Be it a home, villa, office, warehouse or a big complex, buying an air conditioner (AC) can be quite daunting, especially with the kind of options available in the market today. To make this purchase easy there are a few parameters to keep in mind such as where you want to use it, what is the area covered, how much can you spend on it and are there any restrictions to your purchase.
Once these basic questions are answered, the choice is narrowed down to window ACs, split ACs, floor standing ACs, cooling units or portable ones.
Cooling capacity
Rohit Dev, Founder of Spendwisor.com, an online electronics store in the Middle East, says, “One of the most important things to consider is the right cooling capacity. Typically a one-tonne AC can cool about 600-square-feet of area. This number would change based on other factors such as the height of the room, number of windows, direction of the room, etc. Another very important factor is to check the energy star rating, also known as EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio). While the right capacity of an AC will ensure the area is cooling sufficiently, the energy rating will help save money on bills. The higher the rating, the better its efficiency.”
According to Ace Hardware, checking the AC’s airflow power is key. This will tell you whether it can cool the space in question. Next look at its water tank capacity. The larger its capacity, the longer it can cool. Other factors to be considered are portability, size and design. Cooling units for industrial purposes are very different from those used for domestic purposes.
“The noise level of the space to be air conditioned needs to be known, depending upon the application, if it is for comfort or industrial use,” says Rajesh Bhatia, Divisional Manager — Air Conditioners, Al Futtaim Engineering. He adds that buyers need to know the power available for air conditioning. Accordingly an energy-efficient air conditioner with the correct power supply can be selected.
Air quality
Apart from cooling, quality of air is very important for human beings, Bhatia explains. The type of air filtration required depends upon the type of contaminants to be removed and one needs to assess the filtration capability of the air conditioner. “The customer should buy air conditioners that can operate up to minimum 52 Celsius,” adds Bhatia.
Sushil Sankhla, a consumer who recently bought a split AC for his villa, always looks out for a rotary compressor while buying an AC. “It is more efficient as the rotary compressor makes less noise and consumes less electricity,” he says. He also recommends buying an intelligent AC, which automatically switches off when there’s no one in the room.
Size matters
What about the question of choosing between window, split, central AC or a cooling units? Dev says if the room has only one window, a window AC would shut the ventilation. “Although a split AC looks good and is out of your way (as it fits on the wall), it requires an external unit to function. For this reason, the cost of installing a split AC is higher. If there is enough space, then a floor standing or portable AC can also work,” he says. Dev also stresses on the fact that the product should be certified by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology, the local agency that tests and ensures that all electronic products meet minimum standards.
One should also understand and check the warranty terms and conditions. “Depending on the operating environment and number of operating hours,at least one service should be done every three months by a reputed service company,” says Bhatia.
More than you need
To test the cooling, wattage and other things in the AC, Ace suggests that the buyer invest in a cooling unit with a capacity slightly higher than the requirement. For example, if you need to cool a room of 10 square metres, make sure you get a unit that could cool at least 11 square metres, if not more.
Bhatia explains that any company at the site of installation cannot carry out the capacity testing of the unit for cooling. “To verify the declared capacities in the catalogues the test can be carried out by independent certified laboratories, as controlled and actual environment conditions need to be simulated. Electrical power consumption can be checked by a qualified technician or engineer at the installed site. The measured values may not correlate with the declared values as the power is measured for tested AC units under specific operating conditions.”
To ensure that the company itself checks the AC in case of any damage or malfunction, Sankhla always buys an AC with an extended warranty. To ensure that a unit runs smoothly during its lifetime, Dev recommends starting with the right choice of brand, specifications and an authorised dealer.
Ace suggests switching off the electrical supply of the unit when not in use. This is a basic requirement for safety as well as electricity consumption reasons. Beyond this, if the cooling unit is for outdoor use, ensure that you clean the unit properly every three to four weeks. Bhatia adds that the AC should be purchased from distributors who have a well-established set-up that offers installation and after-sales services.
Following these simple steps will ensure a cool purchase that helps you stay cool as well.
— Special to GN Focus
