this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2026
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Previously, Washington’s rental laws didn’t have much guidance on new cooling units. Slatter said that landlords could refuse to let a tenant install one. The new law, by contrast, states that renters can now install a portable AC unit, as long as a landlord hasn’t explicitly written a ban into the lease.

The law, which went into effect in June, includes specific restrictions depending on the kinds of AC units a tenant is looking to install. For a window unit, here are the restrictions:

  • A tenant must give the landlord two days’ notice before installation.
  • The device cannot prevent a window accessible from the outside to be locked.
  • It cannot require excessive brackets that would damage the window frame warranty.
  • The device must be safely secured from falling out of the window.
  • The landlord’s insurance policy must allow window-mounted units to be installed.
  • Landlords can require inspection of window-mounted units after installation.
  • Fewer restrictions apply to other types of AC units, like floor-mounted devices and saddle-mounted units.
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[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Basically: difference is if it starts with the temperature inside or outside.

[–] agit68@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

No. You have a semi (mostly) closed loop system. The user failure is the lack of knowledge of not properly sealing the loop or insulating it.

Think of it this way, if your external door is cracked a little and opened of its own accord with another open open window causing it to open that is negative pressure. Now imagine it on a lower airflow restriction pulling air into the area you are trying to cool through all of the natural air leaks in your dwelling. You will end up heating the air you are trying to cool causing the single hose to work harder while pulling more hot air to cool.

With dual hose you are localizing both input and exhaust air in a smaller area. With proper insulation or even just a blanket wrapped around both hoses, it makes it easier to maintain ambient air temps.