter months it blows the heat through the rest of the house.

Best of luck, keep them ladies cool, they love it.
 
WhoAmI?

WhoAmI?

Member
Does anyone have any experience with industrial chillers such as can-coil, russell, etc.?? Or large AC units, like a 2-ton system?
 
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Speedy

New member
You can get multi-ton units that are precharged with an outside and an inside unit. Looked really neat.
 
S

Stealthy

Member
alienweed said:
Are you implying I had an attitude? Lightin up... I said nothing rude... wtf

Edit: I really dont see what I said that could be taken as 'having an attitude'... but whatever it is... sorry? I was just trying to help... not sure what I said?
Click to expand...

Sorry. I misunderstood.





2buds,
Yeah man my old 5000 btu window unit dripped a steady stream everyday for years. I actually had to drill larger holes in the bottom for better drainage.

hazeywonder,
I have a big ass Dayton laying here so exhaust shouldn't be a problem! Awsome!

HIDEyourBUD,
That thing looks sweet. Gonna look into that!
 
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