“If you’re comparing portable air conditioning to cheaper air coolers then the portable air con has the advantage of providing cooling that will work in British summer conditioners and removes the sticky, excess humidity from the air”, says Chris. “Air cooling works best in dry climates, like sub-Saharan Africa and Australia where the heat is very dry, this is not the case in Britain.”
Does a portable AC use a lot of electricity?
With the cost-of-living crisis bearing down on us all, you’d be forgiven for not wanting to plug in yet another machine, but like some of the best fans on the market, these models can be surprisingly cost effective.
“The cooling capacity of portable air conditioners is expressed in either kilowatts (kW), or more commonly, British Thermal Units, or BTUs. The higher the number, the more cooling power on offer”, advises Chris. “1kW is the equivalent to 3,412 BTU, so a 3kW portable air conditioner would be called a 10,000 BTU model. On the current cost of £0.34p per kW, a 10,000 BTU model would cost £0.38p per hour.”
Our edit includes some powerful machines with a BTU of over 9,000, such as the De’Longhi Pinguino PAC EM82 Portable Air Conditioner, the Black & Decker Portable 3-in-1 Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier & Cooling Fan, and of course the Meaco Cool 10,000CH Air Conditioner.
De'Longhi Pinguino PAC EM82 Portable Air Conditioner
Black & Decker Portable 3-in-1 Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier & Cooling Fan
MeacoCool 10000CH Air Conditioner & Heater
What is the best type of portable air conditioner to buy?
While there are variations in functionality, and what’s best for you comes down to personal needs, Chris advises that we should always go as big as we can afford when it comes to portable AC – depending on our available space, of course: “A larger air conditioner will just get the job done faster than a small unit”, he says. “Whereas if you buy small and then it is too small for the room that you are using it in, then the unit will just run and run and will struggle to keep a room cool on hot days. Large units tend to be a very similar noise level to smaller units, so you get much more cooling, for the same sort of background sound.”
How long does it take to cool a room with a portable air conditioner?
“Assuming that the portable air conditioner is the right size for the room and has been set up correctly with the window kit to expel the warm air, you would notice a difference after 40 minutes of operation”, says Chris. But he also tells us there are variables at play; “Is the room insulated, do you have other equipment running, how many people are in the room, is the room is facing south and getting a full sun all day?... How long a portable air conditioner can reduce the temperature of a room will depend on several factors, but the most important one is, don’t let the room get hot in the first place, if you can help it.”
After more hot weather essentials? Make sure to browse our guides to the best garden furniture, the best rattan furniture, the best inflatable pools for adults and, lastly, the best cooling mattress toppers.
Keep scrolling to shop the best portable air con units to keep your temperature level and your mood elevated
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