When the temperature rises in an apartment, the first reflex is often to look for a device capable of making the air breathable. The Valberg portable air conditioner, sold at Electro Dépôt, comes up in discussions every summer. But should you really invest in a portable air conditioner, or is a simple fan sufficient? The answer depends less on the budget than on what you actually expect from the device.
Refrigerant R290 or R410A: what no one looks at before buying
Before comparing prices or noise levels, one technical criterion deserves your attention: the type of refrigerant used in the portable air conditioner. Recent Valberg models (9,000 and 12,000 BTU) can use R410A or R290. The difference is not trivial.
R410A is a gas with a high global warming potential, subject to increasing regulatory restrictions in Europe. A device that operates on R410A may face maintenance issues in the medium term, as R410A refills are becoming rarer and more expensive. R290 (propane), on the other hand, has an almost negligible climate impact and remains compatible with future standards.
Why does this detail matter to you? Because a portable air conditioner purchased today with a refrigerant facing restrictions could become an orphan device in three or four summers. Check the technical specifications before heading to the checkout. If you are still unsure between the available models, a comparison of Electro Dépôt Valberg portable air conditioners allows you to quickly identify which model uses which refrigerant.
Valberg column fan or portable air conditioner: two cooling logics
A fan does not cool the air. It circulates it. The feeling of coolness comes from the acceleration of sweat evaporation on the skin. If you leave the room, the temperature hasn’t changed a degree.
A portable air conditioner, however, works like an open refrigerator in the room. It draws in warm air, passes it through a circuit containing a refrigerant, and expels the extracted heat outside via a drainage hose. The air conditioner lowers the actual temperature of the room, not just the perceived sensation.
Have you ever noticed that a fan becomes useless beyond a certain heat? That’s normal. When the ambient air exceeds body temperature, circulating warm air no longer provides any relief. The portable air conditioner continues to operate because it actively extracts heat from the room.
What Valberg users do in practice
Field feedback shows that many users do not choose between a fan and an air conditioner. They combine both. A Valberg column fan runs during the day for light and economical air circulation. The portable air conditioner takes over when the temperature exceeds the comfort threshold, typically in the late afternoon or at night in a bedroom.
Combining a fan and a portable air conditioner reduces the operating time of the air conditioning, thus lowering the electricity bill. The fan distributes the cooled air more evenly throughout the room, allowing the air conditioning to be turned off earlier.
Actual operating cost: the bill that product sheets do not show
A column fan consumes very little electricity. A monoblock portable air conditioner with power suitable for a room of about 25 m² costs, according to Que Choisir, about 20 cents per hour in electricity, or nearly 5 euros per day in continuous operation.
This figure changes the game. Here are the items to compare before buying:
- The purchase price: a Valberg column fan costs significantly less than a portable air conditioner of the same brand, sometimes three to four times less.
- Electricity consumption: the fan consumes a fraction of what a portable air conditioner requires. Over an entire summer, the difference on the bill is significant.
- Maintenance: a fan only requires dusting. A portable air conditioner needs to empty the condensate tank, clean the filters, and potentially manage the refrigerant at the end of its life.
- Useful lifespan: a fan lasts for years without issues. A portable air conditioner with R410A refrigerant may face complicated maintenance due to regulatory restrictions.
The fan is the most economical choice in use, but it does not replace real air conditioning when a heatwave sets in.
Noise level: the criterion that separates at night
Using a portable air conditioner in a bedroom at night poses a concrete problem: noise. Que Choisir reminds us bluntly that a silent portable air conditioner does not exist. Even in night mode or at reduced speed, the compressor and internal fan produce a noise level that disturbs light sleepers.
A column fan, on low speed, generates a much more discreet steady airflow. Some users even find this white noise soothing. For the bedroom, the fan is more suitable for sleep than any monoblock portable air conditioner.
The most effective strategy is to run the portable air conditioner for one to two hours before bedtime to lower the room temperature, then switch to the fan for the night. The room stays cool longer without the noise of the compressor.
EPC and coefficient 2026: an unknown parameter for all-electric homes
Since January 1, 2026, the conversion coefficient of electricity to primary energy has changed from 2.3 to 1.9 in the EPC calculation. In plain terms, an electric device weighs less in the energy class of the home than before. For a tenant or owner in an all-electric home, using a portable air conditioner now has a slightly reduced impact on the energy performance diagnosis.
This change does not make mobile air conditioning free in terms of energy. It simply alters how this consumption is accounted for in official documents. Classic comparisons have not yet integrated this update, which skews some recommendations published before 2026.
The choice between a fan and a Valberg portable air conditioner does not have a universal answer. A fan is sufficient for moderate heat and nights. A portable air conditioner becomes necessary when the indoor temperature consistently exceeds the comfort threshold. Both devices work better together than separately, and checking the refrigerant before purchase avoids unpleasant surprises in a few summers.