Which air conditioner is best for your Spanish home?

Air conditioning technicians are some of the most in-demand tradesmen when it starts heating up in Spain. They can update existing machines (which we totally advise) or install new ones. So, with the summer heat just around the corner – and it's set to be a scorcher – it's a good idea to start thinking about sorting out your aircon. If you already have one, get it checked out, and if not, get one installed, and everyone will be cool and happy.

Here are a few tips if you are thinking about installing air conditioning:

• Be sustainable: look at the label and see how efficient it is. You can save the most energy with class A. Some gadgets help with energy consumption, for example, motion sensors, which will make the machine start up when someone is in the room. Other elements that help are smart thermostats: if you change the one you already have, which is usually a basic one, for a Wi-Fi-enabled model, you can save up to 35% of electricity. You can program and control everything from your smartphone, making it practical.
• Energy type: choose between electricity and aerothermal energy. The latter is more ecological and efficient but normally requires more expensive equipment for installation (aerothermal equipment works with energy from the outside air). For split and multi-split systems, the heat pump is connected to the electricity. If you are worried about your electricity bill, an aerothermal system and a heat pump with solar panels are the two systems that use the least energy, so keep them in mind.
• Something else to consider is the aircon's noise level: if you want a quiet appliance, you should check how many decibels (dB) are marked on the energy label. The ideal level is between 16 and 24.
• Get out your calculator, not just to work out how much your air conditioner will cost, but the cooling capacity you need. Cooling capacity is measured in frigories. You need to find out how many cubic metres the room has, which is calculated by multiplying the width by the length and the height. Then, multiply the result by 50, and you will get the frigories per hour your equipment should have. Remember that you will also have to think about the room's orientation: if it is south- or west-facing, it will need more.
• If you're design conscious: ducted air conditioning systems are the most discreet. Some wall-mounted models look like paintings, a plus if you are a design fanatic.