Leading brands like AEG, De'Longhi and LG are all well-known for delivering excellent cooling results and have serious authority in the appliance world. There are generally two types of air conditioner to choose from: a wall-mounted split-unit air conditioner, which is perfect for rooms that are always hot as they can't be moved, or standalone portable units that can be shifted from room to room depending on your needs. Like most portable air con units of this power, it isn't light, weighing in at 27kgs, and its most common negative gripe from users is – as with most air con units – its noise. On its lowest, night-time setting the manufacturer advises it produces 53dB of noise. Interestingly, figures aren't given for decibel levels on the highest fan speeds, suggesting they climb quite a lot higher as you scroll upwards through its two additional speed settings. It also has a heat feature, but given we were living in a heat wave during testing, we didn't give this a go!

Finally, air coolers tend to be cheaper, but the best air conditioning units should last you for years, seeing you through many UK summers. Where to buy portable air conditioners in the UKThe 7000BTU air conditioner's 20.5kg weight, whilst not insignificant, makes it far lighter the 30kg average, and means this unit is much easier to move around the home than most. Plus, its 780W power consumption is one of the lowest of all the air con units we've tested, meaning it offers lower running costs too. It is also worth considering the cost of running your air conditioner; it soon adds up over the summer months. Power consumption will vary depending on the cooling capacity of the unit, but make sure you take these additional electricity costs into account. How do portable air conditioners work? What size air conditioner you opt for depends on a variety of factors, one of them being the price you're willing to pay.

Now, this didn't work in every window; the hose couldn't reach the tilt-only windows in the flat we tested it in, so it had to go out of the French windows on the balcony. Getting the AEG unit set up was easy (except for the bit where we carried it from the street to the apartment; at 30kg it's very heavy!). You’d be hard-pressed to market most air conditioners as a hipster lifestyle accessory, but that’s how America’s EcoFlow pitch the Wave 2. Boasting Lamborghini-style spoilers and slats, it’s a handsome and genuinely portable model that weighs about the same as a piece of carry-on luggage. The filters inside the units are designed to catch dust so if they are not cleaned regularly they can become clogged, collect moisture and may even become mouldy. A portable air con unit uses both a fan and a compressor to cool the air, and that's a noisy process, meaning you're likely to have to turn the TV up quite a few notches if you have one running in a living space. And, if you're a light sleeper, then you may struggle to sleep whilst the air con unit is running.The LED display functions, buttons and remote control make it very simple to use and alternate between the different modes it has; a cool mode, dehumidifier, fan, and heat. The remote control was also easy to use and great for those lazy sofa days. When it comes to cooling your home, the air conditioner you choose will come down to the size of the room needing to be cooled and how hot the space you're planning on cooling is (from factors such as computers and people). Air coolers use cold water or ice to cool the air, but air conditioners use cooling gas; both use fans to spread the air around the room.

We found the the best bet is to run the air con unit in a bedroom for a few hours before you want to go to sleep, and then turn it off once you turn in for the night. A powerful portable air conditioner that looks good, is easy to use, is relatively quiet in comparison to most, has WiFi connectivity, and – most importantly – can cool down a room fast, as long as you don't mind its slightly higher running costs. It also offers some good functionality, including air con, heater, and dehumidify functions that enable year-round use, plus a timer, 'night' mode, remote control, and WiFi connectivity. All PACs incorporate a compressor and one or more fans, so they’re never going to be totally silent. Some are quieter than others, however: you should find the minimum and/or maximum noise pressure levels listed in the manufacturer’s specification. Watch out for sleep modes, too. These power down the compressor and reduce the speed of any fans to make the PAC’s hum a little easier to sleep through. If you really struggle with the noise, though, think about cooling the room before you go to sleep, or try using a desktop or pedestal fan instead. WINDOW KITS INCLUDED: We have included two easy-to-install air conditioner window venting kits with our AC unit to fit either slide or hinged windows using the step by step instructions provided. Its space-saving design also ensures minimal intrusion.While this Midea Comfee won't manage larger rooms, it's decent for bedrooms and home offices that overheat in the summer. If you want a more thorough job, you could also pay a professional to service your machine. How long do air conditioners work?

You also get a lot of extras with the Pro Breeze 9000 BTU 4-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner considering its price tag, including a remote control, timer, 'night' settings, and WiFi connectivity. Although some reviewers mention its Smart features leave a little to be desired. In terms of cooling powers this is one of the most powerful portable air con units we've tested, but, that power does comes at a price, with the AEG Comfort 6000 using 3400W of energy compared to the MeacoCool MC Series 7000BTU units 780W. It means running costs for the AEG are higher – as is the initial outlay compared to the Meaco – but, our reviewer did find they didn't need this unit running for as long to cool down a space.

What size air conditioner do I need?

In our testing, it reduced a medium-sized room from 25C to 21C in about 90 minutes, which isn't bad, but also isn't as fast as some of the other options on this list. User-Friendly Considerate Design】A 24-hour timer of the ac unit portable allows you to set the auto on and off time. Prepare a cool room before you arrive home or help you save energy when it gets cool enough late at night. Have a nap during the daytime or sleep soundly at night under sleep mode when the LED light is dimmed, and noise is reduced. However, they can last a long time. Good quality, well-looked-after units are able to last for five to 10 years. Bose, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony and more all scrambled to launch their own versions, all while Apple was working on the AirPods Pro. Wireless headphones may not quite have as strong eco credentials of number 2 and 3 on our list (see p33), but on grounds of innovation and sheer quality, our staff vote makes them the number one product of 2020.