If you want to be cool in summer, there is no avoiding an expensive split device, say the product testers. The cheap monoblocks do not cool sufficiently and are little more than a makeshift solution.
Even if you can hardly believe it at the moment, summer is approaching and with it high temperatures. Basically, the summer months are getting hotter and hotter, so you should consider getting an air conditioner to be able to work or get some sleep. The Stiftung Warentest has tested air conditioning units again. Most interested parties will not be pleased with your judgment, however. The testers really only want to recommend the built-in, expensive split devices; the cheap, portable monoblocks do not provide enough and consume too much.
Fixed installation necessary
Split units consist of two modules. One is in the apartment, one outside, and is usually mounted on the wall. Holes for supply lines must be drilled in the wall. The installation may only be carried out by a specialist company because of the air conditioning, and it is also demanding in terms of craftsmanship. In addition to the high costs of the devices, assembly is an additional factor. If the apartment is not at ground level, the installation is very complex. Fixed installation also means: one device cools one room at a time. It is not possible to move it from the study to the bedroom in the evening. On the other hand, the cooling performance is also good and the power consumption is kept within limits – at least with the more expensive split devices in the test. If the apartment is to be cooled for weeks or months, there is no alternative to a split device. The electricity-guzzling monoblocks are therefore not found in Mediterranean countries. It is not only the high acquisition costs of over 2000 euros per device that speak against the split devices, tenants must obtain the landlord’s consent for the installation, and that will often not be the case.
If only it has to be mono
Despite the verdict of the testers, the mono blocks remain the only choice for many. The harsh judgment is put into perspective if the devices are only used in an emergency. So when the study is tempered three weeks a year, or the bedroom is cooled down before going to bed. In principle, it is not possible to keep a large apartment cool for a long time with a monoblock. The relatively low cooling capacity of the devices must then be compensated for with a longer lead time. You can’t expect an overheated room to get comfortably cool in 15 minutes.
The test examined how long it takes to bring a room of around 40 cubic meters from 30 to 24 degrees. The fastest split devices did it in six minutes. So come in, switch on and immediately a pleasant coolness spreads out. Monoblocks need at least half an hour for this.
Everyone here has to ask themselves what their own situation looks like. If you are not allowed to install a split device at all, half an hour’s lead time is perhaps more attractive than no cooling at all. However, the performance of the devices is not high either. With outside temperatures of 35 degrees, split units have no problem keeping the room permanently at 24 degrees, the monoblocks, on the other hand, could run at full load. They do not reach the desired 24 degrees. Here, too, the question of individual assessment arises. You can also say that 26.5 degrees are better with a monoblock than 35 degrees without any cooling. By the way, monoblocks are not quite as flexible as they look. They work with an exhaust air hose that has to be led outside – usually a window is used that is opened a crack. The gap can be sealed with special coatings, but then it is difficult to move the device from one room to another.
Big investment
The test winner is a split device from (FTXJ35MW / RXJ35M) for 2540 euros. The Toshiba device (RAS-13PAVPG-E / RAS-13PKVPG-E) for 2170 euros and the Mitsubishi model (MSZ EF35VGKW / MUZ EF35VG) for 2520 euros also achieved good marks. The prices do not include installation. If you want to cool the whole apartment, you need two, three or four devices. The testers do not want to recommend the monoblocks, and no device gets beyond sufficient. The ChillFlexPro AXP26U338CW from is “barely passable” . It costs 500 euros. The Suntec Easy 2.7 is hardly worse in the grade for only 259 euros.
Conclusion: In principle, the testers are right, but the price differences are also enormous. Two devices from the test winner including installation costs are over 6,000 euros. Two cool boxes from Suntec do not cost 500 euros. Some allow professional air conditioning, others are just a self-defense measure against excessively oppressive heat.
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
