So the lovely SO and I reside in a one bedroom lofted apartment. While the envy of our friends, it’s become a burden in this tortured summer. Our first floor has a window air conditioner which keeps things comfortable, but the loft (with the bathroom and bedroom) does not, and worse yet, has an awning window to boot. I recently bought a Holmes Accutemp Window fan that I just prop up inside, leaning against the screen. While it provides some air exchange and is workable when it’s 80 outside, the mercury this week will be hovering in the high 80’s to 90’s, and just isn’t workable. As of late we’ve been waking up drenched and somewhat unhappy, and even took the step of going to his mother’s empty house (they’re on vacation) to sleep the last couple of nights. Since they’ve returned, I turn to the teeming Millions (err, the few people who look in this topic) for advice.
I realize that a portable air conditioner would be great, but there’s really not the space for it - at least the large ones that sit on the floor that I’ve seen. So far the only idea I’ve had is filling the tub with cold water and blowing a fan over it in the 1-2 hours before bed. I’m sure there must be something better.
Whoops, missed the edit:
To give a little perspective, he loft is roughly on the 3 1/2 floor of the building (somehow the “first floor” apartments start 7 stairs up from the ground level, so the apartments below us are technically on the 1/2 and 1 1/2 floors, while we’re on the 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 floors, if that makes sense.
Take the screen off the window to increase the air flow, and make sure both fans are set on exhaust. This should draw downstairs air up into the room. Make sure the fan is sealed off on the sides. Is there any way to install a ceiling fan?
They take up less than 2 sq ft. floor space, and have a hose allowing some flexibility in where it’s positioned. Are you sure you can’t find a spot for it?
There are no windows up high, right? You need a way to vent out the hot air, to be able to draw the cooler downstairs air upstairs.
Definitely no ceiling fan possibility; it is a rental after all. Plus not one we’ll be living in more than another year.
Do you have any suggestions needscoffed, of small portable a/c’s? Also, any under $150?
The window next to the bed is that awning window. If I took the screen out and put the fan there, the window fan would fall out, since it would have that big hole above it, since it’s not a regular double hung window that can be pushed down to meet the top of the fan.
The portable A/Cs are really expensive, but you can take it with you when you leave. The ones I’ve seen are still $400 and up. And you don’t want to get one that is too small for your space. The window A/Cs work better than the portable rolling ones, and they’re cheap, but I don’t see any way to use a window one. I just got one for $189 that’s plenty big for my bedroom. I could have gone with the $139 unit (Costco). I’d be tempted just to sleep downstairs. Air mattresses are pretty comfy nowadays.
I found a $150 used one on Craigslist. I’m sorely tempted.
