Appliances Direct
Laptops Direct
Drones Direct
Better Bathrooms
Furniture 123
Dehumidifiers
Outdoor Living
Aircon

Got a question? We're happy to help

08719844416
Calls cost 13p per min plus your network access charge
Exclusive Deals Exclusive Deals & Promotions
Trustpilot Reviews Rated Excellent
Delivery Choose your delivery day
0% Interest 0% Interest for 4 months
Air Conditioner Buying Guide

Air Conditioner Buying Guide

A handy guide to efficiently cooling & heating your home

Clever features that make cooling your home a breeze

Smart

Smart Connectivity

Smart air conditioners are WiFi-connected, allowing you to control them from anywhere using your smartphone or assistant (Such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa)

If you're out of the house and the temperature spikes, call up your assistant or app before heading home and you can instantly kick your AC into action, so you're always welcomed home to the perfect temperature.

shop now
Heating Mode

Heating Mode

Some modern air conditioners have a heating mode, perfect for year-round use. In winter, your AC will operate in reverse, absorbing heat and transferring cold air outdoors.

Heating by heat pump is 4 times more efficient than electric heating and up to twice as cost-effective as gas central heating

shop now
Multi-Split

Multi-Split

Many wall-mounted ACs require an outdoor unit to power each indoor one. Choose a multi-split system to power multiple indoor units from a single outdoor compressor, so you can cool multiple rooms while keeping the outside of your property attractive and clutter-free.

Unlike central heating, each indoor unit can be precisely controlled, allowing you to create zones around your home that suit you - For personalised comfort that's also more efficient.

shop now
Air Conditioner Dehumidifier Function

Dehumidifier Function

Many air conditioners include a dehumidifier or 'Dry' mode. This feature is specifically designed to remove excess moisture from the air, making your room feel less sticky and more comfortable, especially on humid days. Reducing humidity also helps prevent mould and mildew growth and can even speed up drying laundry indoors, improving overall air quality and comfort.

shop now

How does an air conditioning unit work?

Air conditioners cool the room by removing heat and moisture from the air, just like how a fridge cools food. But how does it work?

  • Warm indoor air is drawn in and passed over a cold evaporator coil
  • The air is cooled, removing some of the moisture too
  • A refrigerant fluid absorbs the heat from the warm air which is expelled through a wall or window through the exhaust hose
  • Water condenses in the system and is either drained away or collected in a tank for you to empty. Most air conditioners use excess water for cooling, meaning the tank won’t need emptying regularly.
  • Finally, cold air is recirculated into the room, reducing the temperature and humidity of your home.

Which type of air conditioner is right for me?

Portable

Portable

If you're looking for a serious upgrade from an every-day fan then choose one of our portable air conditioners for on-demand cooling (And heating!) that's super effective, highly efficient and better bang-for-your-buck. Switch to fan-only mode for personal cooling without the AC function.

Perfect for heatwaves but equally useful in Autumn for their dehumidifier function, portable air conditioners are easy to move between rooms and they’re powerful enough to cool all room sizes without needing to be professionally installed.

shop now
Wall-mounted

Wall-mounted

Wall-mounted air conditioners are an excellent space-saving solution as they don't take up any floor space, but you'll need to have them professionally installed. They consist of a unit on the wall inside plus an external unit to remove heat and condensation from the room.

They’re quieter and more efficient than portable units, and they're a great permanent heating solution for any UK home, as they can heat rooms more efficiently than central heating.

shop now
Ceiling cassette

Ceiling cassette

Ceiling cassette air conditioners are another type of split unit; they feature an external unit to remove the heat and need installing professionally, but the internal unit fits into the ceiling. As well as cooling, they can heat rooms more efficiently than central heating.

shop now
Wall-mounted AC without an outdoor unit

All-in-one (Through the wall)

These units are perfect if you need to cool or heat a room efficiently but don't have room outside your home for a bulky compressor.

They're a single unit which is vented straight through the wall, so they're perfect for flats and conservatories.

shop now

How to buy the right size air conditioner

The size of the air conditioner you need depends on the size of the room you want to cool. Larger rooms require a unit with a higher BTU, but these use more energy than ones with a lower BTU. Consider what the space is used for too. Any devices or appliances will contribute to heating the room, so you’ll need a more powerful unit to cool a room with many electricals. Rooms with big windows, like conservatories, require more powerful air conditioning than rooms with small windows.

