The UK has experienced its driest summer since 1961, with average temperatures of 20.9C. We’ve had one of the hottest summers on record, and it’s set to continue till September. Which is why you should invest in an air conditioner, a much-needed relief from the approaching second heatwave, where temperatures are set to rise to above 30C.
Whether you call it air-con, air con, portable cooling or portable air conditioning, it doesn’t really matter as they all work in the same way. An air conditioning unit is very simple and in operation is like a refrigerator. The hot air from the room is passed over a cold coil that makes it colder and removes some of the moisture that makes the air feel sticky.
This cooler air is blown back into the room to provide a fresh feeling.
Air from the room is blown over the coil that is now hot, to discharge this heat to the outside via the flexible hose.
Air conditioners are great in the heat – here’s our advice on how to get the most out of them:
Seal the air!
To make the air conditioning unit work as efficiently as possible, it is essential that the hose discharges the hot air to the outside and not back within the room. To help the air conditioning unit work as hard as possible, keep the room well sealed by closing doors and windows wherever you can. Blinds will also reduce the amount of heat coming in through windows.
Empty water frequently
Most of the water collected during the cooling process is evaporated down the hose, but there will always be a small amount that collects into the small reserve tank in the air conditioner. So occasionally your unit will turn off and will wait for you to empty the tank, which is done by removing a bung at the bottom of the rear of the machine and draining the water away via a hose. Expect to do this more often on humid days and especially when there is thunder in the air.
Prepare in advance
To get the best from a machine try and run it in the room before you need to use the room. For example, running the air conditioner in a bedroom for a few hours before you go to bed will probably mean that you can turn the air con off when you get into bed. A much quieter and more satisfactory solution.
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12 responses
Hi, my MC9000CH has no plug on the lower drain at the rear of the machine, when using it as a AC it has soaked our carpet with water. Should it have a plug on the lower drain. Also how do we drain the water tank please?
Thank you
Roy,
Thanks for reaching out.
Yes, the lower drain should have a plug, and this is explained in the user manual. Give us a quick call if you need more help with draining the tank or anything else. We’ll also arrange to send you a free bung for the AC drain port.
KR,
Omar@Meaco
I can’t find the drainage hose for my 12000btu and I can’t see it being available as a spare part?
Peter,
Thanks for getting in touch. Give our team a call and we’ll be happy to take your order for one directly.
Hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco
Hi
My air conditioner has been working well so far. Today ive put it on in the super hot 31 degree heatwave and i cant seem to get the room temp lower than 24 degrees with it on the highest setting.
Is it normal that it would struggle to get the temp lower in this type of heatwave weather or is it more likely im doing something wrong?
Laura,
Thank you for your message. The air coming out of the front of the unit will be significantly cooler, but how much the overall room temperature drops depends on several factors, such as the size of the room, the insulation quality, and how much direct sunlight (solar gain) the room receives.
Typically, the temperature difference between the air intake and outlet is around 5 to 6 degrees Celsius. These units are optimized for hotter climates and are designed primarily for comfort cooling. For example, if you start at around 28 degrees Celsius, you’ll feel the cooling effect more quickly than if you start at 21 degrees.
So, it’s normal for the unit to struggle a bit to get the room down to a much lower temperature during extreme heat like a 31-degree heatwave, especially depending on your room conditions.
Provided you control sun exposure and other heat sources by using blinds or curtains and keep the room sealed, the unit will continue to deliver effective cooling.
I hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco
We have been using this machine from brand new just over a week ago. Last night the room smelled of garlic. Why would this be?
Roz,
Thank you for your enquiry. To note our MC Series themselves don’t produce smells but can absorb odors from the environment. These odors can then be released again when the unit is running, especially shortly after use.
To help clear the smell, we recommend running your air con in a room with all windows open for half a day-a day. This should help flush out any trapped odors inside the unit.
If you continue to notice unusual smells, please contact our customer service for further support.
KR,
Omar@Meaco
The 1.8 meter hose is very slightly a bit short if I purchase the 12000btu could I use a 2 meter hose instead?
Chris,
Thank you for your enquiry. No matter which BTU model you choose, all units come with a 1.8m duct hose as standard. You can use a 2m hose if absolutely necessary, but that’s really the maximum length we’d recommend!
Longer hoses decrease cooling efficiency and greater airflow resistance. As the cooled air travels through an extended duct. To note we don’t have stock for the 2m hoses this season, so you’d need to source one yourself.
Keeping the duct as short and straight as possible is best for optimal performance.
I hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco
These practical points to consider in maintaining healthy and working ACs certainly provide guidelines on how to properly keep closed areas cool even amid hot summer weather. Thank you for this post and I hope to read more of your advice that may help AC owners like me in understanding how our units work and how we can make sure each one is properly cared for.
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you found the post helpful.
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.