The recent - and never ending -heatwaves had us realising, we need a way to make our homes cooler. Because the heat can be unbearable, especially at night.
With temperatures reaching record highs more and more each summer you might find yourself having to go to some extreme lengths to keep yourself cool. If you're someone who has been struggling with these heatwaves, it could be time to start thinking about investing in a portable air conditioner for one or more of the rooms in your home.
It's true that portable air conditioners can be pricey, but heatwaves can be uncomfortable, and, especially if you spend a lot of time at home, they might be a worthy investment for an easy no fuss solution. Fantastic for bringing down the temperature in a room, this type of AC can be either a standalone cooling fan (a less expensive but often less effective option) or a full AC setup with window hose included.
- 'Smart' AC: AEG 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, £499
- Cheap mini AC: Mini Air Conditioning Unit, £39.99
- Quiet AC: MeacoCool MC Series Pro 14000 BTU Portable AC, £500
- Amazon AC: BLU 9000 BTU Portable 3-1 Air Conditioner, £699.99
How does a portable air conditioner work?
Unlike fans, a portable air conditioner physically sucks up the hot air inside the room and expels it out through a window, via an exhaust hose, replacing the hot air with cold air. They're ideal for those really warm days or if you're looking to cool down a larger room. Many can also be used as a portable heater, fan or dehumidifier, and come with clever features like timers and smart controls.
What should you consider when looking for a portable air conditioner?
Georgette Beacham, heating & air conditioning expert at BigDug.co.uk, explains that portable air conditioners are becoming more and more popular. But what should you look for when considering buying one (or more) for your home?
“While budget will help determine the appropriate option for you, it's important to consider the spaces that the air conditioner will be cooling, i.e. how big are the rooms? Look out for helpful ratings that indicate the cooling capacity, such as BTU (British Thermal Unit) or the watts – higher BTUs or watts are typically more suitable for larger rooms, and lower for smaller rooms.
"Sometimes the recommended room size might be specified, too. The ‘maximum airflow’ is also a great indicator of how effectively the volume of air can move or circulate."
What are the pros and cons of a portable air conditioner?
Trying to decide whether to splurge on a central air system in your home or go the portable air conditioning route? Well, if you are considering portable air con, Georgette explained that there are some factors that you should consider before deciding whether to invest.
Portable air conditioner pros:
- Easy installation: "The minimal installation and ability to be mobile makes an air conditioner a great solution for keeping cool."
- Ease of use: "The increase in sales for portable air conditioners has allowed the evolution of their design to be refined, now becoming more efficient, modernised, and user-friendly, ultimately resulting in the cost becoming more competitive and therefore making them even more appealing."
- Flexibility: "Portable options provide targeted cooling in individual rooms rather than the whole home, offering great flexibility while being more cost-effective than central air systems."
Portable air conditioner cons:
- Noise: "They can be noisy! The compressor of a portable air conditioner is inside the unit, and therefore inside the room that you’re cooling."
- Energy use: "Portable units can use more energy compared to other types of air conditioners, but this tends to be fairly minimal and varies from model to model."
- Maintenance: "Be aware of maintenance too, as portable options typically require their filters to be cleaned and water trays to be emptied."
How we chose the best portable air conditioner units
- Top-rated: We've only included bestselling air conditioner units that are well-rated with balanced, verified customer reviews.
- Type: Many portable air con units require a window hose, but I've also included non-hose cooling fans that just require ice and water.
- Price: Everyone wants a good deal, so we've found the portable air conditioners available at the most competitive prices, some of which are currently on sale. All of them represent great value for money.
- Trusted brands and retailers: Every portable AC is from a well-known top brand, such as Meaco, Delonghi, and Pro Breeze and available either straight from the brand or at familiar retailers like John Lewis and Amazon.
1/4
AEG Comfort 6000 - 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
© AEGThe Details
- Star rating: 4.6 /5 at Ao
- Dimensions: H70.5 x W47.2 x D38.3
- Max Room Size: 18m²
- Cooling power: 9000 BTU
- Noise level: 64 dB(A)³.
- Weight: 36.50kg
- Features: LED display, mobile app, Wifi-connected, Clean-air filter, auto fan function
- Energy rating: A
Editor's note:
"Shoppers are saying this 2600 Watt portable air conditioner is ‘brilliant’, ‘simple and effective’ and ‘chillingly good’ with the smart app helping it earn rave reviews. The one negative, though, is sound. As one reviewer said, ‘The only drawback is it's quite loud so might want to think about spending a bit more if its for a bedroom and you struggle to sleep with noise (noise wise it's basically the same as a very high powered fan).’”
2/4
Mini Portable Air Conditioning Unit
© AmazonThe Details
- Rating: 4.7 / 5
- Size: 19D x 19W x 20H CM
- Remote control? No
- Voltage: 220
- Water tank size: 500ml
- Included: USB cable
- Input Power: DC 5V 2A
- No window hose necessary
Editor's note:
"If you want something compact or tabletop, I recommend an air cooler, which is basically a glorified fan – you just fill up the water tank – but does wonders to help beat the heat.
This personal cooler fan is a small but mighty cooling fan, which multitasks as a small personal air cooler, a desk fan, and humidifier.
I have a similar one in my home and it's great but it does make the room quite humid, making it not very suitable for very small spaces, so that's something to keep in mind when purchasing."
3/4
MeacoCool MC Series Pro 14000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
© MeacoThe Details
- Star rating: 4.6/5
- Suitable for: Rooms between 25-35m²
- Dimensions: 762 x 353 x 470 mm
- Weight: 31 kgs
- Cooling power: 14000 BTU
- Noise level: 51.5 dB
- Features: App control, remote control, sleep mode, wheels,
- Extraction hose & window kit included? Yes
Editor's note:
"Meaco is one of the leading names in air cooling and dehumidifier products. This popular air conditioner unit, new last year, is energy efficient, with a rating of A. It has castors fitted to make it easy to move from room-to-room, and multiple window kits are included as well.
Meaco's Managing Director Chris Michael tells us: 'Meaco provide a free flexible window kit in the box, for other brands consumers will have to buy one for £20-£30 separately. Fixed window kits fit very few UK windows, so the flexible window kit is a big plus.'
This AC is also one of the quietest options we've found, with an average pressure level of just 51.5dB. All Meaco units come with a two-year guarantee."
4/4
BLU-09 9000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
© AmazonThe Details
- Star rating: 4.6/5
- Dimensions: 30.6 x 80.5 x 36.2 cm
- Weight: 26.5 kg
- Capacity: 26 kg
- Cooling power: 9000 BTU
- Noise level: 49dB
- Features: dehumidifier, R290 eco-friendly refrigerant, Remote control, Self evaporating
- Extraction hose & window kit included? Yes
Editor's note:
"BLU's portable air conditioner comes with a 1.5m expandable exhaust hose and a complimentary Window Sheet suitable for UK windows, so everything is ready to go. It also has a self evaporation function which allows the unit to run more efficiently.
It uses a natural high efficiency gas (propane R290) which is non-toxic and has no greenhouse emissions. It also offers energy savings."
