This could be a budget-friendly option to stay cool during the heatwave
The heatwave has made a comeback following a brief period of milder conditions. Most households will activate their air conditioning units or turn on fans to reduce indoor temperatures.
However, there’s another device that some property owners claim can make a room feel considerably cooler. Home specialists at Ideal Home suggest this approach can provide an effective means to remain comfortable without depending as heavily on conventional cooling systems.
The answer: an air cooler. This represents an affordable option and could be worth experimenting with at home.
Difference between an air cooler, a fan and air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioning system reduces temperature by extracting heat and moisture from within the room and expelling the heat outdoors. This decreases both temperature and humidity levels, maintaining a cool and comfortable environment.
EDF Energy has outlined reasons why property owners should and shouldn’t install air conditioning.
Pros:
- Cleans the air by removing dust, hair and some allergens
- Can heat rooms in winter as well as cool them in summer
- Modern systems are quiet
- Smart controls allow you to control the air conditioner from your phone
- Automatically maintains the desired temperature by switching on and off when needed
Cons:
- Expensive to buy
- Uses electricity, which can increase your energy bills in summer
- Running costs can add up
Electric fan
An electric fan is a device that utilises electricity to rotate blades, which circulate air throughout a room. The circulating air helps you feel cooler, though it doesn’t actually reduce the room temperature.
According to Electrical 2 Go, there are various fan shapes and sizes to consider before determining which suits your needs. Nevertheless, all varieties of fans share generalised advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- Uses less electricity than air conditioning
- Cheaper to buy than an air conditioner
- Easy to set up and use straight away
- Portable, so you can move it between rooms
- Adjustable airflow
- Some have timers and remote controls for easier use
- Takes up little space
Cons:
- Does not actually lower the room temperature
- Can be noisy
- May not cool large rooms effectively without a powerful fan or multiple fans.
- Evaporative fans add moisture to the air
Air cooler
According to Ideal Homes, “Unlike a standard fan, which moves warm air around a room, an air cooler uses water to help create a cooling-feeling breeze.”
The experts added: “Emma Coleman, seasonal buyer at Robert Dyas, explains that unlike a fan, an air cooler releases cool air instead of circulating warm air, which will have a more noticeable effect on the temperature.
“You fill an internal tank with cold water (and sometimes reusable ice packs), and as hot air passes through the appliance, it is cooled before a fan inside the unit circulates it around your room. In fact, it works a lot like this effective fan ice cube hack.”
Emma added: “This temperature will also be felt across the whole room, instead of the focus point that a fan cools. Some also have a heating function, making them useful in the winter as well.”
Nevertheless, an air cooler differs from a portable air conditioning unit. It cannot reduce the temperature of an entire space as efficiently as a fixed air conditioning system.
However, it renders the air flowing towards you noticeably cooler and more refreshing than a standard fan, which proves particularly beneficial during sweltering and muggy conditions. A specialist at Plumb World outlined the advantages and disadvantages in greater depth:
Pros:
- Produce cooler air than a standard fan
- Use less energy than air conditioning
- No installation or window vents needed
- Portable and easy to move between rooms
- Some models can add moisture to the air
- Often quieter than portable air conditioners
- Cheaper to run than air conditioning
- Good for medium-sized rooms
Cons:
- Less effective in humid weather
- Do not cool a whole room as effectively as air conditioning
- May not be powerful enough for large rooms
A mini JML Chillmax Portable Air Cooler retails for as little as £39.99 on Amazon, while a larger portable cooler featuring five speeds costs £53.99.
The Feibety portable cooler presently boasts 4.7 stars on the retail platform. One customer shared: “This 4-in-1 portable air conditioner is fantastic! The turbo mode cools instantly, and it’s super quiet. Perfect for home use – a definite buy!”
Another said: “Staying comfortable in hot weather can be difficult, especially in smaller spaces. This type of air cooler offers a simple way to improve airflow without the need for a full system. It’s designed for individual cooling rather than whole-house cooling.”
However, a third warned: “It works, it blows out cold air. The first level barely makes a difference, however, and the last level is kinda noisy for nighttime.
“Not sure I’m sold on this item, but fans have become ridiculously expensive, it does the job, and with the heatwaves, I guess I’ll take the cold air in any form.”
Meanwhile, Argos is stocking an Air Pro 8L 4-in-1 Portable Air Cooler with Wheels and Remote Control, available for £79.99.
