We’ve never had air conditioning but maybe we’re getting soft and now would like it at least at night. We are generally content with fans.

It’s a small (175 sq. ft. or less) room with really small windows —- 20 in. wide on the inside and even smaller, about 16 in., at the storm window frame. That’s too small for even the smallest window units we’ve found.

There are portable units but I hear they are noisy and inefficient and expensive.

Would a dehumidifier do any good as a substitute?

The ideal option, I suppose, is moving the bed to the adjacent computer room which has a larger window. Just for the summer. And installing a heavier-duty electrical outlet for the AC.

Any ideas welcome!

We had a 70 pt dehumidifier in the crawl space of our two story, 1700 sq ft vacation home. The home was well-insulated, and we found that when we got up there the house would be totally comfortable even in the hottest weather.

The kicker was that the house was all sealed up, with window blinds closed to keep light out, and windows closed and locked tight. With us going in and out of doors the temp would go up some in the house but was still more than tolerable. We would keep the blinds on the sunny side of the house tilted upwards so we got a little light but not sunlight streaming in to heat things up.

Our dehumidifier didn't need to be emptied because it drained into a sump pit and got pumped out automatically. Any A/C type of unit needs to have the condensate drain somewhere. If it's a dehumidifier, you'll have to empty the bucket when it fills.

And as far as noise is concerned..if the unit is in the room with you, you'll hear the sound of the compressor and the fan.

quote:

Would a dehumidifier do any good as a substitute?

I don't think this will be the solution you're looking for. If the dehumidifier is in the room where you are, it actually will generate some heat. I have some free standing dehumidifiers that I've used in my piano room in the past, and they do bring up the temperature, although making it more comfortable by bringing down the humidity. Also, as WTG said, they're generally very noisy. I dislike being in the same room with them, and I tried very hard to buy a quiet one. I just don't think they exist.

Could you get a mini split? These are called "split" because there's a unit outside, which keeps the noise outside.

Steve mentions these a lot, but I'm familiar with them bc they are standard in Japan. They're super quiet and work very well, esp. for small rooms.

Check Mitsubishi, which sells them in the US.

Mini splits work well but you need to have a place to put the compressor outside. Around here it seems like almost all the new builds are going with a mini-split or splits. We don't get the super-hot temperatures very often, though. But my daughter said her units worked well here in PDX when we had a yucky spell of 110+ about two years ago.

They're not cheap, but I think it's something that would increase the value of your house.

I've had a lot of experience living in hot climates (and NYC is hot in the summer).

My vote would be to make the temporary change and buy an actual window unit.

SK wrote, "Check Mitsubishi..."

Premium type of AC. I wouldn't say no to it.

Look into “casement” window, air conditioners. I think one of those might fit.

If that doesn’t work, I’d look at having a hole cut in the bedroom wall and a through the wall unit installed. I have had them in several houses and they work out just fine.

Mini-splits are the way to go, but they are not cheap. Figure 10x or more the price of a window unit, maybe more depending on the necessary electrical work.

I knew someone who had a portable, standalone unit that vented out a window. They cut a sheet of insulation to fit the opening of the window, and then punched a hole through that for the large-diameter tube that vents the standalone unit.

Our son uses one of those roll-around portable units vented out through a window in the apartment. Works well for him!

https://www.thespruce.com/best...conditioners-4164001

quote:

Originally posted by QuirtEvans:
Mini-splits are the way to go, but they are not cheap. Figure 10x or more the price of a window unit, maybe more depending on the necessary electrical work.

I knew someone who had a portable, standalone unit that vented out a window. They cut a sheet of insulation to fit the opening of the window, and then punched a hole through that for the large-diameter tube that vents the standalone unit.

Wow. I didn't know they were that much.

I've known people in HI who had them but nobody on the mainland.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
Look into “casement” window, air conditioners. I think one of those might fit.

If that doesn’t work, I’d look at having a hole cut in the bedroom wall and a through the wall unit installed. I have had them in several houses and they work out just fine.

When we lived in Queens, we had one of these through the wall in our downstairs living room. I was a soft girl from the Pacific Northwet, unused to east coast heat/humidity. That unit saved me! Probably cheaper than a mini split?

We had window units in the upstairs bedrooms, too.

Have two LG units that roll on the floor. A hose goes to the window where I put a sheet of wood I cut to fit. The adapter that came on the end of the hose is not large enough for the full height of the window opening. Both are good.
Have a Honeywell unit that is the size of both of the LG units and half as good as one of them. It also uses a hose to the window/

quote:

Originally posted by CHAS:
Have two LG units that roll on the floor. A hose goes to the window where I put a sheet of wood I cut to fit. The adapter that came on the end of the hose is not large enough for the full height of the window opening. Both are good.
Have a Honeywell unit that is the size of both of the LG units and half as good as one of them. It also uses a hose to the window/

The two hose versions of those units work better than the single hose variety. Neither work as well as a regular window unit but they do work and they're quite a bit quieter.

Thanks for all your responses! I measured the vertical window space and even the smallest vertical (casement) unit would not fit.

Looks like we’ll be looking at those portable units with the hoses. I realize they’re less efficient but should do the job, especially since it’s a small room. Good to know two hoses are better than one (hope two will fit).

You’re going to have to figure out how to deal with the condensate water. Those rolling units come with a garden hose fitting that either has to drain to a pan or be run outside.

Would those rolling units work in a garage that didn't have AC? (as long as the drainage was arranged for)

What are they called? or does someone have a link?