Table of Contents >>
Summers are delightful and dreamy and absolutely exquisite. But what is not equally dreamy is the blazing sun and the scorching heat. The endless sweats can often hinder our perfect summer experience. With the temperature rising, so is our need for good air conditioners. An effective air conditioner can make your indoors a paradise with the perfect temperature to cool yourself down during the hot, sweaty summer days.
Air Conditioner
AC or air conditioning is cooling an enclosed space to the desired level by removing heat and humidity. Air conditioners are the most effective ways to beat the heat and achieve the ideal comfort cooling.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Saver 101 Infographic
The AC works on five main components: evaporator, condenser, expansion valve, and refrigerant. They work by removing hot air from a room and processing this with the help of various refrigerants and coils and releasing this cool air back.
Air Conditioner or AC Buying Guide:
To cool our house down, an air conditioner is a must. But choosing an air conditioner can be a daunting task. There are plenty of things to be mindful of while selecting the right air conditioner, like budget, room size, EER, and much more. This complete AC buying guide can help you pick the ideal AC to fit your requirements.
1. Determine your requirements:
Purchasing an air conditioner depends on various factors and parameters. Here are a few basic requirements that you must determine beforehand –
- Room size
- Tonnage
- Type of AC
- Budget
- Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)
2. Types of Air Conditioners:
There are several kinds of AC with their pros and cons. This is one of the most important parameters to consider while purchasing an AC. The various types of ACs include Split AC, Central AC for home, Window AC, and Inverter AC. Here is a detailed AC buying guide on the best kind of AC to fit your needs.
2.1. Inverter Air Conditioner (AC)
Inverter air conditioners are types of air conditioners that can control their motors’ speed and adjust the temperature accordingly. They can adjust the temperature according to how hot it is outside or how many people are in the room.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
2.2. Split Air Conditioner (AC)
Split AC is called so as it is made up of two units – an air-cooled condensing unit that is placed outside the room. The main job of this unit is to circulate cool air inside the room and remove hot air. The air-handling component is placed inside the room. Split AC is usually mounted on a high wall and cools large areas.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
2.3. Window Air Conditioner (AC)
Window AC is one of the simplest kinds of AC. They work on a single unit by releasing the cool air outside the house and blowing in cool air. These kinds of AC are usually mounted on a window and can be plugged into regular outlets. They are great for cooling small rooms.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
2.4. Portable Air Conditioner (AC)
These stand-up air conditioners have wheels and can be moved around easily and placed anywhere. All they need is an outlet and socket to function smoothly. These are great for cooling small spaces such as single rooms, attics, and home offices. A portable AC for room would be a great investment if you move a lot.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
2.5. Tower Air Conditioner (AC)
These are types of portable AC that can be easily moved from one room to another and are used to cool larger spaces.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
3. Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) and Power Consumption
The name Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is given by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). It is the total heat removed by the AC divided by the total power consumed by it during that time. A higher EER rating suggests that the AC is more efficient in cooling its surroundings and would, in turn, consume less electricity.
- Benefits: Since ACs are generally used for long periods, investing in an AC with high EER can be beneficial in the long run. In industrial or office setups, where ACs run for long periods, an AC with high EER can significantly lower electricity bills.
- Measurement: The EER is measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest rating and 5 being the highest. This means a 5-star AC will cool a room faster and consume less electricity than an AC-rated EER 3.
- Renewal: An EER rating is renewed every once in a few years and differs for different kinds of ACs. They vary according to the date of the manufacturing of the AC.
AC Efficiency tips
- Turn off all unnecessary lights, which generate heat that the AC has to remove.
- Ensure all windows are insulated so no hot air blows and over-pressurizes your air conditioner.
- Use ceiling fans for circulating cool air since they are a lot cheaper.
- Clean your AC regularly to ensure it works efficiently.
Power Consumption
The power consumption of an AC can be calculated using the energy-saving sticker on your AC, where the annual power consumed by your AC is mentioned. The actual value is slightly higher due to the rising temperatures outside and our inefficient AC-using habits.
