Air conditioner for narrow windows
Air conditioner for narrow windows
One of the bedrooms in our place has really narrow windows, the actual opening is less than 14 inches wide. Does anyone know if any window ACs come for that size? The room isn't big so a 5,000 BTU unit should be sufficient. But searching online all of them seem to have a width of 15 inches and above.
Or is my best bet to go with a portable air conditioner? Though I can't find any that are 5,000 BTU.
Or is my best bet to go with a portable air conditioner? Though I can't find any that are 5,000 BTU.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
http://www.lg-dfs.com/products.aspx
Don't know if you own or rent, but maybe a ductless mini-split? Very efficient with inverter variable speed compressors and super quiet. On some models one outdoor condenser can handle several indoor evaporators. Considerable more expensive than window units, but worthwhile if you're staying put, and heat pump models can provide supplemental heating. LG and Mitsubishi recommended.
Don't know if you own or rent, but maybe a ductless mini-split? Very efficient with inverter variable speed compressors and super quiet. On some models one outdoor condenser can handle several indoor evaporators. Considerable more expensive than window units, but worthwhile if you're staying put, and heat pump models can provide supplemental heating. LG and Mitsubishi recommended.
- jimb_fromATL
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:00 am
- Location: Atlanta area & Piedmont Triad NC and Interstate 85 in between.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Portable units are easy to install, and no doubt the exhaust duct will fit in your window. However, portable air conditioners are not nearly as efficient as window units. So you'll need a bigger unit to get the same amount of cooling anyway.d0gerz wrote:One of the bedrooms in our place has really narrow windows, the actual opening is less than 14 inches wide. Does anyone know if any window ACs come for that size? The room isn't big so a 5,000 BTU unit should be sufficient. But searching online all of them seem to have a width of 15 inches and above.
Or is my best bet to go with a portable air conditioner? Though I can't find any that are 5,000 BTU.
Window units, split systems, and central air systems circulate outside air through the condenser coil to remove the heat, and recirculate all of the cooled air inside the room.
But most of the readily available portable units have only one exhaust duct. No way to use outside air for absorbing the heat. The heated air being exhausted from the room has to be replaced with a combination of air that has already been cooled and new warm air that is being sucked in from outside the home through infiltration.
In other words, a window unit is like a car AC system that is set to cool better by always recirculating the air inside. But like a car AC in normal vent mode, a home portable AC unit does not cool nearly as well because it's pulling in hot air from outside.
So ... if a 5000 BTU window unit is adequate, you'll probably need a 8000 to 10,000 BTU portable unit to get the same amount of cooling. You'll be paying for the energy for 8K to 10K BTUs, but getting the use of perhaps a little more than half of it. The more air-tight the house, and the hotter the outside air, the less efficiency for the portable unit.
ARTICLE
jimb
Last edited by jimb_fromATL on Sat Jun 17, 2017 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Thanks. Unfortunately I'm renting so not looking to invest in a split unit.Carlton wrote:http://www.lg-dfs.com/products.aspx
Don't know if you own or rent, but maybe a ductless mini-split? Very efficient with inverter variable speed compressors and super quiet. On some models one outdoor condenser can handle several indoor evaporators. Considerable more expensive than window units, but worthwhile if you're staying put, and heat pump models can provide supplemental heating. LG and Mitsubishi recommended.
- jeffyscott
- Posts: 13438
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:12 am
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
FWIW, a search for "Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner" seems to find some (though many that turn up are not actually dual hose, at least some are).jimb_fromATL wrote:But most of the readily available portable units have only one exhaust duct.
At least one is just over $300 at Walmart after a "pickup discount" and available in 3-5 days at my local store.
- jimb_fromATL
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:00 am
- Location: Atlanta area & Piedmont Triad NC and Interstate 85 in between.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
That might be worth looking into for the OP. That's still around 2 to 3 times the cost of a basic 5000 BTU window unit, but not a hekkuvva lot more than most of the single-hose models.jeffyscott wrote:FWIW, a search for "Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner" seems to find some (though many that turn up are not actually dual hose, at least some are).jimb_fromATL wrote:But most of the readily available portable units have only one exhaust duct.
At least one is just over $300 at Walmart after a "pickup discount" and available in 3-5 days at my local store.
Is it a brand you ever heard of?
What capacity?
Do you happen to have a link to it?
jimb
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Thanks a lot for this detailed post as well as the useful link. So portables aren't very efficient, and a lot more expensive to boot both upfront and in terms of ongoing cost. But I suppose it's the only option at this point, as I can't find any window units small enough.jimb_fromATL wrote:Portable units are easy to install, and no doubt the exhaust duct will fit in your window. However, portable air conditioners are not nearly as efficient as window units. So you'll need a bigger unit to get the same amount of cooling anyway.d0gerz wrote:One of the bedrooms in our place has really narrow windows, the actual opening is less than 14 inches wide. Does anyone know if any window ACs come for that size? The room isn't big so a 5,000 BTU unit should be sufficient. But searching online all of them seem to have a width of 15 inches and above.
