(Image credit: Dreo)
I don't need to tell you how uncomfortable it is to be stuck in a room with temperatures climbing past 30°C / 86°F and no air conditioning. We're only a couple of weeks into summer but Europe (where I am) is in the grip of a heatwave with temperatures hitting over 40°C / 104°F this week.Things are no different in the United States. According to data shared by the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), more than half of the country should brace for temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the coming days. And that's not even taking into account the humidity.Naturally, the response is to crank up the A/C to stay cool. But if you don't already have one of the best smart air conditioners at home, it can be expensive and time-consuming to get one installed. The solution is to pick up a portable unit right now in the Amazon Prime Day sales. Not only can you save some cash, but chances are you can have it delivered and ready to go before the heatwave really hits.I've scoured Amazon and found a few options worth considering if you've finally decided that the personal fan you bought weeks ago just ain't cutting it.US portable A/C dealsUK portable A/C dealsUnfortunately, finding deals on portable AC units in the U.K. is proving tough right now. Given the current state of the country — with a severe heat warning in place — many units are selling out fast.Here are some of the ones I've found that are still in stock. Although there's no telling how long they'll be available for.What to know before buyingThe main thing you want to look at before buying a portable air conditioner is the BTU rating. That stands for British Thermal Unit and indicates the cooling capacity. In effect, how much heat it can get rid of in a room over the course of one hour.The higher the number, the more powerful the cooling. Anything that's rated 5,000 BTUs and above will be more than sufficient to cool a small-to-medium room. The only trade-off you need to be aware of is noise levels, particularly if you plan to run the air con while you sleep. Anything over 65 decibels is likely to become a disturbance during the night.We're tracking all the best Prime Day dealsThe Tom's Guide Savings Squad is busy finding the best products for less this Prime Day! Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get all the latest. Alternatively, you can read our content on the Tom's Guide app available now for iOS and Android.
