A thousand thank you's for all your wonderful recommendations. Especially you SamClem who wrote such a all inclusive recommendation.
I did have an AC company out, and they were not much help. I guess I need to get a new AC company out. Problem though is now we are in the 115 to 117 degree temperature setting here in Vegas, and I shutter to think what the attic temperature is right now, so I think if I get some new duct work done up there, I should wait until we are done with the summer months.
I agree if it can't be fixed with the main unit, the long term solution would probably have to be a mini split system. His main problem remains with how his room is situated sticking out facing the front of the street and our HOA restrictions. If I put a window unit in the wall , it would have to go in his closet, cause there is only a small part of his room on the side of the house that is behind a wall. So a window unit would need to be placed down low and and out of sight from neighbor next door as well as front of house. I would go this route if it were not for the loss of use of his closet space. He has a dresser in the other half of his closet. So now I would be limiting his hanging area to a small 4' area up high (but still considering it.)
I think some of you are right in that Las Vegas is such a dry climate that the condensation with a portable would not be nearly the problem as they are in more humid areas. I think all the complaints posted about them leaking may be from people living in more humid areas. However, there is the space issue, as his room is so small and there is barely enough room for his bed and computer table (his dresser is in closet, because his room is so small)
I would like to explore the duct work solution after the summer passes here, and if that does not help, then consider the split system I guess.
But I still have almost three months of very hot weather here to face, and don't want him sweating to death, so need a temporary solution.
Though a big portable ac unit would really crowd his room (make it difficult to get to his closet with out climbing over his bed) It could be used in the master bedroom as a back up later down the road, when my AC unit decides to die (It is currently 13 years old) And they always go at the worst possible time in the summer. On the other hand, a small window unit placed in the wall to the outside would not take up his bedroom area, and probably suffice in terms of doing the nec. additional cooling when needed in the summer. You wouldn't see it in his closet, except when he was using it with the closet door open.
But my main concern there was the size of the hole in the wall, and would I be able to find another unit to fit the same size hole when it goes. Current window ac units don't seem to hold up like the old ones, and many people on Amazon talk of them dying in a short time frame. I am leaning towards the portable unit to get through this summer, and then seeing what can be done with the duct work, returns and added insulation after the summer passes. We will probably go out tomorrow and look at the size of the portable units, and make our decision which way to go.
Again, thank you all so much. This board has always been supportive and helpful when people need advise. Definitely the best board out there in my opinion.
I did have an AC company out, and they were not much help. I guess I need to get a new AC company out. Problem though is now we are in the 115 to 117 degree temperature setting here in Vegas, and I shutter to think what the attic temperature is right now, so I think if I get some new duct work done up there, I should wait until we are done with the summer months.
I agree if it can't be fixed with the main unit, the long term solution would probably have to be a mini split system. His main problem remains with how his room is situated sticking out facing the front of the street and our HOA restrictions. If I put a window unit in the wall , it would have to go in his closet, cause there is only a small part of his room on the side of the house that is behind a wall. So a window unit would need to be placed down low and and out of sight from neighbor next door as well as front of house. I would go this route if it were not for the loss of use of his closet space. He has a dresser in the other half of his closet. So now I would be limiting his hanging area to a small 4' area up high (but still considering it.)
I think some of you are right in that Las Vegas is such a dry climate that the condensation with a portable would not be nearly the problem as they are in more humid areas. I think all the complaints posted about them leaking may be from people living in more humid areas. However, there is the space issue, as his room is so small and there is barely enough room for his bed and computer table (his dresser is in closet, because his room is so small)
I would like to explore the duct work solution after the summer passes here, and if that does not help, then consider the split system I guess.
But I still have almost three months of very hot weather here to face, and don't want him sweating to death, so need a temporary solution.
Though a big portable ac unit would really crowd his room (make it difficult to get to his closet with out climbing over his bed) It could be used in the master bedroom as a back up later down the road, when my AC unit decides to die (It is currently 13 years old) And they always go at the worst possible time in the summer. On the other hand, a small window unit placed in the wall to the outside would not take up his bedroom area, and probably suffice in terms of doing the nec. additional cooling when needed in the summer. You wouldn't see it in his closet, except when he was using it with the closet door open.
But my main concern there was the size of the hole in the wall, and would I be able to find another unit to fit the same size hole when it goes. Current window ac units don't seem to hold up like the old ones, and many people on Amazon talk of them dying in a short time frame. I am leaning towards the portable unit to get through this summer, and then seeing what can be done with the duct work, returns and added insulation after the summer passes. We will probably go out tomorrow and look at the size of the portable units, and make our decision which way to go.
Again, thank you all so much. This board has always been supportive and helpful when people need advise. Definitely the best board out there in my opinion.
What's humidity? 
