Recommendations for Cooling Bedroom (We Are Renting)

clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 09:31
Last edited 28/11/2017 - 10:48 by 1 other user

Wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the best way to cool down our 4x4m bedroom on days over 35?

-We are already using a large fan but it's just pushing the warm air around.

-We are renting and the windows don't open wide enough for a window unit.

-We don't require it to be overly cool just something that takes a few degrees off so we can sleep more easily.

-Willing to spend a bit more if it'll cost less on our electricity bill.

Anyone have experience with the dyson fans that also compress the air to cool?

Hoping to spend less than $500

Thanks in advance!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • John Kimble on 28/11/2017 - 09:33
    +8

    This seems to be your only option: https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-14000-btu-portable-air-co…

    • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 09:35
      +1

      Thank you.
      Do you have any experience with this unit?

      • John Kimble on 28/11/2017 - 09:39
        +2

        Not personally (we were going to buy this one 2 years ago but it was out of stock at the time. We ended up getting an Arlec one from Bunnings. This one is apparently less noisy and has heating function for the same price) my cousin bought it the year after and says it works well.

        Read some reviews on this model and portable a/c in general though…they are all pretty noisy, so if you are a light sleeper it might not be for you.

        • HighAndDry on 28/11/2017 - 11:06
          +4

          Not this model but have used similar portable A/C units in the past. Generally decent, just make sure it comes with a window seal (like the Kogan one) or you might have to rig something together yourself (easy enough with plywood planks).

        • knk on 29/11/2017 - 20:47
          +3

          @0blivion:
          I have an Arlec one from bunnings and it's great.

          I've never managed to get the windows to seal well though, ended up using silicone after trying to wedge foam etc in there. Was a bitch to remove when I moved out of my last house though lol

        • tighttighttight1 on 30/11/2017 - 08:53
          +1

          @0blivion: I second the need for a window seal!
          Generally, most Kogan A/C units come with one.
          When I first used mine on a 40 degree + day I could not find a window that the A/C unit's tube could reach in order to use the window seal. So out of pure frustration and lack of rationality I decided, stupidly, to just let the exhaust blow out into the same room. As I sat directly in front of the A/C, it was pure bliss! but as soon as I stood up I felt like I was in a sauna!
          As the place I live in is a very good conductor of heat, comparable to living in a tin box, rest assured, the whole place was radiating heat for the whole day and night.
          A lesson I quickly learnt about using portable A/C's and staying rational whilst making decisions.

        • lench on 30/11/2017 - 11:00
          +1

          @0blivion:
          nah dont use plywood, get a polycarbonate roofing sheet from bunnings (cost me about $60 to fit a small laundry window. $50 for the sheet, $10 for some silver ducting tube)
          still lets in the same amount of light, lightweight, non destructive. I've secured it in place by taping around the edges using clear duct tape and it works a treat. I've even got that exact model of aircon set up in my kitchen/loungeroom venting through the laundry.

          Ideally use a power tool to cut the stuff because it's a real PITA to cut with hand tools

          is it as good as a proper system? no. but it works

      • battler on 28/11/2017 - 10:24
        +8

        $399 Aldi this week: https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys/special-buys-sat-2-d…

      • dogboy on 28/11/2017 - 11:20
        +8

        My experience with these units are they are loud and don't really cool the whole room like a proper air con would (even with doors closed and an external air vent). They do blow nice cold air which is great on a hot day but you need to have it blowing directly onto you. Just don't expect to be able to sleep with it on and have a cool room.

        • simulacrum on 29/11/2017 - 17:15
          +3

          Depends entirely on the model. My folks have a 5kW Delonghi unit and it cools a large room really effectively.

      • Scab on 28/11/2017 - 13:39
        +7

        Are you feeling Hot and Spicy?

        • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 13:43
          +16

          Feeling hot n crispy

        • Scab on 28/11/2017 - 13:47
          +3

          @databoi:

          ALDI have a portable aircon for $399: https://goo.gl/B4PGVn

          No idea of its performance, but they have a 60 day refund policy.

