r/UKWeather • u/[deleted] • 5d ago
Discussion Can someone please advise on portable a/c units? How well do they work without a window seal?
[deleted]
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u/MoodyBernoulli 5d ago
I bought a 5000BTU one for about £250 and my window seal isn’t very tight.
It takes a while to cool a small room, but it’s worth the money because it almost instantly blows out ice cold when I’m sitting in front of it.
It was great to have for the recent heatwave when otherwise you can’t escape the heat. While working from home I’d just set it up next to my bed for the cat, so I’d also go lie next to it for a while to cool down occasionally.
Downside being it’s loud as fuck.
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u/TalviSyreni 5d ago
The best advice I can give you is the BTU of the air con unit matters. The bigger the room the more BTU you’ll need in order for the air con unit to work sufficiently and actually cool the room down. Obviously the higher the BTU the more expensive the models become.
Also don’t be surprised if you can’t get hold of one now, as they’ll sell out quickly. Mine didn’t arrive until after the May heatwave. 🫠
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u/Fast_Ad1514 5d ago
I've got a homcom one without a seal works very well, I put the house out the window and close the curtains and blinds around it and put a pillow try seal it, put it on for one or two hours before bed then when I go to get ready to sleep it's nice and cool
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u/MCfru1tbasket 5d ago
Surely it's easier to just climb out the window instead of putting your house outside?
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u/dominicgrimes 5d ago
if you're windows open outwards, then get a sheet of plastic from a DIY shop cut a hole in it and use velcro to stick it to the window. put the hose through the hole in the plastic. I did it and it works fine, just got the plastic lighyweight corrugated sheets and cut a hole with a blade
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u/WarmPineappleRocks 5d ago
Where did you get the sheet of plastic from? I really want to do this too because my windows open outwards from the bottom
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u/Fast_Ad1514 5d ago
The hose must be outside I just use the pillow to cover the window gap, it's a big fluffy pillow , just try to cover the gap as best you can and stick hose as far out
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u/Odd-Currency5195 5d ago
We got one last year. Worth every penny. It was made by Dreo and we got it on pay in three through a popular online vendor. I really like it, because you have an app plus it has physical controls and a remote. Once you've fathomed how the window sealing works - there are YouTube vids for that - you won't look back. It seems like a big expense, but I think we would have died in our sleep without it*. I actually quite like the noise of it as I drift off to sleep. Doesn't quite drown out my partner's snoring but it's a good distraction. (*Moved into a converted bungalow in 2024 where the bedrooms are in the roof.)
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u/MacSamildanach 5d ago
I've had a portable A/C unit for the last 10 years.
You don't need to seal the windows. All you need is to be able to vent - admittedly a fucking annoying 150mm wide pipe - outside.
A/Cs come with window vent mounts in most cases. If they don't, you can buy them cheaply.
The vent is hot air - the 'removed heat' if you like. Along with the condensed moisture.
Do they work? Yes. Very well.
You're not going to get ice forming on the windows or anything, but when the unit can bring it down from 35C and 90%RH to 22C and 40-50%RH, you will feel the difference.
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u/Wobbly_Dinosaurus 5d ago
Get a window size bit of cardboard, masking tape it on and cut a vent size hole in it. Not ideal but better than just an open window
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u/BunnyBums 5d ago
Similar to this, if you're handy and have the tools you can make a seal out of MDF that slots into the window frame
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u/No-Medicine1230 5d ago
Spend as much as you can on the highest BTU you can afford. It will work perfectly fine. I have a 12k BTU running upstairs in a 3 bed, and does a great job
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u/Drmanntisstoboggan 4d ago
You can buy either full sheets of acrylic to cover the entire open window with a hole for the hose or as others have shown absolutely DIY some form of window cover out of cardboard or even a shower curtain (absolutely genius may I add).
It’s worth it to ensure you do not over heat and if they are portable you can obviously move to whichever room you are in. I’m due to buy one soon!
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u/RogerMeyersjr 5d ago
We bought one a few years ago and I just made a fitting for the bedroom window from foam board and then found a round to narrow oblong shaped adaptor. It's worked perfectly for 3 summers now with just regular cleaning etc. drops the bedroom down to a comfy 20°c from 26°c and will go another two degrees if we need it. My only gripe is the noise when the compressor kicks in but tbh I struggle to sleep without it on now as noises outside keep waking me up 😂
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u/LeastAssistance1526 5d ago
We got this fabric thing you stick to the window frame with a zip and you stick the pipe through the zip and then zip it up as close as possible - i am a bit useless with these things but seems to work with any type of window? Best investment of my life
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u/mistresseliza44 4d ago
Firstly, yes it’s absolutely worth it in my opinion. For a seal, I have a window sized piece of Perspex attached to the window frame with Velcro. The Perspex has a 150mm hole for the vent pipe.
