Cooler or Other Suggestions for Summer

I'm struggling with the Melbourne heat, with temperatures soaring to 32–36°C. My pedestal fans aren’t doing much, and unlike my previous rental that had AC, my current place doesn’t have one. With budget constraints, I’m looking for a cost-effective way to get through this summer.

I’ve considered portable AC units, but they seem cumbersome due to the hose setup, and my windows don’t accommodate that. I also looked into evaporative coolers, but the reviews aren’t very encouraging.

I’d love to hear any suggestions or ideas from the OzBargain community!

Comments

  • +1

    I'm in the same boat. Cold shower before bed, ice packs, linen sheets. Have started putting the fan on the ground and pointing it at the floor rather than straight at us. Read that it circulates the cool air a little better but I am an oaf so don't come at me with any science. If you don't have carpet then apparently mopping the floor before bed also mitigates a little bit (doesn't seem worth it to me but not sure how far in the trenches you are).

  • +1
    • Great tips. I need to try this ice idea.

    • -1

      Fans don't do anything when it's 35 degrees outside except move the hot air around.

      Wet towels? hello mold.

      • "Fans don't do anything when it's 35 degrees outside"

        Yeah, what would billions of ppl know about cooling down using fans

  • Wet towel in front of the fan.

  • +1

    I bought 2 of the Arlec 2.60KW 9000BTU Portable Air Conditioner(bunnings.com.au) for my Office and Bedroom. They are noisy, but worth it for keeping cool. I just put headphones on when I am working. Only run the aircon during the day to keep the bedroom cool and and then fan overnight.

    I have sliding windows, so I can accommodate the hose. It comes with a Window kit which is great. What windows do you have?

    I tried an evaporative cooler for an office I worked in, and it was a pain with the water. Then, if you forgot to turn it off and it ran dry, I think it died.

    I suffered last summer and I won't do it again. I can have my two split systems on in the other parts of the house and it doesn't help my home office.

    • Had one similar to this with the hose that went out the window… Worked brilliantly but noticed the $ on teh elect bill..

      Comfort comes at a cost.

      • Had one similar to this with the hose that went out the window… Worked brilliantly but noticed the $ on teh elect bill..

        I've got Solar, so haven't noticed it and they only run during the day.

        Comfort comes at a cost.

        100%. $350 each for the units plus running costs. But well worth it vs $7k for a split system. Just don't have the funds for that yet.

    • Thanks mate. My windows are not sliding, that is the key challenge. I don't know how others use when there is no option to keep the hose out ?

      • I did think about putting a point in the roof and then blowing the hot air into the roof, but if you are in a rental, that won't work either.

        Are the windows the wind out ones?

      • +1

        There are options without a hose… google it up.
        portable air conditioner no hose required

      • windows are not sliding.

        Are they awning windows, hinged at the top?

        You could cut some cardboard (or MDF) into a triangle and put it on each side of the window and then put a standard square window kit at the bottom.

        • I just had another thought. Awning windows have the fly screens on the inside. Just replace the fly screen with a board the same size. If you don't mind the loss of light, MDF or chipboard would work. Otherwise, perspex or maybe even corflute would still let the light in. Cut two holes for the aircon vent hoses and bob's your uncle!

  • unlike my previous rental that had AC, my current place doesn’t have one

    I'm reading this as you're in a new rental - may not be the case though. If so, I had it in my head that the new 'minimum standards for rentals'(engage.vic.gov.au) mandated air conditioning and heating… for anyone else wondering, it looks like it either hasn't come into effect yet, or there are some loopholes?

    Cooling
    From 30 October 2025:

    If there is no existing cooling, where there is a new rental agreement or conversion from fixed term to periodic rental agreement; or

    Where there is existing cooling, at the end of life of the existing cooling system.

     From 30 October 2027, all rental properties are to have a fixed cooling system.
    

    Actually, that makes me wonder…. when did your lease last get renewed - and is that 'renewal' considered a 'new' rental agreement?

    • Spoken to Owner, and he keeps dragging his feet

  • I’ve considered portable AC units

    cost-effective

    these two don't align.

    If it really is that oppressive then your only real option is to just suck up the cost of electricity in favour of your comfort for one of these.

    The best thing to do is to limit the size of the room it has to cool down.

    Otherwise all you can do is go elsewhere during the day eg library, public pool, westfield. There's a reason westfields get busy during summer.

    • There's a reason westfields get busy during summer.

      Yeah, its called Boxing Day Sales and School Holidays. I certainly have not gone, "it's too hot today; I am going to Westfield to spend money". I will go to my local pool which is free and spend the day there.

      • Free pool? Where?

        • My local park has one.

        • In my local shire area. Its an outdoor pool, but on a hot day, who cares!

  • +1

    Thermodynamics always wins in the end. Ones with hoses pump hot, humid air outside and have cool, dry air inside, which is perfect. Evaporative coolers use turning water into a gas to suck energy out (converting liquid to a gas sucks a lot of energy out of the surrounding air) but increase humidity and basically don't work when it's already humid in the room. They worked great in Melbourne 20 years ago, not so much anymore.

    Best way is to cool the smallest area possible and let in as little heat as possible with insulation. It's a shame no one has ever invented a cooling suit with coolant an a little compressor/pump, that'd be the most efficient way to do it.

    I'd take the cash you're looking at spending to get an A/C in and offer to pay for a portion of a split system. It might kick your landlord into gear since they're going to have to pay for it eventually.

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