AC Buying Guide – India 2020

When the weather heats up, you wish to have a chilly and comfortable atmosphere at home. Air conditioners are inexpensive as well as an energy-efficient way to cool the space. If you are looking for an air conditioner, we have listed the AC buying guide that will help you make an informed decision. AC shopping requires you to spend some time considering the essential points because a wrong AC can make your investment go down the drain. An AC lasts for around eight-ten years, but it often depends on the type and quality you pick.

What Is an Air Conditioner?

Before we move onto the AC buying guide, let us know what exactly an air conditioner is. An AC is an electronic appliance that provides you an option to control the temperature of your room as per your requirements. You can set the temperature depending on the exterior temperature, and within some time, you can experience the chill.

AC Buying Guide

Let’s directly delve into the main part of the article – that is, the AC buying guide. There are multiple points to consider (in no order):

Type of Air Conditioners

Air conditioners are divided into three types, and those are:

• Split AC
• Window AC
• Portable AC

Split AC Explained

As the name suggests, the AC is split into two units, one is mounted inside the room, and the other is mounted outside the house. The exterior unit consists of a compressor and condenser while the inside unit has a blower. The compressor is connected to the blower by a pipe that passes through the wall. It sucks the air from outside and makes it cool, then passing it to the blower. The blower then throws out the cold air into the room.

Benefits

• Noiseless operation
• Faster cooling
• Higher energy efficiency
• No window required

Drawbacks

• Extra installation cost

Window AC Explained

It consists of one unit having a compressor and a blower within it. This type of AC can be installed in a window frame only. Blower side of the AC faces inside the room, whereas the other side faces outside.

Benefits

• Perfect for small rooms
• Inexpensive as compared to split ACs
• Heater might be available in a few models

Drawbacks

• Single unit functioning makes it a little noisy.

Portable AC Explained

Portable AC is just like an air cooler. It can move from one place to another, whereas the split and window ac cannot. This type of AC is best suitable for a home with limited space where mounting of the other two types is not possible.

Benefits

• Can be moved from one place to another
• Simple to use

Drawbacks

• Less energy efficient
• Water management could be troublesome

Size of Air Conditioner

Multiple factors need to be considered while selecting the size of the AC: The city you live in – The climate of the place you live in is essential because you require air conditioners of high capacity if the outdoor temperature rises. For instance, the temperature of Delhi mark 45-degree centigrade, whereas the temperature of Mumbai never rises to that much.

Room Area – The space of the room where you are going to install the AC matters a lot.

The table will be helpful:

The location where you install – The place where you mount the AC also matters because the rooms get hotter if the ceiling and side walls get direct sunlight. The usage – The daily usage of the AC and also the duration in terms of months during the year matters while selecting the right kind of AC.

Inverter Technology in Air Conditioners

It is wise to invest in an inverter ac if you are looking for a smart AC for consistent and better cooling as well as energy efficiency.

Benefits Of Inverter AC

• Inverter AC consumes less power as the compressor does not reach out for the maximum cooling speed
• Since the load on the compressor is less, the unit lasts longer
• The compressor deviates its speed for optimum cooling

Dust Filter

The mesh dust filters avoid dust mites to release into the home. It is essential to clean these filters for at least once a month for better performance, based on the usage.

Anti-Bacteria Filter

Air conditioners have an inbuilt filter that removes invisible substances such as bacteria, pollen, dust mites, and other allergens, thus making the room refreshing. These filters avoid the dust mite deposits on the inside of the AC, hence increasing its life.

Dehumidifier

It removes excess moisture from the room. In the monsoon season, the room covers too much moisture, and this causes stickiness, sweating, thus increasing the chances of bacterial growth. The dehumidifier removes the excess moisture and gives your room a comfortable feel.

Auto-Clean Function

This feature avoids the formation of bacteria and mold on internal parts of the AC that might affect its functionality.

Auto-Detect

This feature enables the AC to store the user’s preferred temperature and adjust the temperature based on the outside temperature. Some AC’s come with a function of detecting the number of people in the room based on the body temperature and adjust the temperature likewise.

Mobile Connectivity

An AC takes around 10-15 minutes to cool the room. With the smart features, you can send an SMS to the air conditioner’s selected number to switch on the AC before you reach home. Thus, whenever you arrive home, you get a cool environment.

