Air Conditioning

What's the best way to keep your home cool?

As heatwave after heatwave pushes temperatures higher across the UK and Europe, air conditioning has become a serious topic. Listener Rachel is one of many people who have turned to a portable air conditioner for relief. About the size of a dehumidifier, these units cool a room by drawing in warm air, chilling it, and venting the excess heat outside through a hose, usually attached to a window.

But with hotter summers forecast, Rachel is wondering whether it's worth investing in a fixed, or "split", air conditioning system instead. These systems use an indoor unit paired with an outdoor condenser and are increasingly common in homes across Europe. She wants to know: how much do they cost to buy and run? Are they difficult to install? And how noisy are they in everyday use?

Then there are the cheaper "air coolers" that claim to lower temperatures by blowing air over cold water or ice. Do they genuinely cool a room, or are they simply fans with clever marketing?

To find out, presenter Greg Foot is joined by Rachel and Professor Richard Fitton, Technical Director of the Energy House 2.0 test facility at the University of Salford.

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RESEARCHER: JULIA RAVEY PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT