Air conditioning units

[urgen]

Can anyone recommend a air conditioning unit on wheels. Do they need to just have a hose out the window. Won’t the warm air come in via the window?

Budget no more than £600 ish.

We are both rubbish at DIY so it should be plug in and go and how much does it cost an hour. Needs to cool a room approx 18 x 13 feet.

I know we won’t be able to get one in the next few weeks btw! Planning for next year!

Many thanks.

I can’t help with recommending a unit (I’m just starting to look into it myself) but for the window you need a window fixture. Some of the portable units come with them, some don’t. It’s basically cloth that covers the gap between window and frame. It has a zip that you pull so the only gap is where the hose goes. It reduces the heat that comes in and stops most of the cold air going out.

We got this one from the range as it was the only one I could find in stock!

www.therange.co.uk/diy/air-treatment/fans-and-air-conditioning/7000-btu-air-conditioner-portable-ac-unit-for-dehumidifying/?position=4&s=3432377#3432377

It comes with the fittings for the window as well. It's very heavy but does have wheels. Managed to get the bedroom down from 30 to 21 within an hour. It's noisy though so I couldn't sleep with it on.

Have only used it this week so I'm not sure about the cost but in this heat I don't mind at the moment!

we have the Vida 5000 btu model...paid £160 last year....we keep chinchillas and the heat knocks them out....it works well...says its only 600 watts so cheap to run....dont use it much...an hour in the day only for them...they are all generic these units...sold under different names for higher prices...look at Ebuyer site...you can get higher btu rated units which cost more to run....it comes with the window kit and hose....its excelent for the price and quiet also...dont spend 500 or more on same item...they just change the badge and box ....they all the same inside...

That's a big budget for a portable. Just get the biggest capacity one you can. They are all pretty much the same and work the same with a hose out the window. Go for a proper wall mounted mini split system if you can afford it, they are 1000% better

I completely agree. I’m only looking at a portable because I’m in a flat where I can’t install anything on an external wall.

yes split systems are better...i used to work for toshiba...but some units are over 3kw...that is a lot of electric...once prices hit 50p a unit next year...thats over £1.50 an hour to run it....plus the vat...!!...we are on a cheap long term fix and then getting our solar panels so next year will use ours more often but its economical unit....the window box units are very efficient but also high consumption but you need to use them less time.

to add...ditch the cheap hose they come with and replace with a better aluminium one...about 9 quid on ebay or screwfix etc.

We bought a cheapish one off Amazon, a Signature S40014, 7,000BTU for £275, it was one of the few that could be delivered next day, I didn't want a very large one as the room isn't that big, I think all the cheaper ones are probably similar. We just put the hose out of the window, it's a normal casement window and I just put the curtain in front of it, seem to be ok, we get the room down to about 22 but it is noisy so at bedtime it goes off and the Dyson fan goes on, room then raises to about 24 later in the night but we find it ok, it's much better than the plus 30 it was.

I will probably look at window fixings for next year as it may make it more efficient but I didn't really have time now as heatwave was upon us so couldn't research in time. I'm hoping that by Tuesday it can be stored away until next year, 🤞

I also noticed on the safety info that you have to store them in a room of 10 square metres, though size will vary with brand. I had planned on storing mine in the box room but it it very small and also the gas boiler is in there which is another no, so I will put it in the spare bedroom which is a bit of a pain as it will spend much longer in storage than in use. Another point to consider if you are tight for space.

Just see you have a fairly large room, so a small cheaper one won't be so hood for you, The 2 AEG chillflex ones at John Lewis are Which Best Buys, out of stock at the moment, I am considering one for downstairs next year when they come back in stock as the room is bigger.