Different Modes of Operation in Air Conditioners

There are multiple modes in which you can use the air conditioner, and the energy consumption is based on the mode used:

• Fan Mode – In this mode, the fan is off, but it does not cool the room. You can save electricity here, but keeping the ceiling fan on is a better option.
• Cool Mode – This is the default mode in every air conditioner. The ideal temperature you set should be between 24 to 26 degrees centigrade. This range is the most comfortable to make sure maximum efficiency.
• Dry Mode – If you live near the sea, then this is the mode you should use. The main purpose of using the dry mode is that it pulls out humidity, and thus, cooling the space automatically. In this mode, the fan runs at a low speed and the compressor for a shorter period.
• Power Saver Mode – The compressor stops working with the air temperature reaches a set level fed in the thermostat. To maintain the cool temperature, the fan keeps working. The compressor begins to function when the temperature surpasses a particular level. The compressor is the main part of the AC and consumes the most energy.
• Quick Cool Mode – This feature does not save any electricity. There are many ACs with this feature where the unit is set at a temperature between 16 to 18 degrees centigrade and not at the ideally recommended temperature between 24 to 26 degrees centigrade.
• Sleep Mode – In this feature, the temperature of the thermostat increases by 1 degree each hour until it raises the temperature by 2 degrees every hour. During the dark, the atmosphere is naturally cooler, and thus, this feature saves electricity.
• 6th Sense Cooling – This feature is better than the cool mode where the AC adjusts the fan speed based on the temperature inside the room. This feature is exclusively available in Whirlpool ACs only.

Electricity Consumption in Air Conditioners

The energy consumption depends on the different modes of the AC, as discussed above. There are a few other factors that affect electricity consumption like:

Size Of The Room – The primary purpose of installing an AC is pulling out heat from the room. Thus, the size of the room plays an important role. For instance, a 1.5 ton AC works differently in a 120 square feet room while it would work differently when installed in a 150 square feet room. This is because, the larger the room, the more volume of hot air.

Colors – Yes, colors do play an important role in energy consumption. The darker the walls, the more is the heat absorption, and thus, the room takes more time to cool.

The Number Of People In The Room – The more the number of people, the more time it would take to cool the room. This is because everybody emits some heat. For instance, for a 150 square feets area in your home, you would require a 1.5 ton AC while if you have a coaching class with 15 students, then you would require a 2 ton AC for the same space.

Electronic Appliances – Just like humans, emit heat, electrical appliances also emit heat. Thus, it is wise to have LED bulbs in your room as they emit less heat.

Copper Coil or Aluminum Coil?

Air conditioner units work based on compression, condensation, and evaporation. This moves the refrigerant gases inside the coils in liquid and gaseous form. So now, which coil is better, aluminum or copper. In the past, copper coils were used until 1970 when General Electronics introduced aluminum coils. Since then, the debate between copper and aluminum coils continue. Various factors help you determine which coil is better based on your requirements, and those points are:

• Heat Transfer – Copper is a better conductor of heat than aluminum
• Cost – Aluminum is inexpensive, and thus ACs made with aluminum coils are cheaper than those made with copper coils
• Strength – Copper is stronger than aluminum, and copper coils are said to last longer than aluminum coils.
• Malleability – Aluminum is more malleable than copper; thus, one can mold aluminum in any form.

Thus, as you can notice, there is no solution to this debate.

Reciprocating and Rotary Compressors

You know the difference between copper and aluminum coils, now let’s move onto the part of the debate that is about compressors. As you know, the compressor is an essential part of an AC unit. Thus, you ensure that you purchase the best compressor according to your needs.  There are two types of compressors used in the AC unit, like:

Reciprocating Compressors – The working of this type of compressor is similar to that of an engine of an automobile. The piston works back and forth, compressing and releasing the gas.

Pros

• Easy maintenance
• Can work at high pressure

Cons

• Makes a lot of noise

Rotary Compressors – The positioning includes multiple motors that have very little space between them. The rotors rotate in the opposite direction, and the air passing by coming out at high pressure.

Pros

• Ideal for large spaces
• Less noise
• Air comes out at a low temperature

Cons

• Expensive
• Higher usage required for its best working

Different Ways to Conserve Electricity

ACs can consume a lot of electricity when compared to other home appliances. There are various ways in which you can conserve electricity, and they are:

Keep Windows Closed

Keeping the windows open allows heat to enter the room and cool air to escape.

No Furniture in the Way of AC Vents

Furniture or any other obstructions in the way of events obstructs the cool air from moving around in the room.

Use ‘Sleep Mode’ at Night

This ensures that the air conditioner delivers consistent cool air throughout the night.

Service Your AC

Servicing your AC regularly can help maintain it, and work at an optimum level.

Auto Clean Feature

This will keep away moisture and prevent the growth of microorganisms, thus making the AC last longer.

AC Frequently Asked Questions

How Often Should You Replace Air Conditioners?

As per Energy Star, you should replace your AC every 10 years. If the AC is working perfectly, then maybe you can consider replacing it after 15 years.

What Should I Look for While Buying an AC?

Multiple factors are included in the AC buying guide that you need to look out for a while buying an AC, and those are:

• Energy efficiency
• Cost
• Modes
• Air quality
• Cooling speed
• Maintenance

Should One Cover Their AC Unit?

It is wise to cover the AC after summer because the AC unit can withstand moderate showers, but it cannot endure leaves and heavy rainfall.

We hope to have helped you make the right decision with this comprehensive AC buying guide.