Air Conditioner AC Buying Guide In India 2023

Air Conditioner (AC) Buying Guide India: In the summer season, the average temperature in most Indian cities ranges from 37° to 42° celsius, therefore the air conditioners are necessary to escape from this hot Indian summer, especially for those who live in extremely hot and humid temperatures.

But, for a beginner like you, buying a brand new air conditioner in the Indian market is quite confusing & requires lots of decision-making skills as different brands showcase the different features to attract the customer, on top of that the cost of the air conditioner should be pocket friendly.

So to make your air conditioner buying experience simple and easier, here we (BangaloreToday team) have done thorough research on air conditioners in India and brought to you a comprehensive article about the AC buying guide in India for absolute beginners, this guide will not only help you to decide, which is the perfect air conditioner to buy according to your requirement and budget?.

But also helps to save electricity consumption and what are things to avoid/ignore while buying a new air conditioner in India. By the end of this article, you should become an AC expert and choose the perfect air conditioner for you but, before that, there are a few things that you must know before buying the AC:

Calculate the area of your room in sqft where your air conditioner will be installed.
Calculate for how many hours a day and how many months in a year you will use your AC.
Set a good budget.
Enquire in offline stores about the quality of after-sales services provided by the companies (This can be done later also but, before buying an AC you must know which company provides good after-sales services in your locality.)

Before jumping straight into the article let me ask you a question: which cooling appliances were you using before and which company? comment below.

Which Size Air Conditioner To Buy? What Is Tonnage?

I’m sure that you might have heard the word “Ton” while enquiring about Air conditioners and what does it mean in the air conditioner field? In simple terms tonnage refers to cooling produced by an air conditioner Ex: “1-ton ACs will produce the cooling of a 1-ton ice cube put together in your room.”

You should choose the suitable capacity AC according to your room size or else your air conditioner will end up using more electricity or it will not provide sufficient cooling if you choose the less-capacity air conditioner.

So below I’ve crafted detailed information on how to choose the perfect AC according to your room size.

Room Size (Sqft)	Cooling Capacity
80 Sqft – 120 Sqft	1 Ton
120 Sqft – 160 Sqft	1.5 Ton
160 Sqft – 220 Sqft	2 Ton

The above table represents the size of the room and the cooling capacity required.

If your cooling area ranges from 80 Sqft to 120 Sqft, then you should go with a 1-ton air conditioner, else if your cooling area is ranges from 120 Sqft to 160 Sqft, then you should go with 1.5-ton AC, else if your cooling area is ranges from 160 Sqft to 220 Sqft, then you should go with 2-ton air conditioner.

Bonus Tips

If your cooling area receives direct sunlight for a long period of time, like where the room is located on the top floor or on one side wall receives the highest sunlight throughout the bright day, you need to buy 10% extra cooling capacity ACs.

Ex: Room area is 100 sqft, normally according to the standards, you will pick 1 ton air conditioner but in this case of direct sunlight then you should consider 1.2 or 1.3 ton AC which will provide good cooling to suppress the heat from the sunlight.

In India, the common height from floor to ceiling is 10ft but in some cases, the height can be varied according to the builder’s comfort, so if your room height is more than 10ft then also you need to consider a higher capacity ACs.

Which Type Of Ac Is Best For Home In India?

There are 3 popular types of air conditioners available in the India Markets viz, 1. Split AC, 2. Window AC and 3. Portable AC. These 3 types of ACs have their own advantages and disadvantages which depend on your use case so down below I’ve done a detailed comparison between these different types of ACs in India.

01. Split AC

As the name suggests split AC is made of 2 different units viz, indoor & outdoor unit, where indoor unit consists of an evaporator that will pass on the cool air coming from the compressor, which is installed in the outdoor unit. And observes all the heat from the room and sends it back to the compressor using a long copper tube connected between indoor & outdoor units.

The outdoor unit consists of a compressor that cools the air and a condenser with a fan that dissipates heat flowing from the indoor unit, later the compressor will pass on the cool air to the indoor unit through a copper tube and this cycle of air from indoor & outdoor unit keeps on going when the air conditioner is running.

The cooling process of the split ACs is faster compared to other types of ACs and aesthetically split AC looks pleasing at the same time the buying cost is comparatively higher side than window ACs.