Or is my best bet to go with a portable air conditioner? Though I can't find any that are 5,000 BTU.
Window units, split systems, and central air systems circulate outside air through the condenser coil to remove the heat, and recirculate all of the cooled air inside the room.
But most of the readily available portable units have only one exhaust duct. No way to use outside air for absorbing the heat. The heated air being exhausted from the room has to be replaced with a combination of air that has already been cooled and new warm air that is being sucked in from outside the home through infiltration.
In other words, a window unit is like a car AC system that is set to cool better by always recirculating the air inside. But like a car AC in normal vent mode, a home portable AC unit does not cool nearly as well because it's pulling in hot air from outside.
So ... if a 5000 BTU window unit is adequate, you'll probably need a 8000 to 10,000 BTU portable unit to get the same amount of cooling. You'll be paying for the energy for 8K to 10K BTUs, but getting the use of perhaps a little more than half of it. The more air-tight the house, and the hotter the outside air, the less efficiency for the portable unit.
ARTICLE
jimb
-
- Posts: 5761
- Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 4:47 pm
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
There used to be air conditioners sized for a standard casement window. Not sure if that is 14 inches. I used to have a couple many years ago. As I recall they were expensive.
Just saw one on the web, it was 14.2 inches wide.
Just saw one on the web, it was 14.2 inches wide.
- jeffyscott
- Posts: 13438
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:12 am
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Nojimb_fromATL wrote:That might be worth looking into for the OP. That's still around 2 to 3 times the cost of a basic 5000 BTU window unit, but not a hekkuvva lot more than most of the single-hose models.jeffyscott wrote:FWIW, a search for "Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner" seems to find some (though many that turn up are not actually dual hose, at least some are).jimb_fromATL wrote:But most of the readily available portable units have only one exhaust duct.
At least one is just over $300 at Walmart after a "pickup discount" and available in 3-5 days at my local store.
Is it a brand you ever heard of?
What capacity?
Do you happen to have a link to it?
jimb
12,000 btu
https://www.walmart.com/ip/12-000-BTU-P ... 6/52043363?
It's just the first one that google shopping seach shows.
Narrowest window unit I see is 14.2 inches as someone else noted and ~$400, but OP needs under 14. Cheapest casement unit I see is about $280, in google shopping but 14.6 inches.
I would assume having dual hose makes it close to window unit efficiency, eer is listed at 9.5 by Google for that dual hose portable, lower than some casement window units but actually higher than the 8.9 for the cheapest casement unit.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
For portable ACs, does the size of the room determine whether you get a single/dual hose unit. This link (found randomly) suggests that for smaller rooms a single hose unit should be okay. The room in question is quite small, around 110 square feet.
- jimb_fromATL
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:00 am
- Location: Atlanta area & Piedmont Triad NC and Interstate 85 in between.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
What kind of building is it? What part of the country? Which side of the building, and what direction does the window face? N, S, E, W?d0gerz wrote:For portable ACs, does the size of the room determine whether you get a single/dual hose unit. This link (found randomly) suggests that for smaller rooms a single hose unit should be okay. The room in question is quite small, around 110 square feet.
For a room that size anywhere but the southwestern desert, a single-hose unit is probably the only thing available -- or at least available at a reasonably cost-effective price. The smallest capacity units I've seen are 8,000 BTU, which would be more than enough for that space in a normally insulated home or apartment.
In most locales, the 12,000 BTU unit linked above would be way over-size for a room that small. A 10K unit probably would be too. Not only would a smaller unit cost less and be easier to move around, a lower-capacity unit running more nearly continuously dehumidifies better in a humid climate, and would be more comfortable with less temperature swings than an oversize unit that cycled on and off a lot.
Plus the larger 10K to 12K units would be far more likely to cause an electrical overload if there's not a single circuit outlet for it -- which has no other outlets on the same circuit.
jimb
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
I'm in the Boston area, building is a semi-detached house. Room is on the 2nd floor with windows facing west.jimb_fromATL wrote:What kind of building is it? What part of the country? Which side of the building, and what direction does the window face? N, S, E, W?d0gerz wrote:For portable ACs, does the size of the room determine whether you get a single/dual hose unit. This link (found randomly) suggests that for smaller rooms a single hose unit should be okay. The room in question is quite small, around 110 square feet.
For a room that size anywhere but the southwestern desert, a single-hose unit is probably the only thing available -- or at least available at a reasonably cost-effective price. The smallest capacity units I've seen are 8,000 BTU, which would be more than enough for that space in a normally insulated home or apartment.
