mini split vs window air conditioner in rental unit

[fatcat666]

heya

got a townhouse for a year and want to run 4kw in a sealed room (exhaust / intake is way too noisy) so im kind of in the middle of permanence vs. movability. a window a/c would be pretty easy to put in and take out when i move, and i don't think the landlord would really care about it cause it doesn't alter anything structurally. a mini split, on the other hand, might draw his attention, but i was thinking of just asking him if i could install it, being that im there for at least a year and paying lots of rent.

window a/c:
pros:
-cheap and easy to self-install
-works for a sealed room as long as you don't get a vented unit
-easy to pack up and take with me when i leave in a year

cons:
-easily visible
-noisy
-ie. "why the hell is that guys window a/c running in december?"


mini split:
pros:
-100% sealed no questions
-the outdoor unit is less conspicuous than the window unit but still visible (it'd be sitting on my front deck by my BBQ and a bunch of lawn chairs and would blend in a bit better)

cons:
-expensive
-need to bring in someone to do the install (definately not doing it myself)
-semi-permanent, would be a big hassle to uninstall and remove when i leave



what do you all think?

and finally, what happens when the temperature goes down really low in winter ? do both window and mini split units still function if their exterior portions are sitting in near-freezing temps ?

can't use a swamp chiller as RH here is in the 70's already and the water usage is huge, the landlord would definately notice cause although my water is free, its still metered

 

[krunchbubble]

kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. i personally would go for the mini split, even though it will require you to put a small hole in the wall. the window air conditioner working in the winter is a dead giveaway.
if you air cooled your lights, you can get away with a portable ac. i know people hate on those, but i have several up and going and my 4 window air conditioners and 3 split systems are just sitting in my garage. the portables do more then enough, just have to get the right one.

 

[fatcat666]

kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. i personally would go for the mini split, even though it will require you to put a small hole in the wall. the window air conditioner working in the winter is a dead giveaway.
if you air cooled your lights, you can get away with a portable ac. i know people hate on those, but i have several up and going and my 4 window air conditioners and 3 split systems are just sitting in my garage. the portables do more then enough, just have to get the right one.

Portables (even dual hose) , in my experience, don't work too well in a sealed room. I've got a 13k btu danby dual hose portable in one of my other rooms and its definately venting room air out and creating negative pressure. there may be some that do to a lesser extent out there but i don't fancy buying and trying a bunch of units to find out. the room needs to be totally sealed.


i just realized that the window a/c probably won't work in the townhouse. The part of the window that opens is not the bottom window, its above another sealed non-opening window, so its like 6 ft. off the ground. im pretty sure you need to install window ac's on the bottom so they can rest of the ledge, right? as well, the window opens out and upwards rather than up and down so that makes it harder too. i think i have to go with the split.




do mini splits work in winter?

 

[Lazyman]

I believe they do, yes. Look for an inverterless design for one that can modulate speed too, otherwise they are on full boogie or off.

 

[HellaFella420]

Your worried about intake/exhaust noises, but a A/C or mini exchanger is not obvious?


Just a different brand of obvious I would think....


Other then that WINDOW I say....


AC will totally work in winter, the heat exchange will work REAL well... its just a matter of getting the thermostat to cycle the bitch on..... in a warm humid room, I dont see that being a problem!

 

[TwinTurboGuy]

I'm actually in the same boat. The minisplit would certainly raise a brow unless I confirm installing it with my landlord which I plan to do. If I had to say, go with the minisplit. It is more efficient, looks stealthy to others, and more quiet than the window unit.

 

[Philosophelon]

Even when I used window units, I mounted them inside in a vented box instead of the window. There is only one reason I can think of that someone would be running A/C in the winter...

I agree w/ Hella, even w/ a mini-split, where are you going to put the compressor/heat exchanger so that nobody notices it running in the winter?

I'd build a vented box for either a window unit or the compressor/heat exchanger from a mini-split. The easiest way to vent the A/C box (in your situation) would probably be with the intake coming from a window box (box mounted to a window lined w/egg crate foam), and then exhaust the hot air into the attic.

