There’s nothing worse than being trapped in a hot office, and especially so if that office has a lack of airflow. The solution to this problem is air conditioning, but you’ve got to also consider the needs of your workers – to this end, cool water and ice are excellent ways to boost morale during the hotter months and to keep everybody sane.

With that in mind, here’s some superb ice machines to consider for your business.

1. VonShef Digital Ice Maker and Dispenser

The VonShef Digital Ice Maker and Dispenser (Amazon, £109.99) is ideal for the office or the factory floor. It can make up to 800g of ice at a time (up to 15kg in 24-hours) and has a 1-litre water reservoir, so you don’t have to keep refilling it. Ice can be made in three sizes and a neat digital LCD display offers ease of use and maximum control.

2. Andrew James Compact Ice Maker

The Andrew James Compact Ice Maker (Amazon, £89.99) is smaller than the VonShef but equally as powerful. It too can create up to 15kg of ice in 24-hours and it also has a large water reservoir (2.4-litres). Ice can only be made in two sizes, but at this price who’s complaining. This is one of the smallest ice makers on the market so it’s ideal for compact spaces.

3. Porkka Ice Machines

Porkka ice machines (ACL Refrigeration, £TBA) can make up to a whopping 600 kilos of ice everyday and 20 kilos of ice on a single cycle. Ideal for larger applications such as in bars, cafes, restaurants or catering facilities, these ice machines are extremely powerful and can serve a workforce of over one hundred people with ease. Get in touch with ACL for a quote today. Commercial vs. compact ice makers When choosing an ice machine for your business, it’s important to consider what size of ice machine you will require. Often, space is the limiting factor, in which case the good news is that there are a wide variety of ice machines on the market and chances are there will be at least a few which are of the right size. For office floors, compact ice makers are an ideal solution, but for larger areas of work a commercial ice machine is going to be better for your business – these can produce a lot more ice and are an essential appliance for catering facilities.

How many times has somebody you know complained about how stuffy their room is?

In the UK, people don’t seem to have discovered portable air conditioning units yet – appliances that can easily cool a bedroom or living room and appliances that don’t cost the earth. If you are new to portable air conditioners, here’s a list of the key benefits to buying one:

They are a take-anywhere appliance

Portability is the biggest benefit of portable air conditioning units. They can be moved from room to room and home to home with minimal effort, which also makes them ideal for small office environments. Thanks to their small size, they are easy to store away during the colder months and when it gets warm, they don’t take up much space.

They are energy efficient

Portable air conditioning units run off a power socket and draw very little energy in comparison to their larger, fixed air conditioning brethren. This means they’re not going to cost you much money to run on a day-to-day basis, and they’re not going to harm the environment. Because they are energy efficient, this will give you extra scope when running other appliances.

They are relatively safe

Because they draw little power from a wall socket, portable air conditioners don’t get hot – so you aren’t at any risk of burning yourself or the unit catching fire (unless there’s a serious internal malfunction). Like all electrical appliances, these air conditioners are also backed up by safety features to prevent electrical shocks and to cut power in the event of a malfunction.

They can cool or heat a room

Lots of portable air conditioners have a dual feature for cooling or heating air – much like larger fixed air conditioners do. Thus, they can be used all year round. These units should be able to cool or heat a small room all by themselves and if you combine two or three a larger room should not be a problem. Dual-heat air conditioners cost more than regular units, though.

They are cost-effective

Not just to run, but to buy too. Good portable air conditioners can be purchased on sale online for as little as £100, and they are ideal for cooling a small room. You tend to pay more for higher output models and dual-heat models, but you shouldn’t be paying more than £350 for a top-of-the-range portable air conditioner. Be sure to shop around for the best price.

Buying a second hand air conditioner is akin to buying a second hand car. The process is much the same – you find a model that suits your budget and needs, you go and inspect that model and if everything is in order you buy it. But, as with buying a car, there are certain things that you should consider when buying a second hand air conditioner – things which are often overlooked but are essentials in order to come away with an appliance that’s worth the money.

So, here’s our guide on what to look for when considering a second hand air conditioner.

Size

Size matters – the required cooling capacity for an air conditioner depends on the size of the room it’s to be installed within. So before you start to look at used air conditioners, find out what output you need your air conditioner to have. Most people buy air conditioners that are too large but contrary to belief these are less effective, and they also waste a lot of energy.

Condition

Buying a second hand air conditioner that’s over five years old or more is fine – so long as it has been serviced at the required intervals and well looked after. As with buying a car, the cosmetic and internal condition of the air conditioner is important – poor cosmetic condition can point toward a unit that’s not been well looked after. We recommend having an expert check it over.

Price

As with any appliance, the times move on. Although you might be able to buy a top of the range model from three years ago for a bargain price second hand now, the latest like-for-like version might be cheaper just as effective – so that’s something to consider. Secondly, air conditioners depreciate, so if you are going to buy one second hand consider its future retail value.

Maintenance

Regular air conditioning servicing is important to keep it in tip top condition, but in-between service intervals regular maintenance is important too. So look for second hand air conditioners that are easy to maintain – most modern air conditioners have a filter that slides out easily for regular cleaning and most will have logically placed controls to turn off your air conditioner.

If the air conditioner you want to buy isn’t easy to clean, it isn’t a deal-breaker though.