AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner: our verdict
While getting air conditioning installed is growing in popularity in the UK thanks to a few years on the trot of 40°C+ heatwaves, a portable air con unit is a more flexible and affordable option you can wheel out when temperatures rise, and put in the cupboard or garage when not needed.
This model from AEG is one of the most highly recommended portable air conditioners in the Mumsnet Talk forums, and for good reason. It cools a room quickly and effectively, much more so than even the best quiet fan you might have in your bedroom for warm summer nights.
Unfortunately, Tamsin found the air conditioner too noisy to have on while she slept. However, its talents at pre-cooling the room - as well as an app that allows you to turn it on and set timers remotely - means you can turn your bedroom into a cool oasis in advance, turning off the unit when it's time to sleep.
The air conditioner takes a bit of time to set up, and it's very heavy at 33kg. However, once this task is complete, it's ready to cool your room to the perfect temperature, ending any sweaty, sleepless summer nights.
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What's the AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner like to set up and start using?
Setting up the air conditioner is quite involved, and it's a heavy unit - the word 'portable' refers to the fact that the unit isn't permanently installed, rather than it being easy to move around. Tamsin needed to enlist the help of her husband to get the air conditioner up the stairs and into position in their room.
The air conditioner has wheels, so once it's in the room it's easy to swivel around and find the perfect spot. There are window kits available to fit different types of window frame (available from Amazon or AEG) which make the air conditioner more efficient, effective and save energy. Tamsin found the window kit and tube quite fiddly to set up, but thankfully you'll only need to do this once, as the tube can be tucked away when not in use.
Once it's ready to go, there are plenty of features, with a straightforward and clearly laid out control panel. Choose from auto, cool, dry (AKA dehumidifier mode) and fan modes, set timers and switch to sleep mode - plus there's a child lock option to keep little fingers from changing the settings.
With the AEG app you can use your smartphone as a remote control, which is most useful for turning the air con on in advance of going to bed. It can take a few tries to connect to WiFi, but once you're paired it's an intuitive and easy to use app.
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