Cooling aside, this is a surprisingly powerful fan for its size. Just 15cm away from the front grille, I measured a wind speed of 5.2 metres per second (m/s) on the lowest setting. This rose to 6.6m/s on medium, and a very punchy 7.7m/s at full – that’s equivalent to 17 miles per hour. You can't beat actual air conditioning when it comes to cooling a room and the people in it. But if you live in the UK or Northern Europe, the climate isn't really warm enough to justify the expense of getting a full domestic aircon system installed. That's why we're looking at the best portable aircon systems rather than permanent installations: they're great at delivering super-cool air when you need it, and they're small enough to park in a cupboard when you don't. This is a very powerful air conditioner, and if you leave it on for long enough it can make even large rooms feel very cold – but the heat hose can get awfully warm, so you want to make sure it's going out of the window so it doesn't undo the Chillflex's hard work. The quoted 64dB is fairly average for air conditioners, and sleep mode takes it down to just 52db.

If you’re likely to use the air conditioning unit whilst you’re asleep, it’s worth looking for one with an operating noise level of 60db or under. How much should I spend on an air conditioning unit?This air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 3.5 kW is very economical in consumption and labeled with the energy label A. In addition, you will certainly not be bothered by the noise of this Princess Air Conditioner because it only has a noise level of 65 db. This powerhouse with a power of 1346 watts is suitable for a range of 100 m3 and easily cools your living-, work- or bedroom. Meaco is a UK company that produces a wide range of air cooling, purification and dehumidifying products so it knows a thing or two about moving air and doing things to that air in the process. This new 14,000 BTU model is ideal for rooms between 25 and 35m² and features three fan speeds and a low temperature setting of 16ºC, which is the norm for the majority of portable air con units and indeed most cars. The AEG Chillflex Pro is a great choice if you want maximum cooling with minimum hassle. It comes with a 1.5m exhaust hose, 63cm drainage hose and a remote control, and with 12,000 BTU/h it's capable of cooling large rooms without too much effort. It's one of the heavier air conditioners you can buy, although it's on wheels so it's easy enough to roll about, and you'll need to get a window kit separately as AEG doesn't include one with the product. There's a programmable timer and a sleep mode function to reduce the noise at night, and the refrigerant is R290 which has a lower environmental impact than the more commonly used R41A.

The type of air conditioner you buy depends on the size of the room you want to cool. Anything below 8,000 is likely only going to cool a small/personal space, whereas 9 -12,000 BTU’s can usually cool up to 25 square metres. This modern and minimalist designed device has a hidden display. This means that you cannot see the display when the device is not in use. This results in a stylish and sleek appearance. A (cloth) window sealing kit is included with this Princess air conditioner and the smart device also has a water tank indication. This way you can see exactly when the water tank is full and needs to be emptied. The good news is that retailers seem to have realised that demand for portable air con is rising and are responding with more supply and more choice. That's good because when you can't find a portable air conditioner, you're forced to resort to less effective options, such as trying to find the best fan– another product category that sells out fast in good weather –so at least the air is moving, even if it stays warm. As is the case with every portable air con unit we’ve seen, it comes with a concertina tube to the expel the hot air it creates and, in this case, a special window kit designed ostensibly for sliding windows or doors. It also comes with a remote control. These dandy chill blasters are really effective at cooling the air in a room, in most instances for less than the price of a Dyson fan. All you have to do is work out the size of the room you want to cool and select an AC unit with a suitable output, measured in British Thermal Units (or BTUs). A BTU is a unit for estimating thermal heat and it’s an important little acronym when it comes to selecting the right air conditioner for your abode. For instance, an air-con with 10,000 BTUs is good for a room of around 41m² while a 5,000BTU model is suitable for a room of about 14m². Hence, it’s pretty important to know your room’s measurements or the unit could underperform.

Search for precise phrases

Energy use and environmental impact are also worth considering. While modern AC units no longer use ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), they do sap a lot more power from the grid than a humble fan and that means slightly higher leccy bills and hence more pressure on the environment. To use, simply select a preferred temperature (from 16ºC upwards), select either your 'Speed', and before long the room’s temperature and humidity will drop to much more comfortable levels. When the room eventually reaches the preset temperature, the machine will switch off and then switch on again as soon as the internal temperature rises. This gutsy 12,000 BTU unit has an air flow of 380m³/hour so it’s good for rooms up to 100 m³. It even has a dehumidifying function. Given that it’s 25˚C outside right now, I hastily got it out of its box (which lifts off to expose the unit underneath) and wheeled it into the lounge where I conveniently have a wood burner to position it in front of, obviously with the burner’s door open. If you don’t have a fireplace to hand, the product ships with a 1.5m concertina hose to port the warm exhaust air either through a hole in the wall or a partly opened door. Alternatively, you can use the supplied universal window kit to seal the area around the hose outlet but this always looks a bit Heath Robinson-esque to my mind.

This elegant Princess 353200 Smart Air Conditioner 12000 has a hidden display with touchscreen that is only visible when the device is in use. This smart air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU is not only easily operated with the control panel and remote control, but also via the HomeWizard Climate app and voice control. However, it’s very important to note that that’s much less you’ll spend to run an air conditioner. A powerful modern example might consume around 1,100W when working hard, costing around 33p an hour on the same 30p/kWh tariff.And whilst the UK isn't exactly the renowned hub for sunny weather - it's not a bad thing to be prepared for the warmer weather. For customers who suffer with night sweats, an air conditioner with adjustable cool settings could be a nice touch for a more comfortable night's rest.

You can easily operate the air conditioner via the HomeWizard Climate app, which is available for Android and iOS and also works with Google Assistant and Siri. You can control this Princess air conditioner from anywhere within your living area and when you are not at home. You only have to connect the air conditioning to your Wi-Fi network and then you can be sure that you will come home to a fresh home in the hot summer. Like other evaporative coolers, the Princess Smart Air Cooler sits mid-way between a fan and an air conditioner. It uses evaporating water to cool the airstream a little, making it more effective than just a fan on a hot summer’s day. It’s also got a powerful fan, and has basic smart features that add to its appeal. Design & Features

Best portable air conditioners to buy

The higher the BTU the more expensive it gets, but remember lower BTU products are only going to be suitable for cooling smaller spaces. Do I need to drain a portable air conditioner? This elegant Princess 353200 Smart Air Conditioner 12000 has a hidden display with touchscreen that is only visible when the device is in use. This smart air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU is not only easily operated with the control panel and remote control, but also via the HomeWizard Climate app and voice control. This air conditioner can be operated via the HomeWizard Climate app. This app is available for Android and iOS and works with Google Assistant and Siri. This way you can control this Princess air conditioner from anywhere within your living area and when you are not at home. You only have to connect the air conditioning to your Wi-Fi network and then you can be sure that you will come home to a fresh home in the hot summer. No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information. The listed offers do not constitute legally binding advertising claims of the merchants. This isn’t a noisy fan, but at higher speeds its whine is a little intrusive. I measured a minimum sound volume of 27.2dB, from a metre to the side with the fan at its lowest. My highest measurement was 67.7dB, taken from 15cm in front of the grille on medium power. Do you also long for cooling and more comfort on hot summer days? Then this elegant Princess 352900 Smart Air Conditioner 9000 is exactly what you’re looking for. The smart air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 9000 BTU is not only easily operated with the control panel and remote control, but also via the HomeWizard Climate app and voice control. On top of that, it has a hidden display with touchscreen that is only visible when the device is in use.