Some models also feature built-in humidification, putting a little moisture back into a dry room, which can make it feel more comfortable (as long as it’s not hot and humid in there already). Unlike one of the best fans, which work by circulating the air to create a breeze and cool a person, a portable air conditioner is a far more powerful affair that uses refrigerant and a compressor to actively lower the temperature in a room or even a whole living space. At this size it’s not going to cool any more than one person, but if you’re looking to reduce the heat levels at your desk or in your home office, then this cooler has you covered. It also comes with a remote control and two window kits included, a timer function, 'night' mode for (slightly) quieter night-time operation, plus 3-in-1 air con, fan and dehumidifier functionality. The biggest bug-bear with portable air conditioners – and the most common gripe found in online reviews across the board – is their noise levels.

That's a good size for most homes, but there are also 8000, 9000, 10000, 12000, and 14000 BTUoptions availble for larger room sizes and open plan spaces. What’s more, this is one of the few coolers we’ve seen with a built-in timer, so you can set it to chill your bedroom before you go to bed. On the flipside, there were others, like the AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner, where despite the higher decibel rating the noise created was more like a steady stream of gushing air exiting the appliance. Other good points include an easy-to-fill water tank, which you can fill from the top, and simple one-button controls, where you just tap to cycle through the speeds.Plus, unlike the 9000 BTU AEG Comfort 6000 Portable Air Conditioner that uses 3400W of energy, the Russell Hobbs model is powered by just 1230W, making for lower running costs. Like most portable air con units of this power, it isn't light, weighing in at 27kgs, and its most common negative gripe from users is – as with most air con units – its noise. Portability - The Pifco P40014 is easy to move around thanks to a large handle and easy-glide castor wheels.

Very often an air con unit will come with additional functionality, usually a fan setting and dehumidifier function. We also like the three air flow modes, the three fan speeds, the simple controls, the remote control, and the handy timer. 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. We tested the smallest 7000 BTU model, (BTU stands for British Thermal Units and denotes how many units of heat the air con unit can suck from the air in an hour), which Meaco recommends for use in rooms between 12-22m². The unit performed solidly during our testing, reducing the temperature in the room by 2°C in 10 minutes.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. Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.