        • alikazi on 30/11/2017 - 13:39
          +3

          @databoi: I have survived all my summers without an AC. I'm at work all day. When I go home I open the windows and keep the door open. I turn on the exhaust in the bathroom and I turn on a fan facing outward at the door. Within an hour the house starts to cool down to a tolerable temperature. During sleep I just use a fan blowing at me at low speed. I survive.

        • fusion17 on 30/11/2017 - 15:01
          +1

          @alikazi:

          Interesting about the bathroom exhaust use.

          When I was getting some fans etc installed, the electrician said the reason our duplex upstairs is so much hotter than ground is due to the lack of a flue.

          I might try this as while we have aircon, it'd be nice to drop the temperature a few degrees without it.

          edit: the flue vents heat from the attic outside, and the bathroom fan into the attic.
          nevermind won't work.

        • alikazi on 30/11/2017 - 18:32

          @toshin: oh ok. For a classic one story house it works. I also use the kitchen stove top exhaust I don't know what it's called.

        • clownfish on 04/12/2017 - 07:37

          same. Survived in shitty sharehouses with no cooling since I was 18… It's actually my gf who can't sleep and is insisting we get cooling of some sort :/

        • alikazi on 04/12/2017 - 15:11
          +1

          @databoi: women.

      • jimbobaus on 28/11/2017 - 15:11
        +3

        I got one of these delivered about 2 weeks ago.
        It’s an amazing unit. So good at cooking the room
        Down. Comes with a smart window kit so you can fit it to any window and not have bugs coming in etc.
        really quiet compared to others.
        Highly reccomend it
        Feel free to PM me if you have any spedfocy questions.

        • John Kimble on 28/11/2017 - 15:18
          +1

          Yeah, I'm sad we missed out on getting that one :(

        • tryagain on 29/11/2017 - 22:58
          +3

          So good at cooking the room

          Don't know if that's what the OP is really looking for ;)

        • jimbobaus on 30/11/2017 - 09:47
          +1

          @tryagain:
          Lmao!!
          Auto correct for the win!

        • maxall on 30/11/2017 - 18:45
          +1

          @tryagain: how to cook, deep fired, steam, grill…

      • TransportPosters on 29/11/2017 - 08:18
        +2

        It's effective, especially on one room. I use it for three rooms with a corridor it makes a difference over time. The only problem is it is noisy, not due to its expected primary noise, but because the slide-in filter panel vibrates like crazy and you have to slightly pull it out so it jams and stops doing it.

        If you can find another unit then consider it, otherwise this one's pretty good. Sounds like the panel thing is a one-off with mine.

      • Oz8argain on 29/11/2017 - 14:29
        +1

        I have one from Costco, there is a ventilation tube that runs out of the aircon and pushes air out so make sure you have a sliding window that can support that. The unit is loud but can cool down a decently sized bedroom.

      • geech on 30/11/2017 - 08:53
        +1

        I have this exact Kogan model. As others have said it's somewhat loud - but I find it very effective in cooling our large bedroom down very quickly.

      • BanannaMan on 01/12/2017 - 11:40

        what state are you in?

    • OptimumCrush on 29/11/2017 - 10:12
      +4

      This unit is REALLY LOUD but its nice and cool

      • John Kimble on 29/11/2017 - 10:51

        They are all loud. They are like having a fridge + fan in your room. But loud is relative…this guy thinks it's less noisy: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/5347171/redir

        • OptimumCrush on 29/11/2017 - 11:41
          +2

          tis true, anything can be relative. i can sleep through this but my partner can not. not recommended for lite sleepers.

        • John Kimble on 29/11/2017 - 12:12

          @OptimumCrush: I'm sort of like your partner. Hard to fall asleep when it's on because of the noise, but once asleep I'm pretty good.

          It's a catch 22 with these portable units, don't use it and stay awake from being too hot or use it and stay awake from too much noise!

        • lonewolf on 30/11/2017 - 09:54
          +1

          @John Kimble:

          I am an extremely light sleeper and i find these kinds of noise actually helps me sleep and stay asleep as its a constant droning noise, just like a computer with loud fans. As opposed to the stop/ start occasional noises from the street or partner going to bathroom or etc etc. I wake up at the slightest movement or noise usually.

