Every heatwave, people ask us whether a portable air conditioner will do the job. Sometimes the honest answer is yes. Here is how the two compare.
How each one works
A portable unit sits on the floor with the whole system inside it, compressor included. It pushes the heat it removes out through a wide hose that goes through a window.
A fitted split system has a slim indoor unit on the wall and a separate outdoor unit outside. The two are connected by a small pipe through the wall, so the heat and the noisy compressor stay outside.
Side by side
| Portable unit | Fitted split system | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | A few hundred pounds | From £1,495 fitted |
| Noise in the room | Loud, because the compressor is in the room | Very quiet, because the compressor is outside |
| Cooling power | Struggles in larger or sunny rooms | Sized to cool the room properly |
| Running cost | Higher for the cooling you get | Lower, thanks to inverter technology |
| Heating | Usually no | Yes, efficiently |
| Window | Must stay open for the hose | Can stay shut and locked |
| Floor space | Takes up floor space | Mounted high on the wall |
The hidden problem with portable units
Most portable units have a single hose. They blow warm air out of the window, which draws the same amount of air back into the room through gaps around doors and windows. On a hot day, that replacement air is warm, so the unit is partly fighting itself. The window also has to stay open for the hose, which lets more heat in and is a security concern overnight.
When a portable unit makes sense
- You rent and cannot make changes to the property.
- You only need cooling for a few days a year.
- You need something today, during a heatwave, before a system can be fitted.
When fitted air conditioning is the better buy
- You want to sleep or work in the room comfortably.
- The room gets hot for weeks each summer, such as a loft, top-floor flat or south-facing room.
- You would also like efficient heating in spring, autumn and winter.
- You plan to stay in the property for a few years.
Fitted systems start from £1,495 supplied and fitted, with no VAT to add. See our cost guide or book a free survey for a fixed price.