Did you know? BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, which is the amount of energy it takes to heat one pound of water (about a pint) by 1°F.

You can calculate the BTUs you need using our handy calculator.

Air Conditioner Calculator

Use our handy calculator, which will help you figure out exactly what size of unit you require for your office or home.

What are the room dimensions?

How many people and heat sources are in the room?

What is BTU?

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a rating used to determine the cooling capacity an Air Conditioner.

Typically a minimum of 7000 BTU is needed to cool a small room, whereas commercial units can reach up to 25,000 BTU and beyond. Simply, the greater the BTU, the larger the space that the unit can cool.

What air conditioner features should I look for?

Heating mode

Many air conditioners also have a heating mode, perfect for year-round use. It acts alongside your central heating to keep you warm during those colder months.

Sleep mode

There’s nothing worse than not being able to sleep because it’s too hot. An air conditioner with sleep mode reduces noise levels so that you can enjoy an uninterrupted cool night’s sleep.

Energy saving mode

Air conditioners can use a lot of energy, but some air conditioners are extra energy efficient, helping you to save money on your energy bills.

Timer

A timer function is handy to ensure electricity isn’t being wasted. You can set the air conditioner to turn on and off when needed, which helps you save money on energy bills.

Smart features

A smart air conditioner connects to an app, allowing you to control it from your smartphone. It’s perfect for those hot days when you’ve been at work, and you can ensure you’re returning home to a nice cool room.

Oscillating vent

Oscillating vents switch between facing up and down or left and right, which spreads the air around to help cool the room evenly.

Dehumidifier

Many air conditioners also have a dehumidifier function, meaning that as well as cooling the room, they’ll remove some of the moisture in the air, which is handy for drying laundry inside and combatting damp and mould.

Purifier

A purifier function clears the air of bacteria, allergens, mould and dust, helping asthma or allergy sufferers breathe easier.

Fan speeds

Control the breeze to suit your preferences. Some portable air conditioners have a ‘fan only’ mode, meaning you can use it as a fan if required (it doesn’t need venting when only using the fan).

Remote control

All our air conditioning units come with a remote control, which is handy for changing the settings from a distance.

How to install an air conditioning unit

Portable

Portable

  • Slide open the window, adjust the slide bar to fit into the gap, attach it with a screwdriver, and close the window.
  • Attach the exhaust pipe to the back of the air con unit and secure the flat exhaust nozzle to the other end of the pipe. Extend the pipe and insert the nozzle into the slide bar.
  • Plug the unit in, switch it on, and adjust the temperature.
Shop portable air con »
Split units

Split units

Wall-mounted and ceiling cassette air conditioners are a bit more complex and require installation by a licensed professional. We have over 20 years of experience; give us a call on 0330 041 2742 for a quote.

Learn more »

Air Conditioner Calculator

Use our handy calculator, which will help you figure out exactly what size of unit you require for your office or home.

What are the room dimensions?

How many people and heat sources are in the room?

What is BTU?

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a rating used to determine the heating or in the case of an Air Conditioner the cooling capacity of an appliance.

Typically a minimum of 7000 BTU is needed to cool a small room, whereas commercial units can reach up to 25,000 BTU and beyond. Simply, the greater the BTU, the larger the space that the unit can cool.

Frequently asked questions

  • What to look for when buying an air conditioner?

      The first thing you need to decide on is whether you’d like a portable unit or an installed unit. Then, consider the room size you want to cool; use our BTU calculator to determine what’s required.

      Look out for features you like, such as built-in air purifiers, fans, or even ones that connect to an app to control it from your phone..

  • How do I know what size air conditioner I need?

      Use our simple BTU calculator to determine how many BTUs you need to cool the room. A higher BTU means it can cool a larger area.

  • Can I install my own air conditioner
  • Are air conditioning units expensive to run?

      Portable air conditioners are cheaper to buy than installed units, plus you don’t need to pay for installation; however, they’re more expensive to run relative to their size and cooling power. Wall-mounted and ceiling cassettes air conditioners require professional installation, so the initial cost is higher. In the long term, they’re much more efficient than portable units.

  • Can an air conditioner heat my home as well as cool?

      Many portable air conditioners have a heating mode that acts alongside your central heating to heat the room. Split units can heat a room more efficiently than central heating.

Recently viewed

Back to top arrow
Back to top