[Blinky-Live-]

Air conditioning
I’m in a rental property which is really starting to heat up and has no air-con so I’m going to head out hopefully this weekend and buy one of those portable air conditioners.



I’ve heard some real horror stories and some really successes so I’m guessing it all comes down to individual manufacturers, has anyone got one? Really keen to hear if someone has one that they swear by and which ones to steer clear of

[iforgotmylast1]

I swear my old dimplex one actually makes the room warmer. Does suck a LOT of water out of the air though.

[Brother Al]

I had a Carrier one when i rented, not unlike the unit you have pictured. It was fucking mad, but cost me a small packet. Dont expect instant antartica in large rooms though, it takes a fair while to cool down a large room. Also check the vents dont vibrate like hell when its on full blast.

The great thing is you can remove it and take it with you if you have to move out. I still have mine so i would recommend a Carrier one.

[larrisajones]

Had one at my parents place - can handle doing a small room but does sweet FA for a large open plan space.

Ours isn't a water one BUT if you do have a water one put dry ice in with the water tray for added cooling-ness and water conservation

[silverspoon]

evaporative coolers are shit, ours makes the room hotter.

[Nardo]

i have one that i have had since i lived in a small unit. i call him R2D2.

works well, but is a bit of a hassle to move around. Cost me $1600 when i bought it but even at that price it was well worth it.

[macc4]

why are those little things so expensive? $1600 got me a massive split system that frosts up the windows during summer in queensland!

[pomrocks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverspoon

evaporative coolers are shit, ours makes the room hotter.

this....they are a huge amount of fail

[diarx]

Keep in mind house security when buying one of these portable air cons.

You need to devise a way to keep the window the duct goes through locked/sealed, otherwise you'll be having to move the outside part of the unit (condenser) every time you leave the house.

Also, if you live in a house without insulation, talk to your landlord about getting in on the Rudd free home insulation package. Only crap thing is the total free amount was recently reduced from $1600 to $1200 - so anything over that amount will have to be payed for by the landlord. Also, there's a bit of an insulation shortage in Australia atm, so you might be waiting a little while for an install.

[nettsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverspoon

evaporative coolers are shit, ours makes the room hotter.

evaporative coolers only seem to work where there's high humidity

which pretty much rules out most of Australia except Queensland

[big eddie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nettsu

evaporative coolers only seem to work where there's high humidity

which pretty much rules out most of Australia except Queensland

You've got that round the wrong way.

They don't work with high humidity.

[twisted_elegance]

I've got my sisters one at my place at the moment and it's been fine. I only have it in my bedroom because our lounge area is so big it isn't very effective. Although they do eventually start to get warm so if you need it to quickly cool the room down then turn a fan on it should be alright.

But split system ftw.

[nettsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by big eddie

You've got that round the wrong way.

They don't work with high humidity.

I was always told they were useless here in Victoria because there was no humidity

not sure why you would bother with an evaporative cooler to be honest...

[WINGZ]

I sold A/C for 12 years, Evaps are fine anywhere south of Sydney, Hot Dry heat like you get in VIC, SA, Southern WA Evaps are fine, all the mining communities in central Australia that is what they use and it gets fuckin hot there we sold thousands of them, but really if you can afford it buy a reverse cycle because they double as a heater also if it is really hot you can leave it on when your not home because if you have an Evap you need a door of window open for them to work properly. I like Evaps though because you are constantly getting freshair pumped through your house. Both have pros and cons. Brands wise Carrier make the best portable Evaps that i know of, if you decide to go Reverse Cycle Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Fujitsu, LG are all good. Just don't buy some dodgy Chinese brand that you have never heard of and you will be safe. With A/C if they are really cheap they are shit and will last you 1 maybe 2 years before they shit themselves some don't even last that long.

[Chunky]

I dont understand how in this day and age some houses dont have aircon or dishwashers. What kind of savage would live like that?!

