Air Conditioning & Heating

We want to ensure our guests' comfort throughout their Paris vacation. These insider tips on air conditioning and local temperatures will help you keep cool during your stay.

We often receive questions about the air conditioning in our Paris vacation rentals. It is our goal to help guests enjoy a truly memorable stay in Paris, and we’ve found that providing as much information in advance is one of the best ways to ensure a comfortable visit. Based on many years living in Paris, here are some of our insider tips on what to expect with air conditioning during your stay.

What to Expect with Air Conditioning in Paris

Traveling to another country brings with it the chance to experience a new culture and discover its traditions and lifestyle. However, it can also bring up some unexpected differences compared to life back home. In France, and many other European countries, air conditioning is not as commonly used as it is in America, Canada, Australia and many other countries. Many hotels, homes and apartment rentals in Paris don't even have it at all! We've found with the large windows and French doors in most Paris apartments that the temperatures are usually quite comfortable. However, we know that many of our guests appreciate air conditioning, and we supply it in our Paris vacation rentals whenever possible. Paris Perfect is unique because we are not just a listing service; we direct many of the building works in the apartments we offer, so we help install air conditioning units wherever possible. Expectations should be set with all members of your travel party that most air conditioning units in Paris cool the air, but not to arctic temperatures that many North American travelers prefer.

Mobile A/C vs. Central A/C

Paris city codes prohibit making alterations to the exteriors of the beautiful historic buildings in central Paris. While we truly appreciate how this has kept the buildings remarkably well preserved, it means owners are not allowed to install fixed air conditioning systems in most apartments. Where it's not possible to install central A/C, we provide mobile air conditioning units. We've found the most powerful units available, but it's important to keep in mind that they are less potent than some central air conditioning systems. They are the best available in Paris and the rooms remain cool under most hot conditions.

We started installing portable air conditioners several years ago. Initially, the portable units vented through an open door or window, which has been the customary system in Europe. You'll see these units just inside shops and offices with flexible tubes that vent out the door. Some hot air flowed back in -- but overall the room remained cool. Next, we developed the systems to improve the cooling systems even more. Our builders are experts in creating vents and openings in window panes so the extraction tube fits exactly -- the hot air escapes and the room stays even cooler. While these units on wheels can be an inconvenience compared to central A/C at home, it is a wonderful option to have air conditioning available in a Paris apartment!

We took the additional step to clearly describe the kind of units available in each and every apartment and if portable, how many of them. You'll see them described as follows on each and every apartment description page, under its own category: Heating and Cooling

Level I:

Mobile units that vent through a window or french door. The rooms remain remarkably cool, but where possible we customize to Level II, a custom vent to extract the hot air.

Level II:

Custom vents which allow the hot air to escape and no outside warm air to come in.

Level III.

Central A/C: Look for the simplest description of all: Central air conditioning. These are unique apartments in Paris which have been able to build in central a/c! it's become a specialty of ours and wherever possible, we now install central air conditioning.

Evaporative Coolers:
For guests' convenience, in some properties where central or mobile air conditioning is not possible, Evaporative Coolers are available. These units work by using ice packs and/or a water reservoir to cool the air. They not only cool the air, but also refreshes and cleans the air while circulating it. These are compact and portable while providing different options to cool and refresh a room.

The Truth About Paris When It Sizzles

Just like the famous Cole Porter song says, we also love Paris in the summer when it sizzles. As catchy as the song is, the truth is that Paris doesn’t really sizzle all that often. The average summer highs in Paris vary between 71-77 Fahrenheit (22-25 Celsius) from June to August. While there can be peaks of summer heat, the temperatures are usually quite comfortable both for sightseeing and for relaxing at home in your Paris Perfect vacation rental. For those warmer days, the mobile air conditioning units (or fans in apartments where A/C is not available) are usually enough to keep the apartment comfortable.

Heating in Paris Buildings

France has energy laws/regulations to reduce the consumption of electricity. Some apartment buildings have a central radiator system and heat is usually turned on, by the building management, in late October or early November until April. Once on, the temperature can be regulated inside most apartments. For apartments with building regulated heat, kindly note, heat is not available outside of these building-controlled times.

If you have questions or concerns about the air conditioning in our Paris vacation rentals, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help!

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