Mobile air conditioner: which model to buy to fight against the heat in 2023?

There are two main families of air conditioners on the current market, mobile and stationary air conditioners. In this guide, we will only discuss the first. Mobile air conditioners have many advantages. As their name suggests, it is possible to move them from one room to another, but also from one dwelling to another, which makes them less restrictive than their counterparts, some of you may want -be to get one of these models. And with ever hotter summers, many may want to get one.

Before starting our guide, we will remember that all these models must have an outside air outlet to evacuate the hot air. Similarly, portable air conditioners fall into two categories. Monoblock mobile air conditioners which are all in one and split mobiles which are divided into two blocks. We will discuss both versions in this buying guide, and you are free to choose the one that suits you best.

Read also : you can find our guide to the best connected thermostat here

Inventor Chilly 9000BTU, the 3 in 1 fan at the best price

We start this guide with a model that is as affordable as it is functional with the Chilly 9000 BTU from Inventor. It offers 3 different types of operation: le cooling, ventilation and dehumidification. This last option makes it a model that can be used all year round. On the refrigerant side, it uses R290 which is guaranteed ecological (without toxins or pollutants). It is also guaranteed energy class A.

This air conditioner is supplied with a remote control that allows you to adjust its operation over 24-hour periods. And as its name suggests, it has a cooling capacity of 9000 BTU which can easily air-condition rooms of 30 m². And with a noise level of around 50 dB, it’s a quiet model for its range. Despite all its advantages, we regret the absence of a window kit, not included in the purchase.

Klarstein New Breeze 7, the perfect air conditioner for your office

Karlstein’s New Breeze 7 is like the Inventor air conditioner, it is a 3 in 1 model. Like the latter, it offers cooling, ventilation and dehumidification. It can therefore be useful outside of hot weather. But on the cooling power side, it only has 7000 BTUs, which is ideal for an area around 20 to 25 m². He also uses R290 which is environmentally friendly. It has an automatic mode for the night, but unfortunately it is not suitable for a bedroom. Indeed, if the noise level can reach 63 dB at full throttle and only 50 dB in night mode, this is still 10 dB above the maximum recommended for a bedroom. But for use in living rooms, it will do just fine. Last point, its energy class is guaranteed A.

Suntec Mobile Advance 12.0 Eco R290, the air conditioner for large spaces

We continue to move upmarket with the Suntec Mobile Advance 12.0 Eco R290, 3 in 1 air conditioner. Like the other models, it is equipped with the functions of cooling, dehumidification and ventilation, but it is also capable, if necessary, of serving as a dryer. It uses of course the R290 and with 12,000 BTUs of power, it can easily ventilate a room of 60 m² with its different power modes. It is of energy class A, and as far as sound birth is concerned, it varies between 52 and 65 dB depending on the mode of use. This model is equipped with an LCD screen for the settings, but also with a remote control to manage everything remotely. Another of its advantages is found in the range of possible temperatures, between 16°C and 31°C, which should satisfy everyone.

Electrolux EXP34U338CW, the best air conditioner from Electrolux

With this Electrolux portable air conditioner, we go upmarket. He also offers 3 in 1 operation, but strength lies elsewhere. This is the quietest model that the brand offers. But that doesn’t mean this air conditioner sacrifices power. In fact, it deploys a maximum cooling capacity of 12,000 BTUswhich is quite sufficient for rooms of just over 35 m². On the noise side, the latter will oscillate between 63 dB at full power to 45 Db in standard mode. Finally in ventilation mode, it will barely exceed 20 dB. Otherwise, it also uses R290 and is guaranteed energy class A. This model is supplied without remote control, but the ergonomic control panel and its intuitive LCD screen are really easy to use.

De’Longhi Pinguino PAC EL 112 CST, an excellent monobloc air conditioner

And yes you are not dreaming, the Italian brand of De’Longhi coffee maker also makes air conditioners. We arrive here with a very high-end model with a price of around 1000 euros. It is a powerful model that will air-condition easily rooms of more than 30m². We are still on a 3 in 1 air conditioner, but this time the manufacturer guarantees its model energy class A+. It has 3 air conditioning modes and comes with a remote control.

