Is it worth getting air conditioning units for bedrooms?

[CoffeeLover87]

Hi all,
Is anyone else finding the summers just get hotter every year? I am not a big fan of heat anything above 28 degrees it’s become unbearable for me. We’re seriously thinking about installing air conditioning units in our bedrooms – the kind that do both hot and cold, so they’re useful year-round. Has anyone gone down this route? Are they worth the cost to install and run?

Thanks in Advance ! 😊

---

If you've landed here looking for bedroom air con recommendations, take a look at our guide to the best air conditioners for bedrooms, all handpicked by Mumsnet editors. We hope it's helpful!

MNHQ

I think a good fan (Meaco) and a ceiling fan are a good compromise but nothing beats air con.

You will not regret it - we had two units installed last month front room and master bedroom cost £3,400 SE/Greater London. 2 of our neighbours saw us getting it done and took their details and are now getting theirs done!

They are very quiet inside and outside, there was no mess at all, no redecoration needed. The cabling/trunking outside is really neat. Ours are Fujitsu and do hot and cold. Hardly noticed any difference in electric bill. The outside units are on the ground as I don’t particularly like them half way up the house but if you are terraced or going up 3 levels you’d possibly need it on the house. Pics attached.

Global warming isn’t political! It’s science!

We use air con on holiday in hot countries and it really dries my skin. Lips get dry. I’m not sure it’s healthy overall when compared to a decent fan.

We have just had one fitted in the dormer room in our bungalow and it’s fab. We intend to have more fitted but did the hottest room first.

I dislike air-conditioning, but if you struggle with heat it's probably the best option. It's funny how there is so much emphasis on keeping heat in when new homes are built, I wonder if in time that will change.

We had these fitted at work and they are definitely worth the money if you have it. A game changer in a nursery room with lots of otherwise over heating toddlers!

I personally can't afford one for home but would definitely consider it if I could.

Yes! 100000% worth it. We’ve had ours a couple of years now. We have a split system the units do hot and cold and dehumidifier. We use them all year around the heat setting is perfect for those months going from autumn to winter to take the cold edge off and the cold is just glorious. Honestly don’t hesitate you will not regret it in the slightest.

We have proper AC fitted in the house and it is my smuggest, best purchase ever. DH works from home and I suffer from dysautonomia which affects my heat regulation. The AC is amazing. It cost about £1200 to install in 2021, took one day, no mess. Costs about £6 a day if it’s on all day. Admittedly we don’t use it for heating but it has that function too.

We had air-conditioning in my old house and it was so lovely!! Also could heat in the winter.

Definitely worth the money and we're looking to move again so I'll be ringfencing some money to have it installed in the new house!

There’s always one 🤦‍♀️

What company did you use? I’m in the same area

A fan is absolutely no comparison. Have had Aircon for two years and haven't felt dried out yet!

Do you have a dehumidifier? Our Meaco one does air conditioning too and is super quiet on nighttime mode.

@SendBooksAndTea The big cost for home owners is the cost of heating a house. So it’s in the homeowner’s interests to conserve heat. Fuel is a resource in short supply. We cool houses down far less frequently. A well insulated house stays relatively cool anyway. Fans are more efficient.

I'm in Melbourne and cool the house in stages by:

1. Curtains
2. Opening windows and doors (fly-screened)
3. Ceiling fans (with winter and summer settings)
4. Only when it's really hot and these don't work do I put the air con on.

I do use it more in the bedroom though as the roof is steel and gets very hot indeed.
I should say my house is old-school design with deep eaves so can be cooled passively quite a bit of the time.

So many of the new ones are hermetically sealed so go straight to aircon for cooling. Not good.

@echt Well insulated doesn’t mean sealed. It means breathable but obviously windows should open and fans can move the air. In the uk the odd heatwave should not need air con.

How have you found your portable one?

I meant Aussie new buildings, not UK. And so many do not have windows that open.

@echt Windows that don’t open! In high rise maybe but in houses/bungalows?

Any recommendations on installers?

I was all geared up to get aircon and then coincidentally we removed some excess insulation in our loft and it really did help. We’re in a new build and it can be common for them to have way too much. Could that be useful for you?
Also it’s not very aesthetic but keep blind and curtains closed on hot days and then when sun starts going down we open windows wide and let the breeze go through the house. With these techniques it’s been much better

Would love fitted aircon but no way we can afford 😣 so interested in the portable units. Anyone have a good one that works well? Am aware they have hose part that has to run out of a window…. Can this be upstairs? Our attic bedroom is easily hitting 35 degrees at the moment (london) and not cooling down much even when we open windows after sunset! Sleep is impossible!

But you clearly don't want to conserve the heat in the summer do you. And I can assure a well insulated house keeps the heat in, great for winter not for summer.

I had one before Aircon. A delonghi penguino I think. It was good. But heavy and not quiet. Hose out the window was annoying.

Yes they can be upstairs. I had one but the hose wasn't long enough to reach the window, so I had to balance it precariously on a stool and is was unbelievably heavy to pick up. I just shoved the hose out of the window but I didn't do a proper job and get one of those window fittings, so it wasn't as effective.