Top Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Conditioner | AC Buying Guide 2024

Air conditioners have now become a part of our daily lives especially if you live in a place with a hot weather climate and coming home from work every day to a home with a perfect chill is priceless and an incomparable joint. You will get comprehensive detailed info in this Top Factors To Consider When Buying An Air Conditioner | AC Buying Guide 2024.

Surprisingly, the temperature is increasing every summer, therefore, the air conditioner is our prior requirement. Whether you already have the air conditioner or just preparing to purchase a new one let us help you in finding the best air conditioner but before that what you should already know.

We know choosing the best air conditioner can be rather hard with all the technologies, specifications and features. Therefore, we have prepared the best buying guide to help you to buy the best air conditioner according to your needs.

How to select the best Air Conditioner?

Well, there are things to know before buying AC that you should already know.

Which type of Air Conditioner do you prefer?
Which AC is better Inverter AC or Non-Inverter AC?
Compressor
Coil
Star ratings
Tonnage/Capacity
Refrigerant
Price

You will know which is the best AC that suits you according to your needs. So, let’s get started with a detailed view of the above topics.

Which type of Air Conditioner do you prefer?

Primarily, there are two types of ac available. One is window AC and another is split ac. Well, it depends on your budget and space or the room where you want to install it.

If you don’t have a window in your room or you don’t want to use your window to install an air conditioner then you should not go with the window AC. In this scenario, you need to go for split AC.

If you don’t want to invest more money in AC and you have a window in your room to use for installation, then you should go for window AC as it is cheaper than split AC. Comparatively, window AC makes more noise than split AC due to its compressor turning on/off regularly.

To install the window AC, you need to make a proper window and frame for AC to be fitted. Relatively, you also need to arrange the connection of wires and outlet water pipe management, etc.

In modern times, people prefer split AC compared to window AC. It is less noisemaker and more convenient. In the split AC, there are two types of units. One is an indoor and another is an outdoor unit.

Which AC is better Inverter AC or Non-Inverter AC?

It does not mean that the inverter AC will work on an inverter when you have a power cut-off at your home. Inverter AC can run at a variable speed once it achieves the preset temperature. It saves better electricity than non-inverter AC.

Generally, you should go with an inverter AC if you have air sealed room that is not a permanently opened area like a door covered with a curtain, etc.

You should buy a 5-star inverter AC if you use it for 6 hours a day and more than 6 months a year. Sometimes, an inverter AC runs at full or half or 25% of its capacity.

So, no one AC can make 50 to 60% of power-saving if any company claims. You can save up to 25% to 30% of electricity with an inverter AC. It’s misleading information.

You should buy a 3-star inverter AC if you use it for 4 months a year for more than 6 hours a day. This will save up to 15% to 20% of electricity.

There are two PCBs in an inverter AC. The main is a controller PCB. Also, you should make sure that the company provides a warranty for the controller PCB as it is very expensive if it gets damaged.

In this case, you should avoid the AC which doesn’t have a warranty for that controller PCB.

Non-inverter AC runs with a fixed speed. It runs to get the temperature you have set and stops once it achieves. This is the fixed process for non-inverter AC. This way, it uses more electricity than inverter AC.

If you don’t have an air-sealed room or you want to install AC in the shop, warehouse or godown then you should go with non-inverter AC.

If you use it for less than 6 hours a day and less than 4 months per year then you should go with the non-inverter AC because this will save up to 25% of the initial cost and it will take the same electricity compared to an inverter AC.

You will get only 3-star variants in non-inverter ACs. So, if you planning to buy a non-inverter AC then make sure you should buy the latest AC variant due to its motor gets changed every year.

Compressor

The rotary compressor is compact and it gives a good performance. It produces minimum noise. It is more efficient for the home and small rooms.

The reciprocating compressor compresses the gas through the piston. This compressor is slightly more efficient for very large rooms, big offices, and factories. It is more expensive and also needs more maintenance than other compressors.

The reciprocating compressor is replaced by the rotary compressor from 2018 onwards for home and personal use. The reciprocating compressor is good for large rooms, offices and bigger areas.

Coil

We should select the AC with a copper condenser coil for both units (indoor and outdoor) because the copper coil has more capacity to transfer heat than the aluminum coil. Copper coil AC produced more cooling compared to aluminum coil AC. Thus, the copper coil is better than the aluminum coil AC and it’s preferable.

