need recommendation/advice on a portable AC unit

[space-time]

I have a fully finished loft which we occasionally use as an office or as a guest room. In the summer it gets really hot, and our central AC is not effective to cool that room (I guess we can try to close most vents and direct all cold air there, but then the rest of the house will be pretty hot)

Worst I have seen was 95F in this room in the evening hours on those hot July days (that is with central AC ON!)

I'd like to add an AC in there. I have a 15A outlet. I thought of several options, please tell me which is best

1) a portable AC and attach the exhaust hose to the skylight. I am thinking of a plexiglas "window" with a hole in it for the exhaust hose. This will let light in and keep bugs out. This would replace the bug screen under the skylight.

2) same portable AC but dump the heat into the empty space (which is cooled by the attic fan) This would involve cutting a hole in the drywall. As far as I remember, there is a spot where there is no insulation, just dry wall.

3) normal AC window unit (much cheaper than a portable unit) and install it in the drywall, dump the heat in the empty space.

I know that I have to install a hose for the drain.

which option do you think would be best?

a neighbor said she has a setup like option 2, but I have not see in. I am leaning towards solution 1, seems more officient to dump the heat outside rather than in a closed enclosure cooled by another fan.

I have attached a rought sketch (drawing in powerpoint sucks!)



I am looking at something like

http://www.costco.com/Delonghi-Pinguino-...28368.html

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0...lias%3Daps&field-keywords=portable%20air%20conditioner&sprefix=portable+air+con%2Caps%2C149&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aportable%20air%20conditioner

other idea/comments welcome.

[Catzilla]

The new portables don't require a drain, that said I would vent outside.

[M>B>]

Have you considered a split ductless air conditioner similar to one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Conditione...pd_cp_hi_1

[AllGold]

IF the attic fan can keep the empty space reasonably cool then I think that would be your best option (with a standard window or through-the-wall AC).

With a portable you don't have a very long hose to vent to the skylight (not to mention potential water problems when it rains). You can extend the vent hose, but you really don't want to because that is where the heat is sent so the more vent hose you have in the room the more heat is put back into the room.

Actually, I can think of another option which would be MUCH better. But it would also be much more expensive: a mini split system AC.

Hmmm, searching for an example, I see some much better prices than in the past: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Conditione..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367551300&sr=8-1&keywords=split+system+air+conditioner

[AllGold]

M>B> wrote:
Have you considered a split ductless air conditioner similar to one of these?

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Conditione...pd_cp_hi_1

Haha, jinx.

[testcase]

You're not just "dumping heat" you'll also be dumping moisture. I wouldn't transfer that moisture inside the house.

[Carm]

I had a Delonghi Pinguino 12K BTU. It worked great for 3 summers, then it didnt. Well worth the money for it lasting that long. I put in a wall vent and vented directly outside. Cheap plastic louvers with a 3 inch metal sleeve. Worked great, just needed an adapter. Room was nice and cold @70 with the rest of the house at 78-80 degrees saved money because the AC system in the house couldnt handle cooling the house that low, besides being a waste of electricity. My wife convinced her mom get a wall/window unit because edison temporarily cuts power to their AC units outside during a heatwave to conserve electricity (They signed up for it to get a discount). Wall unit bypasses the Edison control units on the AC and she can stay cool all summer long.

[OWC Jamie]

even with the fan, exhausting into the empty space could create mold problems
how about getting one of those bathroom roof vents and venting a portable straight outside
portables are supposed to be noisy though


mini splits are nice
my mom has a dual and claims it doesn't run up the bill too bad

[juliastiles]

The best option would be to use ductless minisplit ac as it requires less space and can be extended in a room where extending and installing distribution ductwork is not viable. Call air conditioning repair Port St Lucie technicians as they could suggest you much better which ac would be perfect for your office after seeing it.