'I bought a Meaco portable air conditioner - it's perfect for battling the heat'

Brits have been slammed with temperatures reaching highs of 33C, sending many scrambling for fans and lighter garments to combat the sweltering heat and oppressive humidity.

Yet this summer, my home remains a sanctuary of cool comfort, thanks to a wise investment in a portable air conditioner last year.

Admittedly, I was brimming with scepticism initially - not unlike your reaction right now - fretting about spiralling energy costs, the price tag and the potential racket it might cause. Despite these concerns, it's proven to be an absolute game-changer through last year's brief scorcher and the current toasting temperatures.

The MeacoCool MC Series Pro 10000 CH BTU Portable Air Conditioner snagged for roughly £400 at Costco may have seemed a dear outlay, yet it's thoroughly justified its value by delivering breezy relief to me and my partner, particularly valuable as we work from home.

When you're hunting for the ideal air cooler, a typical household can get by with a 7000BTU device retailing at £329.99. However, for those seeking to chill larger chambers or open plans, I'd urge you to consider the same robust 10000 BTU model I chose, currently retailing at £429.

Understanding "BTU", shorthand for British Thermal Units, is crucial when assessing air conditioners. It quantifies the thermal energy needed to elevate the temperature of a single pound of water by one Fahrenheit degree.

The capacity of the room you wish to cool determines the BTU power of your air conditioner. I opted for a 10000 BTU device to chill the upper floor of my house - primarily my bedroom - so I could enjoy a peaceful night's sleep.

The first step is to measure your room's square footage using a BTU calculator like this one, then look for air conditioners with that BTU. I personally chose a slightly higher BTU in case I needed to cool larger rooms in my house, such as the living room - a strategy I recommend to shoppers.

Over the past week, I've been running the unit on Dry Mode, which essentially acts as a cooling dehumidifier, removing moisture from the room and cooling it down - making it feel less stuffy and humid. It's a fantastic feature to use before bedtime - but you do need to connect a hose and bucket to dispose of the moisture.

Then there's the Cool Mode, which does exactly what it says on the tin. It blasts extremely cold air across the room, making the heat far more bearable within half an hour.

It's one of the best purchases I've ever made - and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Alternatively, AppliancesDirect has this 12000BTU unit from electriQ for £329 or this £284.95 12000BTU one from Costway.

However, it's not all plain sailing. Despite these units being energy efficient, they do consume a significant amount of electricity - but when I'm feeling hot, I don't mind my bill increasing slightly for the sake of comfort. Portable air conditioners can be quite loud. Don't take my word lightly when I say how noisy it is.

My partner and I often doze off with it running for an hour or so. We've become accustomed to the noise - but it took us some time because it is EXTREMELY loud. There's also the task of handling a large hose outside the window - which can be tricky and irritating.

However, for the relief it provides during sweltering periods like these, I am more than willing to bear the additional cost and noise - just to avoid feeling like I'm dissolving like an ice lolly.

READ MORE

• Your iPhone is getting a huge free upgrade - the best 5 features coming soon
• Everyone using Vodafone and Three gets huge boost as major change confirmed
• Argos is selling the iPad at 'lowest price ever' but stock is running out
• BT and Virgin Media broadband rival coming to a million more UK homes
• Samsung is about to make these Galaxy phones look very inferior - is yours on the list?