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunky

I dont understand how in this day and age some houses dont have aircon or dishwashers. What kind of savage would live like that?!

I agree. Although when renting the options from some scummy landlords are so limited. Pisses me right off that people don't update rental properties, I mean ffs its your investment....why ruin it? There are many people out here renting that will treat your house like its their own. Its called respect.

Im fighting the good fight to get air con in the place I rent, its like ten or so degrees hotter inside than out, even with fans. No-one should live like that, esp when I pay high rent.

[Dj Whisper]

reminds me that my aircond needs fixing got daikin splits in the bedroom and loungeroom but on the last hot day of summer the one in the louneroom started dripping (on the plasma/foxtel/av cables).. Bad.

Quoted an arm and a leg to come and service it, so i hoped leaving it off for a months would miraculously solve the issue.

Not quite.

[Dj Whisper]

ps. That post would make more sense if itm mobile had an edit post function!

[moggle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

I agree. Although when renting the options from some scummy landlords are so limited. Pisses me right off that people don't update rental properties, I mean ffs its your investment....why ruin it? There are many people out here renting that will treat your house like its their own. Its called respect.

Im fighting the good fight to get air con in the place I rent, its like ten or so degrees hotter inside than out, even with fans. No-one should live like that, esp when I pay high rent.

Whats the incentive for them?? If they can still get a premium price for their property regardless why would they bother??

You willing to pay more rent if they do install it?

[MMF_]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunky

I dont understand how in this day and age some houses dont have aircon or dishwashers. What kind of savage would live like that?!

I am one of those savages... its not something that would turn you off a property when you are looking for places, and it certainly didn't phase me at the time, but fuck it makes life difficult now. Especially hand washing the dishes.

For the rent I'm paying I'd expect to have a maid included to wash my dishes... while she is naked. And maybe vacuum the house too, in the nude ofcourse.

[big eddie]

last place didn't have a dishwasher... never again.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moggle

Whats the incentive for them?? If they can still get a premium price for their property regardless why would they bother??

You willing to pay more rent if they do install it?

The incentive? When a perspective new tenant walks through that door and sees an air con then of course they will snap up the property, and yes they can increase rent. So for them in the future its win win. Think long term

As for now my rent has just increased and Im well within my rights to be comfortable in the house I rent.

So yeah, perhaps they will bother.

[Tranceologer]

Try this review site http://www.productreview.com.au/search.php?global_search_terms=portable%20air%20co ns&cat_id=1955

[moggle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

The incentive? When a perspective new tenant walks through that door and sees an air con then of course they will snap up the property, and yes they can increase rent. So for them in the future its win win. Think long term

As for now my rent has just increased and Im well within my rights to be comfortable in the house I rent.

So yeah, perhaps they will bother.

But they have a tenant (you) who is willing to pay what they are currently charging without A/C so why bother installing it now.

Unless you go to them and say your willing to pay X amount more if they install AC they have no incentive and rightfully so shouldn't install anything. Why over capitalise the property

They should from an investment point of view cross that bridge when they get to it. For now its just more costs for them. Well within your rights to be comfortable??? haha what a load of shit, A/C is a luxury not a necessity.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moggle

But they have a tenant (you) who is willing to pay what they are currently charging without A/C so why bother installing it now.

Unless you go to them and say your willing to pay X amount more if they install AC they have no incentive and rightfully so shouldn't install anything. Why over capitalise the property

They should from an investment point of view cross that bridge when they get to it. For now its just more costs for them. Well within your rights to be comfortable??? haha what a load of shit, A/C is a luxury not a necessity.

Moggle, come and sit in the house when its 40 degrees outside, you'll see what I mean.

Anyway, they installed new heating and a bathroom when I first moved in, so there goes your theory that they wont over capitalise.

Fingers crossed they will listen, I have a feeling they will.

[chimby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

Moggle, come and sit in the house when its 40 degrees outside, you'll see what I mean.