        • John Kimble on 30/11/2017 - 10:14

          @lonewolf: That must suck! Yeah, some people like white noise too tall asleep.

        • lonewolf on 30/11/2017 - 10:49

          @John Kimble:

          Yeah it does, I have tried all sorts of things, in the end i find high strength melatonin tablets help me get to sleep but also to fall back asleep everytime i get interrupted by noise and wake up in the night. I am considering going to a sleep clinic as well as i do suffer from sleep apnea

  • Archi on 28/11/2017 - 09:53
    +4

    try placing the fan at the door and blowing out of the room… if the air outside the room is significantly cooler..

    we do this to the kids room… have the fan on the ground during winter and sitting higher in summer.

    the cool air in the rest of the house gets drawn into the room whilst the warmer air is pulled out…

    mush more comfortable than having a fan constantly bow in your face.

    • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 12:30

      Unfortunately it's equally hot in the hallway :(

      • D C on 28/11/2017 - 12:41
        +6

        The idea is to get air moving through the house.

        What you do is put a fan in the window of another room blowing the hot air outside, and that sucks cold air in through the bedroom window.

        You need to close doors to create a path for the air (short as possible) and let it run for a few hours.

  • boomramada on 28/11/2017 - 09:58
    -7

    Economical and best way to cooling your room would be getting a reverse cycle split system, budget would not exceed $1500 inc installation and cheaper running time.

    Portable system usually noisy, not energy efficient, costly to run, outlet vent can be pain to setup.

    Just a thought :)

    • John Kimble on 28/11/2017 - 10:04
      +17

      He's renting.

      • boomramada on 28/11/2017 - 11:18
        +9

        my bad, forgot to read the important information. Maybe OP should create a business case, ask landlord to install a aircon with $5/$10 per week rent increase, describe all the possible befits for his property :)

        • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 12:30
          +1

          We can try but the landlord is very tight haha

        • Scab on 28/11/2017 - 13:48
          +7

          @databoi:

          Your landlord is Tightarse?

        • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 15:42
          +3

          @Scab: @TA own any properties in Essendon?

        • outlander on 29/11/2017 - 10:07
          +3

          A business cake is a great idea. I know I listen to people more with a slice of delicious cake in my hand

        • decr on 29/11/2017 - 17:25

          Nah, business case is the way I'd approach it. Last time I was renting the landlord put in 1-2 aircons in each unit (didn't have any before) and put the rent up by $10-15 a week. This was them doing this, not (at least) us asking.

    • HighAndDry on 28/11/2017 - 11:07
      +7

      Renting + short-term means a portable one would make more sense. Less work, less upfront cost, and can be moved to their next place too much more easily.

  • Pecan on 28/11/2017 - 10:25
    +2

    Assuming by fan you mean a floor standing one - we originally had these then got a ceiling fan installed. Big improvement.

    Unfortunately proper AC was not an option and those portable AC units are way too noisy.

    Edit: missed the renting bit. Is asking the landlord to install them out of the question? I've never rented before, so apologies if that's a dumb question.

    • John Kimble on 28/11/2017 - 11:23
      +1

      No harm in asking, could get a miraculous yes.

      In a previous rental we asked if we could get a built in wardrobe installed (we were willing to pay for it too) and the owner said no. :/

      • Domingo on 30/11/2017 - 07:33
        +2

        Had a similar scenario - brand new place, barely any storage, asked if we could split the cost of pulling out some ridiculous shelf unit in a walk-in robe that opened into the bathroom and put in a proper wardrobe with doors that utilised the space better.

        Estimated a cost of about $800 to the landlord. They came back and said no so we didn't move in. Place stayed vacant for another 6 weeks which would have cost the landlord a hell of a lot more than $800.

    • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 12:32

      We can try but they are pretty tight.
      We live in a particularly modest house in essendon so I'm not sure it will add much value, especially if they plan to knock it down soon..

