Koolbreeze Climatemaster P14000HCJ

Packed up after just over 15 months, no A/C or heating mode and no help from supplier or manufacturer with direction as to how, where or with whom it could be repaired. Expensive mistake....

Koolbreeze have now changed the name of this model from the Climatemaster to the Climateasy 14. They have taken the opportunity to introduce further improvements to the exhaust system and the water pump system so that all water is evaporated. However, it still looks very similar. The updated model is designated the P14HCP.

I particularly like how quiet the unit is. It does make a difference when you can speak easily on the phone when it is operating (not possible with a lot of other models).

The improved water management means the unit does not need water to be emptied from it at all, even in heating mode.

The heating is also an additional bonus and can be a valuable (and efficient) boost to your normal heating.

I bought a second Climatemaster after using one for 4 years (its still going)as I wanted air conditioning in another room. The unit has been updated since the first one I bought so it is more efficient (Grade A) and even quieter. It now uses only 1.6Kw of electricity to produce 4.1Kw of output because it uses heat pump technology and now uses R410a refrigerant. It is so quiet it is easy to have a telephone conversation. It also comes with a 2 metre exhaust hose which is longer than most on the market.

Koolbreeze units cost a bit more than most but I have proved they last so its worth it

This unit does exactly what it says on the tin. It gets a large room cold quickly and keeps you cool. It has the added benefit that it can provide supplementary heat in the winter months very cheaply. As one of the other reviewers said, it is also very quiet which is more than some other portable air conditioners.

I would thoroughly concur that this unit works in the way that was described by the critical reviewer - and I note that whilst the subsequent reviewer criticised that review, they did not point out how / in what way the way the machine works differed from the description. The unit DOES suck in air from under the nearest door, and DOES work in the way described.

As for the efficiency of the unit, I seriously question the efficiency claimed, and I've not seen any independent data to backup the claims of the manufacturer. Interestingly, the external temperature min/max range over which the machine is said to heat/cool is only 0 degrees (heating cycle) to 35/24 DB/WB degrees (cooling cycle). At zero degrees my machine was expelling air at 4 degrees to the outside world whilst sucking air under the door from the outside world at zero degrees - which you don't need to be a climate engineer to know is not efficient!

It's a bit like trying to measure the efficiency of your fridege whilst having the door open .. rather defeats the object doesn't it?

I look forward to a CONSTRUCTIVE reply from the manufacturer!

I agree with the majority of your reviewers that this is an extremely good product. The fact that it uses only 1.6Kw of electricity to produce 4.1Kw of heating or cooling makes it extremely economical.It is also very quiet, a major advantage when you are on the phone.

I cannot agree with your one reviewer who rates the product 5 for value, 4 for durability, 3 for service, 4 for ease of use and 4 for style yet then gives an overall rating of only 1 ?? Has he even used the product? I would seriously doubt it given his simplistic and misleading description of how a heat pump works. He is also simply wrong about how well the Climatemaster handles temperature. The Climatemaster easily cools a large lounge or office to under 18 degrees even when its 28 to 30 degrees outside.

The Koolbreeze Climatemaster is a portable air conditioner/ heat pump, It works by taking air from within the room, splitting it into 2 streams (one of colder air, the other of warmer air than the air sucked in) and directs one of these streams out of the exhaust pipe, and the other back into the room (you can change which is which to make it work as either a heater or an air conditioner).

Inevitably, air is sucked in (usually under the nearest door!) from outside the room to replace the air expelled out of the exhaust pipe... This rather defeats the purpose if you are trying to make the room warmer/cooler than the outside temperature.

That's a bit different from a permanent air conditioner (or heat pump), which would have two entirely seperate circuits, and this makes the Koolbreeze much less efficient than a twin circuit system, and much less than advertised by Cottage Stores, except in very highly specific circumstances (e.g. lots of bodies in a small office that you want to cool to the same temperature as the outside world).

I would not buy this product again.

It has features like automatic switching between cool and heat so if you pre-set the temperature required and it goes cool in the evening, this model will switch from cooling to heating to maintain the temperature.

Its heat pump technology means it used less than two kilowatts of power to produce over 4 kilowatts of cooling or heating so it keeps your electric bill low.

It is available from www.koolbreeze.co.uk and a number of stockists.