Air conditioning advice needed

[raven_ap_morgan]

I'm looking for advice on how to most effectively air condition my apartment. I currently have three window units, but one is on its last legs (at best), another is making more noise than cold air, and the third is probably too small for its location. The apartment is a two-bedroom unit with two main rooms, as well as a kitchen and bath. There are

Comments

[fuzzyila]

I can't point you anywhere useful since I'm in Canada, but I suggest closing off any rooms you don't need to cool off - like the bathroom. Just keep the door closed. Then for us, we work in priority by putting the unit in whichever room we'll be in most. Our wiring is really messed up here, so it doesn't matter where we put it (most EVERYTHING is on the same circuit almost, no joke).
Then we use sheets to block off hallways and keep the cool from being wasted and escaping. Yeah, real ghetto-looking, but it works.

[lisagems]

First off, ditch the two old units. They are costing you more money to run than buy new units will in the long run. Also, getting newer, more energy efficient units will lessen the power draw, and thus the possibility of shorting. Next pick of an appliance extension cord from Clark-Devon and run it from the kitchen to at least one of the new units. My 15' cord cost less than 20. It is worth it to get the more expensive appliance cord (a regular 15' is less than $10

[fuzzilla]

I used to have a free-standing unit and I loved it 'til it died. Air conditioning units are always dripping water, which just goes out the back and out the window with a window unit. Be sure to ask about how to manually drain the water if you look at stand-alone units (I wound up having lots of water drip all over my floor).

[lisagems]

Yes, that *is* an issue with the free standing units. And is worth considering, because that may actually make it not worthwhile for you. Thx, fuzzilla, I forgot about that issue.

[lisagems]

meant to say keeps my 1 BR *apartment* at a reasonable temp.

[ann_totusek]

I don't know if your new apartment has the same sort of windows as your last one, but one other thing you can do is to open a couple of windows from the top down to allow the hot air that has risen to be pushed out by the cooler air that is slowly warming and rising. You can even put in one of those longer, narrow window fans to help with that.

[langs_place]

I think airflow is as important as the units themselves. Even with central AC, we have ceiling fans on to keep the air moving. This is particularly important on the second floor of our house which roasts in the summer.

When it's warm, but not hot, I'm a fan of creating cross breezes with open windows on opposing walls. I imagine a similar thing can be done by positioning box fans opposite AC units so as to draw the cool air away from the unit and possibly out into the hallway.

[soundwave106]

Another good thing to look into is insulation and coverings. I don't know how much control you have over what is installed and what is not, but sealing gaps with caulk, replacing weather strips (if worn), getting sun-blocking curtains or blinds, etc. can really help keep cooler air in. (Usually in an apartment you do not have control over ceiling/wall insulation, unfortunately.)

[sciffy_circo]

As ridiculous as this may be, the place looks about like this:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/sciffy_circo/Chicago/April_09_2009/RavensRoost-SimsPetStories.jpg

Where the cut-away walls are, there are no windows except for the kitchen, and I doubt that would allow for an AC unit. If I remember correctly, the current ACs are in the bedroom, recording room, and office. Don't remember if there was one in bedroom 2/ live room. While it might be possible to fit an AC in the bathroom window, that would make showering awkward.

[sciffy_circo]

Wait, doesn't your landlord sell AC units?