ALBALD1
Silver Member
Anyone use one of these portable air conditioners? I saw one on walmart.com that's 12,000 btu. Here's the link http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3342211 Anything you need to be aware of before buying?
Window air alternative
- Thread starter ALBALD1
- Start date
- Views: 1179
Wil
Bronze Member
Most of these type AC units have an exhaust, this on indicates it has a window exhaust kit so you have to have some place to vent the exhaust. With the kit it shouldn't be to much of a problem. But if you plan on moving it around a lot that might become a hassle. We have a couple of larger portable units similar to this at work we use in case our large AC fail in our computer rooms. They have been very helpful for short term use waiting for the repairmen to fix the large unit. We run them about an hour each month to insure they are working properly.
hvac1
Member
These units are designed for spot cooling. Blowing directly at someone or something. Your money would be better spent on a window unit. These units have a condensate bucket that would have to be emptied also they need to be exhausted out the window.
Sigarms
Super Member
More interesting question is what are Haiers plans in the U.S marketplace?
Did some work in Columbia, S.C last year and apparently they were opening a facility in that city. Going to import VERY inexpensive condensing units (at the time, I heard way lower than Goodman pricing).
Curious what the contractor is going to do if you can buy product at Walmart.
Sort of like when Home depot bought out that HVAC distributor in Atlanta (forgto their name).
Time will tell.
Did some work in Columbia, S.C last year and apparently they were opening a facility in that city. Going to import VERY inexpensive condensing units (at the time, I heard way lower than Goodman pricing).
Curious what the contractor is going to do if you can buy product at Walmart.
Sort of like when Home depot bought out that HVAC distributor in Atlanta (forgto their name).
Time will tell.
hvac1
Member
Sigarms, Whats a contractor to do when you can buy product at walmart ? Well in my business I don't try to compete against low price. You can buy it at walmart but who is going to install it ? Your friends cousin who works for someone?walmart subcontractor? When I first went into business for myself I did installations for Sears. They don't pay enough for you to make a living. In most cases any sub that is hired by the big box isn't making jack. Do you think they care if your system last longer than the 1 year warrenty that that they provide the big box? We try to sell our company and the service we provide. Try calling Walmart, Sears,HD, Lowes for service on any product, Whats the meathead on the other end of the phone tell you? Bring it in we will exchange it. Try ripping out your central air to bring down there. This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Sigarms
Super Member
First, apologies of getting off the topic.
hvac1, I agree with you 110%.
Some time ago up north, I was all to familiar with Sears HVAC "work" and never could understand how the Sears salesman could sell a job and not have the HVAC subcontractor know how the job was laid out until he got to the job (at the time, the Sears salesman didn't work for the subcontractor, we worked for Sears).
I also couldn't/can't understand that if an HVAC contractor does a good job and keep his customers satisfied, and gains business, how he (HVAC contractor) could have the time to do the work for Sears.
Thinking about it, at that time, all the "Kenmore" HVAC equipment was actually either Tempstar or Heil, not sure what they are private lableing now, other than also offering the Carrier line (last I heard, could be wrong on that now as well).
Keep in mind, you also have a "new" (although been done for a while now) with Trane contractors selling Trane equipment out of the Home Depot.
You also have that aquisition (sp?) some time ago with Home depot buying out that HVAC distributor in the Atlanta area (forgot that companys name) which seems to be doing well, although I haven't seen them (Home depot) do it futher (sp?) "up north".
Keep in mind that you can also buy refrigerant bearing equipment online, but what I would like to know is who is the CFC certified person doing the instaltion (I'm not talking about those pre-charge quick connect systems).
My point was that if Haier (sp?) tried to enter the U.S marketplace by selling "residential" hvac equipment to the HVAC contractors, they may face a "backlash" from the HVAC contractors for selling their (Haier) product in Walmart.
I also don't at this point know what Haiers (sp?) long term strategy (sp) is in the U.S marketplace.
As mentioned, when in Columbia, working with a hvac contractor, he mentioned Haier and mentioned to me that they were VERY inexpensive units, could put Goodman to "shame" and that they were moving a facility to Columbia and going after the U.S market "hot and heavy".
How true any of this is, I don't know.
hvac1, I agree with you 110%.
Some time ago up north, I was all to familiar with Sears HVAC "work" and never could understand how the Sears salesman could sell a job and not have the HVAC subcontractor know how the job was laid out until he got to the job (at the time, the Sears salesman didn't work for the subcontractor, we worked for Sears).
I also couldn't/can't understand that if an HVAC contractor does a good job and keep his customers satisfied, and gains business, how he (HVAC contractor) could have the time to do the work for Sears.
Thinking about it, at that time, all the "Kenmore" HVAC equipment was actually either Tempstar or Heil, not sure what they are private lableing now, other than also offering the Carrier line (last I heard, could be wrong on that now as well).
Keep in mind, you also have a "new" (although been done for a while now) with Trane contractors selling Trane equipment out of the Home Depot.
You also have that aquisition (sp?) some time ago with Home depot buying out that HVAC distributor in the Atlanta area (forgot that companys name) which seems to be doing well, although I haven't seen them (Home depot) do it futher (sp?) "up north".
Keep in mind that you can also buy refrigerant bearing equipment online, but what I would like to know is who is the CFC certified person doing the instaltion (I'm not talking about those pre-charge quick connect systems).
My point was that if Haier (sp?) tried to enter the U.S marketplace by selling "residential" hvac equipment to the HVAC contractors, they may face a "backlash" from the HVAC contractors for selling their (Haier) product in Walmart.
I also don't at this point know what Haiers (sp?) long term strategy (sp) is in the U.S marketplace.
As mentioned, when in Columbia, working with a hvac contractor, he mentioned Haier and mentioned to me that they were VERY inexpensive units, could put Goodman to "shame" and that they were moving a facility to Columbia and going after the U.S market "hot and heavy".
How true any of this is, I don't know.
hvac1
Member
After looking at that spot cooler closer it appears it does not have a condensate bucket to empty. It has something called an auto evaporation function. What that is I don't know possibly a heated drain pan, or slinger ring to throw water on condenser coil to evaporate it. I still would not buy it looking at the walmart site you can buy standard window units cheaper and they wont take up floor space. You will have to use a window for exhaust no matter which way you go.
hvac1
Member
I have read the same thing about there big U.S. plans. They will find a market with the new 13 seer mandate. I know up here the builders want the cheapest price possible. So they can have it. Sears is still selling the ICP line along with Carrier. Both owned by United Technologies. I heard recently that Walmart was selling Fedders central air for $899.00, somewhere down south but they stopped that promotion for some reason. Just remember this- The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is gone.
Sigarms
Super Member
You must be a Lennox dealer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I was concerned about eliminating the condensation also. I'll probably stick w/ the window a/c. When the house was built( its a story and a half design), I thought one big unit would cool the whole thing. However, the upstairs is uncomfortable on hot days. I learned after completion that most people have an additional central unit for the upstairs. I've been using a small window unit, but it needs something bigger.