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Enough's enough, I want air con!

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Hi everyone

I can't take anymore heat in my flat, as I mainly work from home and the flat is hotter than anywhere else I've lived. I wasn't able to stay in it during the recent heatwave in the 30's and we've got it predicted for the next 3 months. That's a lot of missed work.

Decided I want to get a portable air con unit but where to start? So many online and so many reviews saying they're not working well enough.

Anyone know of a good one in the price range of £100 - £300?

Thanks :)
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Comments

  • Mr.Generous
    Mr.Generous Posts: 3,966 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Unless you vent out the air con unit's exhaust gas it will make the flat hotter, portable or not. Cold air out the front and hot air from the back. If it was 100% efficient it would be neutral. It won't be anything close to that, nothing is. Having it fitted to a vent is much more effective than dangling a plastic hose out through an open window.
    Mr Generous - Landlord for more than 10 years. Generous? - Possibly but sarcastic more likely.
  • Kerry22
    Kerry22 Posts: 120 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Having it fitted to a vent is much more effective than dangling a plastic hose out through an open window.

    I'm renting so having it hanging out of an open window is really my only choice....I could ask my landlady if she would consider sorting out a proper vent but it's probably not worth her while...

    The problem is I really can't work here when it goes over 27 degrees and I'm in a rural area and it's not easy to carry paperwork around and on trains etc to find a cool library

    Just hoping it would do something to cool the temperature at least? Even if not that efficient it might be better than fans?
  • chrisw
    chrisw Posts: 3,785 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Do you have a garden where you could set up a parasol and work outside?
  • gardner1
    gardner1 Posts: 3,154 Forumite
    So just to confirm you keep blinds closed all day to keep sun out....have a couple of windows open a little and a decent fan
    We have had it nice and cool in house granted it's hasn't been higher than 25c.....but if you can keep the sun out by keeping blinds closed and decent fans it does make a difference
  • Kerry22
    Kerry22 Posts: 120 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks gardner1, no I don't have a garden and too many distractions in the communal one. The windows are all open, blinds are kept closed, especially where the sun comes in and it's just impossible. Two fans. I had to leave the flat and not work until cooler and then come up with excuses and then work all weekend instead. I'd come back to the flat in the evening and even then I'd be sat with two fans next to me, blowing directly on me. I'm not yet menopausal either, lol, so it's not that.
  • Kerry22
    Kerry22 Posts: 120 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Worse case scenario, the unit will not do anything at all in my flat if venting out of a window. If so, I can give it to my relative who could get venting done properly and it won't be wasted.
  • gardner1
    gardner1 Posts: 3,154 Forumite
    Kerry22 wrote: »
    Thanks gardner1, no I don't have a garden and too many distractions in the communal one. The windows are all open, blinds are kept closed, especially where the sun comes in and it's just impossible. Two fans. I had to leave the flat and not work until cooler and then come up with excuses and then work all weekend instead. I'd come back to the flat in the evening and even then I'd be sat with two fans next to me, blowing directly on me. I'm not yet menopausal either, lol, so it's not that.

    I take it your in London/south east......we lived in Twickenham for 7 years and summer would be a nightmare just constant heat and very close at nights....would be praying for a good downpour to cool things down
  • GunJack
    GunJack Posts: 11,829 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I have portable ones, they will make a difference if you keep all the internal doors open, and all the windows closed bar the one the vent is exiting out of (and the blinds/curtains shut of course). Most come with a upvc plate to attach the vent to, which then means the window has to be open less (and is used to hold the vent plate in place).
    ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......

    I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple :D
  • gardner1
    gardner1 Posts: 3,154 Forumite
    Kerry22 wrote: »
    Worse case scenario, the unit will not do anything at all in my flat if venting out of a window. If so, I can give it to my relative who could get venting done properly and it won't be wasted.

    It is possible to to vent a pipe out of window with a homemade plastic/cardboard or wood surround for it
  • Kerry22
    Kerry22 Posts: 120 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hoping I'm not going against any rules here to ask which ones people have?

    Thanks re advice on windows being open, curtains closed, but I can't stand it any more, lol. I'm being cooked in my own home and its cooler out in the street.
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