Any problem with using a flue for an air conditioner?
 

One of my sons is renting a room and wants to use a small free standing
air con unit. Venting through the window is not feasible but there is a
vent in the blanked off chimney breast that has a good draught. Can
anyone forsee possible problems with using this for the air coming out
of the AC? I wondered about condensation.

Peter Scott

Any problem with using a flue for an air conditioner?
 

On 01/08/2010 17:31, John Rumm wrote:
On 01/08/2010 16:26, Peter Scott wrote:
One of my sons is renting a room and wants to use a small free standing
air con unit. Venting through the window is not feasible but there is a
vent in the blanked off chimney breast that has a good draught. Can
anyone forsee possible problems with using this for the air coming out
of the AC? I wondered about condensation.

If its the type that collects water in an internal tank, then the
exhaust ought to be basically just hot air. The posher ones however
re-evaporate their condensate on the hot side of the heat exchanger and
expel moist air. The latter type would not be suitable.


Thanks very much for that. For posher I guess you can read more
expensive. We are looking at smallish cheap ones, so I think I now need
to look for one that has a tank.

Peter Scott

Any problem with using a flue for an air conditioner?
 

Peter Scott wrote:
On 01/08/2010 17:31, John Rumm wrote:
On 01/08/2010 16:26, Peter Scott wrote:
One of my sons is renting a room and wants to use a small free standing
air con unit. Venting through the window is not feasible but there is a
vent in the blanked off chimney breast that has a good draught. Can
anyone forsee possible problems with using this for the air coming out
of the AC? I wondered about condensation.

If its the type that collects water in an internal tank, then the
exhaust ought to be basically just hot air. The posher ones however
re-evaporate their condensate on the hot side of the heat exchanger and
expel moist air. The latter type would not be suitable.


Thanks very much for that. For posher I guess you can read more
expensive. We are looking at smallish cheap ones, so I think I now need
to look for one that has a tank.

Peter Scott


Most portable units only have marginal ability to overcome friction in
their outlet pipes. I connected one to about 3m of vertical open ended
soil pipe a while back and it virtually stopped working. This was one
with a tank.
A lot depend on whether you have a separate air inlet into the room. If
not then the A/C unit is trying to pump air out of a sealed box.
If you do have an air inlet then this could bring in warm humid air so
whilst you have a good airflow now, the cooling and dehumidifying effect
is compromised.

Basically , don't expect these portable units to work anything like as
well as a 2 part fixed installation.

Bob

Any problem with using a flue for an air conditioner?
 

On 01/08/2010 18:47, Bob Minchin wrote:
Peter Scott wrote:
On 01/08/2010 17:31, John Rumm wrote:
On 01/08/2010 16:26, Peter Scott wrote:
One of my sons is renting a room and wants to use a small free standing
air con unit. Venting through the window is not feasible but there is a
vent in the blanked off chimney breast that has a good draught. Can
anyone forsee possible problems with using this for the air coming out
of the AC? I wondered about condensation.

If its the type that collects water in an internal tank, then the
exhaust ought to be basically just hot air. The posher ones however
re-evaporate their condensate on the hot side of the heat exchanger and
expel moist air. The latter type would not be suitable.


Thanks very much for that. For posher I guess you can read more
expensive. We are looking at smallish cheap ones, so I think I now need
to look for one that has a tank.

Peter Scott


Most portable units only have marginal ability to overcome friction in
their outlet pipes. I connected one to about 3m of vertical open ended
soil pipe a while back and it virtually stopped working. This was one
with a tank.
A lot depend on whether you have a separate air inlet into the room. If
not then the A/C unit is trying to pump air out of a sealed box.
If you do have an air inlet then this could bring in warm humid air so
whilst you have a good airflow now, the cooling and dehumidifying effect
is compromised.

Basically , don't expect these portable units to work anything like as
well as a 2 part fixed installation.

Bob


Good point. Thanks. Looks like we might have to try to make some sort of
horizontal vent. Can't cut the glazing and he's not happy to leave a
window opening as it's a ground floor room in a fairly dubious area.

Peter Scott