AC Buying Guide India – How to Buy Best AC for Home & Office | Best AC

Find the Right AC Has Never Been Easier

Below are the top 6 things you need to know before Buying an AC

1. Window AC vs Split AC
2. Room Size
3. Energy Star Rating 
4. Aluminum or Copper Coil
5. Inverter or None-Inverter
6. Spacial Future

Window AC vs Split AC

 

While split ACs are priced slightly higher than window ACs, the below table compares them on key parameters

Room Size

Apart from the room sizes mentioned below, a few factors that might require you to select a higher capacity unit have been mentioned below

• Multiple windows: If the room has multiple or large windows.
• Floor: If your house is located on the top floor or is higher than the 3rd floor.
• Room Temperature: If the normal temperature of the room is above 40 degrees C.
• Facing: If the AC is facing west or south

1. Small Rooms 

Small Rooms Up to 120 sq.ft, Upto 1.2 Ton ACs suitable for study rooms, small bedrooms.

Choose AC Tonnage According to These Room Sizes

• 8 x 10 feet room size = 0.8 ton AC
• 10 x 10 feet room size = 1 ton AC
• 12 x 15 feet room size = 1.2 ton AC
• 14 x 15 feet room size = 1.5 ton AC
• 20 x 20 feet room size = 2 ton AC

2. Mid Size Rooms

Mid size rooms 121 to 179 sq-ft, 1.2 – 1.7 Ton ACs suitable for bigger bedrooms

3. Large Rooms

Large rooms 180 sq.ft above, 1.8 Ton & above ACs suitable for big living rooms.

Energy Star Rating

Power Consumpation

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has a star rating methodology called indian se Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) for air conditioners.

ACs with higher star ratings will consume much less power, thereby saving money on your electricity bill in the long run.

Energy Star Rating Table-

Higher star rating cost a bit more initially but consume much less power, and hence save money on your electricity bill in the long run. Compressor material in the AC also contributes to energy consumption. Compressors made of copper are more energy-efficient than aluminum ones.

Below are estimated calculations on power consumption for a 1.5-ton capacity AC. Values will vary for other capacity & ISEER rating combinations.

Star	ISEER Rating	Power Unit Consumption (for 1600 hrs usage)	Cost* (@6/Unit)	Yearly Saving (vs 3 Star)	% Saving (vs 3 Star)
3	3.7	1068.35	6410	–	–
4	4.1 (Entry Value)	981.81	5891	519	8%
5	4.1 (Entry Value)	892.32	5354	1056	16%
5	5.2	744	4464	1946	30%

** The Below table shows the expected saving on buying split Acs with 3 or more energy star ratings. Values given are basis ISEER energy label on 1.5 Ton Voltas ACs (for 1600 hours of operation) & electricity charges of Rs.6 per unit. kindly note that non-inverter Split ACs do not come in 4 and 5 energy star ratings.

Type	Energy Star Rating	Appox. annual energy consumption (units)	Annual electricity cost (in Rs.)	Annual Saving (in Rs.)
Non-Inverter	★★★	1130	6,780
Inverter	★★★	1035	6,210	570
Inverter	★★★★	980	5,880	900
Inverter	★★★★★	880	5,280	1,500

Save on your electricity bills | Pick an energy efficient AC

Aluminium or Copper coil?

Aluminium or Copper

Air Conditioners provide a sigh of relief during the treacherous summer heat. But deciding the type of air conditioner which doesn’t hurt your pocket could be an uphill task. Apart from the other factors that determine which type of air conditioner is better, there is an age-old debate as to which type of coil is better – Copper or Aluminium?

There are various Pros & Cons of both. Following table showcases each:

CHARACTERISTICS	COPPER	ALUMINIUM
Cooling speed	Better heat transfer, cools faster	Slower cooling as compared to Copper
Corrosion resistant	Corrodes slowly	faster corrosion vs Copper
Durability	More durable & stronger	less durable than copper
Repair	Can be repaired easily	Difficult to repair and needs replacement
Cost	Expensive	Cheaper than Copper

Copper Coils

AC condensers use coils to cool the air, Copper Coils are popular as they cool faster, are easy to maintain and have a longer lifespan. While copper coils are generally more expensive, they have better heat exchange & anti-corrosive properties and are preferred in coastal areas. Aluminum Coils are relatively cheaper in comparison.

