Air Conditioner

[proudmom25]

The weather is starting to get warm here and I need to get Allie an air conditioner (notice I said Allie and not me...lol). I have the crank windows so the window AC is not an option. So my questions are for all that have had experience with a portable AC.

1. Do you think a 9,000 BTU would suffice or should I go for a 13,000 BTU? I plan on moving her to my 216 sq. foot room for the summer.

2. Would a dual or single hose cool better?

Here are the links to the two ACs I am debating over. There is a difference of about $160. Any reviews on either would be great too! Thanks!

13,000 BTU
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10324291&search=air conditioner&Mo=15&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=air conditioner&Ntt=air conditioner&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

9,000 BTU
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10334291&search=air conditioner&Mo=15&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-CA&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Sp=S&N=0&whse=BCCA&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&Ne=4000000&D=air conditioner&Ntt=air conditioner&No=3&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

 

[Tagna]

I've always used portable A/C's for my chin room. Mine died finally and I just got a new one last week. It's the 9000btu which will work fine for my chin room.

It's a single hose unit and I've only used single hose units.

 

[lilchinchilla]

There are some really good air conditioners out there that are pretty inexpensive these days. I have been eyeing a new one(I know I just got a new one last year, but I'm a sucker for 3-n-1 anything electronic!) for my chins too. They have ones out there that are not just air conditioners, but dehumidifiers and air purifiers. I've seen them as low as $299.00.

Can't get any better than that, imo.

I've been debating over one from FutureShop or Home Depot. I have only used single hosed units too, but then again, even when it is really hot - I am always cold anyhow. Around here, while the rest of Victoria is sweating, we got the cool breeze of the ocean so it never tends to get over 21 anyhow, even when we have heat waves of 43 or more elsewhere.

 

[addictedtochins]

We have a open floor plan, with the living and dining room kitchen and hall all pretty much one room about 800 square feet. We don't have central air or a lot of money so what works for us is the cages are tucked into a L shaped wall in the living room. I have a 8000 BTU A/C unit in the window next to their L wall. It keeps the chins area about 70 but doesn't do very much for us unless we sit right in front of it

 

[threewingedfury]

I had a portable a/c in my chin room before I moved them down to the chin barn. I had a 7,000 BTU Haier and the room was less than 100 sq ft and it would not cool the room. What I figured out was that the brand itself was poorly rated and that I should have went for a better brand in the first place, but I have only heard complaints about portables as they just don't perform like a window a/c.

I personally will never use a portable a/c again due to this experience, as I'm now using a 10,000 BTU a/c in my barn that cools 400 sq ft with no problem, whereas I had to worry with the heat coming off of the vent hose with the portable. It clogged up so quickly, I had to take it apart every single day and hose it down to get the fur out of it. I also had to worry about the vent freezing up from the fur collecting on the front grid and I had water leaks from the a/c very often. I'd come in the room to a puddle of water, and I knew I had to go and clean the front of the a/c. This happened mostly right after dusting. I just don't think they're made to be used with chinchillas.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

whichever air conditioner you get if it is digital make sure that if the current stops (electricity goes off) that the AC goes back on when the current does. I had a digital AC that when the current went off - that was that. It did not reset itself and go back on when the electricity went back on. I now have one that resets itself when the electricity goes back on and then it starts up again if I am not home when the electricity goes off and then on for some stupid reason