How to select best Air conditioner for Home/office?
There are many brands available in market and each brand is having their unique features with different prices. It is important to know few key features before purchasing an AC. Below we have defined certain pointers which will help you to select the best air conditioner for home or offices.
How to select the correct AC size : – Here, ‘ton’ refers to the amount of heat removed by the air conditioner in one hour. The amount of heat removed is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU). Hence, higher the BTU, greater will be the cooling capacity, which means the AC will be able to cool a larger area.
1 ton= 12,000 BTU/hr, 2 ton= 24,000 BTU/hr and so on.
Now that we know what the term ‘ton’ implies, our next step would be to choose the right ton air conditioner. Frankly, there is no universal answer to this question. The tonnage depends on several factors like room size, city of use, number of people in room, number of appliances in room, etc. Below table will give idea to pick right size of AC.
| Room Size (In Sq. Ft) | Required AC Size (In Tons) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 80 | 0.75 |
| 80 – 140 | 1 |
| 150 – 200 | 1.5 |
| 200 – 300 | 2 |
BEE Ratings: – This star rating is provided for customer awareness by BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency.) EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. EER is calculated By : Cooling Capacity {Watts / Power Consumption (Watts)}. For Example – One 1.5 ton AC have 5275 watts cooling capacity and 1650 Watts power consumption, so EER of unit is 5275/1650=3.1 EER.
BEE rating depends on EER, higher EER will have higher BEE rating or higher number of star in BEE rating will have greater EER. So 5 star will have higher EER and less consumption of electricity, while 3 star ratings ACs are cheaper in price but consumes more electricity.
Air Quality: Indoor air quality is very important while deploying ACs at home; hence AC with a good filter is extremely important to improve indoor air quality. A good filter not only ensures clean air but also enhances the cooling performance and energy efficiency of AC by preventing the choking of evaporator coil due to dust.
Maintenance & Cleaning: ACs are like cars, as they need regular servicing to remain running in best condition and optimum performance. Once installed, there should be regular servicing. Its preferred to get ACs serviced quarterly.
Cooling speed: The AC should have an adjustable thermostat (temperature setting) and at least two cooling speeds, and a minimum of two fan speeds as you may want to use variable speeds for different times of the day. An energy efficient setting will be a beneficial addition as it helps in saving energy while providing optimum cooling.
Installation requirements: The window AC is a compact unit designed to be attached to the windows. A split AC has a compressor unit outside the house and one indoor unit inside the room, specifically designed for better flow of air. Installation should always be done from an authorised service center. The performance parameter of AC depends on a good or bad installation.
Usage: If your AC usage is 8 to 10Hrs a day for 3 to 4 months, it is recommended to buy at least 3 Star rated AC. In case AC usage is extended 5 to 7 months or more, you should opt for 5-Star rated AC
Warranty: Warranty of the electric products and home appliance is much important to check. As there might be some fault or functioning problem, in that case calling customer service and get your product repaired is quite good.
Inverter AC V/s Split AC
An Inverter AC adapts its speed depending on the heat load in the room. Unlike the regular Split ACs, The Inverter Air conditioners have shifting speed motors that adjust their speed according to the requirement. So, it is obvious that they consume 30- 40% less electricity.
No one can sit ideal in the room at all times, the numbers of people vary and so does the temperature levels. Hence, you need an AC unit that is capable of adjusting to the ambiance in the room. The inverter AC units are capable in this regard.
Inverter AC units are capable of adjusting their speed and tonnage according to the heat inside the room. The non-inverter AC units do not have this capacity.
According to Bureau of Energy Efficiency, an Inverter AC of BEE 3 Star Rating is 7% more energy efficient than a BEE 5 rated normal Split AC. Inverter technology is available only for the split ACs. With Normal ACs, whenever the compressor starts, there will be a slight fluctuation, and when the compressor runs, the room gets chilly, and when it shuts off, the room might get a little warm.But, that’s not the case with the Inverter AC, when you set temperature, After some time, the temperature will be almost constant, and you don’t even notice if the compressor is running or not.
These are the points/criteria you need to consider while buying new split ACs in India. Hope our buying guide will help you to choose the best product and long durable as well.
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