As the UK rarely experiences extreme – and long – heat waves, installing air conditioning in your home isn’t practical or cost effective. However, if you would like to have the use of this kind of device when it does heat up, consider getting a portable model.
There are many advantages to portable air conditioners that can make them a worthwhile investment for your home – if you’re still not convinced, you can always hire one first and make a purchase at a later date.
Here are just a few reasons why portable models are preferable to fixed units in the UK.
1. You can put them where they’re needed
The most obvious advantage to a portable air conditioning unit is that it can be moved from room to room, allowing you to cool down whichever part of your home you require. Whether your kitchen becomes stifling when you’re cooking a meal or you need to reduce the temperature in the conservatory on a sunny day, a portable device will do the job.
They can also be manoeuvred into a position where they provide the best airflow for the entire room, which means they can target a seating area, for instance, rather than cooling a space that isn’t in use. Do remember, though, that you’ll still need to ensure your unit is located within reach of a socket and near a window or door, so the outlet pipe can effectively remove the hot air.
2. They’re cost effective
One of the reasons why portable air conditioners are more cost-effective than their fixed counterparts is that there are no associated installation charges, which can be substantial if you want more than one device in your home.
You can also choose a model that is suited to the size of the rooms you will need to cool most often, ensuring your unit does not have to work too hard to reduce the temperature. Many modern air conditioners have been designed to be as energy efficient as possible, so your electricity bill shouldn’t skyrocket just because you’ve started using one of these devices in your home.
3. You can maintain them easily
Most small, portable air conditioners will continue to perform well as long as you carry out some basic maintenance. To prevent the machine having to work overly hard to chill a room, check and clean the filters roughly every two weeks. The build up of dust in this part of the unit can make it more difficult for the air conditioner to cool a space effectively.
The other regular maintenance task you’ll need to do is emptying the internal water tank. As the majority of air conditioners dehumidify the air, there is usually a storage tank where the condensation removed from the room is collected. Make sure you know what capacity water tank your unit has and roughly how long you can run it for before it will need to be emptied.
4. They’re easy to store
You won’t need an air conditioner all year round in the UK, so you’ll need to store your unit once the summer ends. Choose a small portable model and you should have no difficulty in finding some cupboard space for it. All you need to do before you put it away for the winter is clean its filters and drain the water tank, ensuring you’ve removed all the moisture. Then you can simply tuck it away until you need it again the following year!
