The only 20 point Air conditioning buying guide in India
Jump in with the best air conditioning buying guide in India. I aim to answer your AC-related questions in this article. I will share my personal experience with buying AC as well.
In India, an AC is measured by its tonnage. The energy efficiency of the AC is determined by the number of British Thermal Units (BTU) it can produce.
When buying a new air conditioning unit, be sure to take into account these factors below and more in order to get a good deal on your purchase.
Air conditioner buying guide India
Types of air conditioners
Determine what type of AC you need. Most of the time you will need split AC.
Split AC
Split AC is a type of air conditioning unit in which the cold air enters from the top and hot gas leaves from the bottom. The two sets of refrigerant lines are connected to each other by a small piece of metal called the split. This prevents the refrigerant from mixing and helps to maintain a constant temperature.
Splits are more common and costlier than window AC. But they take less space and are more efficient in cooling since they send cool air from above.
Window AC
Window ACs are a type of air-conditioning unit that is mounted on the window. They use outside air or fresh air to cool, and can be installed either inside or outside a building. It’s much cheaper than a split AC.
Portable AC
Portable AC is appliances that can be moved from one place to another without any need for labor. They are quite popular in India, where they have become very rare because of the high cost of labor and running costs.
Right AC Size for Your Room?
If you’re looking to buy a new air conditioner, then there are a few things that you should consider. You need to find the right size for your room as well as avoid unnecessary repairs and high electricity bills.
There are 17 different considerations when buying an HVAC unit based on their specific needs.
The size of the room and the number of people in the room affects air conditioner sizing.
The wall insulation, types & number of windows, as well as humidity level, affect the AC capacity needed for a given space.
While the number of people in a room and the size of the room affects AC sizing, wall insulation type and a number of windows also play a role. Also, humidity levels play an important factor as well.
The temperature of each room can be measured by the number of BTU. A ton is 12,000 BTU and 1 kW/Hr equals 3,412 BTU.
Factors that affect cooling effectiveness are windows, heat sources, walls exposed to the sun from outside areas during certain times in a day or year as well as ceiling areas exposed to sunlight throughout different times in a day or year.
For a room around 100 sq feet, you should get 1 ton AC. For larger rooms from 120 sq feet to 150, you should get 1.5-2 ton AC.
Size of your room and furniture inside?
This article will help you determine what size of air conditioner you need for your room. It is important to consider the size of your room and what devices make up the heat in it, like laptops, televisions, and appliances.
And large furniture right in front of the AC will reduce the effectiveness as well.
You might want to use air coolers/Tower fans to circulate the air in the room for better cooling.
How powerful should the unit be?
Small rooms below 80 sq feet would do great with 0.8 ton AC. Rooms beyond 80 sq feet and up to 120 sq feet should do well with 1 ton AC.
Rooms with more than 120 sq feet up to 150 sq feet should get 2 ton AC. Rooms larger than that should get more than one AC to cool the room properly.
Too much load on one AC will cause more electricity and
Home/Room Location
There are many features to consider when buying an air conditioner. Features such as a window kit, ability to collect moisture and push it outside, and the climate of the home will affect which AC unit is best for your needs. The purpose of this article is to provide a simple checklist that you can use when deciding if you should purchase an AC unit for your home or room.
Air Conditioner Installation
Installing an air conditioner correctly can save you a considerable amount of money. And many scams do happen when servicemen take money where you thought it was a free installation service.
An air conditioning installation involves leveling the unit and covering the window units properly.
AC Modes and Features
People in India need to keep track of the AC modes and features they want in an air conditioner. Some modes are a part of every air conditioner, such as heat mode or dry mode.
There are three modes in most ACs: normal mode, energy-saving mode (Eco Mode), and self-clean mode. Energy saving is the default setting that allows you to cycle your compressor with your fan rather than continuously running it.
Self-Clean Mode prevents the growth of harmful germs by removing moisture inside your unit.
The Follow Me Mode is ideal for people who hate waiting around to feel comfortable. It will cool or heat the entire room in one go, so you don’t have to wait for your AC unit to do it all at once.
EER/SEER Rating System
There are two types of energy efficiency ratings: EER and SEER. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is in cooling down your room.
There are also some other terms to keep in mind like “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating” (SEER) which tells you how efficient an air conditioner is during certain seasons of the year.
The U.S Congress created a system to help consumers compare the efficiency of home AC units and choose one that will save them money on their energy bills.
The SEER rating is listed on the Energy Guide Label, which tells you how efficient an old model may be compared with new models (SEER 6 vs 13).
Energy-Efficient Inverter AC?
Energy-efficient Inverter ACs are more power-efficient than non-inverter ACs. Inverters start and stop the compressor, so they consume less electricity, which is more energy-efficient than running it continuously.
A non-inverter air conditioner consumes more power because its compressor runs continuously according to need.
Inverter AC compressor is a type of air conditioner that uses an inverter motor. In the process, it saves electricity and has high-efficiency levels at all times.
An inverter AC uses the compressor motor to convert DC electricity into AC. The output is constant and based on room temperature, so it saves a lot of energy in comparison with regular ac units that rely on peaks in power consumption.
Inverter AC is better than non-inverter BEE five stars. Inverter AC saves a lot of electricity and gives quick cooling.
Inverter AC is best for long time usages. If you want to run AC for straight 8 hours, then get an inverter AC.