Factors Affecting Power Consumption
- Number of people in the room: If the room has 10-15 people present in the room, it would require more ACs to cool the room than compared to only 2-3 people present in the room.
- Size of the room: It takes more power to cool a bigger room than a smaller one.
- Outside temperature: When the outside temperature is extremely hot, the AC requires more electricity to cool off the room.
4. Price and Budget
AC is an important and useful investment that will stick with the user for a long period. Hence it is important to make smart investments. ACs come with various features ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹80,000. A few things to remember while setting up a budget for purchasing an AC includes
- Set a fixed budget since you only have to select ACs from that budget and eliminate unnecessary confusion.
- Explore payment options since offers on some credit, debit cards, or UPI payments can provide you with no-cost EMI options, which can make your payment easier.
- Check prices online with Xuper, we compare prices from various sites and provide the lowest price with exciting cashbacks and offers.
- Consider features. Ensure you buy an AC with all the best features and high EER. Even though it costs higher now, it can save you a lot of mone
5. Cooling Capacity
- A small AC for a large room will need help to cool down the area and require more electricity, increasing your bills.
- A large AC for a small room will cool down the room fast but would not remove any humidity, leaving us extremely cold.
- A 1-ton AC can cool a room of size 100-150 ft.
Factors affecting tonnage
- Weather or Humidity: It is essential to consider the area you reside in and the temperature during summer since outside heat affects the working of ACs. A low-tonnage AC will fail to relieve you during peak summer months if you live in extremely hot climates.
- Number of people: Human bodies continuously emit heat, so if you have many people in a small area, a higher tonnage AC would do the job.
- Size of the room: Perhaps the most important feature to consider while purchasing an AC is the size of the room. Here is a table that can help you decide your ideal tonnage.
| Room Size (sq. ft.) | AC Capacity (tons) |
| 100-150 | 0.5-1 |
| 150-200 | 1-1.5 |
| 200-250 | 1.5-2 |
| 250-300 | 2-2.5 |
| 300-350 | 2.5-3 |
| 350-400 | 3-3.5 |
| 400-450 | 3.5-4 |
| 450-500 | 4-4.5 |
6. Noise Level
A loud AC can have many negative effects on our health, such as poor sleep, and can permanently damage our hearing; hence considering noise level before purchasing an AC can be a smart choice. A few points to remember are
- A conversation is between 40-60 dB; consider buying an AC below 40dB so it doesn’t affect your sleep and conversations.
- Most ACs now come with silent or quiet modes, in this, the AC fan operates at low speed and gives out minimal noise.
- Split ACs or inverter ACs are incredibly quiet in their operations.
- Portable ACs are somewhat noisy but are improving, and the newer models are less noisy.
- Window ACs are often loud and can cause sleep disturbances.
7. Features and Functionality
Modern ACs are equipped with various features to make our homes and offices comfortable during these harsh summer months, some of them to consider while buying an air conditioner include.
- Smart sensor cooling: Modern ACs come with this special feature: the AC can sense the number of people in the room and cool the room accordingly. If no one is in the room, it switches off automatically, saving electricity.
- Dehumidifier: With India’s highly unpredictable weather, getting an AC with a dehumidifier can be helpful. ACs often fail to function in high-humidity areas and have issues such as leakage.
- Four-way swing: In a four-way swing, the air moves horizontally and vertically for optimal cooling. This promotes more airflow in the room.
- Turbo mode: In this feature, the AC works at maximum capacity to cool the room as soon as possible. This also requires more electricity.
- Auto clean function: This function avoids the growth of microorganisms in the indoor unit of the AC. It cleans and dries the unit to maintain the purity of air. It also prevents the evaporator coil from rusting.
- Anti-bacterial filter: This filter traps the dust and allergens in the air and purifies the air before circulating it back into the room.
- Heating and cooling feature: An AC with a heating feature can act as a heater and keep you warm during cold winter months. This will allow you to use your AC all year and not only in summer.
