If you’re thinking about getting climate control and are investigating your options, you might have come across portable air conditioning units. A portable air conditioner could be a good way for you to cool your home or business. But it’s important to do your research first.

Here’s everything you need to know about portable air conditioning and whether you should get one.

What’s a portable air conditioner?

Portable air conditioners are also known as standalone air conditioners. They’re air conditioning units that stand on the floor and plug into the mains with a standard socket. You can move them round your property as and when you want to – although most have a hose you need to feed out of a window or door.

This makes them different to split system air conditioning units and central air conditioning systems. Split system units include wall, ceiling and floor mounted units that have to be installed in your property, and link to an outside unit. Central air conditioning systems use one internal unit and a series of ducting and vents to distribute air around your home – these also have to be installed.

Should I get a portable air conditioning unit?

There’s a wide range of portable air conditioning units available, so they’re not hard to get hold of. They’re a popular choice but generally aren’t the best way to heat and cool a room or property.

Here’s a list of their pros and cons to help you make your own mind up.

Portable air conditioner pros

Cheap
Lots of people choose to get a portable air conditioner because they’re relatively cheap. Prices for standalone air conditioners start at about £200, whereas split system units are available from around £1,500.

portable air conditioner standing next to a windowMobile
Portable units are also popular because they’re mobile. This is great if you want to cool different rooms at different times. Bear in mind that in all these places you’ll probably need access to a window or door to feed the pipe through.

Easy to DIY
Portable air conditioning units are great if you want a climate control solution that’s easy to sort out yourself. You won’t need to pay a professional to help you set up a portable unit – just make sure the one you buy is light enough for you to move.

Portable air conditioning unit cons

Inefficient & expensive
A downside to portable air conditioners is that they’re nowhere near as efficient as split system ones. They’re prone to getting hot and leaking warm air back into the room, so can’t always make a space as cool as you want it to be. Plus, the less efficient a unit is the more it costs to run.

Noisy
Another disadvantage to portable air conditioning units is that they can be quite noisy. This isn’t ideal if you’re trying to cool down an office where you need a quiet working environment, or a bedroom. You might find that it’s worth paying a bit more for a split system if it creates the environment you need.

Security risk
As most portable air conditioners come with a hose that needs to lead outside, they can be a fairly significant security risk. This is because you’ll need to leave a window or door open so there’s enough room for the hose to fit through. Depending on your location and the time you use it, you might find this makes your property unsafe.

So, a portable air conditioning unit could be a good choice for you if you want to cool a room temporarily. Or it could be ideal if you want a climate control solution with a low initial cost.

But if you’re looking for an efficient, long-term air conditioning solution, a split system might be better for you.

If you’d like further advice on the best air conditioning for you and free quotes, just fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch.