Fan and air conditioner: how to find the right cooling solution
Whether it's an apartment in the attic or a large house: on a hot summer day, you'll simply feel more comfortable with a fan or an air conditioner. Which air conditioner is right for you and what should you look for when choosing? At Lidl, you'll find the perfect cooling solution and cool tips.
Air conditioner vs. fan: an overview
Fan | Air conditioner (mobile) |
|
|---|---|---|
Cooling capacity | ++ | +++ |
Active temperature control | + | +++ |
Functions + features | ++ | +++ |
Installation | +++ | ++ |
Installation costs | +++ | + |
Mobility | +++ | ++ |
Volume | +++ | ++ |
Fan: quick installation, low cost cooling
A fan is a versatile air conditioner for every home and every room. It sucks in ambient air, expels it again and swirls it in the process. Although it does not actively cool the room temperature, it nevertheless achieves pleasant results. A fan:
- Dries sweat on the skin,
- settles quickly and easily,
- can be used anywhere,
- costs little and
- does not cause large temperature differences.
The fans are available at Lidl in various designs that can be easily adapted to your requirements:
- Table fan - small, compact and always where you need it
- Rotorless fan - modern cooling without risk of injury, with many functions, elegant design and extremely quiet operation
- Hand fan - for fast cooling on the move, whether on a picnic or on public transport
- Tower fan - compact footprint and targeted cooling for small spaces
- Pedestal fan - powerful but unobtrusive, good for larger rooms
If you want more cooling, choose an air-cooled fan: These fans are additionally filled with cold water, which is released into the air as a fine mist during operation. This cool water vapour actually lowers the room temperature (slightly) and literally refreshes the entire body.
Tip: A ceiling fan is not only good for cooling. In winter, a ceiling fan distributes warm heating air throughout the room, ensuring that the room reaches a comfortable temperature more quickly. Depending on the situation, you can save up to 30% on heating costs.
Air conditioner: mobile alternative to the built-in air conditioner
If you're looking for real cooling, an air conditioner is the right choice. It works on the same principle as a built-in air conditioner: the air in the room is drawn in, actively cooled using a refrigerant and then expelled again. The excess heat is channelled out through a pipe.
Compared to a built-in air conditioner, a monobloc air conditioner is mobile and can be installed anywhere in your home. However, you should always keep in mind that it requires a flexible hose, which you can stretch outside a window or door without the hot air returning to the room.
This often requires a few extra measures. A clever idea? Cut a piece of plexiglas at the DIY store to the desired window size and drill a hole in it precisely for the end of the hose. Place this plexiglas on the open window during the hot summer months. This ensures that heat flows reliably out, but not in, and the hose sits securely!
An air conditioner isn't just for refreshment. Depending on the model, monobloc air conditioners come with other features:
- Dehumidification of rooms (for example, against mould).
- to prevent moulds from moulding (e.g. to prevent moulds from mildew)
Of course, these multifunctional units cannot replace a real dehumidifier. But with their multiple functions, you can use them in a variety of ways.
Information: What does psychic ability mean?
For each air conditioner for apartments and homes, you will find information about the cooling capacity in BTU/h. BTU/h stands for British Thermal Unit and indicates how much energy the air conditioner needs per hour to extract heat from a room. A reasonable air conditioner yields about 20 BTU/h per square metre, for example, shown as follows:
A cooling capacity (BTU/h) ... | is sufficient for rooms ... |
|---|---|
5.000 BTU/h | up to about 15 square meters. |
7.000 BTU/h | up to about 25 square meters. |
12.000 BTU/h | up to about 35 square meters. |
Air conditioner or fan: How to make the right decision
Regardless of what the thermometer says, everyone feels the ambient temperature and room climate differently. So before you buy your air conditioning solution from Lidl, think about which option is right for you and your family. The following parameters play a role in the purchase decision.
Required mental capacity
A fan has a very limited effect - not only in terms of surface area, but also in terms of cooling sensation. It works best when you are directly in its collection area. The good thing about this is that each member of the household can create their own cooling islands without necessarily affecting others. However, a fan is also generally a good solution for small rooms with a closed floor plan. Depending on its performance, a cooling unit can air condition an entire house - even with an open layout and no matter where you are.
Living condition
An apartment in a loft in the city or a small house in the warmer regions of Germany: anyone who fears every summer in terms of indoor climate will quickly learn to appreciate an air conditioning unit. Fans are more of an emergency solution in such situations. Even if the air conditioning unit is more expensive, it quickly pays for itself if the heat persists - for example, because your bedroom finally invites you to relax again or because your children will have a better summer holiday thanks to optimum humidity.
Health
A fan can cause drafts, which can be uncomfortable for some people. On the other hand, the temperature difference between the air-conditioned room and the surroundings is not as stressful. Going from an actively cooled room to the general environment is a temperature shock to the body, which can lead to the dreaded summer flu. Conversely, staying in (well) air-conditioned spaces immensely reduces heat stress for sensitive people.