Airconditioner Tunnel Idea - Will it work?!

benjamin on 05/01/2014 - 23:26

I have a wall mounted AC in my bedroom and was hoping to buy something like http://www.bunnings.com.au/agi-pipe-slotted-ppi-100mm-10m-bl… or two of http://www.bunnings.com.au/revelair-150mm-x-5m-pvc-fan-exhau… to tunnel it into my living room. the plan would be to join the AC output and hose with a big garbage bag stuck on with a strong duct tape .

Anyone good with physics knowledge or just plain common sense that has an idea if it will work or not? It seems such an awesome idea in my head but my head has let me down in the past!…

Home & Garden

Comments

  • marquise on 05/01/2014 - 23:34
    +6

    LOL this is exactly the kind of thing that comes to my mind every summer. Looking forward to the discussion.

    Maybe you could put lots of little PC fans inside the tube to help carry the cool air.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2014 - 23:37
    +1

    It should work, but how much of an issue is having a large pipe running through the house? How much heat could that pipe pick up on the way from outside sources? (will it be in direct sunlight, past a heat source etc)

    How long will the pipe be?

    Is there enough force from the ac to carry the air that far?

    Is a portable air con too expensive for you?

    Is it not possible just to get ac installed in the lounge as well?

  • resubaehtgnolhcs on 05/01/2014 - 23:38
    +1

    It's not impossible, but it is limited by how long the run to your living room is and how much horse power your AC unit has. If the run is long (eg >10m) and and your AC is only 1 or 2 horse power, then you may not get much air into the living room, however this can be countered to a degree by using a smaller diameter pipe.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2014 - 23:40
    +4

    Risky, as the fan in the wall unit will have to work harder to push the air through the tube, which it may not be rated to handle.

    You may also want to look into getting a much larger diameter hose. Trying to push that much air through a tiny hose will not work.

    Something like this would do the trick:
    http://www.bunnings.com.au/ixl-easy-duct-thermal-transfer-ex…

  • RockyRaccoon on 06/01/2014 - 06:37

    You may want to check this out. Also check the suppliers store for other models

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/INLINE-FAN-EXHAUST-KIT-1-ROOM-1-R…

    A little cheaper than bunnings

  • _Bruce_ on 06/01/2014 - 07:03
    +4

    You will need to run two pipes for this to work. The AC takes air from the room, cools it a little, then puts it back. Do this enough and the room gets cooler. To shift the room you need to shift the intake and the output. Not only that but both pipes will need to be sealed into the new room and where they meet the AC.

  • robotdad on 06/01/2014 - 07:03
    +3

    I've done it using large diameter (30-40 cm) paper tubing. It did manage to shift cold air from one room to another and create a noticeable reduction in head in the next room. Looked ugly but it worked.

  • StewBalls on 06/01/2014 - 07:52
    +3

    http://www.bunnings.com.au/agi-pipe-slotted-ppi-100mm-10m-bl…

    Perforated - Yes

    Not sure if anyone has noticed, but your first (ag drain pipe) option won't really be conducive to transporting air from point to point due to the holes.

    FWIW, I've seen what you're wanting done with only very limited success very frequently in boarding houses/student accommodations. Honestly, you're far better off going for a portable AC.

    • benjamin on 06/01/2014 - 15:12

      Good pickup! When I went to Bunnings I dont think I saw any holes but probably wasnt looking close enough.

  • affable on 06/01/2014 - 07:57
    +1

    I also did it successfully 20 years ago with a wall/window mounted (NOT split) system. Like robotdad I used a larger diameter duct (30cm or so) the same as used in the roof in ducted A/C. The hardest part was keeping the duct fixed to the A/C face. The problem with using a small duct is that the air has to travel faster which can create a lot of noise. Having only 1 pipe does work, especially if it is directed straight onto you rather than generally in the room. However its not as efficient as a 2 pipe system as Bruce said (note ducted A/C even with split zone capability usually only have 1 return point centrally located in a hallway).
    For a few hot days a year, $50 in ducting placed at your feet like you would a fan and you've got supurb cooling for one in any room of the house.

