12-08-2025
I'll never buy a fan again – my hot weather gadget has made my £450 Dyson flagship redundant and it's cheaper
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
It'll keep you comfortable, and eliminates the misery of sleepless, sweaty nights
COOL DOWN I'll never buy a fan again – my hot weather gadget has made my £450 Dyson flagship redundant and it's cheaper
DEALING with this heat right now can feel like being slowly roasted alive.
Temperatures could hit a sweltering 34C in some parts of the country today - which could lead to a restless night's sleep.
2
I picked up my Inventor Chilly portable AC unit for just £180 from a fraction of the Dyson's price
2
I previously splurged on a high-end Dyson air purifier tower fan, which set me back a hefty £450
Dyson air purifier tower fan, £449.99 (was £549.99)
BUY HERE
Those muggy nights when the temperature stubbornly hovers around 30°C are nothing short of torture.
It truly is like trying to sleep inside a sauna.
For years, I thought I had the solution to this.
Imagining I could fill my flat with a blissful, cool breeze, I splurged on a high-end Dyson air purifier tower fan.
The gadget set me back a hefty £450.
It looked the part, sure, but actually cooling the room? Forget about it.
As it turned out, it's just an overpriced gadget that simply shuffles the hot air around.
I'll admit it's excellent at banishing stubborn odours, though.
It was when I thought about my childhood that I realised what the real solution was.
Stop Making This Air Conditioning Mistake: How to Slash Your Summer Energy Bill
I'd grown up in the hot, humid stickiness of Hong Kong, where air conditioning ran 24/7.
The gentle hum would lull me to sleep while keeping me cool as ice - and I knew it was the best option.
The UK has typically been much milder but with hot summers becoming increasingly common, it seemed like an obvious decision to invest in an air conditioner.
Honestly, it's been a total game-changer - and far less expensive than you might think.
I bought the Inventor Chilly portable AC unit for just £180 from Amazon, a fraction of the Dyson's price.
You might think of air conditioning systems as big and bulky, but portable AC units are compact, easy to move, and simple to store away during the winter months.
They work by pulling in hot air from your room, cooling it with a refrigerant, and blowing out chilled air.
The leftover hot air is vented outside through a hose placed through a window.
Essentially it's like a fridge for your room, removing heat and leaving you with a cool, comfortable space.
Unlike the sleek Dyson, my portable air conditioner truly delivers cool air, transforming my sweltering bedroom into a refreshing oasis.
Major retailers like B&Q, Homebase, and Wickes are offering portable AC units both online and in-store, with prices starting at just £132.
You can also get them from trade shops like Screwfix or Toolstation with prices starting from £239.99.
Make sure you choose the right unit for the size of the room you want to cool.
Plus we explain below the key feature you need to consider before making your purchase.
You should also keep in mind that air conditioning units are more expensive to run compared with standard fans.
How to choose the right portable air conditioner
WHEN buying a portable air conditioner, it's important to check its BTU rating, which determines how much space it can cool.
BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and measures the air conditioner's cooling power.
The higher the BTU, the more powerful the unit and the larger the room it can cool. For example: A small room (up to 150 square feet) needs a unit with 5,000–6,000 BTUs.
A medium-sized room (250–350 square feet) requires 8,000–10,000 BTUs.
A large space (up to 500 square feet) would need 12,000–14,000 BTUs.
If the BTU is too low for your room, it won't cool effectively and will waste energy.
If it's too high, it may cool too quickly, leaving the air damp and uncomfortable.
Choosing the right BTU ensures efficient and comfortable cooling.
How much does it cost to run?
It's no secret that portable air conditioning units are more expensive to operate than fans.
They use more electricity, which means your energy bill will likely be higher than if you just had a fan.
For example, my 9,000 BTU Inventor Chilly portable AC unit uses up to 2.64kWh of electricity on its maximum cooling setting.
With Ofgem's current electricity price cap of 27p per kWh, it costs around 71p per hour to run.
Meanwhile my Dyson fan uses just 0.05kWh (50 watts) of power per hour, costing about 1p to run.
Bear in mind though that fans often stay on for hours and only shuffle hot air around the room, so it's almost like you're paying for nothing.
The advantage of a portable AC unit is that you can use it in short bursts to cool your space effectively.
For example, I run mine in my bedroom for just one hour before bed.
So if temperatures stayed above 25°C for a week, it would cost me about £5 to keep my bedroom cool and ensure a good night's sleep.
That feels pretty worth it to me.
So, if you're struggling with the heat and your fan isn't cutting it, investing in a portable AC unit could be a smart choice.
It's far more effective, keeps you comfortable, and eliminates the misery of sleepless, sweaty nights.
Trust me, once you try it, you'll never go back to using a fan - especially an overpriced one like the Dyson.
