Air Conditioner (AC) Buying Guide - Important things to know - India

Air Conditioner (AC) has become a Family Member these days, especially for those who live in hot and humid areas. If you’re searching to buy a new Air Conditioner (AC) then you are on right platform.

The process of buying a new Air Conditioner (AC) can be quite confusing due to number of options available, it's not easy to know which one is for you. On top of that, every company markets specific AC features in their own way, making it confusing to understand and Selection.

Our Air Conditioner (AC) buying guide should make your mind clear to select the right Air Conditioner (AC). For starting selection process of Air Conditioner (AC) you need to decide your budget first then study which type of Air Conditioner (AC) is suitable for your needs and then calculate the Air Conditioner (AC) cooling capacity that’s required for your room. You should also consider Air Conditioner (AC) using hour and look at their Energy Efficiency ratings by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

Step-1 - Select right type of Air Conditioner (AC)

There are three types of Air Conditioner (AC):-

1. Split Air Conditioner (AC)

2.Window Air Conditioner (AC)

3.Portable Air Conditioner (AC)

1. Split Air Conditioner (AC)

Split Air Conditioner (AC) having two units is called indoor unit and outdoor unit. The indoor unit contain the blower and an evaporator (cooling coils), while the outdoor unit contain the compressor and the condenser. Both units are connected using a pipe.

Advantages of Split Air Conditioner (AC)

• Split air conditioning systems are also easy to maintain, as they have washable filters which can easily be taken out and put back in. The outdoor condenser does need to be kept clean, but it was designed for cleaning to be as easy as possible.

• noiseless

• more efficient and less costly to run.

• Easy to Install

Disadvantages of Split Air Conditioner (AC)

• Higher Cost

• A split system needs to be installed by a professional

2. Window AC

Window Air Conditioner are Easy to Install as compared to split Air Conditioner (AC) and they require less space for installation. All the components are included in the one unit so it is installation of a window Air Conditioner (AC) are much easier and cheaper. However, they do not look as sophisticated as split ACs.

Such ACs are also termed monoblocks for this very reason. To mount a Window AC onto a wall you ideally require about 9-12 inch thick walls. If your walls are thinner than that an additional support structure will be necessary or you’re better off looking for a thicker wall.

Advantages of Window Air Conditioner (AC)

• Easy to install and Uninstall

• Easy to Maintain

• Better option for smaller room

Disadvantages of Window Air Conditioner (AC)

• Noisy

• Block window area

• Do not use for large room

3. Portable AC

Portable Air Conditioner (AC) are easier to move from one room to another. They are similar to window Air Conditioner (AC) but they can be moved. Such Air Conditioner (AC) come with a hose that has one of its ends connected to the AC unit, while the other needs to be placed outside the window.

Advantages of Portable Air Conditioner (AC)

• Easy Installation

• Cost Effective

• Convenient to move one to other house

Disadvantage of Portable Air Conditioner (AC)

• Noisier

• Difficult water management

• Less Efficient

Step -2 - Required Air Conditioner Capacity as per Room Size For Effective Cooling

First you need to understand some basic term to select right air conditioner size for effective cooling.

BTU - British Thermal Unit - is a measure of the heat content of fuels or energy sources.

kW - kilo watt

Ton - A refrigeration ton is approximately equivalent to 12,000 BTU/h or 3.5 kW.

1KW/Hr = 3,412 BTU

You need to calculate the size of the room in square feet that you are trying to cool and then decide what the ideal AC capacity that is needed from below table to cool the room effectively.

​Room Size (in sq. ft)	​AC Capacity (in tons)
Up to 100	0.8
Up to 150	1
Up to 250	1.5
Up to 400	2

Step - 3 - Inverter vs. Non-Inverter Air Conditioner

Air Conditioners comes with inverter and without inverter. Inverter Air Conditioners are usually more Energy Efficient but they are also more expensive. An inverter type air-conditioner adjusts the speed of the compressor to control the refrigerant (gas) flow rate, thereby consuming less current and power. An inverter has precise temperature control and as the set temperature is attained, the unit adjusts its capacity to eliminate any temperature fluctuations.

Advantages of Inverter Air Conditioner

• Energy Efficient

• less noise

• Longer life

Advantages of Non-Inverter Air Conditioner

• Low Cost

What Is a Dual Inverter Air Conditioner?

Inverter Air Conditioner which use a single cylinder, single compressor with variable speed drive whereas dual inverter Air Conditioner use a more advanced version of BLDC motors that have twin rotary compressor. Due to the twin rotary compressor design, it produces a phase difference of 180 degrees, thereby making it easier to operate at a wider frequency range. Dual inverter Air Conditioner offer better cooling and higher energy efficiency compared to normal inverter Air Conditioner.

AC Star label Ratings by Bureau Of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

The energy efficiency rating (EER) of an Air Conditioner is calculated and examine by BEE (Bureau Of Energy Efficiency) in India. The rating agency has made it mandatory rules and regulation for electrical appliances such as ACs, Fan, Lights etc. Basic rating parameter are as follow:-

EER - Energy Efficiency Rating

What is EER?

EER rating provides you with a ratio of useful cooling output(in BTU/h) to electricity input(measured in W).

EER = BTU/Hr / Watt

A higher EER rating means that an air conditioner will provide a lot of cooling effect for every Watt of energy you provide.

Since the temperatures across India vary and see extreme changes through the seasons, the EER standards method of calculating performance were less than ideal. Air conditioners consume a lot of energy, resulting in high electricity bills. Thus, BEE defined a new seasonal EER rating standard called ISEER in India.

ISEER (Indian Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio:-

What is ISEER?

ISEER rating is the total cooling load (amount of heat removed) to the total amount of energy consumed by the air conditioner.

ISEER = Cooling Seasonal Total Load (CSTL) / Cooling Seasonal Energy Consumption (CSEC)

ISEER value alwase higher is better. For reference value visit official website of BEE Star Label- Click Here.

Important Feature look when you buying a New AC

• WiFi Compatibility

• Self Clean Feature

• Activity Sensor

• Voice Command Compatibility

• App Control

So, these are all the important things that you should consider when you buy a new AC. I hope you will get most answer from here about AC buying. If you have any doubt regarding the same you can contact us via contact us form or chat.

Thanks for your valuable visit.