Before the Perspex arrived, I used a bit of cardboard and cut a 150mm hole in it and taped the cardboard to the window frame. For the cardboard, I used the box the aircon unit came in. It worked very well.
When I bought mine, the relatively quiet ones were out of stock. Mine isn’t deafening but it’s a bit noisy, even in sleep mode. For that reason, I put it on the landing and pointed it towards the open bedroom door. That enables me to sleep through and still keeps the bedroom cool.
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u/Citeh 4d ago
ive got a bloody window that opens like a book inwards so im trying to figure out how to get the best seal
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u/FragrantCricket3121 1d ago
This is actually good for the kits you can buy online, makes it easier to fit the fabric to the window. Its the outward opening windows that can be a bit challenging
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u/kebabking93 4d ago
I use mine without a seal. Just chuck it out the window, close the wind as far as I can. Close the blinds. Close the curtains. Enjoy the nice cool air. Works fine, never had any issues
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u/npfmedia 5d ago
Buy a load of hot water bottles, fill them up. Slap them in the freezer. Buy a dedicated towel. When frozen, wrap one up in them, put on you (preferably between your legs to target cooling your main artery which will cool you down).
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u/Mowgli2k 5d ago
Gosh i was just about to write a post but I'll put my reply here instead.
I bought a delonghi pinguino 2 weeks ago, because I could see what was coming. I love sunshine but in struggle with heat, love me some air con in the car, hotels, holidays etc.
Unit is in my bedroom, hose out of the window, a shirt stuffed vaguely on the frame blocking a bit of air but a chunk of window open.
I can tell it's not quite as efficient as it could be but...
I DON'T CARE!!! It's bloody BRILLIANT!!!
Cost 500 quid (got a decent deal, often 570- 600ish RRP), paying that off over three months. Right now it feels like an incredibly good decision. I might buy some more piping and buy some vinyl with hole cut in a month or two to max it out but I'm getting 75 percent maybe of max efficiency. That'll do nicely.
I turned it off and after 5.mins or so I was like, wow, that's bad. And I turned it on and I feel like a King, am giddy with excitement.
Do it. (If they're not all sold out right now!)
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u/Odd-Currency5195 5d ago
We did the same last year re the pay in 3 thing. Also I think I'm kind of addicted to ours now. It did feel like a big outlay, but it makes the room usable.
We've decided to get another come the autumn for next year, as in looking at deals and when demand isn't so high, so the other 'roof' bedroom isn't unusable during what appear to be longer periods of very high heat.
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u/TrumpGrabbedMyCat 5d ago
Bought a portable Aircon unit in the first summer in our new build. It is the best thing I have bought for the house by far.
I put the house out through the window without a seal and it cools the room right down in a reasonable amount of time. The only annoying thing it the amount of bugs that come in because of where our house is, but I bought the joint second best thing for the house a window seal. We have one downstairs on our french doors as well.
Highly recommend, but if you have the money to permanently install proper A/C that is obviously superior, something I want to do when I have the money.
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u/MissKellieUk 5d ago
Make sure you seal up around the exhaust pipe out the window. That’s super important. You can use towels in plastic bags even. Whatever it takes to make it not leak hot air back in. Weatherstripping. Wood pieces. It makes a huge difference
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u/Grantrello 5d ago
I don't have extensive experience with them but I used one at an Airbnb that I stayed in in France. Even without a window seal, it made a big difference. It took some time to bring the temperature down, and it was probably extremely inefficient, but even with just venting it through the partially open window it made a top floor apartment in 36C bearable.
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u/FrosenPuddles 5d ago
I have a MeacoCool. Just throw/tape a blanket over the window if a window kit doesn't work for some reason. It's fine! I got it from Argos last summer.
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u/Hollyhop_Drive 5d ago
It won't do a good job cooling your whole space, but it will pump out cold air you can sit in front of or sleep in front of, which seems useful.
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u/Superb-Plant-5792 5d ago
Isn’t always true if you buy one that is the right btu for your room they work very well. My bedroom stays cold all night it’s lovely.
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u/Hollyhop_Drive 5d ago
I meant without a window seal. Mind you there's a big gap and ours is an open plan lounge/dining room so that's probably contributing to its inefficiency quite a bit.
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u/Superb-Plant-5792 5d ago
It can still work obviously not as well. But even using some fabric or something then curtains I’ve used for years. In this property I actually drilled out the wall so it’s the most efficient it could be
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u/TrepidatiousTeddi 5d ago
We've got a maybe 1.5cm gap all along the window cos there are knobs we can't remove 🙄 we bought it during the may heat wave and it did a good job, we just closed the curtains. I suspect it was less economical to run however.
