Sealing off part of room for A/C

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Q

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
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So, I am going to purchase a window A/C unit today as my room gets way too hot, and there aren't enough windows to keep the air flowing at night too cool it down.

My room is up in the roof of the house, normally where an attic would be. However, it is completely finished off, but the walls of my room do follow the shape of the roof.

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Since the stairs to get to my room are actually in my room, I'd like to some how block as much of the AC air from getting to the stairs.

From the layout you can see the stairs going up, and there is a halfwall surrounding except where the actual wall/roofline exists on one side.

I plan on putting somewhat of a temporary wall, I was thinking like a blanket or something? spreading across the "width" of the room, going from one wall to the other, parallel to the small section of halfwall surrounding the stairs (width of the stairs, not length)

Does ayone have any input on what I could use that would do a decent job of blocking the air?
 
EagleKeeper

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
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If there is a gable vent in the area, an A/C will not help unless it is isolated.

If isolated, also install a vent fan to help pull the hot air our of the attic.

A heavy blanket that completely encloses the entrance will work wonders.

cold air will settle, so do not leave any gaps at the bottom to allow the cool air to flow down below into the next floor.
 
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,346
1,858
126
You could put up blankets, sheets, curtains, drapes or anything. Anything is better than nothing.
I'd imagine that 2 separate layers that cover the entire area leaving no gaps would be the best solution. Sorta like having 2 pane glass with the air between the 2 panes helping to add an extra layer of insulation.

Something that doesn't let any air through would probably be better than something that does let air through, but it depends on how well insulated it is vs how much air will seep through. On a budget, I'd try a cheap tarp or even a shower curtain for 1 layer, and then just simple bedsheets for a second layer ... at an inch or so apart.
 
amdskip

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
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Is the air on for the first floor? If so you shouldn't really bother covering the steps, etc.
 
Q

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
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Originally posted by: amdskip
Is the air on for the first floor? If so you shouldn't really bother covering the steps, etc.
Click to expand...

No, there is not any AC in the house... but the sun beats down on the house the whole day, on top of 85+ degree temps with high humidity. My room is absolutely miserable some nights.
 
Q

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
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Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
If there is a gable vent in the area, an A/C will not help unless it is isolated.

If isolated, also install a vent fan to help pull the hot air our of the attic.

A heavy blanket that completely encloses the entrance will work wonders.

cold air will settle, so do not leave any gaps at the bottom to allow the cool air to flow down below into the next floor.
Click to expand...

The problem is, is there isn't an attic. The whole space where the attic would be has been finished off and made into a second floor. It's an older house so it's probably all plaster.
 
MikeyIs4Dcats

MikeyIs4Dcats

Lifer
Nov 5, 2001
18,366
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Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: Anubis
Tyvek + Staple Gun
Click to expand...

Tyvek is breathable....not a good choice for sealing airflow.
Click to expand...

better then a sheet
Click to expand...

not really, since he'd have to buy a couple hundred square feet of it minimum. Just buy some cheap plastic dropcloth sheeting...
 
EagleKeeper

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
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Are there any ventilation points at the/near the peaks?
 
Q

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
2,554
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Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Are there any ventilation points at the/near the peaks?
Click to expand...

I think there may be a few, but they aren't in the part where I'd be sealing off... (There are another two rooms upstairs, however, mine is the largest/has the bathroom...
 
A

Alistar7

Lifer
May 13, 2002
11,978
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Just make sure you get one that is more than sufficent to cover the square footage. I would personally buy one that had the capacity to cool 150% of the actual area needed. I would also suggest you spend the extra $ and get one that is as energy efficient as possible, you will save that much and more each month on your electric bill. There are nice ones that allow you to set the temp and control via remote.

If you want to seal off the area you could build a frame with 1x1's, wrap with plastic sheeting, and seal all the edges with tape. I would even make a door/frame out of the 1x1; then seal the door with plastic and complete with weather stripping.

