With reports rife that the UK could experience the hottest summer on record, it's no wonder that more and more people are looking for solutions to stay comfortable when the temperatures rise.
I've already seen the best portable air conditioners selling out during the first heatwave of the year when we experienced 30°C weather at the end of May. And if previous years are anything to go by, these appliances will sell out again come summer.
Whenever a heatwave hits, I also see spikes in people looking into fitted air conditioning, but is it really worth it? Well I've had fitted air conditioning in my living room for about a year, and this is my honest take on how much I've really used it in that time.
How much have I used my fitted air conditioning?
My house is south-east facing and so it gets a lot of sun, which means it gets very hot during the summer. I also tend to run hot so I use the air con very regularly over the warmer months. I'd say if outdoor temperatures are over 20°C, I will have the air con on at some point over the course of the day. Between May and September, that's likely a daily occurrence.
How long I have it on for will vary depending on the level of sunlight streaming in, what the actual temperature is, and what I'm doing. It could be anything from a quick 10-minute blast a couple of times a day, or in the case of a heatwave, it could be on for hours at a time.
If I know I am going to have it on for a long time, I tend to choose the night mode, which is the quietest and gentlest cooling breeze that keeps me comfortably and consistently cool without making it chilly.
However, when temperatures drop and autumn and winter set in, I will admit I very rarely use the air con. If I get cold in between the times when my heating comes on, then I have occasionally used it in heat mode to take the edge off, but my house tends to hold on to heat quite well so I've not needed to do this more than a handful of times. It does give me a bit of reassurance, though. I once had a very miserable week or so in February when my boiler packed up, and I had to wait for the plumber to come and install a new one. Had I had the air con at that point, I would have at least had one room that I could warm up and make cosy.
Has fitted air con been expensive to run?
When the days are hotter, the air con has to work harder to cool the air, and when looking at my smart meter, it's a very similar story to heating my home in an especially cold snap.
So while energy bills are usually a lot lower in the summer because the heating isn't on, that may not be the case when you use fitted air conditioning in a heatwave.
However, as someone who gets anxious about heatwaves, it's a price I'm prepared to pay to stay cool.
Do I still think fitted air conditioning is worth it?
I absolutely think fitted air conditioning is worth it. I had mine fitted through BOXT, and I'm so glad I did. I work from home and have a dog so being able to have a room where we can escape excessive heat and still be able to function at work has been very beneficial. It's also meant there is a cool spot in the house to sleep when needed, which helps to reduce my anxiety levels and maintain my body's circadian rhythm in line, keeping me focused during the day.
Before I had fitted air conditioning, I would keep my blackout blinds closed for a large portion of the day. When heatwaves extend for days at a time, this can start to feel a little miserable. But with fitted AC, I can have them open longer and not feel like I'm shut up in a cave.
It's also really quick to cool the space. There's no lugging heavy appliances out of storage, setting up a window kit or venting anything out of the window. You simply press the button on the remote and sit back and wait a few seconds for the room to cool down.
While it was definitely the right choice for my home, however, it's not without it's downsides. Firstly, it's not a feasible option for those who rent, due to the changes needing to install the kit. It's understandably going to add to your energy bills too, and at a time when energy prices are set to rise by 13%, that's not desirable for anybody. Plus, you do have to compromise by having a permanent unit installed both inside and outside. They're not pretty by any means, but for me, being cool is worth the sacrifice.
If you're not quite ready to commit to fitted air con, or its not a feasible option for your home, then a portable air conditioner, like the new Meaco Cirro range (from £519.99 at Meaco) or a misting fan like the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo (£129.99 at Shark) or the Dreo 765S TurboCool misting fan (£169.99 at Amazon)will help to boost your home's cooling power.
The new Cirro range of portable air conditioners from Meaco are twice as quiet as it's previous range of cooling appliances.
Shark's misting fan can work cordlessly or when connected to power, giving you loads of flexibility as to where and when you use it.
I've been testing Dreo's TurboCool misting fan and can confirm it creates a lovely cooling breeze that doesn't leave you or your furniture drenched.
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