Air cooler test & guide
What is an air cooler? How does it work? And what is the difference between an air cooler and air conditioner? Air coolers are a space-saving and cost-effective alternative to air conditioning. They do not require an exhaust hose and can convert warm air into cold with the help of a water or ice tank. They not only ensure pleasant temperatures in summer, but also a better indoor climate with optimal humidity. Air coolers differ in operation, design and many other factors. In our big guide, we'll show you how to choose the ideal air cooler.
Air cooler: comparison of features and performance
Buying an air cooler and still aren't sure how to choose the right model? We'll help you! In the following, we will show you different types of air coolers, and explain different functions as well as advantages and disadvantages. This is how we'll support you in making the best decision for yourself. You can use air coolers almost anywhere. Whether in private living rooms or in the office - when it gets hot in summer, they ensure a pleasant climate.
Klarstein's air cooler
Product tip
Waterfall air cooler
Simple air cooling with a water tank and two ice packs with a waterfall. Space saving in a modern tower design
- Can be used as an air cooler, humidifier and ioniser
- Modern design in white and black
- Easy operation with remote control
Klarstein's air cooler with water cooling has a simple and unobtrusive design and fits into any room. Thanks to simple operation with different modes and a sleep timer, the devices are easy to set up. In addition, thanks to dust filters, many air coolers also serve as air humidifiers and air purifiers. Real all-rounders that make your life more comfortable.
- Air cooling and humidification in one
- With ioniser
- With individual setting options
Advantages:
- Less power than an air conditioner
- Rather expensive compared to other air coolers
Disadvantages:
Air cooler with water
Product tip
Sonnendeck 3-in-1 air cooler
Bring a breath of fresh air into your home. The Sonnendeck air cooler is a 3-in-1 device and has a removable 6-litre water tank.
- 2 wind types and 3 wind speeds
- Incl. Filter for dust
- Large water tank
Air coolers with water use the water to cool the air down. The water evaporates, cooling the air and releasing it back into the room. Large water tanks ensure that you don't have to fill up the tank as often, and that you also have a good climate throughout the night. In addition, the air is distributed in the room by oscillation.
- Large water tank for less refilling
- Oscillation horizontally and vertically
- Energy saving and environmentally friendly
Advantages:
- Less power than an air conditioner
Disadvantages:
Mini air cooler
Product tip
Mini air cooler
Space-saving cooling anywhere? No problem with a mini air cooler.
- Extremely compact
- Portable and ready to use anywhere
- Practical and easy to stow away
Mini air coolers are extremely compact devices that are usually placed directly on the desk, a side table or the bedside table to provide a small cooling effect. They also work with a water tank and cool the air through evaporation.
- Extremely space saving
- Lower cost factor
- Cool design
Advantages:
- Cooling down for only 1 person
- Must be well aligned
- Less effective
Disadvantages:
Mobile air cooler
Product tip
OneConcept Caribbean Blue 3-in-1 air cooler
Fan, air cooler and humidifier all in one! The oneConcept air cooler is fully mobile and always ready for use
- Incl. Cold packs
- Large water tank
- Easy operation
oneConcept air coolers are equipped with large water tanks, are inexpensive and super easy to use. A mobile air cooler with several rollers can be easily rolled from A to B, and can therefore always be used according to the situation. You should make sure that the rollers run smoothly and that the device is not angled too much when it is repositioned.
- Full mobility thanks to rollers
- Large water tank with cold packs
- Can also be used as a fan and humidifier
Advantages:
- Without ioniser
Disadvantages:
Air cooler with cold packs
Product tip
Skyscraper Ice 4-in-1 air cooler
Many functions, elegant design and even more effective refreshment: The air cooler with cold packs ensures refreshing temperatures - everywhere.
- Can cool even better with cold packs and ice cubes
- With ioniser and fan
- Modern tower design in four colours
Air coolers with ice packs like the Skyscraper 4-in-1 air cooler can ensure even cooler temperatures thanks to ice cubes or ice packs. Since they work with water evaporation, no exhaust pipe is required and they can be used anywhere. Thanks to the modern design and many possible applications, the air coolers are an enrichment for every living and working space.
