Air Conditioners - Residence Hall Policy Air conditioners are not permitted in student rooms unless one of the occupants has been given written authorization by the Office of Housing and Residence Life. A student and physician must submit the request via the approved forms to the director of Housing and Residence Life. Additional documentation will be requested and required. (See the Services - Air Conditioning Web page for forms and additional details.) If approved, the air conditioner must be rented from Housing and Residence Life for a fee and units are installed on a first-come, first-served basis. A student is not allowed to bring a roll away or freestanding air conditioning unit for his/her room. Air conditioners must be plugged into a power strip or directly into the electrical outlet. A student must follow the established guidelines for being approved for and having an air conditioner. Abandoned PropertyAir ConditionersAlcoholAppliances in Student RoomsBed Units, Bunks, LoftsBikes and MotorcyclesBurning Candles and Open FlamesCable Television and CordsCameras and Other Recording EquipmentCheck Out ProceduresCleaningCommunity AreasCommunity Check StationsComputer UsageConsolidationConstruction SitesContract Terms and ConditionsCourse LoadDamage and VandalismDean's Policy on Parental Notification for Alcohol and other Drug ViolationsDecorationsDining Service BehaviorDisciplinary ProceedingsDrugsElectrical FixturesElevatorsEmergency PreparednessFailure to ComplyFalse Alarms and Bomb ThreatsFireFireworksFurniture and Hall PropertyGambling and LotteriesGuests and EscortsHarassmentHarm/Threat/Physical AssaultHoliday DecorationsHoverboardsIdentificationIllegal DownloadingImproper CheckoutIntoxicated StudentsKey Access

CardsKeysLiabilityMaintenance RequestsMarried StudentsMove inMovies and Video RecordingsNoise and Quiet HoursOpposite Gender Bathroom UsePainting Student RoomsPetsPosting GuidelinesPower OutagesPower Strips and Extension CordsResidence Hall Lobby, Lounge, and Common Area UsageResidency RequirementRestroom Card ReadersRoom and Roommate ChangesRoom Entry and SearchRoutersSafety and SecuritySanitation and Personal HygieneSecurity CamerasSmoke DetectorsSmoking-Tobacco FreeSolicitationSportsStolen ObjectsStorageStudent Rights and ResponsibilitiesTheftTornado WarningsTrash and Trash RoomsUnauthorized EntryVacation PeriodsVisitationVoter RegistrationWater FeaturesWeaponsWheelchairsWindowsPortable air conditioners look pretty, but don’t let looks fool you. There are some negatives. Portable air conditioners reside inside your room instead of resting half in and half out, as do window-mounted and built-in models. Generally, they come with casters or wheels, hence their name. While portable air conditioners have been around for decades, they are getting more attention in recent years - and not always for the right reasons.

Dr. Energy Saver can help you pick the best air conditioning system for your home. Contact your local dealer today to find our more about all of our proven products. In theory, portable air conditioners have several advantages over window-mounted units. home ac unit cycles on and offFirst off, they don’t block the view outside your window. ac unit on but no cold airThe panel that secures the exhaust duct at the window is much smaller than the area of a window-mounted air conditioner.small indoor ac units When a cool day comes along, you can open the window without having to pull out a heavy, bulky air conditioner first. Portable units can be moved about the room (although travel is limited by the flexible duct), rolled to another room, or rolled to a closet for storage during the off-season.

Disadvantages include noise, loss of floor space, inefficiency, and the inconvenience of sometimes having to empty a condensate reservoir. With the entire unit inside the room, noise levels tend to be greater for equivalent units. Many homeowners are also surprised to find that the unit and the hose or hoses that connect it to a window can easily gobble up 4 to 6 sq. ft. of living space. Manufacturers’ claims for the BTU-capacity (ability to remove heat) of portable air conditioners are overstated. Many homeowner reviews claim the performance of their 12,000 BTU portable can’t measure up to an 8,000 BTU window unit. Portables use conditioned air from inside your home to carry heat from the condenser coils to the outdoors. This not only wastes conditioned air you just paid to cool but also creates a negative pressure in the room that draws in warm (and sometimes humid air) in from the outside. Dual-hose portable units draw in outdoor air and use it for expelling heat. Consequently, they are more energy efficient than single-hose units.

Nevertheless, no portable air conditioners have qualified for an Energy Star rating. If you want to be able to use your windows, a ductless or central AC system is your best bet. Contact your local Dr. Energy Saver to install one of these proven systems today.How to Install a Portable Air Conditioner In this how-to video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey offers a quick and easy way to cool off a room In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey explains how to get air conditioning where window units aren't practical. 1. If there's no existing wall vent, use a jigsaw to cut a 4-inch-diameter hole through an exterior wall. 2. Apply silicone caulk to rear flange on wall vent. 3. From outside, slide wall vent through hole in wall; secure with stainless steel screws. 4. Twist and lock the flexible duct to the exhaust port on rear of air conditioner unit. 5. Connect the duct end to the wall vent and seal with foil duct tape.