In most locales, the 12,000 BTU unit linked above would be way over-size for a room that small. A 10K unit probably would be too. Not only would a smaller unit cost less and be easier to move around, a lower-capacity unit running more nearly continuously dehumidifies better in a humid climate, and would be more comfortable with less temperature swings than an oversize unit that cycled on and off a lot.
Plus the larger 10K to 12K units would be far more likely to cause an electrical overload if there's not a single circuit outlet for it -- which has no other outlets on the same circuit.
jimb
Realistically we will only need to use the AC for 1-2 months. Sounds like a single hose portable is the way to go?
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Probably. Not like it is 100 degrees and 90% humidity for 9 months.I'm in the Boston area, building is a semi-detached house. Room is on the 2nd floor with windows facing west.
Realistically we will only need to use the AC for 1-2 months. Sounds like a single hose portable is the way to go?
What about adjacent hallway and/or room? Might that air conditioned space have a fan pull in cooler air from there?
-
- Posts: 9243
- Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2010 11:47 am
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
I am in a similar situation.
MY (imperfect) solution is to use the window unit in my adjacent home office and a floor fan that blows the air into the room with the tiny windows.
It is imperfect and inefficient, but I don't generally need to cool the room with the tiny windows for more than a couple of hours per day in the summer. Once cooled it takes quite a while to reheat since it gets little sunlight.
If you have a similar layout or one where you can figure out a creative compromise, it may be a simple solution that also leaves you with unimpeded windows.
MY (imperfect) solution is to use the window unit in my adjacent home office and a floor fan that blows the air into the room with the tiny windows.
It is imperfect and inefficient, but I don't generally need to cool the room with the tiny windows for more than a couple of hours per day in the summer. Once cooled it takes quite a while to reheat since it gets little sunlight.
If you have a similar layout or one where you can figure out a creative compromise, it may be a simple solution that also leaves you with unimpeded windows.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
So our house doesn't have central air. Adjacent hallway is not air-conditioned. This room is a middle room on the 2nd floor, with one room to the north and another to the south. Both these other rooms have normal-sized windows so have window AC units, but the middle room has no access to these rooms. It only opens to the hallway, which connects all three rooms but isn't air-conditioned.dm200 wrote:Probably. Not like it is 100 degrees and 90% humidity for 9 months.
What about adjacent hallway and/or room? Might that air conditioned space have a fan pull in cooler air from there?
-
- Posts: 8912
- Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:11 pm
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Single hose portable should be a great solution given your parameters. Used one in a second home in NC during renovation to keep the master BR nice and cool at night and a respite during the day. Money well spent.
- jimb_fromATL
- Posts: 2278
- Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:00 am
- Location: Atlanta area & Piedmont Triad NC and Interstate 85 in between.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Unless you can find a smaller window unit that any I've seen, it sounds like the only feasible choice. Sounds like 8,000 BTU is the largest you need. There are a couple of 6,000 BTU portables advertised, but since it might not even cool as well as a 5,000 BTU window unit, it might be borderline.d0gerz wrote: I'm in the Boston area, building is a semi-detached house. Room is on the 2nd floor with windows facing west.
Realistically we will only need to use the AC for 1-2 months. Sounds like a single hose portable is the way to go?
Since you have two other window AC units, and if it's an older home, you probably need to try to find out if the nearest electrical outlet is on a single circuit or if it's shared with something in another room. Two AC units of even the smallest sizes would be too much for one circuit.
By "only 1-2 months" do you mean for this cooling season, or because you'll be moving? I'd guess that a portable unit might be easier to sell for a few bucks more than a window unit, or might be more useful someplace else later if you're not going to be in the current place long.
jimb
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Carefully measure the width of the window. If you're lucky, you will be able to fit a 14.2 inch casement window air conditioner.
If not, you'll have to go with a portable unit. You may be able to pick one up for cheap at the end of the season. I think lots of people buy them thinking they'll work better than they do, but later decide that they are:
1. super noisy
2. inefficient
3. ineffective due to the aforementioned sucking problem - the need to exhaust inside air to the outside. Even the two hose unit I bought vented a not-insignificant amount of air from the inside to the outside.
4. require emptying the condensate water manually
If not, you'll have to go with a portable unit. You may be able to pick one up for cheap at the end of the season. I think lots of people buy them thinking they'll work better than they do, but later decide that they are:
1. super noisy
2. inefficient
3. ineffective due to the aforementioned sucking problem - the need to exhaust inside air to the outside. Even the two hose unit I bought vented a not-insignificant amount of air from the inside to the outside.
