AC Buying Guide - How to choose the best air conditioner

  • AC Buying Guide Step 1

    An air conditioner has become a necessity these days, especially for those who live in hot and humid areas. It is a better idea to not wait until summer to buy a new AC to get better deals on prices. The process of buying a new AC can be quite confusing and cumbersome as there are multiple brands and multiple types of ACs to consider. On top of that, every company markets specific AC features in their own way, making it harder to understand them and compare them in an apples-to-apples way.

    Our AC buying guide should make the whole process easier. First, you need to decide your budget, then study which type of AC is suitable for your needs, and then calculate the AC’s cooling capacity that’s required for your room. You should also consider how frequently you would use the AC and look at their power efficiency ratings.

  • Which Type Of AC Is Suitable For Your Room?

    There are three types of ACs: Split AC, Window AC, and Portable AC. Each one of these has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should choose according to your needs and priorities.

  • Split AC

    Split ACs feature two units: an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit features the blower and an evaporator (cooling coils), while the outdoor unit has the compressor and the condenser. Both units are connected via a pipe. Although split ACs offer faster cooling and higher airflow, they are costlier to install and cumbersome to uninstall when it’s time to move to a new home. Moreover, there’s a limit as to how far the indoor and outdoor units can be: the farther they are, the less efficient the whole unit becomes. They are also costlier to maintain compared to other types of ACs.

    Advantages Disadvantages Of Split ACs

    Window AC

    Window ACs (also known as Monoblock ACs) are relatively simpler compared to split ACs, and they don’t require as much space for installation. All the components are included in the same unit, so the installation and uninstallation of a window AC are much easier and cheaper. This means that if you live in a rented house and move frequently, a window AC might mean less hassle. However, they do not look as sophisticated as split ACs. Such types of ACs also block the room’s window opening and are relatively noisier. They might also be not a great idea for very large-sized rooms.

    Advantages Disadvantages Of Window ACs

  • Portable AC

  • Portable ACs are easier to move from one room to another. They are similar to window ACs, but they can be moved. Such ACs come with a hose that has one of its ends connected to the AC unit, while the other needs to be placed outside the window. If you are someone who wants to cool the living room where you spend most of your day and your bedroom where you spend the night, but you don’t want to spend on two ACs, then a portable AC can prove to be a good choice. However, it has its own share of disadvantages, including higher noise and a slightly higher price. Moreover, they are good enough for smaller rooms.

    Advantages Disadvantages Of Portable ACs

  • How Important Are An AC’s Warranty & Service Quality?

    The warranty period and service quality are crucial for any pricey device, including ACs. Most ACs come with a 1-year brand warranty and longer warranty period for the compressor. Since the compressor is the most important part of any AC, its repair cost is higher, too. So, you must notice the warranty period that a brand is offering on the AC’s compressor. Some brands offer as low as a three-year compressor warranty, while premium brands offer as high as a ten-year compressor warranty. The longer the warranty period, the better.

    An AC also requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning efficiently, so it is a good idea to get an annual maintenance contract (AMC) plan from a trusted service provider. With Onsitego’s Comprehensive AMC plan, you can get up to two years of repair and maintenance support, including two preventive maintenance visits every year, unlimited repairs (including the charge for labour, service, and transport), free gas charging (if required), and the cost of spare parts. If anything goes wrong, you can be assured of quality service.

    Apart from an AC’s warranty period, the quality of service is important, too. Some brands are better than others when it comes to service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer experience. To know a brand’s service quality and customer experience, you should read customer reviews on online stores, forums, social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, the brand’s YouTube comments section, and even on websites like Quora. You should also consider talking to your friends and acquaintances about their experience with their AC’s brand when it comes to service quality and experience.



Comments