Air conditioning is now common in offices and shops, but how often do you wish you had air-conditioning in your home?

In the deep depths of winter, it can be hard to see yourself needing an air conditioner. But during the height of summer, a hot, stuffy house can be very uncomfortable. Cooling down your home will help you to get a better night's sleep when the outside temperature is high.

If you'd like to cool your home, but don't need something as powerful as an air conditioner, it's worth considering a good room fan or an air cooler. However, if you've got your heart set on air con, then read on – as this will help you to choose the best air conditioner for your home or office.

Which type of air conditioner should I buy?

There are two main types of air conditioner: single-unit models that are portable and need to be vented through a window or door, and split-unit models that are permanently fixed to a wall.

Please continue reading to see the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of unit, and also an example of the product on our site.

Single-unit air conditioners

Advantages:

  • A fairly cheap fix to cool your home
  • Easy to install
  • You vent hot air out through a hose, so you can move the unit from room to room

Disadvantages:

  • Venting the hose through an open window could pose a security risk
  • Portable air conditioners are not as effective at cooling as split-unit models – they get hot and 'leak' some heat back into the room
  • Some models can be heavy, so make sure your chosen unit isn’t too heavy for you to lift comfortably and that the hand-holds are easy to grip

Example of a Single – Unit Air Conditioner on our site: Mobile Air Conditioning Unit 12500 BTU 3.7kW KYR35-GW/X1c

 

Split-unit air conditioners

Advantages:

  • Ideal if you have one room that gets very hot.
  • A secure way of air conditioning your home – no need to leave windows open.
  • Quieter and more efficient than single units.
  • Usually more powerful than single units.

Disadvantages:

  • Tend to be more expensive than single units.
  • Need to be permanently mounted on an outside wall – installation is therefore more involved, and you may need to hire a professional.

Example of a Split – Unit Air Conditioner on our site: Split Air Conditioning Unit 5kW in Black Gloss KFR56-YW/X1c-M

 

What size air conditioner do I need?

Air conditioners come in various shapes and sizes, but are often described in terms of their BTU (British thermal unit) output. In theory, the higher the BTU rating, the more efficiently it can cool a room.

If a machine has a higher cooling capacity, it should cool quickly. But, as a general rule, 5,000 to 8,000 BTUs is adequate for most living rooms or bedrooms.

There's a calculation you can use to work out what BTU is right for you. As a rough guide, multiply the dimensions (in feet) of the room to be cooled by five. So for a 20 x 15 x 12-foot room: 20 x 15 x 12 x 5 = an air conditioner of 18,000 BTUs.

 

What extra features should I look out for?

  • Sleep or night modes reduce noise by running the compressor and fan more slowly.

 

  • Timer options allow you to set the machine to  automatically switch on and off - useful if you want to come home to a cool house or save energy by having the unit switch off once you’ve fallen asleep. Pick a model with a clock and 24-hour setting. Some come with only countdown or delay timers; these need to be reset daily.

 

  • Remote controls let you adjust settings without moving from your seat, Look for a machine with a dock to store the remote if you're prone to trolls hiding your things.

 

Example of unit with these features:

Split Air Conditioning Unit 7kW in White KFR63-IW/X1c-M

 

Will I be able to maintain it?

These important tasks will keep your air conditioner in good shape:

  • Remove bungs to drain water from portable units at the end of summer, before they are packed away for winter. If the summer has been particularly humid, you may need to drain the unit every few weeks. Water pipes are normally located at the bottom of the machine. Before you buy, check in store that you can bend down and unplug the water pipes easily, as sometimes bungs can be fiddly and difficult to grip.

 

  • Clean dust filters regularly on both portable and split models. Before buying, ask yourself whether you’ll be able to easily access these parts for cleaning

 

If you’d like to talk to us about Air Conditioning, please give one of our superbly informed team members a call on 01934 253600, drop me an email at sales@electricaldealsdirect.co.uk or have an online natter with us using our online chat via the website - https://electricaldealsdirect.co.uk/