What are The Different Types of Home Air Conditioning Options?
We’ve just had our longest, hottest summer for many years. Anyone who’s sweltered through a hot night or tried to get things done in a house where the temperature is rocketing will have considered air conditioning. Air conditioning isn’t something which many UK homes have, although it’s common in the Mediterranean and other parts of the world. If you’re thinking about ways to keep cooler over the next warm period, there are several options.
Fans
The most cost-effective way of keeping cool at home is by using simple plug-in fans. There are a range of designs on offer, from a simple desk fan costing less than £10 to high-tech options which cool an entire room. If you’re living in a part of the country where you’re only finding that it gets too hot once or twice a year, these types of fan are usually enough to help keep you cool. A slightly more expensive option is a ceiling fan, which needs to be connected into the mains and run off a wall switch.
Portable Units
Rather than cooling the whole house, a portable unit can effectively cool one room at a time. Evaporative coolers work by blowing air through a fine mist of air and are very effective, but the downside is that they can make your house feel damp and humid. Refrigerant based coolers take more energy to run but can cool much more effectively. When operating, it’s important to keep your windows and doors closed as each cooler can only cool a set volume of air. This type of portable air conditioning unit can be used to keep a living space cool during the day, and moved into the bedroom at night. Expect to pay anything between £250 and £400 for a high-performing portable air conditioning unit.
Installed System
The ultimate air conditioning solution is a fully-installed system like the ones found in hotels or offices. This style of air conditioning often also doubles up as a heating system for the colder months. The downside is that installing an air conditioning system can be disruptive and expensive, with units having to be mounted on walls and wires run to connect them. The typical installation cost is around £1000 per unit so if you are installing several units to cool or heat the whole house, the costs can soon mount up. Most units are 2kW, and these cost around 8p to 10p per hour to run in terms of energy costs.
Other Ways to Keep Cool
In addition to adding in air conditioning, there are other options for keeping your house cool. If you have south facing windows, keep them closed and use curtains and blinds closed to stop the air warming and heating the house. Try to encourage draughts of cooler air by opening several windows in different rooms and leave the doors open to let a breeze blow through. Insulation will also help regulate the temperature inside your home. Switch off any appliances, including lights, which you’re not using.
