apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I don't have an answer, just an additional question (and it's my first time posting here - I know I am committing a terrible faux pas, but I have been wanting to ask this question for months). My small, attic, rental apartment got new efficient windows last fall, making the window openings even smaller than they were before. As a consequence, "normal" size air conditioners no longer fit. Since I'm in an attic, AC is a MUST. Are there compact AC window units out there? I am facing the prospect of buying a portable, which is both expensive and annoying (I've heard I'll have to get up and empty the water tank every 6 hours). Anyone? Thanks in advance.

I'm a really light sleeper and totally bothered by any repetive noises when I'm trying to sleep.

My best suggestion is to start sleeping with the A/C fan on, before it is A/C time. It really helps to get used to the motor sound.

Also, if you can get a model with the digital temperature read out, definitely do! It is much easier to keep the room at a constant temperature, which means that the A/C runs on the louder motor less often.

I second the ArtCool A/Cs, from LG. They are super quiet and very efficient, plus they look really good.

i agree with maxwell about a larger unit being quiet. i bought a new air conditioner for my living room. i live on the roof of an apartment building and my neighborhood shop reccomended a 10,000 btu model. the cost was not too much higher than others. i mention this for you debi in your attic. the more powerful unit has greater energy savings as it does not have to run constantly to cool the room. i do like digital readout and remote control.my two air conditioners are panasonic.

Debi, I have no definitive answers for you, but I know that my friend, who lived in an older bldg with those split windows that open on the sides had to get a slim unit to fit...so they are out there. I do remember her complaining about how much more expensive they are--but it's worth it to be able to actually sleep on hot nights!

Has anyone ever mounted a window A/C unit on it's side (draining away form the motor, obviously) to fit a narrow window? If so, have you run into any issues?

Slash,

I own a Sharp AF-S100EX, which is a 10200 BTU unit (meaning it's ideal for a 300 sq ft. room). Basically, 10K BTU and higher units have thermostats, which means they don't have to be on all the time. Mine just comes on when the temperature drops below the current ambient one. It cost around $260 at Zabar's (I highly recommend the upstairs at Zabars for AC shopping). Also, it is super quiet. I can barely hear it and it works wonders. I used to have a goldstar unit, which was both loud and used up loads of energy. This new unit has already paid for itself with reduced electrical bills. Highly recommended.

I meant to say "once the ambient temperature rises above the set temperature"

Here's the Energy Star site for A/C units:
http://tinyurl.com/ort5t

Check the link at the bottom for sizing units, a bit different than the one provided in the link above.

Under Consumers, Product List, you can pull up the whole list in html, and be sure to read the "Definitions of Product List Column Headers" to see what they actually MEAN in the product list.

Because even if you know the brand name and BTU output of someone else's A/C, there are still different models in that category that have varying performance.

Also do a search for incentives/rebates:
http://tinyurl.com/n7acu

You may wish to check Consumer Reports:
http://tinyurl.com/nxup4

Some of the information can be viewed without being a subscriber, but most full reports can ONLY be viewed by subscribers.

It might be worthwhile to subscribe if you're planning on other updates to your home. One issue I have has kitchen goodies galore, and also mentions a SOUND rating for some major appliances. I'm guessing that they'd rate the A/C units for sound/quietness.

This gives you all the tools now to get the right unit for your space, that is quiet, and maybe get some money back on your purchase!

Stay COOOOOOL!

Hi Slash, hi debl,

General stuff about AC:

Get the right sized unit rather than bigger than you need. A unit that is too large will do what is known as short cycling which is to cool down the room so rapidly that it shuts down the compressor before the full and proper removel of humidity. Because humidity contributes greatly to the overall discomfort of hot days your ac unit will not be doing its job and you will also shorten the ultimate lifespanm of your unit with repeated short cycling.

I agree that most units are very quiet and can recomment strongly the panasonic units. I replaced 4 Friedrich units once with panasonics and the difference was dramatic in terms of cooling ability and lack of noise.

I second the digital read outs also - they are much easier to set, and also recommend remote controlled units. These are not much more expenisve than the ones without. Being able to control your ac from your bed when you wake up momentarily too cold is something not to be taken lightly :) Most remotes are simple enough for your half awake self to get to know the right button the press to notch up the temp a couple of degrees.

