AC BUYING GUIDE
It is always better to choose Air conditioner or anything by yourself because it gives more satisfaction than if someone else choose it for you, and also if you choose by yourself you will know more about the product regarding features and also how to use it. But caution! before choosing by yourself you should consider some of the tips i.e you should decide what is suitable from the following 8 points. Lets begin..
1.Capacity
Choosing the size of the air conditioner is tricky. Oversized air conditioner cools the room faster than usual, but consumes electricity a lot, whereas, undersized air conditioner needs to work hard to cool the room, even though small in size, it consumes electricity lot, and yet it is not able to cool the room efficiently.
The capacity of air conditioners is measured in terms of tons. The tonnage of an AC does not refer to its weight; it is an amount of cooling effect produced by melting 1 ton of ice in 24 hours. 1 Ton of AC= 3.516 kW. In foreign countries, Air Conditioner size rated in BTU (British Thermal Unit).
Before buying an AC, you should know how to calculate the required AC size. AC capacity depends on the size of the room. By measuring the room square foot area you can easily decide the size by refering following point
- small room up to 120 sq.ft, choose 0.75 – 1Ton of AC
- medium size room 121-190 sq.ft, choose 1.5 Ton of AC
- large room 190 sq. ft and above, choose 2 or more Ton of AC
Factors that might require you to choose a higher capacity unit, have been mentioned below
- If the room has multiple or large windows.
- If your house is located on the top floor or is higher than 3rd floor
- If the normal temperature of the room is above 400C
- If the ac is facing west or south
If any scenario matches, increase the Sq. Ft by 30% while calculating required air conditioner capacity.
2. Type
a. Split AC
Split AC, as the name suggests, it consists two units. One unit mounted outside of the home (on wall) and the other is mounted inside the home, room. The outside unit consists is a compressor and condenser and inside unit consists blower.
b. Window AC
It consists only one unit with a combination of compressor and blower within it. Window AC can be installed only in the window frame. Blower side of AC facing inside the room, whereas the other side is facing outside open air.
If you would like to have a window AC, then make sure that your room has a corresponding size window at a convenient position to install the AC .
c.Portable AC (Very new in India)
Portable AC is portable just like air cooler. Portable AC can be moved from one room to another instantly where as a window or split AC can’t. Portable AC is best suitable for the homes where there is no feasibility to mount split / window AC or peoples who are living in a rented house and frequently reallocating place to place. Even you can move portable AC room to room in your home as you want.
Also you can install it Anywhere at home just like an air cooler, just needs to arrange air hose through the window. A plastic hose is provided with AC, you need to attach hose to AC and put the other end outside the window using a window kit provided with AC.
As portable AC is very new in India, they are expensive as well as there is no well known brand products available in India.
d.hot and cold AC
These air conditioners are becoming a growing trend in the market. These air conditioners are like all-weather ACs. They can not only be used as an ACs during the summers, but can also be used as a room heater during winters. Some air conditioners also have adaptive features. These ACs come with built-in sensors that judge the environment of the room and adjust the air around the people accordingly. Some air conditioners can also change the direction of their air flow towards the side of the room with people in it.
3. Feature
click on the feature to know more about it
An inbuilt filter removes invisible substances like dust mites, bacteria, pollen and other allergens. Overall, makes refreshing room environment. These filters avoid dust mite deposits on the internal part of AC and helps increase the life span of AC.
These mesh filters prevent entering of dust to the room. For better performance user has to clean these filters with plain water once in a month, depending on usage.
Are you living in the most polluted city or near to bus stand or thermal power plant or any other air polluting factory?
Do you have allergies from the dust?
Dust particles narrower than 10 micrometres(PM 10) are the most hazardous because they can get deep into your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream.
Also, “people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children are considered at greater risk from particles than other people, especially when they are physically active.”
To filter such hazardous particles AC has premium features like PM 2.5 or PM0.1 filter
PM 0.1 filter can filter the dust particles up to a size of 0.1 micrometre!! and this filter is superior to PM0.3 and PM2.5 filters.
Almost every air conditioner today has flaps that can manually be moved to redirect air. Some others give you the option to use a remote and automatically control the direction of the airflow.
following are the Expensive feature
Built in room heater gives the cosy feeling in winter by just a button click. No need to purchase, maintain a room heater in winter. By just a button press, you can toggle between heating/cooling mode.
