Os dormitórios podem ficar insuportavelmente quentes, dificultando o sono ou o estudo. Além de toda a pressão do estudo, a última coisa que você quer é voltar para um dormitório quente e abafado. Sem contar como o sono inadequado também pode levar à dificuldade em reter informações importantes.
É hora de acabar com sua miséria comprando um ar condicionado pessoal para dormitório. Mas é sempre uma boa ideia verificar as regras da sua universidade. Alguns institutos permitem que os alunos usem condicionadores de ar pessoais, enquanto outros não, citando a baixa capacidade elétrica dos dormitórios mais antigos ou temendo contas altas de eletricidade. Se sua universidade permite ou não aparelhos de ar condicionado, você pode descobrir consultando o manual do aluno ou perguntando à administração.
Desde ajudá-lo a decidir o melhor ar condicionado para o seu dormitório até resfriar seu quarto sem ar condicionado, este guia tem tudo para você.
Melhores condicionadores de ar para dormitórios
Se o seu dormitório permitir condicionadores de ar, você está com sorte. Quanto ao tipo de ar condicionado que você deve obter, um ar condicionado portátil é a opção mais adequada para um dormitório. É improvável que sua faculdade permita que você danifique a estrutura e instale um mini-split ou um AC de janela. Condicionadores de ar portáteis podem ser instalados e desinstalados a qualquer momento. Quando o verão terminar, você pode rapidamente desconectar seu ar condicionado portátil e armazená-lo para o próximo verão. Além disso, ao se mudar, você pode facilmente embalá-lo e levá-lo com você.
Condicionadores de Ar Portáteis
Condicionadores de ar portáteis são muito mais eficazes para resfriar seu quarto do que refrigeradores de ar. Embora eles exijam que uma mangueira seja ventilada para fora de uma janela, eles realmente condicionam o ar.
Os ACs portáteis também são fáceis de instalar e econômicos, tornando-os um acéfalo para a maioria dos estudantes universitários. Se comprar uma bomba de calor portátil, pode beneficiar dela durante todo o ano. Eles podem fornecer refrigeração durante o verão e aquecimento durante o inverno. Eles são uma opção muito mais eficiente e segura do que um aquecedor de ambiente.
No entanto, os condicionadores de ar portáteis têm algumas
desvantagens você deve estar ciente. Em primeiro lugar, eles não são tão eficazes quanto unidades de janela ou mini-splits. Em segundo lugar, eles são mais ruidosos do que outros sistemas. Finalmente, os ACs portáteis precisam ser colocados perto da janela para remoção eficaz de calor através de sua mangueira.
Quanto custa um ar condicionado portátil?
Antes de se comprometer com um ar condicionado portátil para o seu dormitório, você precisa saber quanto custa comprar, quanto custa instalar e quanto custa operar.
Some low-budget portable air conditioners can cost as little as $50. However, those are unlikely to be very effective. For a portable dorm room AC, a more powerful unit may cost anywhere between $250-$499.
Most portable air conditioners do not have any associated installation costs since setting them up requires no complex work. You can easily DIY the installation. They are plug-and-play devices. All you need to do is extend the flexible hose through your window to vent the air outside. This is it; you’re all set to enjoy a comfortable room temperature.
A portable air conditioner’s running cost is where you must pay the most attention. An unexpectedly high running cost can upset your entire budget. According to SFGATE, running a small portable air conditioner eight hours a day for a month can cost around $85.20.
Pro Tip: The best way to maintain your ideal room temperature while also keeping the bills in check is to connect your portable air conditioner with a smart AC controller. Cielo Breez smart controllers help you save up to 25% on your energy costs. With smart features like Comfy Mode, weekly scheduling, global control, you can automate your dorm room AC without worrying about manually changing temperature every now and then.
What to Look For When Buying a Portable Air Conditioner
Before making your purchase, pay attention to the following things:
1. Smart Functionality
Dorm room air conditioners that are smart can save you from a lot of misery. But you can make any stand-alone air conditioner smart with a smart AC controller such as Cielo Breez (just make sure your portable AC comes with an IR remote). These cost between $60 to $110 and come with a range of options promising a comfortable dorm!
You can utilize geofencing for your air conditioner to switch off automatically as you leave campus to save energy. You can set schedules for your dorm room air conditioner to switch on right as your class time ends – this way you will enter a nicely precooled room! Moreover you can control your AC using your phone from anywhere or make use of other additional features.
2. Sizing
Air conditioners are rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour. Models with higher BTUs provide more cooling power and are more appropriate for larger spaces. On the other hand, lower BTU models are more suitable for small areas such as dorm rooms.
Use this air conditioner sizing guide to figure out how many BTUs you need according to the size of your dorm room.
