Living with Klarstein Portable AC in Germany: The Good, the Bad, and the Hacks

Most German apartments don’t come with central AC, even modern ones. Fans and shutters help, but when the summer heatwave hits, they’re rarely enough. After two sticky summers in Stuttgart, we caved and bought two Klarstein portable AC units — here’s what life with them is really like, the benefits, the drawbacks, and the hacks that made them work in a German home.

Klarstein Portable AC: The Benefits We Noticed Right Away

Cool, Restful Nights of Sleep

The first few nights with the Klarstein units were pure relief. For the first time, our Stuttgart apartment felt like our old place in Novi, Michigan with central air. We could leave the rolladen open and still enjoy a cool home, instead of shutting out the daylight to survive the heat.

At night, we could finally wind down — hot tea, a book, and no more tossing until 3 AM on sweat-soaked sheets. By morning, the units hummed quietly on sleep mode while we brewed coffee, ready to start the day rested instead of drained.

Better Work-From-Home Days

Once the ACs were running, we almost forgot how unbearable the heat used to be during work calls. Colleagues would complain about escaping to the office for AC, or ask us how we were managing in a heatwave. Thanks to two units placed at opposite ends of our L-shaped apartment, we weren’t just surviving anymore.

Instead of showing up to Teams meetings looking wilted, we could actually focus on conversations, notes, and action items — not the sweat dripping down our backs.

Guests Actually Enjoyed Visiting

We noticed the biggest difference when guests came over. In May 2025, my brother, sister-in-law, and their one-year-old visited. The weather was mild at first… until their last day. It was a scorcher, and we wished we had already set up our Klarstein units.

Fast forward to August, when colleagues visited during another heatwave — this time, we were ready. They stepped in from the sweltering streets and immediately commented, “Wow, it’s cooler here than outside!” The same reaction they used to have when visiting us in Michigan.

Daily Routines Became Enjoyable Again

It’s the little things that brought the biggest joy. Morning coffee at the kitchen island without breaking into a sweat. Cooking dinner without dreading the heat from the stove. Even our hygge pre-bedtime routine — sipping tea and reading on the couch — felt cozy again.

Gone were the debates about which windows to prop, which fan to angle, or which rolladen to sacrifice for light versus comfort. With the ACs, daily life felt normal again.

Klarstein Portable AC: The Downsides to Expect

Noise, Even in Sleep Mode

Here’s the truth: Klarstein portable ACs aren’t silent. On full blast, they sound like a car idling in your living room. Even in sleep mode, it’s closer to a fridge humming through the night. At first, the noise bothered us so much we thought about returning them. But eventually, the comfort outweighed the sound. Now, we barely notice — though those first few nights were an adjustment.

Bulky and Not Exactly Stylish

Let’s be honest: these units don’t exactly blend in. Our bedroom unit was fine — sleek, white, and easy to ignore. But the living room unit, with its giant exhaust tube, looked like a mini fridge with a tailpipe. No matter where we placed it, it clashed with the modern design of our space.

The Hose Setup is Awkward

The hose is the biggest eyesore. We understood why it had to be there — the heat has to go somewhere — but the execution isn’t elegant. All our “windows” are really floor-to-ceiling doors, making placement tricky.

The stock hose was too fat and clunky, until Duygu found a clever 3D-printed adapter that made it easier to hook around a tilted door. It solved the problem, but only after some trial, error, and a lot of DIY creativity.

What About the Electric Bill?

At the time of writing, we still haven’t received the updated Stromrechnung (electric bill). We’ll share numbers once we do, but we’re expecting an uptick. Even so, the comfort already feels worth it.

Cooling Limits in Certain Rooms

Finally, portable ACs aren’t magic. Our larger bathroom and home office sat in the “dead zone” of our L-shaped floor plan. At first, it felt like a deal-breaker. But after a few days, we realized the cooling effect spread indirectly — lowering surface temperatures, cooling the air overall, and making those rooms bearable, even without direct airflow.

Our Best Hacks for Using a Portable AC in Germany

Smarter Window Sealing

The hardest part was sealing the hose without leaving the door wide open or blocking airflow with rolladen.

Our solution?

A slimmer adapter for the tailpipe paired with DIY fly screens. It let us keep the hose in place while keeping bugs out — and kept the doors only slightly cracked instead of gaping open.

When to Run the AC

We learned that timing mattered. Pre-cooling the apartment in the morning helped us ride out the midday peak without blasting the AC nonstop. Unlike many locals, we couldn’t bring ourselves to roll the shutters down on a sunny day — so we relied on the AC when it hit 35°C and turned it off again when the evening Stuttgart breeze dropped the temperature by almost 20 degrees.

Smart Home Convenience

One of our favorite features was Google Home integration. On hot days, I’d trigger the AC from the ICE train ride home, so the apartment was cool by the time we arrived. It was a little piece of convenience that reminded us of our old Nest thermostat back in Michigan. Saying, “Hey Google, turn on the ACs” from bed still makes us smile — a small luxury that makes this expat life more comfortable.

Is a portable AC worth it in Germany?

Yes — for us, Klarstein portable AC units were absolutely worth it. They’re loud, bulky, and not the prettiest addition to a modern apartment, but they turned unbearable summers into something we could finally enjoy. From restful nights to productive workdays, they gave us back comfort we didn’t realize we had taken for granted in North America.

If you’re moving to Germany, especially from Canada or the U.S., don’t underestimate the summer heat. Fans and shutters may get you through, but if you value sleep, focus, and a welcoming home, a portable AC isn’t a luxury — it’s survival.