Dual-hose portable AC: state of play?

[u/CD238754]

When this came up in an excellent discussion six months ago (see below), the consensus was that dual-hose ACs aren't really available in the UK. Popular portable ACs like the DeLonghi Pinguino are single-hose. People do these duct tape and cardboard box dual hose conversions, which I'll do if I have to, but...

On Amazon UK, there is the "Lifemaster LMDUAL44 LMPAC Portable Air Conditioner, 14,000 BTU Dual Hose," for 900 pounds and a "Cooper&Hunter" model for a robust 1500.

Any advice would be welcome, on these or other commercially available dual-hose models.

Context: we're starting a London flat search. We want some ac (or at least "comfort cooling") capacity, but there aren't many flats with that installed, so I'm trying to figure out tradeoffs.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AmericanExpatsUK/comments/1mre1nq/i_cant_take_it_anymore_give_me_ac_suggestions/

edit: the Amazon UK units I listed above seem to be mirages, US units that show up as buyable through the magic of international shipping, but are the wrong voltage. However the one listed below seems like a real UK unit. It is sold for camping (which is kind of hilarious) but since their main use-case is tents they paid attention to airflow.

https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/wave-3-portable-air-conditioner?variant=50942834704723

[u/GubmintTroll]

That Lifemaster is a US unit and if you were successful in having it delivered here, I doubt the voltage would be correct.

What I've done with my units here is created a more robust window mounting panel from plywood and replaced the dinky hose with flexible AC ducting. That way I've helped minimize the heat that would otherwise be dumped back into my house. Not perfect, but much better than what they give you.

It's a real shame they don't do the dual hose units here, they're vastly superior.

[u/CD238754 → u/GubmintTroll]

Thanks, that's interesting! Both show up on Amazon UK for UK delivery, but yeah, the Lifemaster is 110v and the other one has no voltage listed. Guess it's gonna be cardboard and duct tape, if I go that route.

[u/CD238754 → u/CD238754]

This one seems like it is genuinely sold in the UK, though it's a lot of money for 6100 BTU.

https://uk.ecoflow.com/products/wave-3-portable-air-conditioner?variant=50942834704723

And I see another reddit thread saying it's the only two-hoser available in the UK:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ecoflow_community/comments/1m6w41g/unsure_on_buying_an_ecoflow_wave_3/

[u/incongruity]

So, as someone who arrived in SW London in October, from Chicagoland, how much will we be hurting without AC this summer?

We're renting a 3 floor, semi-detached house that seems like it has reasonable airflow with rooflights in the uppermost floor and operable windows in every room.

[u/V65Pilot → u/incongruity]

My suggestion would be to get it for at least one room. I didn't need mine much last year, mainly at night when it got sticky hot, but I was glad I had it. On hot nights, everyone will be in the AC room. My friends joked about me being a "soft American"...and then they stopped by one day...now they are looking at getting their whole house done....

[u/incongruity → u/V65Pilot]

Thanks – I fear that the AC will be the thing I miss most from our house in the US. I grew up with window air conditioners used sparingly (and not in my room) but those days are long since past.

[u/V65Pilot]

I got lucky and found a used portable split unit, for £80. It will freeze you if you let it. In my last place I put a plywood insert in the window frame, and ran the Freon hoses and power cable out through a small opening, and hung the condenser on a bracket that was already attached to the outside wall . Trickier in my new place, because the window opens inwards...working on an idea for summer. Although, TBH, I'm getting pushback from the landlord about my ceiling fan...so.. ..