RSS Feeds: Air Conditioner Choices in Olongapo
Buying any kind of air conditioner has been a task that I've been putting off until my wife returns to the Philippines. Although it's summertime in the Philippines, and the heat and humidity are just about unbearable, I'm much better off waiting because I don't need to pay more than what's absolutely necessary for the kind of air conditioner I need.
Types of Air Conditioners
No one really understands how many air conditioning options they have until they're in position in which they don't have one and need one. Unlike automotive air conditioning where your options are limited by the automobile manufacturers, home air conditioning can be accomplished in several ways depending on climate, finances, architecture and anticipated usage. Let's examine some of those options:
- Evaporative cooler. While not technically in the same class as air conditioners, evaporative coolers serve the same function. They only work well in dry climates. The Philippines is anything but a dry climate, so they're not even available here. Well, I suppose they may be available in the Philippines somewhere, but I'm not going to be looking for them.Central air conditioner. A central air conditioner requires air ducts for cold air distribution. Very few homes in the Philippines are built with air ducts installed. Mine is not one of them.
- Window and through-the-wall air conditioners. There are actually two kinds or air conditioning units like this: The single unit and the split unit. With the split unit, the motor is outside while the air flow mechanism is on the inside. Since I plan to use one on the second floor, the split type is not an option for me. Since I don't have a window that' even close to the size necessary for a window unit, I would have to make a hole in the wall. This is not something I want to do.
- Portable air conditioner. There are quite a few cheap portable air conditioners available at several stores, but I'm not looking for something cheap. I want the air conditioning unit to last a few years. This is probably what I'm going to buy and it's because of how I intend to use it.
Air Conditioning Usage
What purpose would central air conditioning serve if I spend most of my time in one part of the house? I spend more time in my master bedroom than anywhere else because it doubles as my office. A window/wall air conditioner would serve the purpose, but I have reasons for not wanting that kind of air conditioner, not limited to the fact that it would be visible from the front of the house and would appear like a wart on the side of the house.
One of several brands of portable room air conditioners is the next best, or perhaps better, choice. Due to the layout of my house, a good one will cool the entire house in a matter of just a few minutes. I'm sure everyone has been taught the basic physics of heat. Hot goes up and cold goes down. By having the air conditioning unit in my master bedroom with the door open, the cold air will sink to the first floor while the hot air will be forced up and out through any available openings.
Where to Buy an Air Conditioner
While the shopping choices aren't as many as they are in the US, I've actually found quite a few places that sell portable air conditioners. I've actually settled on a unit available at a place called "Savers". Off the top of my head, I can't remember if it's on Rizal Avenue or Magsaysay Drive. Either way, it's pretty easy to find.
The air conditioning unit I've picked is very similar to the kind found in the Jollibee, ChowKing and McDonald's food places. Even Philippine National Bank uses a similar type. The only issue is the cost. It's not cheap and that's the reason I want my wife to buy it. She a Filipina and I am not a Filipino. She can haggle for a better deal. I would probably have to pay more if I open my big mouth.
The last time I looked, the air conditioning unit in question was priced at P43,000 (or around $900). It may have gone up in price or have been lowered in price since then, but I have no way of knowing until my wife goes there to buy it.
Suffering without Air Conditioning
While it's extremely hot and humid during the summer months (tag-init, from March to May), it's already over half over for the year. The rainy season starts in June, but we've already had rain for three days in a row (and it's only April) and the weather has been much cooler than normal for this time of year.
There's only a few more weeks of extremely hot weather (it's always hot here in my opinion) so I think I can handle it with only an electric fan to cool me down for that long. As long as my PC doesn't burn up on me, I'm a happy camper.
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The house we live in now was the first place I ever had central air…it is so wonderful! I will never, ever go back to window units! It is so weird to think you have a house without air ducts! But, that is probably better for your allergies also.
You actually might be better off with two smaller ones. I thought with my one apartment that one giant one would be enough (it was only about 700 sq ft and only 1 bedroom directly off the living room)…but what happened instead is the room I put it in was freezing and the rest of the place was sweltering!
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I don't know exactly what I'll eventually do. The wife wants one huge one whereas I really don't care as long as the room I spend most of my time in is comfortable. I once lived in a mobile home and the single AC unit that I put in the window cooled the entire thing in minutes. I'm not saying my house is that small, but it's just as open with nothing keeping internal air from flowing naturally.
RT,
How hot exactly is it there? I'll be working outdoors in 30 to 42 degrees Celsius for most of the summer, but it will likely be a very dry heat with hardly any humidity. Also, most of Alberta is nearly 3000 feet above sea level so it cools off most nights and I'm guessing it doesn't cool down much after the sun goes down where you live. Just curious as to whether or not I could hack it in your neck of the woods.
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33 to 37 C, with 60 to 80 percent humidity. At 37 and 80, it's unbearable and heat stroke inducing. When I lived in AZ, 37 to 39 was nothing because the humidity was extremely low. It's the desert versus the tropics.
There are many factors that will influence the decision on what system and products are right for you; from the size and use of the building to the degree of control you need over the climate.
what about 80 degrees?
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With new technology comes enhancements to air conditioning systems. As time goes on, air conditioners will become more energy efficient.