1. British Thermal Unit (BTU)
Let’s talk room size
On most listings you will notice the phrase “BTU” this is the measurement of how much heat the unit can remove from a room per hour. Therefore this will determine the size of the unit you need. The higher the BTU the higher the price so taking the time to do the math on this can help your budget.
As a guide 9000 BTU will be sufficient for a room that is 20m2. My tip would be to use this formula on the largest room you want to use the unit then you know you’ve got all the smaller rooms covered for cooling!
Below is some examples of what you will see on the listings…
2. Make sure it has a tube!
don’t be scammed!
There are so many listings claiming to be “air conditioning” when they are not, they are simply fans or air coolers. If it comes with a hose that needs to be places out of the window then it is a proper air conditioning unit. The hose is what pushes all the hot air out of the room so it can cool.
When it comes to the hose a lot of you asked how it worked as my window is open. Well it’s powerful and professional so even though my window is open, I promise you it’s doing its job and cooling the room.
Sometimes the hose you get is a bit short but you can buy longer ones. We got our longer hose from Amazon. I have linked the best selling hose below. I have also linked mine and Jacobs unit to aid your research.
3m Portable Air Conditioner Venting Duct Hose Extension kit
Inventor Portable Air Conditioning Unit Chilly
3. Added extras
What else does it have to offer?
There’s many extras these units can offer and these will heighten the value for money and help you make that final decision. Here’s some examples of extras that are great:
1. Wheels
Wheels are a must for it to be portable. You don’t want to be carrying it from room to room, they are a little heavy.
2. Digital display & remote control
These are just more convenient. The digital display makes it easier to see the temperature and also which mode your on.
3. Dehumidifer mode
This is my favourite extra. It isn’t uncommon for portable air con units to have a dehumidifier mode. This will make your unit much better value for money as it means it’s no longer a summer seasonal product. You can be drying your clothes with it in the winter too! Fan mode is also a great extra for the days that are not as hot and all you need is a fan.
Need more cooling ideas?
Visit our keep cool Amazon faves.