  • c64 on 06/01/2014 - 09:13

    window-mount air conditioners cost < $500

  • cryptos on 06/01/2014 - 09:41
    +1

    Get roof AC ducting, non insulated or at least no glass fibre type insulation. Is the wall mounted AC a split system or older style hole in wall type; and how powerful? Also how long is the minimum distance? Does the living room get direct sunlight on windows, you'll need to al-foil them up If so.

  • PlasticSpaceman on 06/01/2014 - 10:41
    +2

    Wow. You must either have a very understanding partner or we are talking a rental property. ;-)

    The theory is kinda sound, but as you assumed it is let down in a number of areas. Firstly, is it practical? Not really. There would be a lot of mucking around to do it, there would be a lot of cooling loss with anything other than properly insulated A/C ducting, taping/untaping when you want to cool your bedroom would be annoying, it is likely that the A/C will be overloaded unless you install some extra inline fans to move the air….. Secondly, will it save money? Unlikely - paying for the ducting, extra electricity running the A/C, frankly you may find it cheaper in the long run to get a cheap wall mounted reverse cycle A/C or (if you are a renter) even a portable. If you are a real cheap arse, make your own portable and get a second hand window mounted A/C off gumtree/ebay, put that on a table in the living room near a window and use a short run of duct to exhaust the air and water….

    • benjamin on 06/01/2014 - 15:12

      Yeah, rental property!

    • twocsies on 06/01/2014 - 20:04

      +1 second hand window mounted A/C off gumtree/ebay

  • p1 ama on 06/01/2014 - 11:05

    I don't think it'd work, approaching the situation from a physics point of view, there are a few problems.

    First of all, I don't think the air would actually even get to your living room in the first place. There are two properties that are important "the amount of air pushed" and "static pressure". The static pressure is how well the fan is able to push air through a resistance.

    Think about your air-conditioner. It is likely that the fan built into it is designed to offer optimum "air-flow", not "static pressure" because it is trying to move as large an amount of air as possible and it generally has little resistance against it moving the air.

    Now, when you are talking about feeding the air through a small pipe, what happens is that the air will just die because the fan can't generate enough static pressure to push it out to the other end. On top of that whilst moving through the pipe, it'll be heated up by the air around so you end up with very little cool air coming out.

    It also gets complicated because the aircon actually intakes hot air (usually from the top) and outputs cold air (in the bottom), which makes physical sense as hot air rises, you'll have to figure all of this out as well which makes little financial sense.

    So yeah, it won't work even if you set everything up perfectly and paid for everything.

    Just get a portable airconditioner instead, they're pretty cheap and will work way, way better than this. The physics behind it is actually not really quite right either.

  • twodollah on 06/01/2014 - 11:46

    I don't think the pressure difference between the two ends of the pipe would be great enough to cause much airflow.

  • tds on 06/01/2014 - 11:55

    Just a couple of suggestions of mine.

    I have a small portable air conditioner that i had bought off a gumtree sale for 100$ that sits in my computer room on a small desk right up onto the window. It doesnt cool that great and is quite noisey but it does decrease the temperature by a few degrees in very hot weather. It might be good to get one. It will be similar in price to the piping.

    I have also heard of using some bubble wrap on your windows (although very unsightly) to create a barrier and to stop the heat entering your house through the windows.

  • Buyingcrap on 06/01/2014 - 12:08
    +2

    My partner is pregnant to I had to find a temporary solution to cool the house. I purchased a through the window air conditioner on gumtree then realised the only window it would fit was the spare room.

    Got this on ebay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/220476674959?ssPageName=STRK:MEWN…
    It arrived in 2 days to regional NSW. The coils are metal so I bent that into a rectangle to fit the output of the air con. I duct taped (yes duct tape can be used for ducting as well as everything else)it to the air con and run a 30cm desk fan on the other end of the tubing.

    It cools our open plan living area in a 2 bedroom apartment (a decent sized space) very well. The only issues are condensation on the duct itself and finding a happy temperature to set the unit at (it takes its readings from a much hotter area than the one it is cooling).