  • Quantumcat on 28/11/2017 - 10:49
    +5

    If you have an inventive spirit, you could try making a giant Coolgardie safe over your bed. You could start with a large portable clothes rack that's wide enough to go over the bed, put a cat litter tray on the top, and drape some big beach towels down over either side (with two more trays underneath to catch the water). Fill the top tray with water, put the tops of the beach towels in and (hopefully) the magic will happen. Zero electricity use. Will work better with a fan. I have no idea if it would work, so if you try it please report back!

    • HighAndDry on 28/11/2017 - 11:10
      +3

      While this sounds very cool and I'd like to see its effectiveness in real-life (and I'm sure it would work because it's just a DIY evaporative cooling system that's scientifically simple in concept and used widely on a commercial scale by countries in the Middle East), I'm not too sure of the cost-benefit(-risk) analysis of having a giant tub of water suspended over a bed in a room that's being rented…..

      • Euphemistic on 28/11/2017 - 11:19
        +1

        Sounds good, but an evap cooling system is no very effective in humid environments.

        • HighAndDry on 28/11/2017 - 11:21
          +1

          Oh yup. Ergo why they're more common in the Middle East and less so elsewhere. But Australia tends to have a dry climate so combined with a fan pointed out the window to remove the humidity….. there's potential. I just don't like large containers of water suspended high up in bedrooms.

        • Euphemistic on 29/11/2017 - 10:55
          +1

          @0blivion: The east coast isn't very dry, particularly from Sydney and north.

  • dcep on 28/11/2017 - 13:46
    +1

    Buy from Ozb member ?

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/345582

    • rompastompa on 28/11/2017 - 15:44

      Was about to comment the same! :D

    • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 16:22

      Live in Vic :(

  • MeesusEff on 28/11/2017 - 14:59
    +2

    I stood in front of the electric tower fans in Harvey Norman for a good 10 minutes. Cool air blowing and quite quiet, we're around the $100 mark. Or one of those misting fans.

    • clownfish on 28/11/2017 - 15:44
      +10

      Haha did the same thing on the weekend but didn't know if it was only cool because the air was already cool in HN

      • abuch47 on 29/11/2017 - 22:50
        +1

        Get a portable evaporative unit. Evaporative is amazing for dry climates not so great up north. It will be the best air con you ever have and you can take it with you. https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGk_aP… we had one of these growing up and it was amazing for summer nights. Would go and lie next to it even though it was noisy as shit.

    • PVA on 29/11/2017 - 23:00
      +4

      The fans are blowing air conditioned cold air in the store, so of course they will seem good.

  • dcep on 28/11/2017 - 16:24
    +1

    custom evaporative cooling if you can control the humidity (to avoid mold growing)

    google linus LTT youtube guide to build one

  • SharedSugar on 28/11/2017 - 18:41
    +4

    If it is only going to get over 35 a couple of times in Melbourne, you could try going to a hotel when it is hot.

    I found eating ice blocks, iced tea, having a shower before bed and putting ice in a tea towel can help as a temporary solution.

    • rayban5 on 29/11/2017 - 21:28
      +2

      In addition to above, adding peppermint oil to your bath - menthol makes you (your brain) to feel cold.
      To avoid chemical burns, dilute peppermint oil in carrier oil (5% concentration) as oils don't mix water.

    • leonardr on 28/01/2018 - 02:49

      (ignore this)

  • OzFrugie on 28/11/2017 - 22:18

    anyone has any experience with Vornado? Good reviews in ProductReview

    • MeesusEff on 29/11/2017 - 09:39
      +1

      Yes, it is quite good. I can put it in a corner of my room and can feel the breeze wherever.

      • OzFrugie on 29/11/2017 - 18:02

        which model do you have? how much did u get it for? worth the money?

        • MeesusEff on 29/11/2017 - 19:07
          +1

          Vornado 660. Got it for around $200 at HN (but only because I got a lot of store credit that I had to use), can find it for cheaper on ebay if you wait for 20% off.

          It is very good at creating an airflow in a room and I do really like it, but tbh if you got 3-4 fans for half the price it would do the same thing. Oh, but it also hasn't been super hot yet for me so i dont have that comparison yet!

