Multiply the dimensions (in feet) of the room by five. So for a room measuring 15ft x 10ft x 8ft, you would calculate 15 x 10 x 8 x 5 = an air conditioner of 6,000 BTUs. Choose a suitable model for the size of the room Those with a lower BTU in a large space will have to work harder to cool it, which is going to use more electricity. Our data shows that they use as much energy in an hour as a typical fridge freezer uses in one day.

This reduces noise by running the compressor and fan more slowly. Often, the target temperature will increase automatically across the night so you don't wake up freezing cold. But no air conditioner is completely silent, even on sleep mode. In fact, you're better off pre-cooling your room before you go to bed, rather than attempting to sleep with one running. Timer Electric fans come in many shapes and sizes. They range from basic models right up to the expensive and multi-functional Dyson Hot + Cool, which doubles as an electric heater. Yes, there are lots of companies that offer this. Trying a portable model before you buy could save you from making a costly mistake. For instance, you may not realise how much noise they can make. At their quietest, they sound like a fridge on its cooling cycle, and some models will also rattle and gurgle. While having a presence in Europe – mainly in central and Eastern Europe – Sharp only ever flirted with the UK market. Chillaire Limited acquired these systems through one of the Sharp appointed national distributors Climate Equipment based in Solihull.Split-unit air conditioners tend to be more energy efficient, but these are more expensive and have to be permanently installed by a professional. We don't test split-unit air conditioners as they're less popular in the UK. If left in landfill, they can release the refrigerant into the environment. Some models contain HFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases. They are generally heavy, unwieldy appliances. If you have reduced strength and/or live alone, you might need to get someone to help you set it up.

All of the air conditioners in the table below have been put through our rigorous tests, so you can be sure they’re effective at cooling, easy to use and energy efficient. Portable air conditioners also use refrigerant gas to help cool your room. This can come in the form HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), a greenhouse gas that when emitted can contribute to global warming. If yours is working properly, it shouldn’t release any HFCs. However, if the unit leaks or is disposed of incorrectly, that’s when harmful greenhouse gases can be released. Also known as fixed air conditioners, these are comprised of two parts: a condensing unit (mounted outside) and an evaporator (mounted inside). Both parts need to be connected, so installation is far more complex compared with a portable model. The Sharp Air Conditioner has a power-saving design that reduces power consumption by up to 20%. The air conditioner has features like Auto Restart, which automatically restarts the machine if there is a power outage, and Sleep Mode, which gradually lowers the temperature in your room at night so you can sleep more comfortably.There are three main types. Desk fans, as their name suggests, are smaller fans designed to sit on a desk or table and cool you while you sit close by, while pedestal and tower fans are designed for a whole room.

Find out which retailers are rated highly by Which? members with our guide on the best and worst shops. Can you hire or rent an air conditioner? Sharp apart from specialising in residential air conditioning systems, also distributed a wide range of commercial type of portable units, split type systems and multi split type systems. With some air conditioner/dehumidifiers, you'll need to connect a hose (which might not be supplied) to drain the water. With others, you'll need to set the machine up as you would in air conditioning mode, with the hose out of the open window. Due to condensation, water droplets are collected, so you'll need to manually remove the water from the tank every so often and clean the filter at the same time.

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Keep an eye out for any refrigerant leaks If yours is blowing out warm air or is noisier than usual, this could indicate that it has a refrigerant leak. However, if you do decide to use a portable air conditioner, there are things you can do to make it more efficient: Before you get a portable unit, there are some more sustainable options to cool your home that you can try beforehand, such as using an electric fan or closing curtains. In theory, the higher the claimed BTU, the more efficiently it can cool a room. As a general rule, 5,000 to 8,000 BTUs is adequate for most living rooms or bedrooms. Use this calculation to work out what BTU is right for you: The UK is aiming to phase down the use of HFCs by 2030 by 79% for alternatives that have less of a global warming impact such as R290. You’ll find these are used more in the latest portable air conditioner models, but older machines may still use an HFC refrigerant.

Portable models extract hot air from your home and push it outside through the attached hose. A reliable model will cool the room you're in, but don't expect it to push cold air down the hallway or into another room.All of the models we've tested are heavy (up to 30kg) and awkward to lift out of the box. If you live alone, we suggest you get someone to help you set it up, particularly if you're pregnant or elderly. We've tested portable air conditioners from a range of popular brands, including AEG, Argos own-brand Challenge, DeLonghi and ElectriQ. Having a range of fan speeds is useful, as it affects the rate at which your room cools down (and the noise the air conditioner makes). Most models have three fan speeds and some also have a fan-only mode, which has no cooling effect and simply circulates the air within the room. Need to be permanently mounted on an outside wall by a certified professional, so involves structural work to your home. They come in various shapes and sizes, but are often described in terms of their BTU (British thermal unit) output.