Should I buy a window / portable air conditioner?
To answer your followup, a window unit is generally much cheaper to operate than central AC but that cost can vary widely depending on its efficiency. As Marit pointed out, it is important to buy a unit with the appropriate BTU rating for the space you are cooling. Buying a smaller unit than is needed will cost you in the long run. A window AC works best if you are cooling just one room and keep the door closed while the opposite is true for a swamp cooler. Air flow is key to success with a swamp cooler and that means keeping the door open and providing an exit for the air through an exterior door or window in another part of the house.
I got a portable and don’t I think I would recommend it. It was more expensive than a window unit and though theoretically you can roll it around, it’s really bulky and no one has that much closet space to store it when you don’t need it. It also takes up a lot of floor space near the window. Get the window unit and take it out of the window in the fall so you can enjoy your view again.
