RE: Airconditioning

["Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

See a huge number of messages about this on this list last year ;)

I tried one of the B&Q types - was completely useless and INCREDIBLY
noisy.=
I found that it just couldn't deal with the heat (hot part of last years s=
ummer). Eventually took it back and got a proper split unit installed
(Shar=
p Eco Inverter). The new system is FAB - cools the room really quickly (no
=
matter how hot outside) and is really quiet even on highest fan setting.
Al=
so heats if needed and looks very smart on the wall.

The downside as James mentioned is that they need the condenser mounted
out=
side (my pipes run through the kitchen loft, through a suspended tube
betwe=
en the kitchen wall and garage, through the garage and down to the
condense=
r the other side of the garage - about 30m.)

Can you tell I like it a lot!? No more thrips (thunder flies) crawling all
=
over my screens, face and hair! (we get plagued every year.)

System cost around =A31300 fully fitted, although I have seen good DIY
syst=
ems for under =A31k.

Paul


-----Original Message-----
From: James Hoye [mailto:yahoo@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 07 June 2004 11:26
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Airconditioning

> I have seen the one in B&Q  and I think the 8K BTU one is about
179,
> however it needs a pipe that goes to the outside, is this just for
> dehumidified moisture or is there another reason for this pipe.

It is likely (for this amount of money) that the pipe is a heat exhaust.

> If water can I just run it into a bowl or something short term??

The condensate is usually collected into an internal container, and is
emptied when the unit indicates that this container is full.

> Alternatively anybody know of any other sources for air conditioners
> that don't require external venting?? Preferably in the Bristol area
or
> online

Hmmm... an air conditioner is essentially a heat pump, and moves heat
energ=
y
from one place to another - so unless you want to heat up the adjacent room
it has to go somewhere - outside usually.

The "hang the pipe out of the window" types are notoriously
inefficient in
that they draw air into the room (from adjacent rooms & outside) to
replace
the air that is vented (otherwise you'd end up in a vacuum).  This air has
the disadvantage of inevitably being warmer than the air that has already
been cooled in the room.  However, they will drop the temperature by
severa=
l
degrees and provide a degree of comfort.

The best type are split units, where the condensor is separate from the
evaporator unit (cooling part) [well, it's joined by the refrigerant lines,
but the units are separate].  You mount the condensor outside and the heat
energy is carried in the refrigerant return to be dissipated outside of the
room.  These are much more efficient, and sadly expensive.  Homebase(?)
flogged off a load of these cheap a year or two ago, and many list members
snapped them up.

Whatever type you get, you will need to 'vent' the unit to the outside one
way or another.

James





=20