          But disappointing that for that price point, it doesn't have a timer so I either have to turn it off before I sleep or leave it on all night. The quietest setting is soft enough to not keep you up unless you are a super light sleeper.

    • keithality on 30/11/2017 - 01:01
      +1

      Got one off a friend's recommendation but ended up returning it as it did nothing. I did have the smaller 500series one, not sure if the 660 would be better.

  • rokkitt on 29/11/2017 - 07:21
    +5

    In the past we have purchased a wall mounted A/C unit with a 10 amp plug and then suspended this in a window, use a piece of wood to fill the space around the AC unit. Cheap. portable and very effective.

    • PR0r on 29/11/2017 - 19:44
      +1

      This is by far the best and easiest method. Those portable units are a waste of time Vs this.

    • cannedhams on 30/11/2017 - 11:33
      +1

      Rec for this, I dont know why more people havent suggested it. The only issue is that the back end of the unit will hang out the window. If you can put a corner brace or two to support the weight, great. Make sure that it really is supported as if the wall unit falls out the window and kills someone it would not be a very good outcome.

  • ceeto on 29/11/2017 - 08:35
    +2

    We have a Delonghi portable air conditioner which is probably about 5 years old now, so not modern technology and probably noisier than modern units. It was purchased for the end of our house where the in-wall aircon doesn't reach, but has been used in a bedroom a number of times and we have been able to sleep through it with no real problems.

    The noise from it is less likely to keep us awake than the heat without it :)

    I'd suggest you either find someone you know with one, or go to a retailer and ask them to demonstrate one for you so you can have a play and see whether you think it is quiet enough. I've come across a few of retailers in Sydney who will demo air conditioners etc if you approach them properly as a real potential purchaser - assume some of the more customer centric ones in Melbourne would be the same.

    Good luck.

  • Jalif on 29/11/2017 - 09:30
    +1

    You can install an in window aircon unit pretty easily, but you'll need someone like a wooden frame to fill the rest of the window space.

    Much more effective than a portable aircon.

    If you do go portable, make sure it is a refrigerated unit.
    Evaporative units, especially cheap ones have annoying flaws.

    Some you need to top up constantly, and only hold 5-8l of water.

  • Hoofee on 29/11/2017 - 12:30

    How wide and tall is your window space, and does the window slide or swing in/out?

    Depending on the size of the space and how your window opens I may have a solution (I would need to measure the unit that I have).

    • clownfish on 29/11/2017 - 16:40

      We have two sliding windows but one was nailed and painted shut :( so even if we could fit an aircon in the other window we wouldn't be able to use it for fresh air :/

  • User102430 on 29/11/2017 - 17:12
    +3

    Well, I had similar issue with my bedroom. Tried fan, portable AC, nothing really worked well…
    Sleeping was the main concern, during the day I can manage 28-30C in the bedroom, however at night…

    The only thing that truly made a difference was a bamboo mat. It makes bed hard and uncomfortable (for some - I got used to it), but god, it's so cool and pleasant, without any unnecessary noise.

    See this for example - https://www.amazon.com/Qbedding-Carbonized-Sleeping-Cooling-…

  • hopper on 29/11/2017 - 17:29
    +2

    if its just u and ur partner, sleep naked :)

    • Seraphin7 on 30/11/2017 - 15:44
      +1

      Shouldn't you be doing this anyway …

  • crowsnest bomber on 29/11/2017 - 17:31
    +2

    I have one of these

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olimpia-Splendid-Portable-Air-Co…

    Absolutely love it! i quite like sleeping to the noise of it and it keeps the room very cool.

    • FlatulentFrank on 29/11/2017 - 23:40

      Seriously? I'm really interested in buying it for my elderly grandparents who are stuck in a home where their room is without air-conditioning
      EDIT - literally sold when i pressed buy! Fml great bargain

      • crowsnest bomber on 30/11/2017 - 02:02

        dam that sux. Yeah i got it refurbished from a different ebay seller a few years ago for a similar price. Not sure if id pay the full price as 700+ is a bit steep.
        You need to attach the outlet to a window which is a bit annoying but apart from that, i couldn't live without it. Good luck.