At this price, you can also count on an LED screen, a room thermostat and a 24-hour timer to air-condition your room even if you are away. Besides its capacity as an air dehumidifier is particularly excellent compared to other models. And with a sound rate of 47 dB, it is rather quiet. It uses, of course, the R290.

Remko RKL 495, the best mobile fan

To finish this selection, we are going to talk about a mobile split air conditioner, with the Remko RKL 495. First of all, as you can see, this type of model is the most expensive. But this is due to different reasons. First of all, it has two blocks, one inside and another outside (it is possible to hang it on a wall) and they are connected by a 3 meter tube. It also offers the function of air dehumidifier.

In terms of power, it reaches 15,000 BTUswhich makes it capable to air-condition rooms of approximately 80m². And yet, in terms of sound power, it will not exceed 54 dB. It is equipped with a control panel with 24-hour timer, but this model also comes with a remote control. However, this air conditioner belongs to energy class B. Moreover, it uses R32 refrigerant which remains relatively ecological, but is a little less so than R290.

💨 What power should I choose for my air conditioner?

On this question, everything will depend on the size of the room you want to ventilate. As you can see, generally, the power of an air conditioner is expressed in BTU (British Thermal Unit). If we want an equivalence, 1 Watt equals approximately 3.4 BTUs. Then it is estimated that the air conditioner needs a power of 100 Watts for 1m² with a ceiling height of 2.5 meters. So if you need to cool a room of about 30 m², you will need a model with a power of 3000 Watts or about 10,000 BTUs. Moreover, most of the models that have been presented in this guide have a power of more or less 10,000 BTU.

🧐 Which model to choose between a monobloc air conditioner or a mobile split?

As explained in the introduction, mobile air conditioners are divided into two large groups, monobloc air conditioners and split mobiles. All of these models have their pros and cons and we’ll help you tell the difference.

• Packaged air conditioners:[These are the most popular models and they are also much less expensive than their counterparts. They are generally easy to move around, with most fitted with casters and/or handlebars. They are perfectly suited for small and medium spaces, but they will not be sufficient for large rooms or halls. But their main flaw is noise. Although manufacturers offer ever quieter models, the noise pollution remains significant.
• Mobile split air conditioners: These are less common models, and it must also be said that they are the most expensive. Their prices generally oscillate around 2000 euros. Although it is more and more compact, they are heavy models. It is not always easy to move them. Then, they have the advantage of being perfectly adapted to large spaces. And the strong point of its two parts lies in the fact that the compressor and condenser part are located outside the house, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the noise pollution of an air conditioner.

The common advantage of these two types of air conditioners is that it is not necessary to call a technician to install them. Their installation is intuitive and the user manual will suffice.

🔊 Is a mobile air conditioner very noisy?

You must have noticed it in the selection, but on the whole air conditioners are very noisy objects. Some one-piece models are barely less noisy than a vacuum cleaner. But if noise pollution is a problem for you, it will be better to opt for a mobile split air conditioner. Although more expensive, their operation makes them much less noisy for a home. Finally, if you suffer from the heat during the periods of the heat wave, it is very easy to acclimatize to ambient noise. And if you want to sleep in your room, you will have to refresh the room before going to bed.

👩‍🔧 What maintenance for my mobile air conditioner?

Maintaining a portable air conditioner is anything but complicated. First of all, we advise you to turn it off if you are not at home and especially not to cover it. Afterwards, the part that will require the most maintenance is the filter. It should be cleaned as often as possible, especially before summer if it has not been used for several months. It is necessary to remove the filter, the latter sucking up the dust when it works. To do this, simply use your vacuum cleaner and then clean the filter with soapy water and let it dry.

Where there can be a problem is when the air conditioner runs out of refrigerant (or there is a leak). Do not handle these liquids yourself! They are harmful to health and only professionals should handle them. So if you have a problem with the coolant, call a specialist. In any case, reloading will cost you between 60 and 100 euros, not including labor costs. It will be specified that it takes several years of use before having to renew the refrigerant.