I have a window ac unit (6000btu) that I am wanting to use to cool my computer room. I live in an apartment complex that does not allow ac units to be used in the windows. We have central air but it isn't cooling where I need it the most. I am wanting to know how I should go about converting this window unit into a indoor unit. I know I have to deal with hot-air exchange and condinsation. Any ideas are welcomed. Thanks, Waddups

 

Just forget it, the rear end of the unit has to be out in the air. The fans cant blow through aa pipe. Go and check out the new AC that they call portable. This way you can run its pipe to a window. Could get a better fan on the chip in the PC and another fan to blow out. I know I had to

ED

 

Ok.

Question though. Does the unit suck air from the rear or blow?

What I was thinking of doing to building an enclosure of some type and venting it.

With the PC - - I have more in this room than just a simpe PC. It is more of my electonis room. Pc's, amp, tv, sound system, etc., There is typically about 20* give or take temp difference between this room and the rest of the apartment. Furthest from the thermo of course.

 

I did consider an inside AC unit, unfortunatly I can't afford the nearly $400 that it would cost. Plus they are about 12,000btu. That is about twice the size that I need for my cooling needs.

 

What is the chip temp on the PC . New fans there dont cost much I ran about 167o till I put new fans in ,now about 100o

ED

 

Forget the computer thing. Even if you deal with getting the computer temp down, the heat is still in the room. I need to cool the room. Do you know how the window ac units work? Need to know what kinda of air exchange is done through the rear of the unit.....

 

Ok you cant block the air intake grills on the side of the unit at allAnd not block the air out at the rear of the unit.That all hot air

Ed

 

It won't work. But lets just say you do. Will you post a picture somewhere so we can help the next person?

 

I am quite the little builder, so I will be trying to sort something out of this. If I do come up with something that works efficiently, I'll post back here with info.

 

Costco sells an evaporative cooler online for $230. Uses water (3.7 gallon capacity) to cool a room.

Only downside is that it probably will only drop the temp by 5-7 degrees if that and you have to keep filling with water. But there is a way around that if you use an aquarium powerhead with a 20-30 gallon fish tank or some other gadget that holds water. You can buy one of things that if the water goes below a certain lever, it will automatically top off the tank.

Worth a try if you're desperate. Otherwise you can invest in one of those weird computer cooling system but I think you're under a buget, right?

 

You have gotten good advice from others on the forum so far. Hopefully you will take it, but... To answer your question about the back of the window unit: It does both - takes air in on the side vents and blows it out the back. Restricted air movement in either area will greatly decrease efficiency and may cause the unit to overheat. Newer units also "sling" the condensate water onto the outside coils to improve efficiency and evaporate the water so there is no/little need for a drain. Any decrease in air flow may inhibit this ability too.

What you are thinking about is not unheard of. In business applications I've seen window A/C units mounted in walls to provide cooling to an enclosed area like a computer room. In a residential setting, it's not something most people would consider compatible with normal living due to noise and unwanted air flow out the back. The unit must be mounted similarly to the way it would be placed in a window, which means cutting a hole in a wall or designing an elaborate door insert. By the time you purchase supplies, I'm not sure it would end up lower cost than the portable unit and it would definitely not be as livable. Another possibility might be to shut vents down in other areas of the house to increase air flow to the electronics room or use a portable fan near the door to push the warmer air out.

Doug M.