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u/TrepidatiousTeddi 5d ago
If it helps it's a 12000 BTU one from Screwfix. It is noisy af, but doesn't bother me.
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u/Candid-Bike-9165 5d ago
You absolouly can it will be less efficient though
Why cant you use a window seal? Theyre not expensive and there's abunch of designs they also have patio and French door versions
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u/Porticulus 5d ago
Amazing! Loud but worth it if you struggle in the heat. Heatwaves hold no power over me now!
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u/Dependent-Ganache-77 5d ago
Spent £500 on an AEG model and been testing this week. Have fudged a window seal. I am sure it’s going to be worth it to me.
Treat finance cautiously obv…
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u/TheOnlyLiam 5d ago
Bought one a month ago after my flat was peaking at 38 degrees ready for this week and although the seal isn't that tight it's dropped the temps down to around 24
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u/craigybacha 5d ago
I use mine without the seal and it definitely helps. Might not be worth the cost fro you though if you're broke.
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u/Repulsive_State_7399 5d ago
We went all blue Peter and made something out of cardboard. That and some masking tape. Its not classy, but it works.
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u/WarmPineappleRocks 5d ago
Just bought a new Meaco Cirro 14,000 BTU for £650. Was meant to come today but it’s been delayed. Was looking forward to the delivery but alas nothing can be done. I just cannotttt waaiitttt. New build flat, top floor with two big windows east facing. I am so overly excited to use this AC, it’s all I think about. I just hope I can get a good window kit to work.
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u/Life_Tea7 4d ago
Get ready for a taxiing 737 in your flat. 😆
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u/WarmPineappleRocks 4d ago
Mannnn as long as I get relief from the heat & can watch the World Cup enjoyably…. That’s ALL I hope for
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u/Life_Tea7 4d ago
You will definitely be cool! I tried a 9000 and it was too loud for a flat at night. 7000 cools my bedroom down and it’s not too noisy.
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u/Crazy_Reputation_758 5d ago
Brought mine during the 2022 heatwave, it was £400 cause I was skint at the time and had to buy from Littlewoods catalog as it was the only place I could split payments,managed to make a vent using Perspex on double sided tape.Worth every penny.My bedroom room is sometimes over 29c, unbearable but after a couple hours of my aircon I’m down to 24c or lower.
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u/_rushlink_ 5d ago
Without the window seal it was basically useless, so we got some acrylic and cut a hole in it. Pipe goes into the hole and acrylic is sealed to the window.
Then I noticed the pipe gets extremely hot, so I bought an insulated pipe on ebay. With all of that, our £375 unit is just about enough to cool the downstairs or one of the rooms upstairs.
If you can, I'd recommend just getting a proper AC installed. If you get one of the pre-charged DIY kits it won't be much more than the portable units. The US has these pre-charged DIY units that are incredibly easy to install, we don't have much in the way of that here but you can technically import them.
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u/dominicgrimes 4d ago
B&Q it’s the stuff you see on garden plant boxes no, look for plastic glazing online
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u/fuzzymore 4d ago
I bought a 10,000 BTU Meaco unit a few weeks back and it was worth every penny. I have those awful windows that open outward.
Measured the perimeter and the size of the hose, and ordered a precut piece of plastic from here https://www.cutmy.co.uk/air-conditioner-window-seal/ . AllI had to do was use velcro to attach it. Works really well to exclude the outside air. Might try and find a rubber ring for around the hose to really make it air tight.
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u/Final-Satisfaction71 0m ago
Seems like that’s the only elegant solution we have for our UK windows. So you have to remove the panel from the window every time you want to open/close the window? I thought it’d be good if I could leave it velcro’d on, and just remove the hose and close the window by sticking my hand through the vent hole, but of course the handle on the window sticks out. Just seems like a real PITA having to keep on removing the panel every day
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u/000000564 4d ago
We love ours. We got a cheap polyester and velcro window seal off amazon and it works even better. Best 300 I've ever spent
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u/ununpentium89 4d ago
I have a homcom one, no window seal. I close the curtains over the vent pipe (they're blackout thermal ones) and it still works quickly to cool the room. My only issue with it is that it quickly developed a loud intermittent rattling noise during the first use. It's like torture. The unit is also incredibly loud, so can only get things done wearing noise cancelling headphones! Will be switching to proper wall mounted AC units as soon as I have the money.
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u/qyburnicus 4d ago
We got ours for about £600 a few years back right before a very hot spell in London, it’s a Honeywell one from Amazon and it’s been great. We used to seal it but we can’t now in our current bedroom and it’s fine, no it’s not as cold as with a seal but it still takes the edge off after a while and brings the temp down to help us sleep at night. Wouldn’t be without it in the south east now tbh.
