You see it a lot when you go on holiday and stay in hotels or Airbnbs. It always amazes you how cool the rooms feel when you have the AC on, and it makes you wonder if this is a worthwhile investment for your home.
So, do you actually need this in your house? Well, there's one very obvious question to ask that should help you come up with the answer…
How hot is it?
How hot does it get in the summer? More specifically, how hot does it feel when you have all of the windows open throughout the day. Is it unbearably hot for you and your family? Do you find yourselves struggling to sleep at night because it's so hot and stuffy?
Moreover, how often is it hot? If you get a week or two of really hot weather every summer, then the rest is bearable, it's probably not worth buying an air conditioner. Invest in a few fans for the hottest days, and you should be fine.
Generally speaking, air conditioners are only worth buying if you live somewhere that consistently gets weeks and months of really hot weather. If you're constantly flinging the windows open every single day for three or four months a year, then air conditioning could be a good addition to your home.
What type of air conditioner should you get?
Most air conditioning systems will use refrigerated air. This air is cooled inside the machine and then distributed around the home. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this and it works for the majority of people.
However, if you or someone in your home suffers from asthma or airborne allergies, a traditional AC unit might not do the trick. Because the air is technically treated to make it cold, it can irritate your nasal passages or airways. Again, it's not a problem for the general population, but if you have an existing issue then it could be a health concern. Instead, you're better off opting for an evaporative cooling system. It's still an air conditioner, only it uses evaporated air, so it's easier for your nose and lungs to breathe in.
I'm going to level with you here, I'm not an air conditioning expert! Shocking, I know. So, if you're looking for some expert tips on what specific products to buy, I can't help you. However, you can easily find countless buyer's guides online that break things down and present you with tonnes of great tips. As well as considering the technology inside the unit, you have to think about things like where it will sit, the size, and so on.
In summary, you don't need an air conditioner in your home unless you experience long periods of hot weather. If your summer months are mild - or you can easily handle the heat - you don't need to spend money on one of these gadgets. Get some fans and open the windows if there's a small heat wave, and you will be fine.
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