02. Window AC

Window AC is self-explanatory as it will be installed on a window and the cost of a window air conditioner is comparatively cheaper than split AC, it is easy to install and uninstall which helps you in case where you are constantly moving from apartment to apartment also the installation & Handling charges of this kind of ACs are cheaper than other types usually the installation cost will be around Rs. 1000 – 2000 or you can easily install it by yourself by following the instructions.

Unlike split ACs, window air conditioner consists of only one unit which will be installed on your window blocking the outside view even if you are not using the air conditioner, it blocks the window opening in your room.

Window ACs are manufactured in a way where all different components of the air conditioner like evaporator, compressor & condenser, and other electronics parts are assembled in one single unit therefore the window AC is cheaper to manufacture and requires less maintenance than split AC.

But there are several drawbacks of window AC like It produces more noise, you need to have a window in a perfect spot where the cooling from the air conditioner will spread across the room uniformly, on top of that window air conditioner will always block the window opening so that you can’t use your window even if you are not using the air conditioner.

03. Portable AC

Portable ACs are similar to window AC where all different component is fitted in a single unit and the main advantage of portable AC is that it can moveable from one place to another where you can get cooling in the living room in the morning and also get pleasant cooling in your bedroom while sleeping at night time.

It is best when you don’t have the window in the right place, don’t have the budget to afford split AC, and also you want to cool multiple areas with one single air conditioner but there are also some disadvantages of this AC like:

Comparatively costlier
Limited buying options.
Higher electricity consumption.
Not for long-term usage.

Which AC Is Better Split Or Window?

Split AC	Window AC
Split AC has 2 units indoor and outdoor unit	Window AC has only one unit that will be installed on your window
Comparatively costlier (10 – 20%)	Comparatively cheaper
Installation & Reinstallation charges are Comparatively higher than window AC (Around Rs.4000 – 5000)	Installation & Reinstallation charges are Comparatively lesser than split AC (Around Rs.1000 – 2000)
It will be installed on a plain wall in any direction.	Having a window close to your cooling area is a must as it is installed on the Window.
Produce Comparatively less noise as the compressor is installed far outside of the room.	Produce Comparatively higher noise as the compressor & other parts are assembled in a single unit on the window.
The cooling distribution is uniform everywhere in the room as the Indoor unit can be installed anywhere in your room.	It is installed on the window which is aside of your living area or bed so window AC will take some time to reach & cool all corners of the room.
Comparatively consumes less electricity than window AC	Comparatively consumes high electricity than split AC
4-Star split AC will consume the same amount of electricity as a 5-star window AC.	5-Star Window AC will consume the same amount of electricity as a 4-star split AC.
Higher maintenance cost	Comparatively requires less maintenance cost.
It will provide an Aesthetic pleasing look & a premium feel in your room	Window ACs look average in Aesthetics and an old machine stuck in your window.
Choose from different color options from great brands	Limited color options are mostly white in color.
Best for large rooms, commercial places, and office spaces.	Suitable for a single room, small offices & shops
Tower AC, Ceiling Center AC, and regular split AC is the various option in Split AC.	There are no such options except portable ACs.
Inverter Technology, Dual Inverter Technology, and smart features.	No new features.

Fundamentally, both air conditioners are similar to each other but they are different in their aesthetics, design & cost, which depends on the size of the room and how & where you want to install the air conditioner.

Window ACs are becoming a little obsolete in the Indian market due to the following reason:

Produces high noise
Blocking the daylight
Poor Aesthetics
Non-uniform cooling

By reading the above-detailed comparison between Split and Window AC now you should be able to choose your own air conditioner type according to your comfort and budget.

Suggested Read:

Which Is Better Normal AC Or Inverter AC?

For beginner’s knowledge in inverter AC, there are no such things as UPS, inverter & batteries, it has nothing to do with electricity backup, then what does inverter AC means:

Usually, in the normal AC the compressor will cool the incoming air from the evaporator in the indoor unit and turns off itself as soon as the room temperature reaches the user-set level, when the room temperature rises again then the compressor will sense the change in room temperature and turn itself on to cool the room temperature once again to the set level and this cycle will keep on running as the Air conditioner is turned on.

But, during the process of switching on & off the compressor will end up consuming more electricity Ex: When you turn off your vehicle at the traffic signal to save fuel even if the stop time is not above 100+ seconds then the vehicle will end up using even more fuel than it consumes when the engine is continuously turned on.

