Do Air Conditioning geeks exist?
I work from home now. It rocks 
I also live in a rental property in the warm climate of Brisbane, Australia.
I wish to convert one of the rooms — westward-facing, 3 metres by 3 metres — into my office. I currently work in the main living area under a split system A/C and this has some problems that I want to alleviate.
Below is an image of the only window in this room. It has a single slider 570mm by 1450mm (the pink line) which is fitted with a security screen by pop-rivets. This window faces west and there is drainage outside.
What is an appropriate set up for cooling such a room, given that it is a rental property? I have looked at evaporative coolers and portable air conditioners but have been advised against both given our climate. It also appears somewhat difficult to use a portable A/C given the fixed security screen and the need for an external vent — can it me reversibly modified somehow? I find no other appropriate option and am a bit of a deadlock. Advice?
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
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December 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 am
As you know, there’s no such thing as making cold, only removing heat. So what’s required is exhausting the hot air to the outside. You might try a window AC unit if your landlord will allow it. You install them in your window by replacing some of the glass. If you have a way to route a line to the outside (like a hole in the wall maybe 5 - 8 cm wide), and you have ready access to a sewage drain from that room, then you can get a mini split AC that works just like your main AC.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
A few years ago now (in Spring Hill fwiw), my mate Nik took his window out, and put the aircon unit in normally. He even cheaped out and just used balsa to fit it to the window. It’s just a window, the worst possible outcome is you ruin it and you’re out a couple of hundred bucks to replace it when you move out. More likely though you’ll be able to take the window out in a way that’s reasonably easy to replace it later.
Of cours first, just ask the landlord to put in some aircon in return for slightly higher p/w rent. They might go for it.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:46 pm
OK, this is LATE but I’m goofing off reading your blog. My boss, coincidentally, is in Brisbane at the moment midwifing a go-live. Heh.
Here in Houston, we also have the wrong climate for evaporative coolers and portable A/C units. I also live in rental property. You have probably already come up with some or all of these solutions, but here are some things that have worked for me:
- If this room is a place where you will be spending the bulk of your time, and it is nevertheless uncomfortable, consider moving a low-use activity into this room, and move your office into the comfortable room instead.
- Move heat-producing equipment out of the room. Use wireless if possible. My laptop can practically heat my office by itself. Don’t leave heat-producing equipment on when you’re not using it.
- Install a ceiling fan to pull the cooler air from the floor, direct the warmer air away from you, and maximize the efficiency of your body’s natural evaporative temperature regulation system (yay engineering jargon).
- Consider placing a small fan facing outward at the top of the large window to remove the warmest air, and another small fan at floor level facing into the office room from a cooler room. (Don’t do this if you use a ceiling fan. Don’t trip over the floor fan.)
- Cool your body and mind. Don’t let yourself get thirsty; keep chilled water around. Keep the room darkened (I’m telling a computer professional this? LOL). Keep the room smelling fresh and clean. Keep clutter to an absolute minimum. Use light-colored or metal furniture. Get a properly ventilated work chair. Think of a room that “looks cold”, and emulate that.