The aluminum coil is not much compatible with long-term use. It has no more life span compared to the copper coil. Repairing and maintenance cost is a little high compared to the copper coil.

Corrosion is a big problem for air conditioners. We will have to repair or replace the tubes once it gets corrosion. Makers use blue-fin and gold-fin technology to solve this trouble.

In this technic, they paint the condenser tubes with particular anti-corrosive paint. This improves the life span of the AC. Gold fin gives better protection against corrosion than blue fin technology.

Star rating

You should not be confused with these star ratings. If your usage of an AC is 2 to 3 hours per day then you should go with a 3-star AC.

If your usage is 10 to 12 hours per day then you should go with a 5-star AC with an inverter. It is a long-time energy-efficient.

Also, you should know the AC tonnage before selecting Air Conditioner.

What is Tonnage in the AC?

AC tonnage measures in BTU. The BTU stands for British Thermal Unit.

1 Ton AC = 12000 BTU/Hour
1.5 Ton AC = 18000 BTU/Hour
2 Ton AC = 24000 BTU/Hour

How much ton ac is required for my room? | AC capacity as per room size.

You should install 1 ton AC if you have 10 x 10 feet or 90 to 110 sq. feet size room.

And you should use 1.5 tons of AC if you have 111 to 150 sq. feet of room.

If you have above 151 sq. feet room size then you should go for 2 ton AC in your room.

Myth:

It can not save energy if we install 1 ton AC in above 150 to 180 sq. feet or large room. The 1-ton AC needs to run for a long time to make that room cool. Therefore, we need to select an AC according to your room size.

Which refrigerant is the best for AC?

This is a very important thing you should know about. The refrigerant is used to absorb the heat from the indoors and cool the air and the refrigerant moves the heat to the outdoor coil to expel outside.

R-22 refrigerant is outdated and no longer in use in AC as it is not environment-friendly.

Currently, R-410A, R-32, and R-290 refrigerants are used in the AC nowadays. R-32 refrigerant is more environment-friendly as it has an ozone depletion potential of zero. R-32 is the preferred choice of many manufacturers.

It is a mildly flammable refrigerant. R-32 has a GWP (global warming potential) of 675 and it is good compared to any other refrigerant. R-32 refrigerant is more energy-efficient and cost-effective compared to other refrigerants used in AC. It is easier to recycle than other R410A. So we need to know which refrigerant is used in the AC while choosing.

Price

Price matters the brand, condenser coil, inverter AC type and its advanced functions. If you want to buy a well-known brand AC then you will have to pay more compared to other brands.

Condenser coil and inverter AC will also be a little bit expensive compared to the aluminum coil and non-inverter AC. But they are more efficient and convenient.

There are some other points to be considered for your knowledge before buying the Air Conditioner.

What is dual inverter AC?

The dual inverter AC becomes popular as it is the best energy-efficient and environment-friendly. It provides faster and best cooling performance. The compressor will not stop once the room gets cool but it will run at a slow speed once it achieves the temperature you have set.

This way, it runs at a variable speed. Normally, it saves up to 60% energy by activating energy-saving mode with dual inverter AC. It has a dual rotary compressor and it helps to save energy and keeps cool. The dual inverter AC uses environment-friendly refrigerant (gas/coolant) and it does not harm ozone depletion compared to other refrigerants.

Generally, the dual inverter AC comes with an R-32 refrigerant. As I have informed you above, R-32 is the best refrigerant compared to others.

Do you know about adjustable tonnage inverter AC?

Well-known Indian brand Voltas presenting its all-new adjustable inverter AC model. This technology delivers a predefined lower cooling capacity of 1 ton and a higher cooling capacity of 1.5 for the air conditioners.

The air conditioner with this mode runs on both 1 Ton and 1.5 Ton capacities. This model comes with the latest technology of adjustable tonnage cooling capacity of the air conditioner according to the people available in the room.

Do you know about hot and cold AC?

Yes, many brands manufactured their air conditioners with the latest technology called hot and cold. Normally, air conditioners are used to cool the air in summer but what about in the winter season?

