How to choose the right air conditioner for your needs

Air conditioners have increasingly become a necessity rather than a luxury in homes the world over today, with temperatures soaring more and more every summer.  Now, as easy as it is to decide to purchase an air conditioner, things get a little trickier while trying to find the perfect one according to your needs.  

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This is because they come in a variety of designs, ranging from the more common window and split ACs, to more specialised cassette and portable options. In addition to this, one also has to consider factors such as running costs, ease of maintenance, and even smart features when settling on a model that works for them. To help you through this myriad of considerations, we thought we’d put together this little guide bring you up to speed on the basics. Read on.  

Choose the right kind of ACs

The first and most obvious most obvious choice is the type of AC you should purchase. Window and split ACs are most common for consumer use, and with good reason, as they’re easy to install and hassle-free to maintain. Both have their pros and cons, and the decision often simply comes down to the layout of your room and accessibility to your window.  

A window AC will slot into any window, but unless that window was designed with a window AC in mind, you might have to replace the frame and doors entirely to support one. Window ACs also need additional support as they’re very heavy. On top of that, they can be very noisy to operate, as the compressor is attached to the fan unit. That said, the design of window ACs is much simpler and more robust, making them easy to maintain and hassle-free to use over many years. 

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Split ACs earn their name from the fact that they have a separate indoor and outdoor unit. The indoor unit has a fan and heat exchanger that recirculates and cools the air, while the outdoor unit houses a compressor and radiator to cool the coolant. These ACs are generally quieter (Indoors) and more efficient in operation, but installation and maintenance can be a hassle. For starters, insulated copper pipes need to be laid between the indoor and outdoor units, and these pipes are not easy to work with. Moreover, they can also wear out and leak over time. With proper maintenance, however, a split AC can last a lifetime. 

Factor in ACs' cooling capacities

The cooling capacity of an AC is usually rated in tons, and manufacturers tend to specify the coverage area of each of these capacities. As a rule of thumb, a 1-ton AC can cool a generally cool a space of up to 130 sq. ft, while a 1.5-ton AC can cool a space of up to 180 sq. ft. For most home and office use-cases, these capacities are enough and are the most popular choices as well. Measure your space before buying an AC, and be sure to buy one with the right capacity. Something that’s underpowered will be under too much strain and wear down quickly, while excess power is generally just a waste of money. 

Don't neglect running costs along with purchase prices

An average AC has a warranty for 10 years on the motor, and is expected to last about 15 years with proper maintenance. Since an AC generally consumes a lot of power and will be contributing significantly to your electricity bill, it’s important to factor in running costs when purchasing a new AC.

For running costs, look at the annual energy consumption of your AC based on daily hours of usage, and multiply that by 10 (years) and the cost of electricity in your area. Now add this total to the purchase price of the AC to give you an approximate cost of ownership over a period of 10 years. 

You will often find that investing a little more money in an energy-efficient AC, like a 4-star or 5-star rated model will be more beneficial in the long run despite the higher purchase cost. 

Look out for smart features

Smart features in an AC aren’t necessary, but they’re nice to have in a modern home. These generally allow you to not only control the AC with virtual assistants, but also help you keep track of power consumption, usage time, maintenance schedules, and more. They’re a quality-of-life upgrade that’s well worth the money. 

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Think carefully before choosing an AC as picking the right one for your home or office space will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. You won’t waste money on something that’s a bad fit, and might end up saving money by making the right calculations. Once you’re sure about what you want, shop around and compare prices and features of the same model across different retailers, to get the best deal for you.