GoodHome Malay 9000BTU Local Air Conditioner review: will this AC unit keep you cool in hot weather?

Overall star rating: 4/5

Price on writing: £299 | Buy now from B&Q

As temperature rise, so too does the demand for the best portable air conditioners, and we've already seen some units flying off the (virtual) shelves and selling out. One AC unit that's still available is the GoodHome Malay 9000BTU Local Air Conditioner. It may be pricey, setting you back around £300, but it's relatively pocket-friendly compared to some other models. Plus, AC units are far more effective at cooling a room than a tower fan, as they actively lower the temperature rather than blowing the same air around the room to create a breeze.

So, is the GoodHome Malay 9000BTU worth the splurge? MNHQ tester Matt put two of them through their paces in his home during the recent heatwave. Since buying the PAC units in mid-June, they've been used every day whilst the weather is hot and also overnight to cool the room for sleeping. Read on to see how Matt rated the GoodHome Malay.

Plus, for more ways to beat the heat this summer, we've rounded up the best cooling boxes, neck fans and handheld fans according to Mumsnet users.

Our verdict on the GoodHome Malay 9000BTU Local Air Conditioner

• Set up: 4/5

• Ease of use: 4/5

• No. of settings: 4/5

• Cooling power: 4/5

• Portability: 3/5

• Value for money: 4/5

It's hard to fault the GoodHome Malay when it comes to cooling power; testing showed it quickly and effectively lowers a room's temperature (and can probably make it a little too chilly!), and it's also pretty easy to operate either via the panel on the unit or the remote control provided. It's simple to set up, too, although there were some issues with the window sealing kit not being compatible with a lot of windows.

The main drawbacks of the GoodHome Malay are its bulkiness, lack of portability and noise levels; if you can get past this, we think it's a decent, budget-friendly AC unit. Sure, there are more powerful, high-tech air conditioners out there, but they come with a price tag to match, so all in all, we think this is a good buy if you want something with more cooling power than a fan but don't want to spend £500+ on something you'll only use seasonally.

What we like

• Great at cooling a room down

• Also works as a fan and a dehumidifier

• Easy to use

• Can be operated with a remote control

• Display shows current temperature of the room

• Cheaper than other AC units

• Design fits well in most rooms

• Easy to set up

What we don't like

• Bulky

• Noisy

• Wheels don't work well on carpets

• Window seal kit isn't compatible with all windows

• The 12000 BTU version is more powerful

• AC units are less eco-friendly than fans

Related: The best cooling pillows for a dreamy night's sleep

Key specs

BTU rating: 9000 BTU | Functions: Air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier | Energy rating: A on the old scale - new rating not specified | Noise level: 65dB | Fan speeds: 3 | Dimensions: 71 x 33.5 x 44 cm | Weight: 27kg | Cable length: 1.7m | Exhaust duct length: 1.5m | Accessories included: Remote control, draining pipe, exhaust hose, window kit

GoodHome Malay 9000BTU: how we tested

Our tester Matt put two GoodHome Malay AC units through their paces, using them every day for over a week in stifling hot summer weather. He carefully evaluated the units and rated them on their cooling power, ease of use, features, portability, and value for money.

First impressions and set up

On arrival, Matt found that the unit was larger than he expected it to be: "It’s quite bulky, but looks streamlined and would fit in anywhere. It looks good though - although I have no idea where I’m going to put it once the weather gets cooler!"

One disadvantage of a portable air conditioner unit in comparison to a pedestal fan is that PACs take longer to set up as they have to be vented out of a window or wall to work. While the GoodHome Malay was "easy to put together", there were some initial issues with the included window seal kit: "It doesn’t fit a standard UK bedroom window and seems to be only applicable to sliding windows. There is a window seal kit available, but we’ve just trapped the pipe in an open window."

Venting issues aside, Matt found the instructions clear and easy to understand when setting up the air conditioner.

How easy is the GoodHome Malay 9000BTU to use?

If you're desperate for cooling relief on those hot, sticky days, the last thing you want to be contending with is a fiddly air con unit that's difficult to use and non-responsive controls. Fortunately, the GoodHome Malay was very simple to operate. "The temperature controls are easy because it has a large display that shows what temperature the unit is set to. It also shows the current temperature of the room," Matt said.

You can change the settings using the panel on the unit or with the remote control, so you don't even need to get up to operate it. However, "you need to point [the controller] at just the right place on it for it to work reliably," Matt reported.

Manoeuvrability is also an important factor when it comes to ease of use - after all, the whole point of a portable air conditioner is that it's not glued to just one spot. As it's bulky and heavy, the Malay was tricky to move around, but it does have wheels to help shift it between locations. The wheels were great for use on hard floors, Matt found, but they were less effective on carpets.

Related: Stay hydrated in the heat with the best reusable water bottle

How effective is the GoodHome Malay 9000BTU at cooling a room?

Now, onto the important part: its cooling power. While fans are a lot cheaper to buy and run, nothing comes close to an AC unit when it comes to actually reducing a room's temperature, and Matt was impressed with the GoodHome Malay. "It cools the room that it’s in effectively - so effectively my wife slept in a hoodie on the first night we used it because it was freezing! We’ve actually left it on the lowest setting (15ºc), but it usually cools down to around 18ºc before we turn it off." He also found the fan mode was effective, too.

When thinking about an air conditioner's power, you also need to factor in the space you are trying to cool and the AC's BTU (British Thermal Units) rating. Essentially, the higher the BTU rating it has, the more cooling power it has across a bigger area, but this may mean it's more expensive to run and less energy efficient.

As the name of the AC unit suggests, this particular model has 9000BTU, which should be adequate for rooms up to 20m2, but there is also a 12000BTU version (retailing at £400) if you're looking for something more powerful for rooms up to 27m2. While Matt liked the cooling power of the 9000BTU air conditioner, he said: "I’d probably get the 12000BTU version if I was to buy again."

How are the noise levels of the GoodHome Malay 9000BTU?

One of the downsides of the GoodHome Malay was its noise levels. Operating at up to 65dB in the air conditioner mode, it was "quite loud", but it wasn't any noisier than expected, Matt reported. "You can still have a conversation even if you’re right next to it."

It does have a sleep mode for use overnight, which reduces the fan speed, but Matt found it didn't make it quieter as far as he could tell. Still, most AC units will likely make some sort of noise thanks to the compressor, but there are quieter models available if that's a top concern.

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About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices correct at time of publication.

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