Household Appliances Forum

[TheatreTek]

There is a home theater on the second floor. And it is sweltering in the summer. What would work for a portable air conditioner? What will do a good job at cooling the theater on days where the outside temp is hotter than blazes, and the humidity is way up there.

[appliance-man]

If you're looking for a portable, check out the Amcor UltraClean 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner. It offers a terrific dehumidify mode.

One duct into the space will definitely do the trick. Run a duct to the outside, with a small return to equalize pressures. If you can’t find at least one vent to release the hot air -- you will find it impossible to cool the space. You will be able to dehumidify but not cool, due to the laws of physics for a closed system. If you can run just one duct to outside the room, you are all set.

If the noise to the outside is OK, and you have a window available, then look at a window A/C. A good 10K BTU unit is not that loud or annoying, and often can be purchased for less than $250.

Regarding the return: Individual returns are only necessary when spaces will be sealed off from a centrally-located large return. Don’t leave too large a hole under the door, or else the cold air just creeps along the floor and leaves the room.

Make sure your cold air duct empties into the room opposite the direction to the return duct, since air will flow to the path of least resistance, which means from the supply to its return path, in a straight line.