Portable AC -- anyone with experience with these?

Hi.  New transplant here in the UK and my summer allergies are driving me nuts.  Thinking about getting one of those portable AC units for our bedroom.  Anyone with experience using them?  Are they just a waste of money?

I have one in the conservatory we had installed a couple months ago. Absolutley excellent in terms of performance, cools very nicely indeed and it has it's work cut out as the conservatory faces south!

In fact in a little while i'll pop down there and watch the world cup games along with doing a pile of work ready for the coming week !

One thing I will point out, is that they're quite noisy so you may need to 'get used' to it if it's in yer bedroom. The lower settings are quieter of course so hopefully you'll work out what lets you nod off or keeps you awake with stiff nipples! before you tell me off - here's the company's listing in Yell.com !

Stiff Nipples
59, Gainsborough Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB4 8NY
Tel: 020 8797 2690    Matches: air conditioning, servic    Classification: Air Conditioning Services

• Vehicle Air Conditioning • Service, Repair & Installation • Ozone Friendly Gas Conversions • We Come To You • Professional&Friendly Service • Mobile 07939 085358
Options:  Map/Directions to Stiff Nipples (2)   Send Stiff Nipples's number (2) to mobile   Save Stiff Nipples (2) to address book

Cheers to this guy for making his company name SO memorable!

Dennis! West London UK! (soon to have Stiff Nipples!)

Well just bought a portable unit today at B&Q for £199, 9000 BTUs, plenty for our bedroom. I thought it was a reasonable price after scanning other websites.  If only we had bought one a few years ago but I never thought we would still be living here. Since I can't take another summer in our little red brick oven house we thought it was time. I was a bit dubious about how good they would work because I was looking at them on line today and they didn't mention how well they cooled (i.e. - letting you know temp settings, some didn't list BTU level or how cool they could actually be). I checked out B&Q's site and they had a lot of different models but delivery would take a week or two. We went to the local store and I was pleasantly surprised that they had one on display....nice cold air flowing out of it!. I can't wait to get it working in the bedroom! We will sleep better and be able to get ready for work without sweating like mad in the morning.

MindTrekker, a small note...when you buy one, you have to let it "stand" for four hours before using. Just thought I would let you know in case you buy on in the evening and want to cool the room before bed time. We just turned ours on (4 hrs exactly, I couldn't wait).....its cooling down the room perfectly!

Side note - you have to put the exhaust tube out the window and I have had to use towels to block out the hot air coming through the opening. Unfortunately our bedroom is in the front so it doesn't look so nice from the outside of the house...but in this weather, I will have to live with it. Going to buy some off white towels tomorrow to make it look a bit better.

Hope you get one and it really helps your allergies as well as keep you cool.

PS - its not that much louder than a fan. Definitely manageable.

We have had ours for 2 years now. I wouldn't live without it!  Its a 10,000 BTU. Its a bit tricky trying to figure out how to get the exhaust hose out the window or door without all the hot air coming in.  Since the only door we have is in our living room (no windows) we bought some wood paneling pieces and cut them to fit inside the door frame.  We then cut a round hole in the bottom big enough to fit the exhaust hose.  We then slide the door shut to trap in the wood piece and it's been great for keeping the hot air out!  The only thing I don't like dealing with is the water that drips out of the air conditioner.  The hose they provide with it, just isn't long enough and when we keep a dip tray under the spout we constantly have to empty it.  If anyone has a better idea for this, please share!