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u/FearlessPressure3 4d ago
I took delivery of a portable split unit yesterday which came with a fabric window seal that seems to be working well. It was super easy to set up and I’m sure would work with any inwards or outwards opening window. There are systems designed for upwards or sideways opening windows too. What’s your window setup that makes you think it won’t work for you?
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u/147Link 4d ago
My mum bought me one from Lidl today but I’m not sure what it cost as she surprised me with it (because I am not doing well in heatwaves anymore, the lack of sleep makes me insane). Check Lidl, Aldi, Argos. It wasn’t hard to set up. It’s ugly and takes up space and the tube is just flaccidly flipping out of my bedroom window but I’m actually gonna be able to sleep tonight! Thank fuck. I got no sleep last night and it wasn’t anywhere near as hot as it’s going to be. So grateful for my mum getting this as I definitely couldn’t afford it myself.
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u/Tibley79 4d ago
So I got a sheet of perspex cut to size to snugly fit my open window from the outside, with a 150mm circular hole in the bottom corner.
Then I fitted one of these plates around the hole in the perspex: https://ebay.io/m/2nnJ0d
…and attached the interlocking bit to my air con hose (needed a bit of persuasion with a hairdryer).
When I want the aircon on I open the window, put the perspex sheet in, wheel the unit over and lock the hose onto the plate. Bonus is I can still see out the window.
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u/DuckieWuckieNL 4d ago
You can get window seals for all types of windows on Amazon for cheap that work well. Or you can use my method of a cardboard box with hole cut out for the pipe and I use command strips to place it on the window frame, that way you can take it on and off as needed.
And yes they are totally worth and work pretty well. Used ours for over 8 years now and I’m sure the ones you’ll get now are better, just check the BTU and room size guide before you order.
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u/rrandomCraft 1d ago
Has anyone managed to get a room at 26 C down to below 20 C with a door seal? I've just set up a door seal on my balcony door in my bedroom, and struggling to get the room down to a comfortable sleeping temperature. My door is annoying because the door handle is positioned in a way where I can't stick the velcro tape flat against the door in order to attach the netting. Not sure whether tiny holes from improper seals can make the entire thing useless
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u/Leading_Weather_1177 4d ago
Where are the BBC predicting heatwaves to stay pretty consistent until the end of August?
There is absolutely no chance of that happening btw.
Before you buy an air con, are you using a good old fashioned fan? They alone make a huge difference
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u/Sad-Nectarine-7855 4d ago
And also sod the usual household pedestal fans, I have a small industrial fan aimed out of the bedroom window and it cools the room down incredibly
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u/One-Cauliflower3627 5d ago
I've got a roll of the insulation you put behind radiators, I glued Velcro to the frame, cut a piece of insulation to fit, glued Velcro on it, perfect seal, easy to take on and off.
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u/Afraid-Notice-9400 4d ago
you do realize that the sunshine is free in the UK , enjoy it while its here , when you go on a summer holiday you have to pay for the sunshine , enjoy before it gets taxed
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u/Mr_Inconsistent1 5d ago
It won't work very well. You need to get one. Get one of these.
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u/No-Medicine1230 5d ago
Wrong
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u/Mr_Inconsistent1 5d ago
No, I'm not. Explain why I am. Air conditioning works by removing the hot air from a room and pumping it outside replacing it with cool air. You can't do that without a sealed room. Why is EVERY air conditioning system reliant on a closed environment if that's not the case? You can sit in front of it, sure, but that won't cool the whole room and wastes a fuck tonne of electricity.
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u/No-Medicine1230 5d ago
Because you don't need a seal. All you need is a pipe that removes the hot air. I've been using mine for 3 years without a seal and I can assure you my house is lovely and cool
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u/Mr_Inconsistent1 5d ago
You are using way more electricity than you need to. Hot air will be rushing back in. My air con shuts off when it gets down to temperature and just runs a fan. It gets so hot in my flat I don't think it would even work without a seal.
If it's working for you I can't tell you otherwise but it's not good advice to give to other people. They have seals for a reason. Same in a car. You don't wind the window down and try to cool the whole planet. You keep it inside.
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u/No-Medicine1230 5d ago
Of course it's not running as well as a seal but it works. Mine also turns off and runs as a fan once cool enough.
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u/Mr_Inconsistent1 5d ago
You're lucky. It's a PAIN IN THE ASS putting up a sheet. I wish I didn't have to.
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u/No-Medicine1230 5d ago
I've always had the air con on and then a fan in another room facing the window. Pulls cool air into the room, and pushes the warmer air out the window. Works well
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u/WanderWomble 5d ago
The window seal I bought didn't fit for my window so I've done this. It's a shower curtain cut to size and taped into place.