I survived last summer with only a pedestal fan. It got to 47 degrees with 2 percent humidity. Cooling is a luxury.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimby

I survived last summer with only a pedestal fan. It got to 47 degrees with 2 percent humidity. Cooling is a luxury.

Would you like a medal?

[Eros le Tardfack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by diarx

Also, if you live in a house without insulation, talk to your landlord about getting in on the Rudd free home insulation package. Only crap thing is the total free amount was recently reduced from $1600 to $1200 - so anything over that amount will have to be payed for by the landlord. Also, there's a bit of an insulation shortage in Australia atm, so you might be waiting a little while for an install.

best post in the thread. it's criminal how much energy we waste in australia using aircons and heaters in housing without insulation, eaves, blinds, etc.

omg! no dishwasher? cry me a river princesses.

[Mickstah]

A pedestal fan should do the trick.

[Blinky-Live-]

^^^if only

[nettsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

I agree. Although when renting the options from some scummy landlords are so limited. Pisses me right off that people don't update rental properties, I mean ffs its your investment....why ruin it? There are many people out here renting that will treat your house like its their own. Its called respect.

if the house doesn't suit your needs - don't rent it.
simple as.
if it sits unrented long enough... then the owners should look into the reasons why and the property manager should be smart enough to tell them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

No-one should live like that, esp when I pay high rent.

get a portable air-conditioner - problem solved. Chances are if your landlord is going to install air-con your high rent will go higher.

[macc4]

many landlords are happy to spend a little, especially if they have a good long term tenant

is definitely worth asking

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nettsu

if the house doesn't suit your needs - don't rent it.
simple as.
if it sits unrented long enough... then the owners should look into the reasons why and the property manager should be smart enough to tell them.




get a portable air-conditioner - problem solved. Chances are if your landlord is going to install air-con your high rent will go higher.

It does suit my needs, but there is ALWAYS room for improvement

They wont bump up rent, my landlords are actually not ****s.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by macc4

many landlords are happy to spend a little, especially if they have a good long term tenant

is definitely worth asking

[nettsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

It does suit my needs, but there is ALWAYS room for improvement

They wont bump up rent, my landlords are actually not ****s.

it's not about being a **** - it's about getting return on your investment

[Tension]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGZ

I sold A/C for 12 years, Evaps are fine anywhere south of Sydney, Hot Dry heat like you get in VIC, SA, Southern WA Evaps are fine, all the mining communities in central Australia that is what they use and it gets fuckin hot there we sold thousands of them, but really if you can afford it buy a reverse cycle because they double as a heater also if it is really hot you can leave it on when your not home because if you have an Evap you need a door of window open for them to work properly. I like Evaps though because you are constantly getting freshair pumped through your house. Both have pros and cons. Brands wise Carrier make the best portable Evaps that i know of, if you decide to go Reverse Cycle Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Fujitsu, LG are all good. Just don't buy some dodgy Chinese brand that you have never heard of and you will be safe. With A/C if they are really cheap they are shit and will last you 1 maybe 2 years before they shit themselves some don't even last that long.

Yeah im a big fan of DUCTED evap when it suits the application, it's a winner IMO.

Portable evaps however, massive fail. When the main unit is on the roof, bringing air in through ducted room vents and smashing it out of small window openings 40 times per hour, it works well (depending on relative humidity ofc). it pushes the hot stale air out of the house and replaces it with fresh cooled air. If you put a scaled down version INSIDE your living room, all you are doing is humidifying the air that's trapped in the house, its fundamentally flawed IMO. Don't waste your money; get a pedestal fan and a spray bottle.

Portable refrigerated cooling works very well. Like the one pictured, it has an exhaust hose to get rid of the warm air. Without that hose it wouldnt work at all. This is the only type of portable air conditioner you should bother with. As WINGZ has said, stick with a recognised brand, look at warranty and efficiency before price and make sure its not too noisy.
Lastly these are best suited to bedrooms or small closed off living areas. Most arent big enough in terms of capacity to do much more work than that.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nettsu

it's not about being a **** - it's about getting return on your investment

Which should, one would think, always include further improvements. Never hurts to make your property more valuable.