So, to overcome this switching issue in air conditioners, there introduced a method in compressor operation which is popularly known as Inverter Technology in air conditioners.

Inverter Technology:

In inverter technology, the compressor will not stop even if the user-set temperature level is achieved instead, the compressor will slow down itself to low RPM and continue running,

Later when the room temperature rises accordingly the compressor will run at a faster RPM to cool the room so, this variable speed in compressor operation prevents from using extra electricity as the normal AC does and save up to 25% in electricity consumption.

As you got to about the difference between Inverter air conditioners and Non-inverter AC so the real question you may ask is, which is better Inverter AC or Non-Inverter AC? below I’ve described the difference between the Inverter and Non-inverter air conditioner.

The cost of inverter AC is slightly higher than non-inverter AC, while the electricity consumption of non-inverter AC is higher compared to inverter AC so, you need to decide whether to pay a premium initial cost and buy inverter AC or pay higher electricity bills throughout the years.

In my opinion, it all depends on your usage patterns whether you are gonna use AC for longer hours or shorter. below are some points to note:

If You Want To Use The Ac For Around 4 – 6 Hours A Day And 3 – 4 Months A Year:

This use case is considered a low usage case in which it is recommended to buy a non-inverter AC because you can save the extra premium initial cost and use this amount to pay the electricity bill for a few years.

Ex:

Type	Buying Cost	Electricity Bill
Inverter AC	60000	800
Non-inverter AC	50000	1200
Total	10000

The electricity bill of Inverter AC for 4 months will be 4*800=3200,

The electricity bill of Non-Inverter AC for 4 months will be 4*1200=4800,

When you buy non-inverter AC you will save Rs. 10000 which further can be used to pay the 2 Years’ electricity bills.

If You Want To Use The Ac For Around 6 – 8 Hours A Day And 8 – 10 Months A Year:

This use case is considered heavy use case, in which it is recommended to buy an inverter air conditioner because as you are a heavy user and buying the air conditioner to use it for long terms, inverter AC suits you the best where you can save more electricity consumption than non-inverter AC.

Type	Buying Cost	Electricity Bill
Inverter AC	60000	950
Non-inverter AC	50000	1400
Total	10000

The electricity bill of Non-Inverter AC for 10 months will be 10*1400=14000,

The electricity bill of Inverter AC for 10 months will be 10*950=9500,

Initially saved amount 10000 – 14000 the electricity bill of non-inverter AC for a year = -4000, which means you end up paying Rs. 4000 extra on electricity bill every year.

Even though you will save Rs.10000 initially buying a non-inverter air conditioner but in the long term will end up paying high electricity bills more than the amount you save initially as you can clearly observe from the example.

Bonus Tips for Inverter AC

If you are buying an inverter AC then you should ensure that your room is air sealed and there is no free flow or leakages of air in the room because if there are any leakages in the room the inverter air conditioner will never turn off its compressor as it is finding hard to cool down the room temperature,

Because of leakages, the room temperature will not cool down quickly so the compressor will always run at its peak which results in the damage or repair of the compressor rotor so kindly ensure to seal your room before buying the Inverter AC in India.

What Are The Differences Between The Inverter AC And Non-Inverter AC

Inverter AC	Non-Inverter AC
The compressor will always run at a variable speed according to the cooling requirement.	The compressor will switch itself On & Off when the room temperature cross above the user-set level
Consumes less electricity	Comparatively consumes high electricity
Buying Cost is comparatively expensive	Buying Costs is comparatively cheaper
Comparatively requires high maintenance	Comparatively requires less maintenance
Suitable for long term usage	Suitable for comparatively less usage
A sealed room environment is a must	A sealed room environment is essential
Avoid if your room gets the direct sunlight	Go with this even if there is direct sunlight but buy 10% high capacity AC
PCB Replacement Cost Approx. Rs. 20000	PCB Replacement Cost Approx. Rs. 5000

What Is Dual Inverter Technology In Air Conditioners:

As you know inverter air conditioners are well known for saving electricity and air conditioner companies come up with new technology in the inverter which is marketed as dual inverter technology whereas an inverter AC the compressor has only one rotor blade attached to it but in dual inverter technology there are 2 rotor blades attached to the compressor.

