If you live in the UK, you may not have considered domestic air conditioning as long periods of hot weather are quite rare. However, most people who buy an air conditioning unit for their home quickly wonder why they didn’t do so sooner.
With domestic air conditioning, you can say goodbye to hot, humid bedrooms that cause sleepless nights, and can make your home a much more bearable place to be on warm summer days.
How does domestic air conditioning work?
Air conditioning works using a refrigerant which absorbs heat from the room that it’s in and blasts out cool air. This makes an air conditioning unit far more effective than a fan which simply circulates warm air around the room.
Can I justify the cost of domestic air conditioning?
The thing that usually deters people from opting for domestic air conditioning is the cost, as units can be quite expensive.
Portable units are the most cost-effective, but even the high-end versions of these can be pricey, although mid-price units can be just as good if you find the right one. Once you’ve bought the unit itself, you’ll find that the running costs are comparable to running your fridge, but your air conditioning won’t be running all day and night like your fridge does. This means that the unit itself is the only big expenditure.
Things to consider when buying an air conditioning unit
If you plan on having your air conditioning unit on while you sleep, a sleep mode function is non-negotiable as it will mean that the unit runs with lower noise, ensuring that it won’t keep you awake.
You’ll also benefit from an in-built timer so it can switch itself off once you’re fast asleep, or when you’re out of the house.
A remote control is another great feature as you’ll be able to control the unit from the comfort of your bed. You might also like to choose a model with an air filter so that it cleans the air as it cools.
Energy efficiency is another thing to consider when buying an air conditioning unit, as this will keep costs down and can be better for the environment. Efficiency is calculated as the ratio between the energy used and the unit’s cooling capacity, and those with a higher efficiency are the better option.
Ready to add domestic air conditioning to your home? You now have all of the information you need to make the right choice!
Meaco Cool Series Air Conditioner
It happens every year, after months of cold, grey and damp weather Summer arrives and all is forgotten. All that occupies our minds now is the unbearable heat indoors and what can be done to alleviate it.
Air Conditioning is the obvious answer but the expense can’t be justified for the sake of a couple of week’s comfort, can it? Soon enough the British climate will return to normal and we’ll congratulate ourselves on the money saved – until next time. Then we’ll kick ourselves again that we didn’t just bite the bullet last year!
It doesn’t have to be this way though, mobile air conditioning units are not as expensive as you think they are and they are one of those items that, once purchased, you’ll wonder how you ever manged without.
The Meaco range of Air Portable Conditioners includes a solution for most home and small office users. With prices ranging from under £300 to £530 you may be forgiven for thinking this is an inferior brand to some premium priced options but this would be a mistake.
Meaco Air Conditioning Units are highly rated with mostly exceptional reviews and the mid-level 1200 unit has been noted, by consumer organisation Which?, a Best Buy.
The only negative you’ll find with this brand is that it is so popular that the model you’re after will often be sold out.
MeacoCool Options
Choose from 7 different models with cooling capacity performance from 7000 to 16000 BTUs (British Thermal Units). The largest 1600 model can also be used as a heater.
You generally get what you pay for with the larger more expensive machines performing best although they also tend to be heavier and noisier. Running costs also vary from to around 27 pence to 58 pence per hour.
The most expensive option is, therefore, may not always be the best choice with smaller machines being more suitable for small bedrooms and nurseries where cost and operating noise may be the primary factors in the buying decision.
For large, busy spaces such as small offices and living spaces it may be worth accepting a little more noise in exchange for higher cooling performance. And, with the Meaco range, you get a lot of compromises between these two extremes.
Operating your Meaco Air Conditioner
Each model comes with a remote control unit so you can adjust the output, fan speed and set the timer from the comfort of your armchair. A digital panel on the machine is easy to understand and shows all the main functions at a glance.
All units also come with a free 2 year warranty.