During winter air becomes dry!! When the air lacks humidity, your skin will start to dry out. This can cause itching, flaking, and tightness around the joints. It can also cause painful cracking of the skin, and chapped lips this leads to discomfort during winter. Humidifier is a device which adds moisture to the dry air so that you will feel comfort during winter
Dehumidifier helps to remove excess moisture from the room. During summer, room covers with high level of moisture, and cause stickiness, sweating, makes bacteria growing environment. Dehumidifier removes excess moisture and gives cozy, comfortable feeling.
It avoids the mold and bacteria formation on internal part which affects AC cooling functionality and thereby increase AC life span.
AC stores user preferred temperature setting in its memory chip and adjust the temperature itself to change in outside temperature or humidity. Some advanced technology air conditioner detects number of people in a room and based on body temperature, these AC adjust the cooling temperature.
Generally speaking, air conditioner takes 10 to 15 minutes time to cool up the room. This feature allows you to switch on AC just few minutes before you reach home from outside by sending an SMS to the air conditioner’s selected number, so that when you reach home, you get cool, refreshing environment that too without taking any time.
Besides these general features, you can also opt for some additional features such as hot and cold AC. These air conditioners are becoming a growing trend in the market. These air conditioners are like all-weather ACs. They can not only be used as an ACs during the summers, but can also be used as a room heater during winters. Some air conditioners also have adaptive features. These ACs come with built-in sensors that judge the environment of the room and adjust the air around the people accordingly. Some air conditioners can also change the direction of their air flow towards the side of the room with people in it.
4. Energy star
In order to buy a highly efficient and low energy consuming AC, you should check the EER(Energy Efficiency Ratio) label. BEE provides stars to the ACs according to this label and it ranges from 1 to 5 stars. More star, more energy efficient AC.
5.type of coil
In air conditioner coils are used to convert gas refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, vice versa, which further helps to cool the room. Coils can made up of copper or aluminium depending on the manufacturer. Regards aluminium coil vs copper coil, the copper coil has high heat transfer rate, less corrosive, high coil strength. Whereas, only the best thing about the aluminium coil is cheaper, economical than copper coil.
6.Type of compressor
Inverter Type
First of all, Inverter AC doesn’t mean it runs on inverter or it runs even in electricity cuts. It uses an inverter technology, which uses to convert AC current to DC current which further regulate the compressor running speed according to the heat load. inverter AC compressor is always in “On”state. Although, inverter AC compressor is always on, it saves electricity a lot because of its variable speed according to the load condition.
Non inverter type
Traditional non-inverter compressor motor sometime go “on” and “off”. Its compressor motor starts running at high speed to cool the room at the desired temperature. After reaching the desired temperature, it stops the compressor motor. When room temperature increases, it starts the compressor again. The compressor is gone “On” and “Off” again and again. To adjust to the temperature change takes up a lot of power.
7.Type of Refrigerants
Refrigerants are one of the most important components of the air conditioner. They are fluids that go through phase conversion cycles from liquid to gas and back, in order to provide cool air from the AC.
The most common refrigerant used is R22. This refrigerant is getting phased out by R410a because R22, deplete the ozone layer by reacting with it, whereas R410a doesn’t deplete the ozone layer. R410a also has a low boiling point, which means it’s more power efficient. An air conditioner using R410a is not only good for the environment but is also economical in the long run.
The R-32 Refrigerant, which has zero Ozone Depletion Effect and a low Global Warming Effect with other goodies now today replacing R-22 refrigerant.
8.colour and style
decide which colour suits your room best and also decide whether graphics on the body is required or not
8.Warranty
Finally, one of the most important aspects to look for while buying an air conditioner is its warranty. Most manufacturers provide a minimum warranty of one to two years. Some manufacturers also provide an additional warranty for crucial components such as the compressor.
The warranty period for these components is usually much longer than the comprehensive warranty provided on the AC. ResQ also offers RCP (ResQ Care Plan) for extended warranty and also maintenance. All of this should help your air conditioner run efficiently, thereby reducing the electricity used.
note
One more thing you have to keep in mind that more option leads to set an unrealistic standard within you about the product and often you will not choose any one of them as you are looking for “the best”. Always remember that “The Best” doesn’t really exist!! You have to make some sort of trade off!! And each option has both the advantages and disadvantages. That’s why you should have clear cut priority from the 9 point before buying a Air conditioner!! and omit unwanted expensive fancy features if it doesn’t fit in your set budget for buying a fridge.