Buy Best ACs with Copper coil

Buy Best ACs with Aluminium coil

Inverter or Non-Inverter?

Inverter Technology

It’s a compressor that thinks and adjusts according to your needs. The compressor has variable speed and changes its frequency according to the surrounding temperature. If you, re looking for a long-lasting, more Energy-efficient AC, it is worth investing in.

Advantages of Inverter Acs:

Reduced Electricity Bills –

Inverter ACs consume lesser power as the compressor does not have to frequently reach maximum cooling speeds.

Consistent Cooling –

The compressor varies its speed for optimum cooling.

Long Lasting –

With lesser load on the compressor, you can expect a longer lifespan.

Benefits of ‘Inverter’ Split ACs over ‘Non Inverter’ Split AC

Parameter	Inverter Split AC	Non-Inverter Split AC
Cooling technology/ Compressor Type	👍 Variable speed compressor which adjusts power depending on heat load	👎 Compressor is either on or off depending on heat load
Price	👎 Priced INR ~2000 to 4000 more than non-inverter ACs	👍 Lower priced than inverter ACs
Cooling speed	👍 reaches set temperature faster	👎 takes more time to reach set temperature
Noise	👍 Quieter than non-inverter ACs	👎 Not as quiet as inverter AC because compressor switches off and on repeatedly
Compressor life	👍 Inverter compressors have longer life	👎 Compressor life is lesser compared to inverter Acs
Energy consumption	👍 Consumes lesser energy than non-inverter ACs	👎 Consumes more energy
Stabilizer	👍 Does not require stabilizer for a given voltage range. Potential Saving of INR ~1200-2200	👎 Needs stablizer usually

Special Features of ACs

Smart ACs

WiFi-enabled ACs or Smart ACs as they are popularly called are empowered to take voice commands and are designed to operate intuitively. With next-generation voice-controlled technology, these ACs are compatible with Amazon Alexa devices and can operate to operate on voice commands, backed by the internet of things (IoT) technology. The Wi-Fi connectivity gives you the comfort of operating your AC remotely control or pre-program your AC to set a temperature and cooling schedule as per your wish.

ACs with Adjustable Capacity

These ACs have a unique adjustable mode which can run on different capacities depending on the number of people and ambient weather conditions.

ACs that Cool at 52 Degrees Celsius

These ACs provide better cooling performance at higher temperature

ACs with Antibacterial Coating

The micro dust Anti-Bacterial Filters in these ACs keeps out both invisible dust and other pollutants and there by provide cleaner air.

Hot and Cold ACs

Hot & Cold Air Conditioners deliver comfortable air throughout summer, winter, and monsoon. They have the latest technological upgrades like Dual inverter compressor, active energy control, etc which ensures cool air in summer, warm air in winters, and dryer air in monsoons.

Parameters	Regular Room Heater	Hot & Cold AC
Energy Efficiency (BEE star rating)	Energy efficiency is unknown	BEE star rating is available for informed decision making
Saving (vs having two appliances)	High power and cost consumption and can be used only during winters	Low on power consumption and helps save money. Can be used in all seasons.
Air Filters	No air Filters are present	Basic air filtration present for clean breathing air.
Thermostat	Available in some premium models. It cannot be used to get a desired temperature and has to be switched off manually.	Provides flexibility to select a comfortable temperature & turns off on reaching desired temperature
Ease of use	Heavy and bulky. It has to be manually operated and requires storage space during off season.	Operates with remote control Does not require any storage space during off season.

Best AC Brand in India

1. Voltas

2. LG

3. Whirlpool

4. Daikin

5. Blue Star

6. Godrej