Don't laugh - Air Conditioning in NI

Andrew_G

Folks

Grateful for any positive experiences you've had with domestic Air Conditioning Installation in NI.

I appreciate 'Summer' days like we're enjoying now can be few and far between but I have real difficultly sleeping when the thermometer rises above 20 Degrees.

In the States split window-mounted air conditioners from reputable manufacturers can be bought from a little over the equivalent of £100.

Would anyone know whether (if I purchased one of these) it could be converted to work in NI?

Would anyone here be able to recommend an installer who wouldn't charge an arm and an a leg?

Thanks

mark206000

Not just get a portable unit and shove the hose out the window?

Andrew_G

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately portable units are cumbersome beasts that are generally noisy and are difficult to vent efficiently out a window.

I used to have one but it was a bad buy.

butterflymum

Sleep with a window open? Otherwise, prices in UK seem to hit £400 - £500 mark:

http://www.breathingspace.co.uk/air-conditioners-c2/diy-air-conditioning-c10

For local possibilities, you could try phoning someone from following list (at least one in Larne area that I can see lists 'domestic ventilation services):

http://www.yell.com/s/air+conditioning+equipment-northern+ireland.html

jtk174

Last house I bought had a ceiling fan and light, fitted in the master bedroom. It looked a bit odd at first, but the blades were the same colour as the bedroom furniture, so it stayed!

When the weather is like it is currently, I turn it on full speed for half an hour before I go to bed and the room gets nice and cool. On some occasions, I leave it on the slowest speed all night.

motorguy

I would have thought prevention is better than cure with regards to a very warm bedroom.

We would keep the bedroom blinds / curtains closed during the day to keep the heat out as much as possible, then open the bedroom windows when i get home in the evening and try to get a bit of air flow either front to back of house or across the house.

By the time bedtime comes, the rooms are significantly below 20 degrees, even though the room was at 26 degrees when i came home.

I have on occassions also used an oscillating table fan positioned near the bed if i've forgot to open the windows.

It would be rare for overnight temperatures in NI to be above 20 degrees, so it sounds like you've got a problem with heat getting IN and then not dispersing it properly.

Finally i find on hols when you keep the units on they do dry the air out, which means you'll be more prone to sore throats, etc.

Andrew_G

Thanks for the replies folks.

The bedroom window faces south so gets a fair amount of direct sun in the warm weather. Blinds and curtains remain closed during the day but room still heats up very quickly.

When I get home from work I leave the windows and internal doors of the house open to allow for cross circulation of air but the room rarely drops below 20 all summer.

Fans tend to just blow the warm air around which gives the effect of cooling without a drop in temperature.

I've tried fans of all types, evaporative water coolers, even slept in wet socks (which sounds like a windup but is supposed to work).

I appreciate that domestic air conditioning is very are in NI but would anyone be able to recommend an industrial Air Conditioning Engineer who might be able to advise me or give me a reasonable quote.

Any local sparks know whether it’s possible to fit (convert) a reasonably-priced American system which I could order online for a fraction of the cost of a UK model.

Cheers

SandLake

I know exactly what you mean, not been too bad this last few days as there has been a bit of breeze but quite often when we have this warm weather there is no air movement at all. Like you the sun warms the bedroom despite the windows being open and (blackout) blinds closed. I saw this on youtube and thought it might suffice -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITtlxjvLQis

Portable units don't seem to have that good a reputation - so this should be as good and affordable!

Stevie_Palimo

Why not set your bed up in one of these :-

suki1964

Get an empty 2litre drinks bottle. Fill it with water and freeze it

Place in front of a fan

The air being blown around it will cool