<p>Well it’s finally starting to be summer and my overpriced Manhattan Rental Apartment is starting to heat up. We have small wall units for the Bedrooms, but I can’t use the window in the Kitchen and the Living Room/Dining room (I use those terms loosely) does not have a window to place a unit. I’ve also learned that any time I used more than 16 amps (like running the microwave and the toaster oven at the same time) blows a fuse.</p>
<p>Has anyone had any success with those portable non-window air conditioner units? Do they pull a lot of power to work? Any advice is much appreciated.</p>
<p>Yes, we have one that we use sparingly (maybe five to ten nights a year), but we are very grateful for it then. </p>
<p>Ours is one of the DeLonghi Pinguinos. It has a good energy star rating and works like a dream. The list price is high, but we found this one at BB&B, dug out a wad of coupons, and made out okay.</p>
<p>The only problem you may run into is that while portable units don’t sit in a window, many of them still need to be vented out a window. Sounds as if you’ll want to make sure you pay attention to that aspect as you shop, since you mentioned limited ability to use the windows in the rooms you want to cool.</p>
<p>The air conditioning wasn’t working in my office last summer, and it was impossible, given the window configuration, to use one of the units with a hose that needs to go out the window (most of them are like that), so my firm bought me the kind that doesn’t need to be vented out the window. It was pretty useless: the water pan had to be emptied all the time, and it made the room way more humid than cool. So I got rid of it, and managed just fine the rest of the summer with a large, standing electric fan.</p>
<p>My son will be living at NYU this summer for an internship and he did not get an AC room in the lottery. ACs are not allowed - has anyone had anyone had experience with NYU summer housing and portable ACs?</p>
<p>I hated the Pinguino we had years ago. It had to be filled with water, and the water always ran out in the middle of the night. And it tended to leak, too. I don’t know if the newer ones would be any better. Also, it is hard to find an airtight way to vent them. In my experience, it was definitely a troublesome appliance.</p>
<p>RozPal - You might try “the desert solution.” If you can reduce the humidity in your apartment it will feel much cooler. Good luck with this. NYC in the summer – ugh.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info. It’s starting to seem like I’m in for a hot summer. I really won’t be able to create a tight seal out a window because it’s the fire escape window. The dehumidfier is a good idea, but i remember those seem to be a lot of work to empty and clean too. Hmmm. It sounds like it’s back to old fashion fans and lots of ice tea. Any new in quiet, powerful fans?</p>
<p>Many years ago I lived in Mexico for a summer. The real issue with the heat is usually sleeping. I found it very effective to take a lukewarm shower at bedtime, and go to bed still wet and with a fan blowing at me.</p>