- Sleep mode: This feature automatically adjusts the temperature at night and ensures comfortable sleep and savings on energy bills.
8. Installation and Maintenance
To avoid future issues, it is important to ensure that the AC is properly installed with high-quality wires to prevent malfunctions. An AC should always be installed by the respective company.
AC needs to be properly maintained for proper functioning and cooling. An AC should be serviced once every year which should include cleaning the AC filters for effective cooling.
Always go for an AC brand that provides excellent after-service and home AC service for a hassle-free experience.
9. Brand Reputation and Warranty
It is always better to purchase an AC from a reputable brand. Not only do they ensure premium quality products, but they also strive to provide the best customer service such as free installation and home AC service. A heavy appliance like AC needs regular maintenance, so purchasing from a good and recognised brand like LG, Hitachi, Bluestar, Samsung, Godrej, and so on would be wise to make that process easy. A reputable brand also provides good warranty periods. Some of the things to consider while considering the warranty of an AC are –
- Most brands provide 10-15 yrs of warranty.
- Warranty is mostly provided in the form of 5+10 years or 3+10 years. 3 or 5 years on PCB, 10 years on the compressor, and 1 year on the machine.
- The compressor is the most important part of the AC, so make sure to get a good warranty.
10. Read Reviews and Recommendations
While investing in an air conditioner, you must be fully thorough with the brand’s pros, cons, and customer service. Hence, it is advisable to read various reviews and recommendations online on Amazon, Flipkart, Quora, etc. One must follow the AC buying guide to get a general consensus, and make an informed decision accordingly.
Best 6 Air Conditioners for Home and Office Use
Below is a list of best AC for home and office use with affordable AC price and the best features available.
This is a 1.5-ton AC with a 3-star BEE rating, which promotes upto 15% energy savings. Its efficient cooling system can cool even when the outside temperature is 52 degrees Celsius. Other features include – auto restart, sleep mode, copper condenser coil, and a self-cleaning feature.
1-ton, 2-star AC with a cooling power of 3350 watts. This is an affordable split AC that requires low maintenance. This Daikin AC comes with dust filters, remote control, fast cooling, power saving mode and makes less noise.
This AC is a 1-ton, 5-star AC. With 4 in 1 cooling, this window inverter AC has a dust filter, dehumidifier, fast cooling, and Wi-Fi remote control. Made up of 100% copper tubes which last long.
1.5 star, 3-ton Window AC. It also has 100% copper wires that last long. Other features include – Fast cooling, clean air filter, LED display, a Self-diagnosis function, dehumidifier, and Remote-controlled operation.
This is a 1-ton portable AC for room. It has castor wheels for easy movement. It has an anti-bacterial silver coating that prevents microorganisms’ breeding and purifies the air. This AC has several other features like auto mode, self-diagnosis mode, and remote control option.
The 1.5-ton, 3-star Samsung split AC is a popular choice. It uses a premium-quality copper condenser. It also includes a four-way swing, anti-bacteria, and dust filter. This AC also has a low noise level and works on remote control.
FAQs on Air Conditioners
There are various things to consider before buying an AC; these include –
- Types of AC
- EER and power consumption
- Brand reputation and warranty
- Cooling capacity
- Additional features
- Pricing and budget
Some of the most reliable AC brands include – Samsung, Daikin, Lloyd, LG, and BlueStar.
A 5-star AC is better as it will cool the area faster and consume less electricity than a 3-star AC.
Some of the most long-lasting AC brands include – Voltas, LG, and carrier ACs. These AC companies use only premium quality materials for their products.
Although inverter ACs are one of the most efficient kinds of AC, they do have certain drawbacks, such as
- They are expensive to maintain.
- Their efficiency reduces if it is extremely hot outside.
Budget-friendly AC includes – Whirlpool 4 in 1 Convertible Cooling 1.5 Ton 3 Star Split Inverter AC, Daikin 1 Ton 2 Star Split AC, and SAMSUNG Convertible 1.5 Ton 3 Star Split Inverter AC.