It’s summer season again. Ever wondered if we live in the Philippines or inside an oven toaster? It’s getting hot in here. And we can’t really take off all our clothes. How can you focus on remote working when it’s just too frickin’ hot?
What do we do to be cool in this summer heat? Some might argue that you can just sacrifice a few months. But with the temperature reaching 39.9°C, you don’t want to risk heat stroke. What’s the use of money saved from electricity when faced with hospitalization bills. And you don’t want that, right?
Still on a budget? Well, here are 13 affordable fans, air coolers, and air conditioners you can get online for the summer.
Portable Fan
It’s starting to get back to normal. And as we go out of the house more often, we feel the scorching sun burning our very skin. Might be too dramatic, but I’m sure this is how a stick of BBQ feels when cooked.
Well, you can opt for a portable fan for your travelling woes. You can bring a sense of windy relief from all the fiery journey outside. Here are some options!
- Firefly Foldable Fan (295 PHP)
- Awei Mini Portable Rechargeable Fan (199 PHP)
- PolyFeng Portable Bladeless Neck Fan (399 PHP)
It’s small enough to fit your bag or pocket. And some can even be used as a power bank! Dual purpose, yes, please!
Air Cooler vs. Air Conditioners
Next, it’s a battle between air coolers and air conditioners. Both cool the air in a room but the mechanism differs. Air coolers push the air through a water-soaked pad. With this, it cools the air when the water evaporates through it.
On the other hand, air conditioners use refrigerants to “condition” the air. And then, it transfers the hot air outside the room.
Air coolers are quite economical because it doesn’t need too much power. If you live in a country with 4 seasons, it might be enough.
But with how hot and humid the Philippine air is during summer, an air conditioner is the way to go. Air coolers are not powerful enough to cool the air.
Portable Air Coolers
So why are we listing portable air coolers here? Well, not everyone can afford an air conditioner. And full-on air coolers are similarly-priced with air conditioners. So if you have a budget for air coolers, just buy an air conditioner instead.
But if your budget is limited, here are some portable air coolers you can use.
- Dowel Portable Air Cooler (1,300 PHP)
- Xiaomi Microhoo USB Mini Water Cooling Fan (2,299 PHP)
It can definitely help cool your workplace or anywhere you’re staying in the house. It’s better than a regular stand fan. But it’s quite limited if you want something colder.
Air Conditioners
If you have the budget, it’s best to purchase an air conditioner! Again, air coolers are just not designed for the Philippine climate. But how to find the best one for you?
The key in looking for one is your room area. Make sure to find the proper horsepower to cool down your inner inferno. Here’s a rough guide, depending on your floor area.
- 0.6 HP – 6 to 11 sq. m
- 1.0 HP – 18 to 22 sq. m
- 1.5 HP – 23 to 27 sq. m
After that, you need to consider the electricity and maintenance costs.
In general, manual window type air conditioners are the least in maintenance cost, while split type aircon is the most expensive to install and clean.
On the other hand, you can choose an inverter aircon for lower electricity costs. In a nutshell, an inverter aircon saves energy by efficient controlling motor speed. When the motor speed is not at 100% all the time, it consumes less energy.
While inverter air conditioners might be more expensive but the relatively lower electricity cost might be worth the additional price tag.
Here are some affordable options for you.
- 0.60 HP Chigo Manual Window Type Air Conditioner (7,499 PHP, 4.59 PHP per hour consumption)
- 0.60 HP Astron Inverter Class Window Type Air Conditioner (7,199 PHP, 2.48 PHP per hour consumption)
- 1.00 HP Astron Inverter Class Window Type Air Conditioner (12,499 PHP, 3.99 PHP per hour consumption)
You can also opt for well-known brands. But prices might be higher upfront for the same capacity. And they might have a track record to be more reliable. Although, the newer brands have improved customer service as well. So research accordingly.
Portable Airconditioner
What if your room doesn’t have an aircon slot? Are you doomed this scorching summer? No, you’re not! There’s a portable aircon option that you can try.
Although, it might be more expensive than conventional air conditioning. But can you really put a price on your well being? I don’t think so.
Here are some brands that you can choose from.
- Chigo 1.0 HP Portable Air Conditioner (15,999 PHP)
- Fujidenzo 1.5 HP Portable Air Conditioner (17,298 PHP)
- Carrier 1.5 HP Portable Aircon (25,400 PHP)
With this, you can enjoy the cool air from every corner of your home, even if your room is not designed for it.
Air Circulator
What if you already have an aircon but it seems not enough? You can try adding an air circulator.
An air circulator is quite similar to a regular stand fan. But the difference is how it delivers air. Regular stand fans shoot the air directly to where it faces. On the other hand, air circulators blow air in a circular motion around the room, having more coverage.
So how does this help? It can be used in conjunction with your aircon.
When you place your air circulator directly below your air conditioner, it can circulate the cold air better around the room, making it cooler compared to just your unit.
Take note, though, that it can be expensive to buy one. So this might be your last option to solve your fiery woes. Here are some notable brands of air circulators.
- Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator (3,900 PHP)
- Xiaomi Mijia Airmate (5,499 PHP)
With this, you don’t have to buy another unit for a colder room. And you can use it as a regular fan when summer ends.
Conclusion
Are you ready for the summer? Only a few weeks are left before we feel the full flaming wrath of Philippine heat. Go ahead and buy your air coolers and air conditioners today! Happy Summer!
