My Review After Buying the Iris Ohyama Portable Cooler (IPA-2821GH-W)

Preface

I'm fortunate enough to have a space in my house that I can call "my own room."
That space is classified as a "storage room" or "service room" under the Building Standards Act, and is not actually a habitable room.
Therefore, with only a small window, it honestly wasn't a very comfortable space.

It's a space with many drawbacks, such as being hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but for me, it's an important private space where I can be alone.
However, the harsh conditions in the middle of summer and winter meant I was using the computer in that room less frequently.

In winter, we can manage to stay warm by using stoves and foot warmers.
However, due to issues such as lack of space for the outdoor unit, we were unable to install an air conditioner.
To be honest, I had resigned myself to the fact that summer is just a hot day, but then I learned that Iris Ohyama makes a product called a portable air conditioner.

After doing some research, I found out that it doesn't require an outdoor unit or any installation work, so my desire to buy it grew stronger and stronger.
I finally bought it, so I thought I'd introduce it and share my experience using it.

Main features of a portable cooler

The portable cooler I purchased wasIris Ohyama's "IPA-2821GH-W"This is the product with the following model number.
For detailed product specifications and features, please refer to the official online store.

The price listed on the official website is ¥76,780, but I bought it on Amazon for ¥59,900 (as of July 2021).
When used as an air conditioner, it is suitable for areas of 7 to 10 tatami mats, and when used as a heater, it is suitable for areas of 6 to 7 tatami mats.
Its performance is more suitable for a slightly smaller room than a large living room.
There are variations available, including types without heaters and those suitable for slightly smaller or larger rooms, so you can choose one that suits your needs.

The dimensions are 42.5cm wide, 39.3cm deep, and 80.4cm high, and it weighs 30kg.
Because it has a considerable depth and height, it appears somewhat larger compared to wall-mounted air conditioners.
The unit itself is heavy, but it has casters on its legs, so you can easily move it around by rolling it.
The cardboard box the main unit was packaged in was designed so that once you cut the string, the box would slide straight up, making it easy to remove the unit from the box.

This is a non-drain type system, where any moisture generated during use is naturally evaporated through the exhaust hose.
However, continuous use in high humidity conditions may cause the water tank to fill up and the device to shut down.
In that case, manual draining would be necessary, but that situation hasn't arisen yet.

This product is a portable air conditioner, so it does not have an outdoor unit.
However, due to the nature of air conditioning, a route is absolutely necessary to expel the hot air.
A thick, bellows-like exhaust duct extends from the back of the unit, and this is attached to the included window panel to vent the hot air outside.
If there are no windows, you would have to run a duct to the next room, but that room would become so hot that it would feel like you're using a heater.

Even though it's said that no construction is required, you will need to install the window panels yourself, so some work is required.
However, the only tool you'll need is a screwdriver, and all the parts are included, so it won't be a major undertaking.

The process involves attaching height-adjustable window panels to the ends of rail-type windows and then fitting exhaust ducts into them.
A gasket with adhesive tape is included, so you can use it to seal the gaps in the window.

One point to note is that if security grilles are installed outside the window, they may interfere with the rain cover attached to the window panel, potentially preventing it from being installed in the desired position.
The presence of window grilles doesn't immediately make it impossible to install window panels, but depending on the space available between the grilles and the panel, some ingenuity may be required.
The instructions aren't very detailed, so it shouldn't be a problem for those who don't mind figuring things out on their own.

In my case, instead of installing the window panel right against the edge of the window frame as intended, it ended up being a little further away from the edge to avoid interference with the window grille.
I managed to fill the gaps using adhesive pads and such, but I feel that there might be places where installation is not possible depending on the living environment.

Also, installing the window panel will leave the window lock in the unlocked position.
While it is possible to lock it using the included auxiliary key, this might be a source of concern for those who are worried about security.

Actual experience

Anyway, first things first, I'd like to write about my impressions after actually using it.
Since I've only used it during the summer so far, I'll mainly write about my experience using it as an air conditioner.

There are no particular problems with how cold it gets.
If you use it within the appropriate room size range, you'll feel the room cool down just as effectively as with a regular air conditioner.
The dehumidification mode and ON/OFF timer can be set in 30-minute increments, so I didn't feel any lack of functionality.

I feel that the operating noise is a bit loud.
For people who are sensitive to noise, this might be a bit of a problem.
If you want to concentrate on listening, you'll need to take measures such as using earphones or headphones.
For casual phone conversations with friends or watching videos where the main focus is on talking, I think it's fine as long as you turn up the volume.

Using an app to measure sound levels, the reading was 55-60 decibels (at a distance of about 1.5 meters from the air conditioner).
When the air conditioner is not running, the noise level in my house is 45 decibels, which is the minimum level that we consider quiet for everyday life.
The 55-60 decibels produced when an air conditioner is running is somewhere between "normal" and "loud," and is about the same volume as the inside of a moving car.
Whether or not someone finds it offensive really depends on the individual.

That's all for now regarding my impressions after using it for a while.
I plan to add my impressions after using it during the winter, and I will also update this review with any other points that catch my attention.

Conclusion Summary

Comparing the purchase price (¥59,900) with the benefits I received, I think it was worth the purchase.
Below, I will list the good and bad points.

Good points

- No construction work is required, and it can be used immediately.
• The air conditioning performance is comparable to that of a built-in air conditioner.

Points of interest

- The operating noise feels slightly loud (around 55 decibels).
- Installing window panels is time-consuming.

That's all.
If you live in a somewhat small room and are looking to add air conditioning, this is a good option.
However, you should be aware that assembling and installing the window panels can be time-consuming, and that the operating noise level can be quite loud.

アイリスオーヤマ ポータブルクーラー IPA-2821GH（楽天市場）

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