In this type of AC, you will get a hot mode option on the remote control. Approximately, the temperature range of hot mode is 18 to 30 celsius. It performs like a room heater and gives a better air throw and wider coverage compared to a room heater.

This technology is a companion for all seasons and it’s better to have for your home. Because the temperature is getting a huge variation among all seasons nowadays.

Should you buy a stabilizer for your AC?

Also, we recommend buying a stabilizer with AC. Because we don’t get constant power in our homes. Due to power fluctuation, AC may be damaged. The stabilizer controls the voltage and power fluctuation.

The stabilizer doesn’t allow to pass the power to the AC if the voltage fluctuates. It works as a barrier. Therefore, we suggest buying a stabilizer to keep your AC safe. Many air conditioners come with a built-in stabilizer in a particular voltage range.

In this case, you don’t need to buy an external stabilizer to protect your AC. However, the stabilizer is required if the power fluctuation is outside the mentioned limit on the AC.

What is a good noise level for the air conditioner?

There are two noise levels in any indoor unit with AC. One is the lowest and another is the highest. You should check for the lowest noise level.

You should not buy that AC which has the lowest noise level is greater than 40 dB (decibels) as it can disturb you while you sleep. So make sure that it is always good to have the lowest noise level of less than 40 dB and the highest noise level not greater than 60 dB for an indoor unit.

How to use the air conditioner to get the optimum result with lesser electricity in use?

Usually, the air conditioner is used to make the room cool but if we take care of some points then we will get the best performance of ac with lesser electricity.

We suggest not installing the indoor and the outdoor units of the AC on that wall where the direct sunlight falls for more hours a day. In this situation, the AC has to run for a long time to achieve the temperature you have set and also, it will use more electricity.
Please clean your AC filters regularly because the AC filters get blocked by dust. Clean your AC condenser fins and filters with a soft brush. Please close your door, all windows, fan, etc when you start the AC. If you have the window curtain, bring them down to get more cooling while your AC is running.
Do not set your outdoor unit on the ground because it gets blocked by dust and air pollutants. It reduces the performance of the AC.

The Basic modes of the air conditioner.

We also mentioned all basic modes in this Buying Guide For The Best Air Conditioner 2023.

When the room temperature is too high and you want quick cooling. Cool mode is the best option for this situation. In this mode, the compressor and fan are at full capacity. It blows out very cool air in the room to relieve the heat. Also, this mode consumes the most energy.

When the room temperature and humidity are at a comfortable level. In the fan mode, the compressor is off which means energy is saved. Simply it circulates the existing air in the room. It does not make your room cool or dehumidify.

When the room temperature is comfortable but the humidity is high. In the dry mode, the fan is low and the compressor is slow too. Humid air evaporates into dry air. This mode uses less energy and saves money.

The auto mode adjusts the temperature according to the standard temperature level of your room. In auto mode, the compressor will run and stop automatically to adjust the cooling temperature of your room.

If you have set the night mode in AC and suppose you have selected a 22-degree temperature, then after one/two hours it increases the number of temperatures to 24, 25 and so on to maintain the temperature automatically.

This is a faster cooling mode. In this mode, AC will run with optimum speed to make the room cool very fast. This mode uses more electricity.

What will be the charge for the split AC installation?

Some brands do not provide free installation for their customer. In this case, we have to pay around one to two thousand rupees for the installation. And if we need an extra copper pipe for extension then we have to pay more as the copper pipe is very expensive.

Generally, we need a stand for an AC outdoor unit to be fitted in some higher position to prevent dust and waste. The company does not provide a stand for free, they also charge for the stand.

We recommend you buy a stabilizer for the inverter AC whether the company claims stabilizer-free operation or there is no power fluctuation in your area. You can buy a good and effective stabilizer for three to six thousand rupees in the market from various brands.

This way, you should be counted around four to seven thousand rupees more for your AC’s cost.

Conclusion

Now you will be able to choose the best air conditioner according to your requirements by reading Top Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Conditioner | AC Buying Guide 2024. Primarily, you must take care of your budget and the price of the selected air conditioner.

You should select the product which provides after-sale service easily in your area means there should be a service center available in our locality. And also for, inverter AC with copper coil, capacity, refrigerant, star rating and your personal needs.

Thank you for visiting.