 

[PonicallyMade]

Bingo..

its the perfect solution to your problem. Build a box around the back of a 25k window unit. Blow cold winter air into the side of the unit using a register vent flange (tape the other side). ..vent the back into the attic. Go 8" ducting here.

So much easier/cheaper then a split in your situation. If the $500 AC takes a shit from not working at prime efficency who care - throw it away.

peace
pm

 

[apartmentblower]

Bingo..

its the perfect solution to your problem. Build a box around the back of a 25k window unit. Blow cold winter air into the side of the unit using a register vent flange (tape the other side). ..vent the back into the attic. Go 8" ducting here.

So much easier/cheaper then a split in your situation. If the $500 AC takes a shit from not working at prime efficency who care - throw it away.

peace
pm

Hi,

what is a "register vent flange"

i've never seen anyone build a box for a 20k btu+ unit, just the small ones.

 

[PonicallyMade]

I was thinking something like this.

I've built a box around the back of a 24k unit using this hard foam poster board about 1/4" - 1/2" thick from the craft store. It was Elmers brand and I think it was used for making signs and such.

I used one of the above style floor boxes to give me an attachment point to push outside air into the side of the unit. Hot air was then pushed up 8" ducting attached to the rear box.

The foam board got hot which worried me, but seemed to work great..and was very easy to work with using a razor blade and foil tape. Wasn't pretty - but worked.

You will however most likely need to catch the drip at the back of the AC. Use it - as its clean water.

Peace
PM

 

[apartmentblower]

I was thinking something like this.

I've built a box around the back of a 24k unit using this hard foam poster board about 1/4" - 1/2" thick from the craft store. It was Elmers brand and I think it was used for making signs and such.

I used one of the above style floor boxes to give me an attachment point to push outside air into the side of the unit. Hot air was then pushed up 8" ducting attached to the rear box.

The foam board got hot which worried me, but seemed to work great..and was very easy to work with using a razor blade and foil tape. Wasn't pretty - but worked.

You will however most likely need to catch the drip at the back of the AC. Use it - as its clean water.

Peace
PM

if i give a box'd window a/c a go i think i will use that foam board insulation. its looks like a thick Styrofoam so its easy to work with plus it will keep the heat from radiating out.

how did the a/c work out for you like that?

 

[PonicallyMade]

worked good, but only used it one grow..and it didnt have to work hard as it was a sealed room in a basement in the middle of winter..aircooled lights.

I'd definately push into the ac rather then pull from the back. Pushing will eliminate odor getting sucked out..plus I did have a 6" vortex die on me from pulling extremely hot air through it. Pushing is best.

peace
pm

 

[who me]

you need to buy the low temperature mini split for it to work in winter

 

[HellaFella420]

Bingo..

its the perfect solution to your problem. Build a box around the back of a 25k window unit. Blow cold winter air into the side of the unit using a register vent flange (tape the other side). ..vent the back into the attic. Go 8" ducting here.

So much easier/cheaper then a split in your situation. If the $500 AC takes a shit from not working at prime efficency who care - throw it away.

peace
pm

Isn't one of those portable in-room air con's the more elegant/purpose engineered answer to this situation?

The ones with the elephant trunk exhaust coming out the back...


There are waaaay better industrial versions then the Home DePot specials: http://www.globalindustrial.com/c/h...mpaignId=T9A&gclid=CNGQ75X12rACFUSK4AodeCYT3w

 

[SMOKE-ONE]

Im having in the same situation.Im in the process of changing over to a sealed room,but dont want to seem suspious with installing a mini-split when my house already have a central a/c unit.And dont want to deal with the potential problems with a window banger.

 

[the gnome]

but i have several up and going and my 4 window air conditioners and 3 split systems are just sitting in my garage. the portables do more then enough, just have to get the right one.

and what portables are you talking about?
and cool how many 1000w lites?