Air conditioning for a conservatory: what actually works
By Dale @ ukaircontracker · facts checked
Quick answer
A wall-mounted split air conditioner is the most effective unit for a UK conservatory: it removes heat quietly, heats in winter and needs no window. A portable air conditioner works if you can seal its hose through a window or vent panel, but it struggles in full sun. Size the unit above a normal room of the same floor area, because glass lets in far more heat.
No installer needed? Portable air conditioners in stock now
MeacoCool MC Series Pro 9,000 BTU
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Why conservatories overheat
Sunlight passes through glass and polycarbonate and heats everything inside, and the heat cannot escape the same way. A south- or west-facing conservatory can be far hotter than the rest of the house on a sunny afternoon, even in spring.
Which unit to choose
- Wall-mounted split system: best cooling, quiet, heats in winter. Needs a solid wall section (often the house wall) for the indoor unit and an F-gas installer.
- Portable air conditioner: no installation, but the hose must be vented and sealed. Sliding doors and roof vents make sealing awkward.
- Evaporative cooler: low cost, but adds humidity and gives little relief in a hot, sunny conservatory.
Sizing and cheaper fixes
Standard BTU calculators assume an ordinary room with walls. A glazed room gains much more heat, so choose a unit above the size suggested for its floor area, or ask an installer to do a heat-load calculation. Before buying, shading helps a lot: external blinds, roof blinds or reflective film cut the heat at source.
Look at the kit — then buy it
MeacoCool MC Series Pro 9,000 BTU
Pro Breeze 12,000 BTU 4-in-1 Smart AC
AuraHome Portable AC 9,000 BTU — 4-in-1 Cool/Dehumidify/Fan
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Common questions
- Can you put a portable air conditioner in a conservatory?
- Yes, if the exhaust hose can be vented outside and the gap sealed, for example through a window kit or a vent panel in a door. On very sunny days it may not keep up.
- What size air conditioner do I need for a conservatory?
- More than for an ordinary room of the same floor area, because glass lets in much more heat. An installer's heat-load calculation gives the right figure for a fitted system.
- Do I need planning permission for air con on a conservatory?
- It depends on where the outdoor unit goes and your property. See our planning permission guide and check with your council if you are in a listed building or conservation area.