Air conditioners for flats in Helsinki

[undertakerfreak]

So I live in a flat without air conditioning, and I'd like to know if there are any shops in Helsinki that sell air conditioners. I don't know how to technically put it, but in the US, my grandpa had an air conditioner on wheels that just plugged into a power outlet. It expelled pretty bone-chilling air.

And no, I don't mean just a fan.

[betelgeuse]

So I live in a flat without air conditioning, and I'd like to know if there are any shops in Helsinki that sell air conditioners. I don't know how to technically put it, but in the US, my grandpa had an air conditioner on wheels that just plugged into a power outlet. It expelled pretty bone-chilling air.

Gigantti, Verkkokauppa.com etc.

The Finnish term is ilmastointilaite. For the machines to function properly you need to get the duct from the machine to outside the apartment.

[Upphew]

So I live in a flat without air conditioning, and I'd like to know if there are any shops in Helsinki that sell air conditioners. I don't know how to technically put it, but in the US, my grandpa had an air conditioner on wheels that just plugged into a power outlet. It expelled pretty bone-chilling air.

Gigantti, Verkkokauppa.com etc.

The Finnish term is ilmastointilaite. For the machines to function properly you need to get the duct from the machine to outside the apartment.

Preferably two ducts. With only one that pushes the hot air out, you'll get lower pressure inside -> warm outside air will get in. Two ducts and piece of cardboard or cell foam to block the rest of the window.

[undertakerfreak]

Bit of an update: it's been a week, and Verkkokauppa has yet to get the fan I ordered in stock. Plus, pretty much every store in Helsinki that sells fans and air conditioners seem to still be out of stock. With the news saying this heat will go on for another couple of weeks, I'm a bit cranky.

[Upphew]

Bit of an update: it's been a week, and Verkkokauppa has yet to get the fan I ordered in stock. Plus, pretty much every store in Helsinki that sells fans and air conditioners seem to still be out of stock. With the news saying this heat will go on for another couple of weeks, I'm a bit cranky.

I feel ya. During winter you just pile more clothes on, but what do you do now when you are already naked?!?

[Rasikko]

Where I'm from the avg summer temp is +33-36. I think if summers in Finland got that hot, Finland will having serious water and power issues.

[riku2]

Where I'm from the avg summer temp is +33-36. I think if summers in Finland got that hot, Finland will having serious water and power issues.

no, industry is mostly on holiday in july so power demands are low and hardly anyone has domestic air conditioners (yet). I don't think people will buy them just for one month of the year. And there are only 5m people and lots of lakes. so I don't see any possible water issues.

[Finn_since_1978]

You know it's hot in Finland when people coming from the tropics start complaining about the heat

[agroot]

Preferably two ducts. With only one that pushes the hot air out, you'll get lower pressure inside -> warm outside air will get in. Two ducts and piece of cardboard or cell foam to block the rest of the window.

EDIT: Did some research and the information seems scarce..

So in essence, those portable ACs are very low powered compared to what's used in Asia but seems to work surprisingly well here - maybe due to building insulation? but what about regular maintenance?

I know some people never wash mold off the inside of AC their entire life, but something like every 5y is probably needed? In Asia there are professional services for AC inspection and cleaning which I couldn't find here. I did open a big AC once myself and glad to be alive (the metal plate was very sticky when powered )

[Upphew]

Preferably two ducts. With only one that pushes the hot air out, you'll get lower pressure inside -> warm outside air will get in. Two ducts and piece of cardboard or cell foam to block the rest of the window.

EDIT: Did some research and the information seems scarce..

So in essence, those portable ACs are very low powered compared to what's used in Asia but seems to work surprisingly well here - maybe due to building insulation? but what about regular maintenance?

I know some people never wash mold off the inside of AC their entire life, but something like every 5y is probably needed? In Asia there are professional services for AC inspection and cleaning which I couldn't find here. I did open a big AC once myself and glad to be alive (the metal plate was very sticky when powered )

Sounds like DIY solution is in order. You can likely use same chemicals that are used for car AC.

[agroot]

You know it's hot in Finland when people coming from the tropics start complaining about the heat

I think they've become very addicted to AC... Wasn't uncommon to see people wearing jackets and sweaters in air-conditioned malls and offices which turn 35C to 20C, it's so cold inside I had to occasionally go out... Also they put AC right behind pillow position at home!

[agroot]

AC owners here - is portable AC supposed to be noisy? I measured the noise level and it's 60db when AC is running - the one I bought is from Trotec but it seems like other ACs in Finland have similar specs.

I have forgotten how AC noise was back where I came from but seems like any background noise above 50db is unacceptable now (which includes air purifier at lowest setting, am I too sensitive?)

Now I have to move the AC to living room and open bedroom door to get cooled.. not very efficient

[Upphew]

AC owners here - is portable AC supposed to be noisy? I measured the noise level and it's 60db when AC is running - the one I bought is from Trotec but it seems like other ACs in Finland have similar specs.

I have forgotten how AC noise was back where I came from but seems like any background noise above 50db is unacceptable now (which includes air purifier at lowest setting, am I too sensitive?)

Now I have to move the AC to living room and open bedroom door to get cooled.. not very efficient

Yup, they are quite noisy in my opinion. Mine is Matsui and its manual says 58dB. Dunno what the settings are, but even at lowest blower speed that is too much in same room to sleep. I usually run mine to get temperature down so I can sleep and then shut it down and sleep window open (which can also be quite noisy).

[NukkuMatti]

If you own the flat, you might want to opt in for an air heat pump..(Mitsubishi is very popular here, when I drive around and see the outdoor units)

It is basically a reversible (2 way) air conditioner.. You have the outdoor unit mounted to the wall outside and the (copper) pipes going through the wall to the unit inside.

In winter you can use it to heat the house as a heat pump (seems to be much cheaper than direct electric heating with radiators). t is according to the manual efficient until -25°C
In summer you can use it as an AC (reversed heat pump), it has a lot of settings to configure it to your liking like fan speed / direction / configurable thermostat etc. So the noise is manageable as well...

Got one myself.. works pretty nice...

Good practice is to clean the filters every two weeks!!!!! to keep optimum efficiency (and healthy air) I can imagine this would be advice-able to do with the portable ones as well...

[agroot]

If you own the flat, you might want to opt in for an air heat pump..(Mitsubishi is very popular here, when I drive around and see the outdoor units)

It is basically a reversible (2 way) air conditioner.. You have the outdoor unit mounted to the wall outside and the (copper) pipes going through the wall to the unit inside.

Do you mean this? https://www.taloon.com/ilmalampopumppu- ... 35-extreme That's like the new inverter split-type air conditioners we started using in Asia in recent years (also cooling+heating, oddly we called both aircon or cooler). But apartments need to have existing holes or pipes in the wall for them - how do you do this here? Back in Asia the AC service guys could drill holes but since buildings here are insulated, I guess the holes would have to be sealed properly and the outdoor unit needs to be able to withstand some -40C temperature?

How long has it been running there? I also heard the two-way type is more prone to break than the simpler types which could easily run a decade without need for repair. The electronic board specifically (control/regulation unit?). Even cooling-only splitting type required more maintenance - I used to call service every one or two years for cleaning or dealing with gas or water leaks (clogged in indoor unit). Service was common in Asian cities but seem non-existent here. If service is readily available and no problem with insulation I suppose it's the best option on market... costing a lot of $$$ of course.

EDIT: Are they mainly used in commercial environments here? That'd make a lot of sense and indicates good support