Portable Air Conditioner For Apartment
I just moved into a new apartment with a home office in which I have a computer. I'm finding that the heat generated by my computer has a considerable impact on warm days. The apartment is without air conditioning, so I'm trying to find a portable and affordable air conditioner for that one room. The only portable air conditioners I've been able to find are $600-$1200, and evaporative coolers won't do as I'd worry about damaging my computer and peripherals with high humidity. I'm prepared to spend what I have to, but I'm also wondering if any one knows of a less expensive alternative like some clever way of converting a conventional wall or window mounted air conditioner into a portable unit, or perhaps just some less known, less expensive brand.
Answer:
You're right that all of the portable units are quite expensive. There aren't any cheap ones. A question I have is how are you going to vent the portable unit in the first place? Do you have a window or some other opening available? Are you thinking that you don't want to use up the available window for the a/c? It isn't clear to me why you can't just use a conventional window mounted air conditioner. Perhaps you don't have a window in that room, or the landlord won't allow air conditioners. If that's the case, can you move your computer into a closet or a different room, and run several extension cables to your monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse? Yes it is messy but I've done it before. If it is your monitor that is generating the heat, there isn't much you can do. One would be to buy an LCD monitor, but they are most expensive. Another would be to buy a smaller monitor, but that isn't too appealing either. I think your best bet is to pony up the $600-$1200. I do have a window, but it is a very tall sliding window, and having talked to several ac contractors, I was told that it wasn't suitable for standard ac installation. (These contractors did not sell portable units, and had nothing to gain by passing on the work.) Most portable units have hoses that you can feed out a window or door through a small crack. It won't be 100% efficient, but it will definitely improve the situation. Also, very hot days are not frequent in my area, so I will only have to use it a few times a month. If I didn't use my home office to telecommute, I wouldn't even consider this option, but since I do ...