Portable AC questions...

OK, My flowering area is in a 5x8 closet. There is a hot water tank in the closet with it. I only use 4x5 area. The room is in the back of the house, and it gets over 100 degrees with my 400w hps, cooltubed, with a 250cfm exhaust fan blowing in the attic. I believe that the lack of a solid intake + having the hot water tank in the same area + poor roof insulation is causing my high temps and stunted growth.

I have room for a portable ac unit, i can exhaust it into the attic, and can use the hot water tanks drain pan.

How well would this work? Which size/brand unit would be best for this area?

Any help or thoughts would be very welcome.

Got a nice setup dude, should work good for you. As far as which unit I'd read reviews, theres alot of pieces of sh*t out there, even some with big price tags. I'd also buy it from a big retail store if possible and get very clear information on their returns/exchange policy just in case it turns out to be crap (I would count on it sucking, and if it works hey bonus). If it worked as advertised yeah thats nice. Sounds like you need to cool at least 20 degrees in there and you'll probably lose some efficiency on your hot water tank but I suspect thats something you'll just have to deal with. Basically I think you want something huge to cool that much, but then again remember we are in the middle of summer and most summer crops suffer because cooling costs are ridiculous in terms of both electricity used and cost of decent units to cool them.

I'd probably look at 10-12k/BTU models make sure the reviews dont say anything about them leaking. I'd plant one in a rubbermaid container just to be safe, I've heard all kinds of horror stories about them leaking. But sounds like you got a sweet spot to vent hot air, right up and out of the grow room, so if you get a good strong unit that isnt a piece of junk you should be g2g. How much it will cool your grow room I dont know. I know for a fact HD where I live has a great return policy, you could pretty much buy one, use it for a week, check your temps and return it for whatever reason you want if its not big enough. I was actually just looking at an 8k BTU unit there today in fact. You could always buy one, start small, if thats not enough, return get a bigger one etc.

I wouldn't order something like that online, return process would be a pain in the ass if you had to return it, and I've heard of tons of people having issues with portable ACs, either not cooling properly, only fans will blow but no cooling, or they leak, etc.

Also I think it would help to insulate your hot water tank so not as much heat escapes and radiates through the room.

I've heard a lot of complaints with portable AC units. I'd suggest looking into what's called a split AC, and as isthis suggested, that water heater needs insulated up tight. Good luck with getting the coold down.

Here is an example of a split AC http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=garden&field-keywords=split+ac

I hear split ACs are hard to install and you should really get a licensed person to do it (HVAC?). If you own the place and have ducting through the house already might as well just go central air.

The main issue it seems like folks have with installing the split AC's is that they lack a 220 outlet in the grow room. There are some units that run 110.
Install looks pretty straight forward after you have juice to them. A lot of folks on here use split AC units. A quick search will put you in touch with them.

Thanks for the prompt replies friends....

@isthis2012 - after long and boring research on the topic it seems that the portable units are not ideal. Although some people praise them while others curse them for not lasting long enough and them lacking necessary power to cool a grow area. Cooling an office or bedroom they seem great.. but they are not designed to do that causing them to overwork and take life off the unit.

I may buy one and do as you suggest to try it and see if it cures my high temps. As for the intake, passive? forced? My ambient temps are higher than i like. Your suggestion to wrap the hot water tank to insulate it should have been done on the first grow, i cant believe i didnt think of it.. its just me in the apt so not sure how much temps will go down because of how much i use my hot water. By the way the hot water tank also has its own exhaust going into the attic also. That doesnt mean that the heat doesnt emanate from the case.


@keiserrott - Yea i wish i had funds to provide a split unit, seems like these are best for grow ops. I am also renting and trying to keep hole cutting to a min. It has a 15k "hotel" unit in the living room and i put a 10k btu unit in the window of my bedroom where my veg cab is located. Only a one bedroom i might add.


Now i have a few other options that i was wondering if i could get opinions on.

The first one is a DIY window unit conversion shown here http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=95491 Seems like it will work, but how much money am i really saving this route. Looks like with the purchase of a AC, 6inch vortex, and ductboard and duckwork, ill be spending ~300 dollers. The cost of a portable unit.

The second would for me to move my flowering chamber into a grow tent next to my window ac, but having a window ac still running when temps get low would be too obvious. Not to mention my exhaust would be ran out the front window of my apt.

Am i missing any other options that could keep my temps down?

wheres my post? does it take an hour to submit?
No, it didnt go through for some reason... gotta retype.. darn i cant even remember what i typed...

Ive done a fair amount of research on the topic and have several choices.

There are mixed reviews on the portable units, figured i would do as you suggested and buy one see if i like it, if not return it...

Split unit is key, but i am renting and very low on funds..

Insulating the hot water tank is a great idea, i dont know why i didnt think of it... thanks.

My intake is poor, cant seem to find a decent fresh air intake at all. Was thinking that i could lower my temps significantly just by having a good exchange of air. The room is connected to my bathroom, which i think i may cut a hole inside the sink cab to allow air to passively be brought in through that. Or i could cut a hole in the door and place a ventcover over it, but then it would be almost obvious what might be in there. Dont really wanna pull air from attic since that is where i am expelling it.

So my options:

1. get a portable ac unit
2. move flowering chamber to a grow tent near my veg chamber, which has a 12k window unit keeping the ambient temps around 72.
3. buy a window unit and convert it to a free standing unit by exhausting the coils with a 6inch inline fan.


Here are a few pics to get a better idea of what i am working with.








I can take pics whenever, if it would help you help me. Thanks

I got the sunleaves dual hose for 400 bucks with my room sealed and pumping outside it works amazing my taj last about two weeks had a single hose in the past and my 20lb tank only lasted 5 days. It's a 12000 btu unit . The mini splits are the best. WWW.bestminisplit.com or bestpricedminisplits.com can't remember.

would love a minisplit, maybe after a few harvests, but for now, i am budgeted at 300$ Cant find a dual hose for less than 450. yet... gotta keep looking.

Search craigslist. I got a single hose for 110 bucks. college kids sell em cheap when they come home and need the cash.

Also, is the hot water heater gas or electric? Ever thought about insulating the hot water heater? I don't know what part of the country your from (I'm going to assume a moderate climate) but it's common practice to insulate the entire hot water heater, they make special blankets and insulation for just that purpose

yea, i found a 12k for 175$ i think it has too big of a footprint to put in the space. If you look at the third pic down above, you see its a tight fit. i might get it anyway and build a shelf allowing the cold air to be forced out at the top of the room, since heat rises. This idea also makes for a short exhaust for max efficiency.

And the water heater is electric, i found a insulation sleave at hd that might fit my heater. That should lower temps, you say, 5 deg f?

Today the temps here were high 86, low 63.

you should have a person who is trained install a mini split if and when you do since there is some brazing to do you need to have a solid vacum on that line

Thanks youngdog, ill keep that in mind. My father is hip to that kinda work, he would walk me through it if i told him it was for a friend. :X

Used a window AC and converted it... Pics of it are in my grow journal in my siggy..... it works rather nicely.