    • benjamin on 06/01/2014 - 14:55

      Ahhh thats a much better pipe! Thanks! I did look on ebay but didnt really know what to search for other than 'pipe' and 'hose'. For that price I might as well give it a go! Might not work but its worth a try. Will let you guys know how it ends up!

  • Buyingcrap on 06/01/2014 - 12:11
    +1

    Oh and it's mylar (emergency blankets) on the windows not bubble wrap from what I've read. Also gives a cool mirrored glass look to the windows so people cant see in.

  • donga100 on 06/01/2014 - 12:15
    +1

    To help with the airflow you could tape another garbage bag to a pedestal fan on the other end of the pipe.

    • benjamin on 06/01/2014 - 15:13
      +1

      good thinking; or if I get a fan the right size just tape the fan directly onto it..

      • kangaroo on 07/01/2014 - 12:22
        +2

        Get a box fan (not sure what is the correct name), Woolies sells them for around $20, its easy to tape around a box fan, or you could feed the tube to a cardboard box and then tape the cardboard box to the box fan.

  • benjamin on 06/01/2014 - 15:00
    +1

    OK thanks everyone for the input! Ive decided to give it a go based on the people who have done something similar and it works.

    For now I will try a 6m effort using http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/220476674959?ssPageName=STRK:MEWN… (thanks ollieron). If it works ok at 6m I will then buy another one with a setup of main aircon —> 6m pipe —> taped in desk fan —> another 6m pipe —> desk fan taped on the end to blow air out.

    Will post pictures and let you know how I go.

    • alizzan on 06/01/2014 - 18:09
      +6

      I like this because it seems so MacGyver. Please post pictures.

  • onlyletters on 06/01/2014 - 16:18
    +1

    I'm sure you could mount the unit in your roof and create your own ducted air conditioner system for the inlet and outlet with the use of a few ducts and maybe a solar fan to get rid of the additional heat in your roof. I'm sure it could also be done by hacking into a split system a/c system. I would also assume you would need some sort of fan inside one of the ducts to increase the flow or it would need to be on the highest fan speed all the time. The 'smoother' the pipes, the better the air flow so in this case, its better to use pvc pipes.

  • meatgasm on 06/01/2014 - 20:16

    In regards to air pressure, as others may have pointed out, I have a suggestion. Assuming there is little crossflow of air between those rooms, you will need something to equalize the pressure between the rooms. To put it simpler, if both rooms are closed off, using only one pipe pushing cold air into the hot room would mean that the warm room has a higher air pressure than the one with the AC meaning that airflow between the rooms would try to move, reducing the effectiveness of the fans. You could leave both doors/windows open but that seems to negate the point of circulating cold air…..

    Instead of one big pipe, you should consider 2 smaller pipes (maybe contained in one big pipe to be neat?), one of which has a puller and pusher fan, and one which is free flowing. The pipe with the fans would have the cool airs directed towards it, and the fans would help push it through that pipe to the other room, pointed at the direction you want cooled.

    The second pipe would act as a passive pressure equilizer, allowing warm air to move from the hot room to the one with the AC. You would want to have the "hot" pipes aiming at the ceiling to draw in warm air from there, and to push it towards the intake of the aircon in the cool room. However, a shorter pipe would be more useful to mitigate resistance so that should be a priority.

    Consider sealing the pipe with the fans at each end to help maintain airflow.

    Something like this:

    http://i.imgur.com/t2xbaNn.png

    Instead of desk fans, maybe use PC fans? More silent, and they use less power?

    http://www.coolerguys.com/250mmfan.html

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/170mm-x-150mm-Wired-Plastic-Blade…

    Just my little idea, feel free to correct me if I got any fundamentals wrong.

    • donga100 on 06/01/2014 - 21:13

      I think OP was going to seal the AC unit to the pipe so the original room won't be cooled at all.

      • meatgasm on 06/01/2014 - 22:25

        Oh right. For the sake of efficiency, you still need a way to prevent too much of a pressure difference between the room with the AC and the room you're trying to cool down. But I dont know about their house, maybe there is sufficient space beneath the door to allow circulation to help mitigate the pressure difference?

