Midea PortaSplit

Such things have existed for years. Eg.

No, because you would want the piping to be vacuumed down (to remove air and moisture) and leak tested before you release the gas. AIUI there's no carve out for quick connectors - if it's not a sealed unit it needs an F-gas installer. Propane units technically don't need F-gas, but they are at high flammability risk so companies won't sell non-sealed units to the public.

A few companies, notably Aircon Direct (Appliances Direct/etc) have tried sailing close to the wind on the regs but at the moment they're not offering propane or 'easy install' units to the public. They do have a unit that comes with pipe kit so you don't need to braze or make flares - it's just screw together:

For the Portasplit, they sell a bracket you can screw to the wall under the window to hang the outdoor unit on. I don't see outeard opening windows as a problem, as long as they open wide enough to pass the unit out of them? You would obviously need to block up the gap the hose passes through when the window is ajar.

If you have sash windows, a few sellers on ebay will sell you imported US-style window a/c units, complete with 110v transformer. Those have the gas inside so are a single unit. I suppose you could try to fit one in a casement window, but you need to maintain the orientatiom for condensate collection. Possibly could remove the glazing unit?

Or there are 'radiator' style monobloc units that have ducts through the wall for intake and exhaust air. But as the compressor is inside the room I think they are noisy.

Theo

Good spot. That uses propane which avoids the F-gas regs - I thought they had stopped selling those because of flammability concerns.

I think they manage the flammability by having permanent joints on the evaporator (indoor unit) with the only joints to be made outside. That way if there's a leak it's not leaking indoors where the gas could build up.

Theo

Thank you, and Tim, for your very clear answers.

I'd spotted one that is a single unit and has two ducts through the wall, but that requires some core drilling, so it's not all that easy to fit.

I guess the portasplit is so successful because because it really doesn't need much installation at all. I think most people just balance the external unit on the window sill. It's got a metal tether, so it won't fall far if it does topple.

The problem with the PortaSplit is it takes up a large chunk of floor space. You can't put it next to a wall, you need to allow 25cm of space all around the unit. Whilst it says its portable, at 35kg for the indoor unit, you are not going to want to be lugging it up and down stairs.

I think its also expensive. My fixed units were installed for a similar cost to the PortaSplit.

Dave

Before the heatwave the Portasplit was about £900. Now split units are going for about £600 plus £2k for installation.

Aside from the F-gas part, there's not much more to installation than running and terminating a few pipes through the wall and a new fused spur. Maybe half a day, assuming it's near an outside wall?? Plus a few sundries like gas, cable, copper pipe and mounts for the outdoor unit. It's hard to make that add up to £2k.

Another advantage of the Portasplit is you can use it in rented premises, where the landlord won't let you fix things to the building.

Theo

You can get pre-charged split units. These come pre-gassed, with connectors that contain the gas until after installation is complete.

Note these are permanent fit units, not portable - once installed they can't be as easily uninstalled.

See:

I think installion costs have gone up since some units qualified for grants.

I paid £400 I think. Most units come pre-charged so no gas costs.

Thats true...

Dave

The split units should be using R-410a (difluoromethane/pentafluoroethane mix). Portable air conditioners, which are sealed units, contain propane. It doesn't really answer the question though, of what happens if they leak! I accept that it's unlikely with permanent joints, but the risk is there. It's the same thing with compressor-based home dehumidifiers which are also propane-based.

Any idea why it costs so much to have a fixed a/c unit installed? A couple of thousand for drilling a hole in a wall and doing a bit of joining up and testing seems more than a bit excessive to me: "The wall split air conditioner installation cost for a double bedroom or conservatory is about £2,000-£2,500." (

R32 (difluoromethane) is the modern common fluorocarbon refrigerant these days, R410a is only on older units, R22 on very old ones.

These aren't non-flammable, but are substantially less flammable than propane.

House fires have been caused by units overheating and setting off the propane (or isobutane in the case of fridges) of sealed units so it's a concern.

Supply and demand, I suspect.

I looked at the F-gas courses - £1k for the 5-day course and exam, but they will only take people 'employed in the refrigeration industry', and the local one is booked up until November. I couldn't find anyone who will let you take the exam on its own.

Theo