Circles, circles.

[nettsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

Which should, one would think, always include further improvements. Never hurts to make your property more valuable.

Circles, circles.

it can do because you can over-capitalise - and if your landlord thought it would improve value wouldn't they have installed one by now?

It doesn't hurt to ask but I don't expect you would get a yes. It's very much an owners market so it's not that hard for you to be replaced as a tenant. And if you cause more trouble than your worth you may find your lease not getting renewed.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nettsu

it can do because you can over-capitalise - and if your landlord thought it would improve value wouldn't they have installed one by now?

It doesn't hurt to ask but I don't expect you would get a yes. It's very much an owners market so it's not that hard for you to be replaced as a tenant. And if you cause more trouble than your worth you may find your lease not getting renewed.

They very nearly did install air con when the heating went in. I think the budget at the time got a little stretched, but yes they are very aware of the problem as they were at one point going to rectify it.

I appreciate its an owners market, but like Ive said no harm in asking and I hardly think asking for something is going to see me become a 'trouble' source, infact Im on pretty good terms with the owners. This is why I guess Id like them to take it into consideration, I take really good care of this rental property, unlike alot of people I have seen in rental houses. Stands to reason that at some point a tenant is going to complain about this problem, if not me then the next. Sooner or later something will need to be done

[dandelion__]

Best type of cooling to heat the top floor of a double story house?

[macc4]

I think you have mixed your words, but a reverse cycle airconditioner will heat or cool the top floor dandelion

[dandelion__]

Indeed I did! Need something to COOL of course.. Anything else other than reverse cycle? Simply need it for cooling purposes.

[Bracko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iforgotmylast1

I swear my old dimplex one actually makes the room warmer. Does suck a LOT of water out of the air though.

yep... the solution is to not suck in outside air.

for those that say the oxygen levels might decrease.... .... your house isn't airtight.

[autumn acid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laluna C

Which should, one would think, always include further improvements. Never hurts to make your property more valuable.

Circles, circles.

THIS is why you rent, and he/she is making a buck off you.

[ezz_]

my bf owns (freehold, thankfully for him) a charming renovator's delight 1800's stone row cottage with no insulation, no aircon, no dishwasher, no indoor toilet, no walls in the back 2 rooms (they are constructed of corrugated iron and chipboard. i shit you not.), no electricity to the outdoor toilet, and a bathroom that has a ceiling height of 6.5 feet. 3 of us just managed to survive last summer through the massive adelaide heatwave without killing eachother, and i'm a massive **** when it's hot. my landlord just installed a split system in my cute little modern unit, it's in the 30s outside and i'm almost cold. fuck, this is soo goddamn luxurious in comparison to last year. btw we tried a portable evap at his place last year, but it made the room no cooler, just damp. and his floorboards are so unstable that the vibrations were deafening. so glad he got to try in out before deciding whether to buy it.

[magictorch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bracko

for those that say the oxygen levels might decrease.... .... your house isn't airtight.

Mine is. Airlock and everything, decompression chambers. Long story, some other time maybe.

[Spectrum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blinky-Live-

To all those in the thread dismissing the merits of evaporative air conditioners (which do love dry climates), do you realise that the air conditioner pictured here is actually of the refrigerated type (and therefore works in any climate (subject to its capacity and the room size and heat loading)?

[bussyboy]

On a slightly related topic - anyone used dehumidifiers??

My place doesn't tend to get too hot in summer, but the humidity can be killer

Would consider this if its a cheaper option to refrigerated aircon

[Eros le Tardfack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezz_

so glad he got to try in out before deciding whether to buy it.

he fucked it and then didn't buy it? damn, that's what i call a shop soiled model.

[Laluna C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by autumn acid

THIS is why you rent, and he/she is making a buck off you.

Thanks captain obvious.