  • p1 ama on 06/01/2014 - 21:03
    +1

    The only problem is that once this is all set up and done, the amount of time, effort and money invested would probably be similar to just buying a portable air conditioner.

    Alternatively, you live in Adelaide, which is quite a non-humid area, so evaporative cooling is pretty effective.

    • benjamin on 19/01/2014 - 02:13

      Actually, live in Mooloolaba - Seen the thermometer go up to 90% humidity sometimes,..

  • Wallyt99 on 06/01/2014 - 23:31

    I am assuming you have an old 'Box style' Air Conditioner - as you couldn't really 'tape a hose' to a reverse cycle unit. But suggestions for both.

    If this is a reverse cycle unit - the problem you will have is that the thermostat (temperature switch) inside the air conditoner will register a cold temperature (inside the bag) and shut off quickly - meaning that you will not get much cooling from it.

    If you have an older style 'Box Airconditioner' - these often do not have thermostat's - which means that it will not shut off - however they are desinged to be run on hot days - heat from the rear of the unit (outside) and moderate interior temperatures keeps the refrigerant from icing up. If you put a bag on the front - the air con will get too cold, the refrigerant will ice up, and you will likely blow up the motor on the air conditioner.

    Regardless of all the above - the Air-con in the bedroom is likely rated to cool a bedroom - not a whole house. Again - a quick way to a broken air conditioner.

    You will then no doubt remove the tape and call the landlord 'Air-Con isn't working'.

    My suggestion would be firstly - call the landlord - and ask them to install an aircon in the lounge.
    Secondly get a portable air-con or something like this - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/USED-Convair-Prestige-Evaporative…

    Lastly - if you must - cool the bedroom - and duct the air from the cool bedroom to the lounge room.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/01/2014 - 11:08

    I'd be looking at putting a small* a/c in the window of the living area.

    I did this to my previous rental property which had NO a/c. Built a sturdy table/stand outside to hold the unit, and boarded it up (boarding method will vary depending on frame material (bolts vs screws) and window opening direction).

    I believe it just had to be secure enough that you have to "break" in - that being, no different to a burglar smashing a window etc.

    *small units e.g. size of ~450w x 350h x 550l

  • rickxs on 07/01/2014 - 12:03
    +1

    Hi Benj
    as your in SA this prob wont help
    I was given 2 refig air cons from mates for my 10 X 7 shed , you could have one gratis BUT I'm 8 hrs drive away :(
    to heavy to post I can hardly lift it [ex farmer] & would not trust it being kept up the right way
    put through windows the way to go —portable ,in room types are just humidifiers
    anyway good luck

  • misu p on 07/01/2014 - 15:05
    +2

    Hello,

    Are you trying to have fun or to achieve a particular task?

    If you want to achieve something then buy a 200 AUD second hand portable (standing) air conditioning unit and be done with it. It will look better, it will actually work and you will not have garbage bags and ducts running around the house.
    DYI project are great when you cannot find a reasonable solution to a problem but to go and do what you are taking about for half the price of something that works and it is designed for that….

    If you want to have fun then your idea is great go for it, we need pictures :).

  • cpl123 on 07/01/2014 - 21:49
    +1

    Portable air conditioners are a waste of money. I know because we have one and used it for 1 summer and not since. Total waste of $700 (? can't remember exactly how much).

    First of all you need to duct the hot air out somehow. Included with the airconditioner is some pipe and rectangular piece of foam with a hole in it for the pipe to go through so you can duct the hot air out the window and and the foam 'seals' the open window. Doesn't work well in practice.

    Secondly they only work well up to about 32 deg. Manual says don't use it for hotter temps. Then what's the point? And they are right, it doesn't cool much at hot temps and sometimes just shuts off.

    I think one of those misting fans will cool you better than a portable aircon.

    • benjamin on 19/01/2014 - 02:11

      Misting ones would be ok if there wasnt 80-90% humidity at my house!

  • SSJX on 07/01/2014 - 22:15

    Sorry, I haven't read the above comments, but maybe try a 'tunnel'/line of fans or if cost isn't a major thing, then consider Vornado fans?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join