Pifco P40014 Portable 3-In-1 Air Cooler, Fan and Humidifier with 7 Hour Timer, Oscillation Function, 3 Mode Settings Normal, Natural and Sleep, 3 Wind Speed Settings, Remote Control Included, White

Product Information

A portable air con unit uses both a fan and a compressor to cool the air, and that's a noisy process, meaning you're likely to have to turn the TV up quite a few notches if you have one running in a living space. It felt a little underpowered compared to the AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner, and, although its 1000W energy consumption is a lot less than the 3400W AEG comfort – making for cheaper running costs– it couldn't beat the best-in-class 780W MeacoCool MC Series 7000W Portable Air Conditioner on that front either. There are three fan speeds (Low / Medium / High), three air flow modes (Normal / Natural / Sleep) and also an oscillation mode for more effective cold air distribution.

We tested several portable air conditoners where the noise they emitted resembled the sound of a train engine chugging – a noisy, mechanical whirring noise that chopped and changed and soon drove us to distraction, making us want to switch off the unit off as soon as we possibly could. It’s also much quieter than rivals, and you can power it from a USB socket or a 5V, 2A USB power bank. They can’t refrigerate the air like an air conditioner, but they can reduce the heat through a combination of airflow and evaporation, effectively using some of the thermal energy in the air to evaporate water, so lowering its temperature before it’s driven out through a fan.Air purifiers are a useful device which removes any air contaminants or allergens from the air in a room to improve indoor air quality. This quick list is an overview of the very best portable air conditioners available, according to our experts.

Very often an air con unit will come with additional functionality, usually a fan setting and dehumidifier function. If you're spending this much on an appliance – and one that's going to take up a good deal of storage space in the home – then you might want it to do more than just cool. However, when temperatures inside the home really soar, even the best fan may not be able to cut it, and instead a portable air con unit will offer far superior cooling powers.

metres per second – and the combination of the water-logged membrane and a pair of ice packs in the tanks gives that breeze a little extra chill.

Portability - The Pifco P40014 is easy to move around thanks to a large handle and easy-glide castor wheels. Check that your preferred unit comes with built-in wheels to help you manouevre it within the home, but bear in mind that if you want to carry a unit up and down the stairs then you're probably going to need two people to do that safely. Its only significant drawbacks are that it’s awkward to remove the water tank and filter block for cleaning and that it puts out around 60dBA of noise at its highest speed. If you know you'll struggle with a cooling device of that weight, an air cooler could be a lighter option, although it won't deliver the same cold air that an air conditioner can. It's a compact and portable appliance which serves areas up to 30 square metres, making it suitable for use around the house, conservatories, caravans, etc.Controls - The on-board buttons are soft touch and have LED indicators to show which functions are active. More expensive portable air conditioners sometimes also feature a heater function that means you're more likely to be able to get year-round use out of your investment. Air purifiers help protect the health of your employees, family and loved ones, by improving the quality of the air at home or office. Head over to our blog, we have some great tips and guides, such as our home office ergonomics guide. The higher the BTU the larger the space that the air con unit will be able to cool and the quicker it will do so.