4. require emptying the condensate water manually
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Yeah I meant just for this summer. That's about as long we'll get really hot/humid weather.jimb_fromATL wrote:By "only 1-2 months" do you mean for this cooling season, or because you'll be moving? I'd guess that a portable unit might be easier to sell for a few bucks more than a window unit, or might be more useful someplace else later if you're not going to be in the current place long.
jimb
I'm hoping this will work out. Though looks like I may still need to make some modification to the panel in which the hose will fit, as it's too wide for the window. Looking at this one: https://www.amazon.com/LG-LP0817WSR-Por ... 06XBF75QJ/
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Just saw this on my Facebook page, FWIW http://www.wusa9.com/money/consumer/way ... e=facebookd0gerz wrote:Yeah I meant just for this summer. That's about as long we'll get really hot/humid weather.jimb_fromATL wrote:By "only 1-2 months" do you mean for this cooling season, or because you'll be moving? I'd guess that a portable unit might be easier to sell for a few bucks more than a window unit, or might be more useful someplace else later if you're not going to be in the current place long.
jimb
I'm hoping this will work out. Though looks like I may still need to make some modification to the panel in which the hose will fit, as it's too wide for the window. Looking at this one: https://www.amazon.com/LG-LP0817WSR-Por ... 06XBF75QJ/
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Unfortunately at its narrowest, where the screen is, the width of the window is ~13.5 inches. Haven't found a unit with a width less than that.VaR wrote:Carefully measure the width of the window. If you're lucky, you will be able to fit a 14.2 inch casement window air conditioner.
If not, you'll have to go with a portable unit. You may be able to pick one up for cheap at the end of the season. I think lots of people buy them thinking they'll work better than they do, but later decide that they are:
1. super noisy
2. inefficient
3. ineffective due to the aforementioned sucking problem - the need to exhaust inside air to the outside. Even the two hose unit I bought vented a not-insignificant amount of air from the inside to the outside.
4. require emptying the condensate water manually
-
- Posts: 13977
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:39 pm
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
I don't suppose this will work for you because you are renting, but I could restore mine to original pretty easily.
I own a house with FHW oil heat and thus no duct work. Compounded by the fact that every single window in the house is a casement window. To make matters worse, they are crank out hinged windows that it is impossible to place window air conditioners or even use portable air conditioners.
After several years of suffering and HVAC contractor quotes >= $10K for high velocity systems in the walls and multi-zone mini-split ductless systems. Twenty (20) years ago this month, I purchased and installed a single zone mini-split ductless system in my living room myself for < $1K, which because of airflow keeps the entire 1st floor cool.
Fast-forward to several years ago. I bought a portable AC and with a Rube Goldberg contraption consisting of diagonal Styrofoam sections cut with surgical precision, weatherstripping and lots of duct tape, I had something that marginally worked.
The next season it occurred to me to remove the entire window, build a frame to hold a window air conditioner and use Lexan for the remainder of the window. Works like a charm and can be restored to original state easily.
I own a house with FHW oil heat and thus no duct work. Compounded by the fact that every single window in the house is a casement window. To make matters worse, they are crank out hinged windows that it is impossible to place window air conditioners or even use portable air conditioners.
After several years of suffering and HVAC contractor quotes >= $10K for high velocity systems in the walls and multi-zone mini-split ductless systems. Twenty (20) years ago this month, I purchased and installed a single zone mini-split ductless system in my living room myself for < $1K, which because of airflow keeps the entire 1st floor cool.
Fast-forward to several years ago. I bought a portable AC and with a Rube Goldberg contraption consisting of diagonal Styrofoam sections cut with surgical precision, weatherstripping and lots of duct tape, I had something that marginally worked.
The next season it occurred to me to remove the entire window, build a frame to hold a window air conditioner and use Lexan for the remainder of the window. Works like a charm and can be restored to original state easily.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
My window was also too narrow for the default panel for the portable I bought, but a hacksaw made short work of it.d0gerz wrote:I'm hoping this will work out. Though looks like I may still need to make some modification to the panel in which the hose will fit, as it's too wide for the window.
Re: Air conditioner for narrow windows
Thanks for all the advice. My unit, the LG I linked to above, has been installed and so far so good. I had to cut the window panel to size so that it would fit.
Let me just say I am in complete awe of folks who can build their own windows or install a split AC on their own, etc. For me just figuring out how I would cut the panel was a project. Ended up buying a hacksaw (as VaR suggested) after a trip to Home Depot but that involved first learning what a hacksaw was. As in I'd seen one years ago among my dad's tools but didn't know that's what it was called. Anyway wish I could be as handy as some of you.
Let me just say I am in complete awe of folks who can build their own windows or install a split AC on their own, etc. For me just figuring out how I would cut the panel was a project. Ended up buying a hacksaw (as VaR suggested) after a trip to Home Depot but that involved first learning what a hacksaw was. As in I'd seen one years ago among my dad's tools but didn't know that's what it was called. Anyway wish I could be as handy as some of you.