BTU Guide
5,000-5,200 BTUs is suitable for 100-150 square foot rooms
6,000-8,000 BTUs is suitable for 151-350 square foot rooms
10,000-12,000 BTUs is suitable for 351-550 square foot rooms
15,000 BTUs is suitable for 551-700 square foot rooms
18,000 BTUs is suitable for 701-1,000 square foot rooms
24,000 BTUs is suitable for 1,001-1,500 square foot rooms
Click to expand...
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Alright....Here's my suggestion....

The problem with the stairs is that you're going to need to go up and down easily. You can't block them because it would be a serious fire hazard.

The real question here is what the average temp at the "bottom" of the stairs is going to be. Chances are, since your window is at the other end of the room, you won't lose much air down the stairs. The biggest thing your A/C unit is going to be doing is going to be working to cool the air it sucks in....which is going to be warmed by the time it reaches the stairs. This is going to help reduce how much you lose.

One trick is to slightly open your other window. This will cause suction to pull the cold air in that direction.

Houses often have what's called the chimney effect....the house creates a natural vaccum in one direction or another and this can be reversed in the summer. If you stand over the stairs, see if you can feel air moving one direction or another. If you don't feel anything, you may not have anything to worry about until the A/C changes the pressure in the room. At that time, consider hanging a blanket or sheet. The avg temp of the air will increase before hanging anything heavier really matters. What you want to accomplish is to make the area smaller and redirect air back into the a/c to be recooled.
 
A

Alistar7

Lifer
May 13, 2002
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Q

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
2,554
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76
Here is what I have done.

I've made a wall. So far it is working great. The wall is 2 sheets of 4 mil plastic sheeting, and 100% cotton bed sheeting. I've had the AC on for maybe 15 minutes and it's significantly cooler in my room than the rest of the up stairs. I made sure to seal around all the edges so I wouldn't have any leakage. The two bed sheets overlap as that is where the "door" is located. in case of a fire it would not be hard to just run/walk through it if I couldn't find the door. (I have smoke detectors on both sides of the wall). Quite a bit of ducttape is being used, but since this is not very permanent I didn't care much. I'm only living in this house until late august, then I move into an apartment which has A/C. My GF will most likely borrow my A/C from there on.

I purchased this: http://www.homedepot.com/webap...527416&N=+526370+90401

Although I got it used from a guy who only used it for 2 months until he moved into an apartment with A/C. (Foreign Grad student & wife). I have the Reciept and everything. I paid $90 instead of $330.

A total of 3 layers, I think it'll do fine. I'll only be using this at night, during the day I'll turn it off.
 
N

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
I've got my living room sealed with cheap sheets that I bought at target (1 sheet sealing it from the kitchen, another sealing the hallway that leads to my bedroom/bathroom). really does the job just fine.
 
1sikbITCH

1sikbITCH

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
4,194
574
126
Originally posted by: geckojohn
use some sheets or some saran wrap
Click to expand...

You want to build an entire wall out of saran wrap? You'd need about 300 packages of saran wrap to cover the space in the picture.

You'd have to buy it in eh... bulk :eek:
 
E

Eos

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
3,463
17
81
Before I had central air, I also had a small window air conditioner and I utilized the sheet method.

Basically, I screwed two eye bolts on each wall opposite from each other. I then ran a small diameter rope through the eyes and tied it as tight as I could. A sheet was attached to those spring grip things (like tiny woodworking clamps with jaws) and the spring grippers had loops that closed like a shower curtain ring. The rings went on the rope. I could slide the sheet back and forth as needed. The tv area stayed very cool and that's what mattered. I was sleeping from 6 am to 2pm and we could leave the bedroom window cracked to allow outside air all night. Weekend nights were spent with the AC on and enjoying movies or tv.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
3 mil polyethylene sheets would work too, and would be more effective at trapping air. Just make sure you have some source of ventilation so you don't suffocate in the night. ;)

 
SeventySeven

SeventySeven

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2001
1,196
0
76
Use vinyl shower curtains. They work great, and you can get all kinds of pretty styles at the dollar store... LOL
 
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