All Ac units operate with a thermostat otherwise they would over cool the room. A thermostat is a very simple device so it is not only the bigger units that have one. When you use the "energy saver" or "money saver" button you are not controlling the most energy comsuming part, which is the compressor that does the cooling, but the fan. The fan is not as noisy as the compressor and does not take up much energy so you are not saving much in terms of energy or noise by getting this feature or using it. If it adds to the white noise to drown out the compressor kicking in then you may as well leave it on.

For low profile stuff I did a little bit of research before and posted here:

http://tinyurl.com/nweol

I also mention ductless mini split systems there for anyone that is interested.

for those that own and have the space to mount the outside compressor, mini splits are great because the noisy compressor is outside while the blower unit and controls are inside and you don't need lots of ductwork. You only need small pipes and a 2" hole to get the pipes to the outside compressor. I could say more but that's another whole 'nother story

Thank you jamie pup, for the link to that previous A/C thread - I had never heard of the Pinguino portable units that don't have a water collecting thing to empty. I might go for one, so I can use it in the living room during the day and roll it into the bedroom at night. I found a refurbished one on sale that should be powerful enough for my small rooms: http://www.ekitchengadgets.com/deairtoairpi.html
I might go for it. Have to measure my room tonight to see how big it really is...

And thanks for all of the other advice. I also found (online) an in-window "casement" unit, but it might still be too big. Gotta measure again...

I've never been much of an A/C person, but heading into me eighth NYC summer I'm starting to think I *might* like to have the option for those particularly brutal nights. Before I take the plunge, though, can anyone weigh in on how much a ceiling fan/humidifier combo might help things? Can it make things bearable?

Sorry, DE-humidifier, of course.

One comment, one question:

Question...Any reason I can't prime and paint the front plastic grill piece of a window A/C same color as walls so it blends more?

Comment...Buy the BTUs recommended for your space! And here, too much is TOO much. I thought I'd rather be safe than sorry and purchased a 20,000 BTU unit where a 15,000 would have been fine. Now it's like having an industrial machine that super cools the apt TOO fast. It gets cold, no matter how much I tinker with the thermostat, and it is too big a monster to get to just keep the room comfortably cool. It's just waves of freezing alternating with getting too warm. It's a very good A/C I think, but I went for over-kill and the wrong model.

I feel your pain. I hate A/C - except for the very hottest weeks of the year when the humidity is out of control. For awhile I dated someone who claimed to need the white noise of the A/C to sleep and who constantly complained that my apt. was too hot. The compromise: in the dead of winter we turned on the ceiling fan (and at times opened the window a crack). I slept under a huge quilt. A/C man slept under a sheet.

Has anyone ever seen any reports on how much ambiant street noise is transmitted through AC units? I recently got a panasonic AC that replaced a old wesinghouse unit, and the noise level it lets through the room is like having the window open... Is there a unit of measure you can compare listed on AC specs so you can compare this?

i've got a Panasonic and think it is so quiet when turned on. but yes, you can hear street noise when it's off

some have comented that you should get an air conditioner with btus reccommended for your space, i agree, but debi lives in an attic space. if it is anything like my apartment the heat is extreme and continues to radiate heat even after dark, even the next day if it is overcast or rainy. some extra btus will help.

Another A/C question: one unit or two? I live in a railroad apartment -- five little rooms all in a row, with six windows (many of them open onto internal courtyards). I'm deciding between 1) two small air conditioners in the 5500-6000 BTU range, at roughly opposite ends of the apartment, or 2) one large 11,000 - 12,000 BTU air conditioner near the middle. Which way is more energy efficient (in terms of cost and saving-the-planet)? Which will be more comfortable?

RTG:
Do NOT mount a standard window air conditioner on its side. The compressor is mounted inside the unit in a particular orientation so that its lubricating oil properly circulates through the cooling system while its running. If you turn on on end so you can fit it in a narrow window, the compressor will sieze (if you are really luck), or just plain burn up (if you are unlucky).

You have to either change the window, or buy a "casement" style air conditioner, which will fit in narrower windows, but sadly, these cost a lot more than normal ones because the market isn't as big.