Copper Condenser Coils
Copper condenser coils are used in both copper and aluminum foil. They are most commonly found on the outside of an AC unit, but there are exceptions for each one that determine which one is best for your AC.
Copper is better at cooling, lasts longer, and can be easily repaired. But copper coil AC is costlier than amunium coil AC.
Regular Maintenance?
Regular maintenance ensures optimum functionality and can extend the lifespan of your AC. The air conditioner should be checked at least once a year for any problems, such as leaks or damage.
It is important to take these steps when buying an AC because there are many factors that affect its performance, including location and type of unit you purchase.
For basic cleaning, you should check YouTube for tutorials.
Noise
An air conditioner’s noise level should be less than 50 decibels. High AC noises can ruin your sleep and create an uncomfortable day-time environment.
Noise levels are measured in decibels, which is the number of times louder a sound would need to be to reach 100%. So if you hear a sound that is 70% as loud at 80 dB, it would be just over half as loud at 60 dB.
Room Insulation
The room should be well insulated, so the cool air from the AC does not leak outside. This will result in sub-par cooling and more electric bills. You should close permanently or temporarily all the ventilators, gaps below doors etc before running AC.
Warranty
When buying an air conditioner, it is important to know the warranty period of the compressor. A brand with shorter periods offers more affordable prices than others.
Price
The price of new air conditioners can range from Rs.25000 to 75000, depending on the brand and type. One can get a brand new air conditioner at quite a reasonable price.
Time to Buy an Air Conditioner
The best time to buy an air conditioner is during the off-season. It is also the cheapest because people would not turn on the AC in spring, making it a good time to purchase an AC.
Things to consider when buying are whether or not you need central A/C system installation with ducting, where you live, and what size of unit you need.
I bought our AC at the end of January when they were giving a sale.
Choose the Air Conditioner Brands In India
LG
LG is the most energy-efficient and has the lowest noise operation with dual inverters and 4-way cooling system. They have dual inverter technology, some model offers to repel mosquito technology as well. And most cities have service centers of.
Bluestar
Bluestar is an Indian brand of air conditioners. It offers a wide range of ACs for all budgets and needs, perfect for your home or office. They have been around selling AC for a long time, and have good models and after-sales services.
Carrier
Carrier is the first-ever AC company. I personally use one model of them. They have good service centers, good price and most of the models are affordable.
Fujitsu General
Fujitsu General is a high-performance AC that will cool your room even if it is 58 degrees outside. These are very costly AC models and are most suitable for dry desert areas. They are rugged and heavy-duty as well.
There are many more AC brands like Sanyo, Fujitsu etc.
More Features to Consider
Here are some common features that you have to consider when buying an AC in India.
Anti-bacteria filter
There are many features to consider when buying an air conditioner. The anti-bacteria filter traps particles like dust mites, bacteria and pollen, making it easier for the AC to last longer.
Might help with living healthy longer.
Dust filter
Dust filters prevent dust mite deposits on AC units. It is possible to purchase these filters online at affordable prices and they need to be cleaned every 3 months. These filters are designed for allergy sufferers, making it easier to use your AC unit with the filter installed.
Ideally very useful like cities like Delhi. It will help people who have dust allergies.
Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are helpful to control moisture in a room. The best dehumidifier will have certain features that would make it easy for you to maintain and use.
Auto clean function
The auto-clean feature is a convenient way to keep your AC running in optimal condition. This type of function will restart the AC after a power outage and also prevent dust build-up.
Timer
Timers are great if you want the AC to operate for a certain period before shutting down automatically. Timers are also useful if you want the room to be cooler when going to sleep and then want the AC to shut off automatically after a couple of hours.
Auto detect
When air conditioners are designed with auto-detect, the AC will automatically adjust to your preferred temperature setting. Some advanced technology ACs can sense how many people are in a room based on their body heat.
Four-Way Swing
An AC’s four-way swing is not important to its overall cooling effect, but it can make a difference in how the unit appears and improves the customer perception of the AC. Some units have this feature.
Turbo Mode
Turbo mode is an option that many air conditioners have. It uses more power than the standard setting, but it cools rooms faster. Turbo mode should be considered if you want to save time and money on cooling the room down.
Electricity Consumption Calculation
In an AC buying guide, there are a lot of features to consider, such as electricity consumption calculation. The cost for air conditioners is different depending on the stars that show and the power consumption based on temperature and demand.
App Control, and Wi-Fi Connectivity
Air conditioning units have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to allow remote control. They also come with features like automatic activation, app control, or even wireless charging.
Window air conditioner buying guide
If you are buying a window air conditioner in India then you must first have a room with large windows. This AC will block or partially block a window.
This also means you might need some carpenter help as well.
Apart from that, follow what this buying guide says, and you should be okay.
Generally, window AC is good for nighttime usages, since you will be using it for 4-5 hours only. And you would not need an inverter facility.
But one model from LG does come with inverter technology, so you can run the window ac longer and save some electricity.
Portable air conditioner buying guide
Portable air conditioners are tricky. You need some help from a carpenter or need to do some construction work to make a hole to insert the duct tape. This will take some work and money.
And also be mindful of the room size and the capacity of the portable air conditioner. These portable machines are not so power efficient. And also not so efficient in cooling the room either.
But if you have no option to use a split AC or window AC then you can use it in summer days.
These are great for people who live in rent.
Source: AC wiki