Will portable air conditioning become more common in UK homes?

[zowsoph]

I'm in Scotland where it hasn't been as hot as down south but I have still been struggling. I'm currently making the case for getting some kind of portable air conditioner for next year as its been horrible this summer just constantly hot and sweaty and not sleeping. My sympathies to anyone down south struggling in even hotter temps.

Do you think there will be an aircon boom in Europe and the UK over the next few years? Our homes up hear and designed to combat the cold and damp but they seem to both absorb and hold the heat inside. I know they say that isn't the case even following all the guidance on keeping the indoors cool it is just unbearable!

I'm in Scotland I I think we will get it soon too, it's just bene too hot, anything above 21 or 22 is just murder.

We have had AC installed this summer in all our upstairs bedrooms. We also have solar panels on the roof which keep the running costs down.
I don’t like it. If we have it on overnight, I wake up with dry lips, eyes and mouth. So now I have to have a little hydration routine every night before bed. But it helps my husband and children sleep so I prefer having AC to listening to them moan about how they can’t sleep.

I’m in Scotland too and I’ve had my heating on some days in July. The last few days have been nice.

Where about are you? If it's that cool I need to move there!

Yes, even people on benefits have been buying portable air con, then coming into where I work for energy vouchers to keep it going.

Bought mine in January 2021. Best thing I ever bought.
However until now it's been used for a few days a year at most.
My house is cold in winter and cool in summer except for the upstairs as it's a barn conversion with dormers. I'm now planning to get some permanent fitted in my attic bedroom.
I much prefer ceiling fans for sleeping. Unfortunately my bedroom ceiling is too low and it would decapitate someone.

We bought one this year - we live in the South East. Best decision ever. I would definitely consider installing it in our home too…

I looked into getting a portable one in June but they were sold out everywhere so will look in the winter.

Can you move them from room to room? Was wondering if we could have it running at the front of the sword house in the morning then move to the back in the afternoon. I read somewhere they have to settle after you buy them so not sure if my plan is feasible.

Pretty much same as other posters- we have a portable AC unit, wanted a second one but they’re all out of stock, also discussions on getting proper A/C installed although that depends on finances of course 😬

The window cover I made for mine. It's not pretty but it fully seals the window and can be moved to a left or right handed window.

I’m in Scotland and we bought one last summer for the dog and it’s been out most of this summer either in air con or fan mode, in the winter I’m planning on using the dehumidifier mode for helping get washing dry as we will have a spare room!

We’re in a conservation area and quite a few people have them. Some have basement dig outs or a side passage so they are hidden there but others have put them on their kitchen extension roof. Quite annoying actually as I can hear them at night!

We don’t have an ac unit. We have one fan and DD2 gets it. Seriously thinking about built in split ac though but sounds like I will need to join the queue !

I have family in US, they have ceiling fans and they’re handy but they still need AC. When it’s 40c+ indoors I find it very hard to believe fans are enough

are you aware of how hot some London flats can get indoors during heatwaves? What about vulnerable people, I don’t think it should be seen as a luxury when medically necessary

I’m not an AC expert but I’m sure there ar more efficient ways to run it too eg solar powered, heat pumps

Fair enough you don’t think people like me are entitled to use AC… but pretty sure a flight to Spain creates more emissions than efficient AC

It's about £1k per room and vat exempt

I am an idiot for not buying them earlier. It's 35 C in my house. Didn't anticipate this

Is Meaco good? will only deliver in October. By which time I may have melted.

My dog was very unwell last summer and I managed to get a DeLonghi portable air con unit from Very when nearly everywhere else was out of stock. It was £800 but it's a godsend... manages to cool our living room and into the hallway. We've slept downstairs with the dogs for weeks now! But I hate leaving a window open and it obviously lets an amount of hot air back into the room. We've booked an electrician to fit ones with outside compressors when he can get stock.

We caved and bought a mobile one rated 1200 whatevers... it cools the whole of upstairs, (2 bed + box room) which is great as it means we can put it in box room overnight with all the bedroom doors open so it is quiet enough to sleep.
Looking to get a fitted unit upstairs and will have mobile or split unit fitted downstairs.

I have one in my bedroom and have slept coolly every night. With my kids on the floor! Thinking about buying more or getting installed but probs can’t afford that

You’re meant to seal the open bit of the window up so the heat doesn’t come back in. Get a kit from Amazon

The window kit that came with my portable AC unit (good brand) melted in the heat…

Hopefully the photo will attach. Just a couple of years ago, this guy was pitching his residents air con business to Alan Sugar. I bet he is inundated with work now.

We've had air con installed one of the best decisions we've ever made

If you're thinking of getting installed do it sooner rather then later. Currently no vat to pay i think until march

We’re getting built in AC in our new house.

^ Yup. I’m on waiting list too. Might wait and see how next summer goes.