Single Hose Portable AC's - Why are they even allowed?

[mark_wpduet]

When my AC went out last week, I was looking at these and learned a LOT. Honestly, I didn't even know they existed. I can actually use one of these as a back up if/when my AC ever goes out because the HSA doesn't allow window units. They aren't super expensive but after learning that single hose units are like trying to cool the room with a window open, it made me wonder with everything having to be low water, super energy efficient with appliances......how are the single hose units even allowed since they are super inefficient? Not only that, but dual hose units are super hard to find and WAY more expensive. And I can't find a dual hose for a small room. All the dual hose ones that I see are higher BTU and for larger rooms. Seriously, any of the dual hoses I've seen would be OVERKILL for my room. I see smaller single hose units for small rooms, but NOTHING dual hose for a small room. So annoying and so stupid.

 

[foraloysius]

I have two portable airconditioners. A smaller capacity dual hose and a bigger capacity single hose one. The bigger capacity one with the single hose works much better although it might be less efficient. Apparently a bit more capacity makes up for the single hose design.

 

[foraloysius]

Is 9000 BTU a smaller capacity?

https://www.danby.com/products/portable-air-conditioners/dpac9008/

 

[mattl]

My cousin just bought a mini-split system for a small 4th floor loft room.  It seems to do the job but--- for some reason the instructions say to not to expose the exterior portion of the system to the sun!  IT's OUTSIDE!  She rigged up something with a small tarp that will suffice for the summer, and it will be put in a storage shed for the winter.  I do think this system is far superior to the single hose units, but I believe it was in the $500 range.

 

[iowabear]

I hear you Mark.  I thought about getting one this spring to use in the bedroom I use as my office.  I would use it only the hottest days, preferring to open the window all other times. 

 

But I researched them as you did and couldn't see paying $350 to $400 for a highly rated 10K BTU unit which seemed to be the minimum to consider even for a small room.  Still there are many good user reviews of them...I can't really reconcile that with the actual performance tests of them, which are poor.

 

I decided to wait and if I find a really good deal on a used one I'll give one a chance. 

 

[cuffs054]

I had two for years. The only issue we had is the humidity was so bad that the drain pans would fill and the unit  would shut off and beep (for ever). They both cooled well but the drain issue made them annoying to use.

 

[yogitunes]

I have a dual hose one....its great for a back up or when I just want to cool one room....

mine will cool 11,000btu, and heat 9,000....

actually I found it on the side of the road.....like Jim said, just to give it a try....

if your going to get one, even for a back up or temporary use, I wouldn't sweat the BTU's being too high.....

for one it will cool a good size room.....and for smaller rooms, set the fan to a lower speed...this one is really quiet....

only ran into the issue once where it could not get rid of the drain water fast enough, and shut down....

 

[gusherb]

I have a portable Friedrich that’s dual hose. Oddly, it has an intake for the condenser side that doesn’t get sealed off when attaching the intake hose. I had to tape over that grille to make it truly pull in air through the hose. I thought maybe they did that cuz it might not work right otherwise, but it worked just fine cooling the family room in the 2012 heat wave when the downstairs AC was dead.

 

[foraloysius]

Hope this link works. Home Depot seems to have quite a choice in dual hose air conditioners.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Heating...r-Conditioners/Dual-Hose/N-5yc1vZc4m4Z1z17ztx

 

[mark_wpduet]

those are so freaking expensive

yes, I was wanting lower BTU because I knew more would be overkill for my room. I'm wondering when would be the best time to get these for a backup where they will be cheapest? I wonder if the prices will go down in the dead of winter? I'm still amazed that single hose units are even allowed to be sold due to their major inefficiency. The government apparently doesn't have a problem with single-hose portable AC's as they do with appliances I guess.

 

[potatochips]

I insulate the hose on the single hose machine I have now. Its a warm hose, and I dont want the machine working against itself. 

 

[circlew]

Another idea for when your air conditioning is out is to rent a portable AC unit. Some tool rental places have them.

 

[sudsmaster]

I have a single hose 12,000 BTU DeLonghi portable unit I got at Costco a few years ago. I only need to use it for about a week a year - usually in August, which is generally our hottest month. Don't think I used it at all last year, though.

It works OK. Since it's only for temporary use, I don't mind the lower efficiency. It also has a heat exchanger based heating function, which works, but ... it also fills up the tiny drain bin after just an hour. If I were to drill a hole in the floor and stick the drain tube down that (to an outside location) it would be more practical for heating.

For cooling, the condensate gets ejected outside with the hot air. No need to drain the drip pan when it's cooling.

Usually I keep this unit in the family room... which is contiguous with the kitchen, dining room, etc. Even with all those other spaces it will help get rid of the worst of the heat.