Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drew345]

I saw a neat portable air conditioner in Thailand, and I wonder if anyone has seen them in Korea.
It blows out slightly chilled air, but has no freon or condensers or etc. like a regular air conditioner. I remember that water was put in the top and the air was blown over or around the water and came out cooled. Ice could also be used to be a bit more cooled. The water wasn't actually blown out, just the cooled air.
Anyway, I am getting tempted to turn on the air con in my room at night, but air conditioning always makes my throat so dry, I really hate air con at night. One of those water cooler type air coolers might be just what I need.
Thanks,

[Swampfox10mm]

Technomart has them. some with ice packs. That is how theaters used to be cooled before aircon. Prime technology 90 years ago!

[DaHu]

take a shower, don't dry off, lay in front of fan - instant A/C

although it does tend to get the bed wet a bit... still, better than nothing, worked for me at times

[Yaya]

[Lazio]

Sure you can buy them here. They are called 냉풍기 I believe. Go to some online shopping site and do a search.

I actually have one but can't really comment on it since I haven't used it. Got it from craigslist last winter.
They work best at low humidity. That said, in Korean summers it might not be the best thing but if it worked in Thailand, it should be ok here as well. It also works as a humidifier (you can use it in winter) and as an air filter (wet surface captures airborne particles really well) I'm planning to use it in our really small bedroom to make the sleeping comfortable. I hope it will work.

[nathanrutledge]

What you're talking about is a swamp cooler. They are great, IF the air is dry, otherwise they are marginal at best. Why you saw one in Thailand is beyond me...

They work on the same principal as sweat. Water evaporates, takes the energy (heat) with it, and you feel cooler. BUT, they only work if the air is dry and the dew point is right. Otherwise, you're just adding moisture to the air and it gets really uncomfortable.

It would be nice to use in Korea in May and June, but come July-September, it'll be too humid to be of any real value.

[Swampfox10mm]

The ones with ice packs do not add humidity, and differ from the water type. Korea has the ice pack type at Technomart and probably Yongsan Ipark mall. They will actually remove some humidity from the air. But you need to remember to freeze the packs again and again. They do work some in smaller rooms. Seem to remember them costing around 120,000.

Honestly. i would just buy a cheap used 4 to 6 pyung aircon from a shop for 200000 or so installed, but that is just me. The 4 pyung models dont take a lot of power and will cool a 1 room well. Sometimes a 2 room if you are not in the sun. I used to cool a 3 bedroom basement villa with a used 4 pyung unit. I just closed the door to one of the rooms I wasnt using.

[pkang0202]

I've heard people using water bottles instead of the ice packs. Keep a few in your freezer, when one melts replace it with a frozen one. could save you some money.

[Drew345]

I found a nice swamp cooler on Gmarket, but like mentioned above, they are mostly for dry climates, and wont help much in July and August here.

I actually bought an air conditioner for my bedroom a couple of years ago. But the salesman talked me into upsizing it to be safe and upsizing it some more since there is a long run from the wall unit to the outside condenser. So I ended up with a way overpowerful aircon for my bedroom. Now it seems even if I set it for 25 or 26 (not too cool), the room gets so dry my throat aches. I should just sell it and get the smallest one I can find installed.

My problem is that my apartment is always 5 degrees hotter than the outdoors. Even with the windows and door open and fans going. I don't understand how my apartment can always be hotter than outside, and hotter than the hall, but there it is.

So, I've got the fans cranking at night (but still stays hotter than outside), just need something to give me a couple of more degrees cooling to assist the fan in the window. Maybe the icepack cooling fan is what I need (rather than the swamp cooler).

Thanks

[Vox_Populi]

[Swampfox10mm]

You might be able to get into a used aircon for 150,000, actually.

Seriously though, a small one will do way more than one might think to cool the house (unless it's difficult for air to circulate out of the aircon room into the others. We've got a 4 pyung in one bedroom and hardly turn it below 26. I've had wall hanging ones and I've had stand ones (have both now), and I think the wall hanging ones work best, for the money.

[Swampfox10mm]

Here's one for sale on craigslist today;

http://seoul.craigslist.co.kr/app/2453093416.html

[TheUrbanMyth]

I've used them...they are only marginally better than nothing.

[Yaya]

I bought a dehumidifier and will see how that works. I assume a dehumidifier uses far less power than an air conditioner.

[nathanrutledge]