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July 22, 2006
Lexan And Heat
Back when I moved into my new apartment, everyone pretty much laughed when I asked about air conditioning. This resulted in an apartment with basically no means to put an in-window AC unit.
Earlier this summer the heat kicked up, a lot. Enough to make me purchase an in-room AC with a tube out the window kind of deal. Only issue with that has been my windows open similar to a door, they open from a side and wedge out. This sucks because no only can you not put an in window AC unit there, it becomes near impossible to put an in room AC unit in as well (the tube vent just blows back in).
Enter the wonderful world of Home Depot and Lexan plastic sheets. I bought a big piece of lexan and cut it to about my screen size. Meaning it should just slide into place. After that I cut out a section for the tube to blow outside and whammo, life is golden. One aspect of lexan I was not aware of is it's thermal expansion abilities. As it gets hot, it expands like crazy, and the faux window is now current wedged into the frame.
The issue has been it's hot, and despite my best senses I didn't buy the 10,000 BTU unit (which cost an extra $300). Instead I've got an 8,000 unit which is just barely keeping my 12'x12' bedroom cool. Some of this is probably because the venting tube is warm, some due to the lexan not retaining the thermal heat very well, but I'm sure some of it is due to the lack of BTUs on the AC unit. Damn.
In the mean time, I'll continue to stick to my desk. Kayaking adventure in a few days, last manic run for stuff today. Yippie!
Posted by Dan at July 22, 2006 07:13 PM