charlottejackson
New member
I rent a small first-floor flat in Columbus, and my window AC finally gave up right as the warm weather started. I've been looking at what's out there for 2026, mostly window units and a couple of portable ones, and I'm getting lost in the details. The main thing for me is that I can't do any permanent install in a rental, so it has to be something I can put in and take out myself without damaging the frame. I'm also worried about noise, since the bedroom window is right by a neighbor's. One thing I keep seeing is that the efficiency numbers don't always match how a place actually feels, and I don't want to overspend on a bigger unit than the room needs. Has anyone here dealt with a similar small-space rental setup? What actually worked for you, and what would you skip?