This summer’s first heatwave is on its way. While it’s fun to bask in the hot temperatures, one thing’s for sure: it’s no fun sleeping in them.
Sleep deprivation from high temperatures can make you feel zapped and zombie-like, wrecking physical health and wellbeing and sending your mood into a nosedive. Pointing fans towards your bed is an option, but it won’t do your household bills any favours. Yet there are ways to cool your home without sending your bank balance into the red.
What are evaporative air coolers?
Perfectly named, these nifty devices lower the temperature by evaporating water into the air, absorbing heat. They’re best used in dry heat, as humid conditions will only accelerate the issue much to the chagrin of the rest of your household.
Why are evaporative air coolers good?
Unlike air conditioning units which are costly to run, evaporative air coolers are much cheaper to use and can achieve whole home cooling quickly. They also draw in outside air, filter it and flood it back into the space, raising indoor air quality as it does it.
How much do evaporative air coolers cost?
The initial outlay will set you back around £100 but this varies by brand. Oh, and you may need to replace the fan motor or change cooling pads in the future to avoid mould growing and keep the unit working effectively.
We’ve looked at the best evaporative air coolers around to collate a list of the best. We’ve tried to pick good models across price ranges so there’s a solution to your warm weather woes.
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Pro Breeze 4-in-1 Air Cooler
- Power: 55W
- Tank volume: 10L
- Extra features: Oscillation, night mode and 7-hour timer
It may look like an unassuming white box on the outside, but take a peek inside ProBreeze’s cooler and you’ll see where the magic happens.
It uses a honeycomb waterfall system to cool warm air and turn it into cooling vapour. This is then propelled into the air with a three-speed fan that works in four operational modes to create the right environment.
Other features include a seven-hour timer and Night Mode to keep the cooler working quietly as you kip.
Buy now £199.99, Amazon
MIDEA 01874 Fast Chill Tower Fan & Air Cooler – White
- Power: 150W
- Fan modes: 3
- Extra features: timer, five-litre water tank, remote
Prepare for hearty bouts of self-congratulation when the heatwave hits and you've got this little beauty batting the temperatures back.
Midea's five-litre unit combines a tower fan along with an air cooler, which means you can use it in dry heat and humid conditions too - just flick between modes for refreshing breezes.
It oscillates 60 degrees and is fairly quiet, working at 64dBs so you're not kept up at night if you decide to switch on the timer. The purchase includes a pair of ice packs which can be reused to keep the chilled air flowing.
Comes with a one-year manufacturer's guarantee.
Buy now £120.00, Currys
LOGIK L48ACW20 Portable Air Cooler - White
- Power: 50W
- Fan modes: 3
- Extra features: seven-hour timer, remote control
Keep your interiors cool and fresh with this cooler on wheels for easy manoeuvrability between rooms. It rapidly dissipates dry air, replacing it with freshly filtered cool air instead of simply pushing stuffy air around the room.
The timer is an excellent feature you'll be grateful for come sweltering nights, allowing you to sleep without worrying about turning the unit off. If you find it's a little too cold at night or mornings are stiflingly warm, keep the remote control within reach to operate it without getting up.
Buy now £84.99, Currys
Evapolar evaCHILL Personal Portable Air Cooler and Humidifier, Desktop Cooling Fan
- Power: 7.5W
- Fan modes: four
- Extra features: USB powered
Evapolar's device has rave reviews thanks to its efficient cooling and features like the removable water tank and full spectrum LED lights.
What’s more, it’s highly portable and whisper quiet at just 25dBs. it can be powered through a USB cable, making it perfect for use in spaces without mains power, like a tent, shed or desk.
Buy now £101.90, Amazon
Vybra Portable Air Cooler
- Power: 80W
- Fan modes: 3
- Extra features: 12-hour timer, remote, wheels
This freestanding cooler is loaded with features to bring indoor temperature levels back to comfortable levels. There are three speed modes including a sleep one while a 12-hour timer takes care of running, switching on and off automatically - useful if you wish to return home from work to a perfectly cooled house.
The machine comes with three ice boxes to help filter air and make outbound breezes refreshing, and there's a 120° vertical swing so cooled air hits all corners of the room.
Buy now £89.00, Dunelm
Guong Portable 4-in-1 Air Cooler
- Power: 8W
- Speed modes: 4
- Extra features: lights, adjustable sprays
If all you're after is a cool box to fan you while you work, watch TV or sleep, a smaller unit is the answer to your sweaty prayers. This dinky freestanding device is just the ticket, fitted with a modest 1.5L tank to keep things nice and breezy (especially if you chuck in a few ice cubes).
While it's good at keeping the local area cool, the fitted colour-changing lights mean it can also work well as a nightlight for kids. It won't wreck their sleep either - this gadget is super quiet. Weighing just over 1kg, it's a good option to keep in motorhomes or on side tables, picking it up to go with you when you want to move to another spot.
Buy now £35.99, Amazon
ProBreeze 10L Portable Air Cooler
- Best for: compact cooling
- Power: 55W
- Tank volume: 10L
- Extra features: Oscillation, night mode and 7-hour timer
It may look like an unassuming white box on the outside, but take a peek inside ProBreeze’s cooler and you’ll see where the magic happens.
It uses a honeycomb waterfall system to cool warm air and turn it into cooling vapour. This is then propelled into the air with a three-speed fan that works in four operational modes to create the right environment.
Other features include a 7-hour timer and Night Mode to keep the cooler working quietly as you kip.
Buy now £149.99, ProBreeze
Silentnight 3 In 1 Air Cooler 5L - White
- Best for: WFH
- Power: 39W
- Tank volume: 5L
- Extra features: remote control, timer
Thought the buck stopped at bed stuff at Silentnight? Think again. The brand also offers a range of home appliances including this five-litre air cooler. It’s a hardworking thing, packing a fan, air cooler and humidifier under one roof, and it’s on wheels to boot.
A wide-oscillating fan means cooler air can reach every corner of the room, leaving no hot pocket unturned. There’s also a timer that can run up to 7 hours, and a remote control to operate if you’re too comfortable to get up to use the digital control panel.
Buy now £129.99, Robert Dyas
Golofet Portable Air Cooler
- Best for: kids rooms
- Power: 8W
- Tank volume: 300ml
- Extra features: mist sprayer, three-speed wind modes
If you’re looking for something to cool a nursery or child’s bedroom, it can be tricky trying to find the right balance. A cooler offers less of a temperature extreme than an air-con unit and one like this comes with rainbow lights too, working double duty as a night light.
This futuristic-looking cooler also operates as a table fan and mini humidifier, making dry gritty air softer and more comfortable to breathe.
Set it up and forget about it; well until the 300ml water tank runs dry that is (around five hours). Perfect for any room that’s hot and bothered.
Buy now £35.99, Amazon
John Lewis Water Tank Air Cooler Fan, White
- Best for: quietly getting on with it
- Power: 45W
- Tank volume: 4.5L
- Extra features: 3 mode settings, 3 speed settings, and oscillation
With a 4.5L water tank and two ice packs, refreshing breezes are guaranteed with John Lewis's cooler in your corner.
There are three modes and speeds to twiddle with to find your sweet spot and the fan can oscillate too, dispersing cool air evenly across the whole room. Comes with a two-year guarantee.
Buy now £79.20, John Lewis