Now the compressor will use the same amount of electricity as the single-rotor compressor and produce 15 – 20% more results compared to a single-rotor compressor, so this is also a good implementation in air conditioners, while buying the air conditioner kindly ensure that your air conditioner has the dual inverter technology at same budget or if the price gap from normal inverter AC and dual inverter are very high then kindly consider the normal AC only as of the dual inverter AC will not affect your usage in a huge way.

What is Triple Inverter Technology? What Is The Benefit Of Triple Inverter AC?

As explained in the dual inverter AC you might think that a triple inverter technology means 3 rotor blades in the compressor but in this case, you are wrong because triple inverter technology refers to the number of pole winding installed in the compressor and in triple inverter technology air conditioner the total number of pole winding is 8, and only 4 poles winding in the other type of ACs.

In my words, you should not scratch your head on the triple inverter AC because this technology is only for marketing, there are no such practical benefits if you are a normal user, consider a normal inverter AC if you are a heavy user or else go with the regular non-inverter air conditioner which will save you the premium buying cost.

Which Star Rating AC Is Best?

The star rating in ACs or any other electronic appliances refers to the electricity consumption of the devices in a year and it is provided by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) India, where a device is certified with a 5-star rating then it will save comparatively more electricity than a 4 star or below rating devices.

So while buying the AC if you find the options between 5-star and below-rated air conditioners then blindly go with 5-star AC as it saves more electricity but, you also need to keep in mind that 5-star ACs will cost higher than others.

Again here also the same formula works, if you are heavy and want to use the air conditioner for long hours then you need to buy the 5-star rated AC, or else you should not buy 5 stars rated AC as it is slightly more expensive than lower-rated ACs.

Additional Features To Consider While Buying An Air Conditioner in India.

01. Voice control & Android/ IOS Compatibility

As the number of electronic appliances and IoT devices is getting bigger so you should maintain a separate remote controller to control each device it is a big headache to manage different RC for each device so it is a great option if the ACs are bundled with smart features like voice control and WiFi features which will make your life easier.

02. Geofencing features:

This feature is cool because the AC will switch on & off according to your location from the smartphone. Ex: In your busy life if you forget to turn your air conditioner off and left the house without noticing the AC is still running. The normal AC will run till you return home and switch the AC of which is a nightmare for electricity bills so to solve this problem air conditioner companies come with the technology to connect your AC to IoT devices and your smartphone so when you leave your home without switching off the AC then your Air conditioner will detect that your smartphone is out of range and will be automatically turn off after 10 mins from disconnection.

03. Autostart features:

The autostart features refer to the technology where AC will automatically turn on itself after a power cut so that you don’t need to get up to reach the remote controller and turn on the AC, this feature is useful in the corporate environment.

04 Sleep Timer:

A sleep timer is the most important feature to ensure before buying an Air conditioner in India. in this mode, the AC will turn off itself after a few hours of your sleep so that the electricity is saved moreover you don’t need cooling in the early morning as it will already be chilled outside.

05. Turbo Cooling Mode:

Turbo cooling mode is a beneficial feature when you came home from a hot day then you might require cooling quickly so the air conditioner companies introduced turbo cooling mode where the AC will run at its peak power mode so that it can provide cooling quickly and this power mode is called turbo power mode.

What Are The Things (Marketing Gimmicks) To Ignore While Buying An Air Conditioner?

Mosquito repellent features
Triple Inverter Technology
Anti-Bacteria Or COVID Protection Mode
Aluminum Coil & Condensor
Attracted to smart features rather than for better cooling.

Conclusion:

This is all you need to know about the beginner’s guide on buying a new air conditioner and I’m sure that you will make a wise & calculative decision while buying the air conditioner.

In the above article, I’ve covered 1. Which Size Air Conditioner To Buy? What Is Tonnage? 2. Which Type Of Ac Is Best For a Home In India? 3. Which AC Is Better Split Or Window? 4. Which Is Better Normal AC Or Inverter AC? 5. Which Star Rating AC Is Best? 6. Additional Features To Consider While Buying The Air Conditioner in India. 7. What Are The Things (Marketing Gimmicks) To Ignore While Buying An Air Conditioner?

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If you have any doubts or suggestions regarding this article or any other relative article then feel free to comment your concern in the comment section below. thanks for reading…

Air Conditioner AC Buying Guide In India 2023