3. Noise
One of the main drawbacks of portable air conditioners is their noise level. No one wants to be distracted while studying by the sound of an AC. Try to go for the model that has a lower decibel rating. You can also place a rug under your portable AC to minimize its noise.
4. Placement
While cooling, portable air conditioners produce hot air which needs to be expelled outside. For this purpose, you must place them near a window. Before buying a portable AC, check if you have a suitable window with a power socket near it to plug in the AC.
5. Efficiency
Since most college students are cash strapped, you need to pick a portable AC that is highly energy-efficient to minimize energy bills. Look at the EER and SEER ratings to determine how energy efficient a particular unit is. The higher the EER and SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the unit is.
Best Portable Air Conditioners for Dorm Room
After you’ve gone through all the considerations, it’s time to choose your portable AC, and here are some of our top picks.
1. FHPH132AB1 Portable Room Air Conditioner by Frigidaire
If you are easily distracted by noise, this ultra-quiet portable air conditioner is just the thing for you. Apart from being quiet, it comes with a built-in dehumidifier and can heat and cool your room. The only downside is that its price is at the higher end.
2. Black + Decker BPACT08WT Portable Air Conditioner
Having an oversized air conditioner is wasteful and can lead to high energy bills. If your dorm room is smaller than average, the Black + Decker portable AC is perfect for your needs. This 5000 BTU DOE air conditioner can effectively cool rooms up to 150 sq. ft.
3. Portable Evaporative Cooler with Fan by Honeywell
Retailing at just $179.99, this is a fantastic and cheap option for college students. You don’t need to hook it to a window, so you have more flexibility when deciding where to place it. However, this is not the most powerful unit, so if you want something that provides an intense chill, this is not the one for you. It’s a cooler rather than an air conditioner.
Air Cooler vs. Portable Air Conditioners
Air coolers are a cheap and effective alternative to portable air conditioners. Though air coolers aren’t as effective at cooling as air conditioners, they offer significantly better air quality and are cheaper.
Air coolers don’t use a refrigerant and cool the room down using water and a fan motor. This makes them more eco-friendly. However, this also means that they humidify the room by adding moisture. Excessive humidity can lead to mold growth. You can reduce humidity by coupling the air cooler with a dehumidifier. In extremely humid areas, air coolers aren’t an effective solution.
How to Build a DIY Dorm Room Air Conditioner
If you’re looking for a challenge, you can even build a DIY dorm room air conditioner for just about $40. You’ll require a standing fan, copper tubing, inner diameter rubber tubing, zip ties, small hose clamps, and two buckets.
Detach the face of your fan and start coiling copper tubing around it using zip ties. Using hose clamps, secure rubber tubing onto either end of copper tubing. Fill one of the buckets with water and place it above ground level. Siphon the water to another bucket on the floor and turn on the fan. Dispose of the lukewarm water collected in the floor bucket. You’d have to keep emptying the bucket a few times to feel a change in your dorm room temperature.
Here’s a quick tutorial for you:
How to Cool a Dorm Room Without Using an Air Conditioner
Are you one of those unlucky souls whose colleges do not allow air conditioners in the dorm? Don’t lose hope yet. There are some steps you can take to stay cool without an AC.
1. Purchase a Fan
Invest in a decent portable fan, and you won’t regret it. Though fans can’t lower the temperature, they can make you feel cooler by wicking away sweat. To maximize the performance of your portable fan, place a block of ice behind it before turning it on. The ice block will create colder air, similar to an air conditioner.
2. Keep Your Blinds Closed
During summers, about 76% of the sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows becomes heat. While the sun’s rays are at their strongest, keep your curtains drawn. Since heat radiates through the windows, warming up your room, closing the curtains will reflect much of that heat away. Curtains with a white plastic backing are the best at reflecting heat.
3. Invest in a Cold Mist Humidifier
Cold mist humidifiers or evaporators emit cool vapors to add moisture to the air. They are better suited for warm climates since they create a cooling sensation while adding moisture to the air. Their downside is that they are noisier and are more prone to bacterial growth. If you do invest in a cold mist humidifier, clean it regularly.
4. Turn Off Unnecessary Electrical Appliances
Electrical appliances such as light bulbs, kettles, and irons also generate a lot of heat. One or two electrical appliances don’t make a difference, but multiple appliances will significantly heat your dorm room. During summers, turn off any excess electrical appliances, including light bulbs.
5. Shower Before Bed
If all else fails, you can always hop into the shower for a quick cold bath. Cold showers are great at making you feel cooler; however, warm showers are better at reducing body temperature in the long run.
While the lack of dorm room air conditioners is the bane of (almost) every student’s existence, you can do much to reduce the temperature and get a good night’s sleep. With these tips and tricks at your disposal, you will definitely have a comfortable time studying and partying in your little room.