      • hetzjagd on 30/11/2017 - 14:08

        I don't want to get your hopes up but it looks like the seller added 2 more at the time of posting this comment

        https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Olimpia-Splendid-Portable-Air-Co…?

  • Ninjassmileinthedark on 29/11/2017 - 17:33
    +3

    Get a large gel icepack, like is used for soft tissue injuries, wrap it in a tea towel and go to sleep with it under your head, against your chest or between your legs. It will cool you plenty and only has the ongoing cost of refreezing. If one isn't enough, get 2

  • tightasian on 29/11/2017 - 17:52
    +3

    Open bedroom doors and windows.
    Soak a bath towel, get rid of excessive water, as long as no water dripping is good.
    ,fan direct points to yourself at full speed.
    Cover body with the towel, lay down.
    Should get you into asleep. in the hottest night, you may resoak the towel during night once or twice.

    • hetzjagd on 30/11/2017 - 14:09
      +2

      This but have a cold shower beforehand also to help 'reset' your sense of hot and cold

  • [Deactivated] on 29/11/2017 - 17:53
    +3

    Not sure how you are using your fan but there are some optimal ways to use fans to cool a room that might help while you're shopping for your AC unit.

    Assuming it's cooler outside the house than in the room, then stick the fan near the window facing OUT OF the room. Open another window if you have one, or make sure there is a gap between the fan and the window. Or a door out of the room. What you want to do is blow the warm air out of your room, but also have a source of cooler air to get sucked into the room. When it works I can feel a cool breeze coming into the room.

    Also, using another fan, or swapping over the fan over from window duties, place a fan at ground level pointing up. It will circulate the cooler air from the ground to the hotter air loitering near the ceiling.

    Not sure if all this is possible with your window situation. But if you can configure it it's worth a shot to reduce air temp by a few degrees by bringing it closer to the outside temp.

  • voiletmay on 29/11/2017 - 18:05
    +1

    One of those pet cooling mats each is supposed to help, and also putting foil car windshield screens on the windows is supposed to help too.

  • Live Dimension on 29/11/2017 - 18:34
    +1

    You'd be surprised how much having two fans going on you can help, especially on the upper and lower parts of the body. It can certainly take some of the edge off. If you have a window facing the sun, either use blinds, or if you can't, find some large paper/cardboard/etc adn stick it to the wall.

    If the place is cooler at some times of the day than others (usually night) open the place, get the heat up, and then close it all when the temperature starts rising. It can have a significant difference.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 29/11/2017 - 18:35
    -7

    Well, compressing air heats it up actually, but besides that…..

    Things that make you cool, hmmmm tricky question. I asked my 5 year old and he told me about these new fangle devices :

    Aircon (split or potable)
    Evaporative cooler
    Fan
    And even…..stuff called cold water

  • realfancyman on 29/11/2017 - 18:52
    +1

    Keep the fan but accompany it with some wheat bags out of the freezer. They keep their cool for about an hour but hopefully, by then you'll already be asleep. I think they have wheat bags for $5 at Cheap as Chips?

    • Wilson87 on 01/12/2017 - 09:09

      do you mean freeze the wheat bag? do you put the bag behind the fan?

      • realfancyman on 01/12/2017 - 11:27

        Nah you use it as a pillow

  • hedonistic on 29/11/2017 - 19:37
    +3

    open your window as wide as it goes, but open another window in your apartment so the air pressure can move somewhere. this will move the warm air out of your room, replacing it with fresh air from outside. other than that you could try getting a cool vest or something, way cheaper than an AC system and will keep you cool

  • stumo on 29/11/2017 - 19:43
    +1

    Delonghi used to make portable split systems. I have a few of them. They are awesome. They have a flexible pipe thingo that connects the two units. Th pipe has lowside and highside AC hosses, a condensate pipe and the electrical connections. So the compressor and other hot stuff sits in the outside unit, and all you have inside is the evaporator and fan and a tiny pump to pump out the condensate on the inside unit. It also plugs into the main from the inside unit. The pipe thingo has self sealing aeroquip connections. I'm not sure why they stopped making them. It was probably over 5 years ago when they became discontinued.

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