- Particularly cool thanks to cold packs
- Modern but unobtrusive design
- Simple operation on the device or by remote control
Advantages:
- Comparatively expensive
Disadvantages:
Air cooler comparison
| Klarstein Air Cooler | Air cooler with water | Mobile air cooler | Air cooler with cold packs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price / performance | 219.99 Euro, good | 153.99 Euro, good | 75.99 Euro, very good | 199.99 Euro, good |
| Product dimensions | 26 x 96.5 cm (diameter x height) | 29 x 75.5 x 31 cm | 25 x 55 x 28 cm | 28 x 95 cm (diameter x height) |
| Room size | Air throughput: 400 m³/h | Air throughput: up to 888 m³/h | Air throughput: 402 m³/h | Air throughput: 210 m³/h |
| Connection | 45 W | 45 W | 75 W | 30 W |
| Power levels | 3 speeds, 3 modes | 3 wind speeds, 2 wind types | 6 function levels, 3 speeds | 3 speeds, 3 modes |
| Noise emission | 43-65 dB max. | 59 dB max. | 45 dB max. | |
| Cooling | 4 litre water tank with cold packs | 6 litre water tank | 4 litre water tank with ice compartment and cold packs | 6 litre water tank plus cold packs |
| Functions | Air cooler, fan, air purifier, ioniser | Fan, air cooler and humidifier | Fan, air cooler and humidifier | Fan, air cooler, air purifier and humidifier |
| Features | Mobile, with remote control | Mobile, with remote control, 8-hour timer | Mobile | Mobile, with remote control, practical modes |
| Colour selection | Black, white | White | Black, white | Black, grey, white, rose gold |
Tips for buying an air cooler
Now that we've introduced you to different types and models of air coolers and compared them, your choice should be much easier. To summarise, here are the factors to consider before making your decision:
- Room size: Make sure the air cooler is suitable for the size of the room it will be used in. A small air cooler may not be adequate for larger spaces, while a large air cooler may be oversized for a small space.
- Energy efficiency: A good air cooler should be energy efficient in order to save on energy bills. So when choosing, pay attention to the consumption of the device.
- Volume: Air coolers make noise. Depending on the room in which you want to use the air cooler, you should pay attention to the maximum noise emission.
- Operation and functions: The air cooler should be easy to use. Some models have additional features such as a remote control, timer, air filter or humidifier that can improve comfort.
- Price: Air coolers are available in different price ranges. It's important to choose a model that's within your budget while still offering the features and performance you want.
- Maintenance: Air coolers require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Check how easy it is to clean and maintain the air cooler.
Air cooler FAQs
An air cooler uses the process of water evaporation to cool the air in a room. It sucks in the air, cools it down through water evaporation and releases it back into the room. Air coolers may optionally have an integrated fan with oscillation, which means that the air is better distributed throughout the room. This makes the room cooler and the climate more comfortable.
Air coolers have different approaches to air conditioning systems in order to cool a room. The biggest visible difference is that air conditioners require an exhaust duct to expel the warm air outside, while air coolers convert the warm air to cold air and expel it again. Powerful air conditioning systems are therefore more effective than air coolers. However, air coolers are mobile, easier to set up and more energy efficient.
First and foremost, it should cool the air in the room. However, many air coolers are real multi-talents. With a built-in filter and ioniser, they can act as humidifiers at the same time. Thanks to oscillation, they are also fans, and thanks to evaporative cooling, they also function as humidifiers.
Most air coolers use between 30 and 75 watts. Compared to air conditioning systems, they are therefore more energy efficient.
If the air cooler works with the system of evaporation, it is also an air humidifier. However, humidifiers are often equipped with other functions, so that they can also emit warm, humidified air, for example.
There are many models and variants of air coolers to choose from. When choosing a space cooler, you should think about things like: - how well it cools, - the size, - the cost of electricity, - convenience features and bonuses. Air coolers are more about circulating cool air than actually cooling the whole room. The cooling performance depends on the coolant used and how well it can circulate. Make sure the capacity matches the room size - larger rooms need more power.
If you clean your air cooler regularly and change the filters, then there is no direct danger to you or the environment. However, you should pay close attention to hygiene and never operate your air cooler directly towards you for a long period of time. This can lead to colds, as you can quickly become hypothermic. If the air cooler is not cleaned, bacteria can quickly build up. Fungi and mould spores form and multiply. You should prevent this at all costs.
Used sparingly and not in continuous operation, air coolers can be used anywhere. However, you should be careful with rooms that already have high humidity. Here, an additionally increased humidity can lead to a faster formation of mould in the room. In addition, you should never leave the air cooler running while facing you in continuous operation.
Yes. Good air coolers can reduce the room temperature by up to 10 °C under ideal conditions. Air coolers are most effective when the environment is very warm and dry. This is because they lower the temperature using the principle of evaporation and thus humidify the room air. But what is much more important is that through the combination of evaporation and the release of the cooled air by a fan, the cooling effect can be much stronger for you than the actual degree reading on the thermometer.
Used well, a mini air cooler is effective. However, it is only suitable for refreshing one person - not for an entire room. If the air cooler is well aligned, it can cool you down in the office or other places.