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Heating & Air Conditioning

Need to find portable air conditioning that needs no outside venting.

6 years ago

In a highrise apartment with an active fire station below us. We have a door out to a small patio but have a wild cat that would jump and a 4" opening on a small triangular window. We need to find an air conditioner that does not need outside venting because of extreme noise and cat. Suggestions? Sun beats directly into apartment.

Featured Answer

Vith

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We need to find an air conditioner that does not need outside venting

Not possible for apartment units, but otherwise, central AC and minisplits take the heat outside using refrigerant lines to the condenser outside where the heat is released.

Limited to window units in an apartment, but those can be sealed up decently with some effort, a cat would not be able to enter normally even if not sealed.

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Comments (8)

PRO
Austin Air Companie
6 years ago
Air conditioning works by taking heat from indoors and dumping it outdoors.

The box isn't a magical box, it's based on science.

Magic 8 ball says:The magic is in the shape of a ball, so that's my job.
onelakelady
Original Author
6 years ago
I appreciate your first line of information but after that you are kind of a jerk. You could have just recommended a fan because of the lack of venting. Totally unnecessary.
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My inclination would be to go with the second company who took the time to do load calculations. I would never do business with an HVAC contractor who didn't or wouldn't perform this all-important step. The next thing you need to do is check references. Does company no. 2 have a long list of satisfied customers? Do they have complaints lodged against them with the Better Business Bureau? Are they willing to stand behind their calculations, and guarantee that your cooling needs are met? There's a good chance that your existing AC unit is over-sized. It's a very common practice to install bigger units than are needed, especially of the original installation was chosen using "rules of thumb", instead of with proper load calculations. If your current system cycles on and off during the hottest part of the day, it's a sure sign that it's over-sized. A properly sized system may cycle on and off during the early part of the day and during the evening, but it will run steadily (which is more efficient) during the hottest part of the day while maintaining interior temperatures at your desired setting. You might also want to ask your neighbors and friends for recommendations on HVAC contractors and seek a few more estimates. Referrals from satisfied customers (especially if they're your friends), can be one of your most reliable resources.
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I guess adding the basement wouldn't shorten the cycle, but it would lengthen the time between cycles. A/C is set at 75, and basement is 69. Blending bsmt air with living space upstairs would cool upstairs even without any a/c on, if I didn't mind the extra humidity and radon. The only difference, as I understand it, between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier is that the heat from the a/c condenser can be separately vented if desired. An a/c's dehumidification should equal a dehumidifier's, just as an a/c cools as well as a heat pump - all the same machine, except how the plumbing and venting is arranged. The only other considerations are that if it is vented, the a/c will cool the bsmt, as well as drawing in moist outside air, both increasing RH. In other words, the dehumidifier (or a/c in unvented dehumidifier mode) achieves part of its dehumidification by heating the space, or at least by not cooling it. I think if the a/c unit can operate at temps in the 60s, it is preferred, as it has the flexibility of running in cooling mode (vented) or dehumidifier mode (unvented). I'm also thinking it might be more efficient, as EER is reported (even tho not great), while there's not much reason for dehumidifier mfr to make unit efficient.
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mike_home
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
There are portable AC units that can be used in an apartment. Here is an example:

Perhaps you could adapt the exhaust to the 4 inch opening on the small triangular window. If not the exhaust has to go somewhere outside the area of the room you are are trying to cool.
onelakelady thanked mike_home
klem1
6 years ago
I once knew a couple with a cat that lived above a five and dime who installed a mini-split that worked great. They had no window at all but the unit only required a 3"hole through wall for lines and electric cable. I'll bet one of those would also workl above a fire station.
PRO
Austin Air Companie
6 years ago
I appreciate your first line of information but after that you are kind of a jerk.

Sure you could say that... but there are those who will read this and want to know WHY?

Does my response not explain this? What you think is unnecessary is what brought you HERE.
Bruce in Northern Virginia
6 years ago
It depends a lot on how frequently you need the A/C and what kind of budget you have. One of the portable units pictured above can be purchased for $150-250 and it should be easy to adapt it to your 4" opening. On the other hand, purchase and installation of a mini-split would be several thousand dollars, and you still need somewhere outside to put the condenser. However, a good mini-split would air condition a very large sized apartment, or even an entire house if you use multiple head units.

Bruce
onelakelady thanked Bruce in Northern Virginia
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Do apartment buildings even allow mini-splits that require an outside unit?

Also, something that requires thru-the-wall piping and electrical and also a power supply.

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