Where can I buy a portable air conditioner?
Since they are a relatively large and specialised piece of equipment, air conditioners aren’t sold everywhere. Appliances Direct and Amazon each have a selection but the UK’s top supplier is Aircon Centre. For our recommendations above we consulted Aircon Centre’s co-owner Nick Kandola, who is an expert in the leading models and brands.
Do portable air conditioners cool well?
£500 will generally buy you a decent unit rated to at least 9,000 BTU (see below), which will be anough to cool the average bedroom by ten degrees – so, from a steamy 26C to a spring-like 16C. Most won’t cool below 16C. Remember to close doors and windows and close curtains to keep sunlight out.
“Many new ACs offer room heating and dehumidifier options, giving an all-year-round solution to room temperature control,” Nick Kandola says. “The latest models are also WiFi enabled.”
Are wall-mounted or standalone air conditioners better?
If you will only be using your air conditioner occasionally, or if you want to be able to move it from room to room, a portable air conditioner is the wiser choice. However there are good reasons for choosing wall-mounted air conditioners.
They tend to be more powerful, drawing over 2.5kW whereas most portable units draw 1kW. This means they can cool more air, more quickly. They are also quieter, since the motor is generally situated on the exterior wall. And, because they are professionally installed, there are no gaps for warm air to sneak back in (as there are when you trail a portable unit’s exhaust hose through a window).
However, professional installation costs between £1,750 and £3,000 according to Checkatrade. And, although they don’t take up any floorspace, wall-mounted air conditioners are a permanent fixture and aren’t pretty. This is why we recommend portable air conditioners, which can be stored in the garage for use during heatwaves.
What is a BTU rating?
Portable air conditioners are rated in British Thermal Units (BTU). A higher BTU number means a larger space can be cooled, although this also makes the device bigger, pricier and in some cases less eco-friendly. It is essential to check the size of the room you’ll be cooling before buying; if you purchase a unit with too low a BTU rating for the room size, it won’t be able to cool it efficiently.
Kandola says the most popular options for portable air conditioners are 9,000 and 12,000 BTU, which would cool a room of around 21 and 30 square metres respectively. Remember that the exhaust pipe will need to be run outside through a window and the gap sealed if possible. Window kits are sold for this purpose – see below.
Do portable air conditioners use a lot of electricity?
“Depending on the size of the portable air conditioner (AC) unit, they typically use between 0.75kW up to 1.5kW per hour,” Nick Kandola says. Overall, modern AC units provide an energy efficient way to cool your home,” he says. Look for an energy efficiency rating above D (which is equivalent to the old A rating).
How much does it cost to run a portable air conditioner?
Using Nick Kandola’s estimate that portable air conditioners use 0.75kW to 1.5kW per hour, you’re looking at the cost being between 20p and 45p per hour at current energy prices.
How to vent a portable air conditioner
You will need a window close enough for the exhaust hose to reach (nearly all hoses are 1.5m long), that can be opened wide enough for the hose to pass through. Good air conditioners will come with a window pack to fill the gap in the opened window. Sometimes the pack is extra. “The vent expels hot air and moisture outside, while the AC unit blows cooled air in,” explains Kandola.
How to vent a portable air conditioner without a window
People often ask whether you can vent a portable air conditioner without a window, and the answer is you can, if you use a door. If you’re unable to run a vent outside via a window or door, a portable air conditioner isn’t right for you.
How much do you need to spend?
There is one obvious downside: cost. While a high-end fan costs less than £100, a decent PAC unit costs upwards of £500. “Anything under £300 isn’t worth buying, unless it’s for a small bedroom – and most people wouldn’t buy an air conditioner for that size of room, they’d just buy a fan,” Kandola says.
What air conditioner features I should look out for?
Hose length. Make sure the exhaust hose is long enough to reach the window you will be expelling the hot air through. Most are 1.5m long. Power cables are usually the same length, so bear that in mind too.
Noise levels. All air conditioners in operation make a fan-like noise, but they vary by as much as ten decibels, which could make all the difference when you’re trying to sleep.
Air quality. Some air conditioners have filters to remove allergens and mould from the air. HEPA is the highest filtration standard here. Many also double as dehumidifiers and some have a heating function, making them useful in winter as well as summer.
Energy saving features. Timer switches, eco modes and sleep modes feature on most models. ‘Smart’ air conditioners will link to a smartphone app or voice assistant, enabling even more control over the room temperature.