Written by Gaby
Edited on
23 June 2025
·
13:52
The differences between a fan and a portable air conditioner
On hot summer days, a fan and portable air conditioner can provide cool air. But what exactly are the differences? We'll explain it to you, so you know exactly which product suits you best.
Comparison fan and portable air conditioner
| Fans | Portable air conditioners | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling type | Breeze | Reduces room temperature |
| Placement | Near socket | Within 1.5m distance from window or front door |
| Weight | 2 - 7kg | 20 - 43kg |
| Wheels | No | Yes |
| Maintenance | Dust off | Dust off, clean filters, and empty condenser reservoir |
| Energy consumption | Low | Medium - high |
Cooling type
Fan: redistributes the air
A fan doesn't cool the air, but redistributes it. This means you feel a breeze, just like when you're outside when it's windy on a hot summer day. It feels colder than no wind at all. So the temperature remains the same, but it feels colder.
Portable air conditioner: cools the air
A portable air conditioner cools and removes moisture from the air. Thanks to this, the temperature lowers and you're less bothered by oppressive warm air. It collects the moisture in a condenser reservoir. You can empty it via a tap. Via a drain hose, the air conditioner blows warm air outwards.
User-friendliness
Fan: lightweight and little maintenance
A fan is lightweight and you can easily take it with you to a different room. This way, you can enjoy a breeze in the living room during the day and in the bedroom at night. Fans need little maintenance. The only thing you have to do every now and then is dust the fan cover and blades.
Portable air conditioner: heavy and a lot of maintenance
A portable air conditioner is heavy, because it weighs more than 20kg. Due to this, you can't just take it with you to a different floor. You also always need a window with window seal kit when you use the air conditioner. When the air in your house is humid, you need to empty the condenser reservoir daily.
