The festive season is round the corner, and the summer of 2016 is nearing its annual close. While it’s not yet time to switch off the air-conditioners, it’s probably the best time to buy a new AC if you need one.
The price of air-conditioners in India typically start falling a bit from August onwards. So this is a good time to buy one – you can still use it for a month or two, depending on which part of India you are living in.
But with the wide variety of ACs available in the market with different specifications, it can be a nightmare to select the right AC for your home. Choosing an AC at the right price which can provide the perfect cooling depending on the size of your room and the weather at your city can be tough. You do not want to end up with an AC that is so small that it has to run all the time to keep your room cool or is too large to properly remove the humidity in your room. This guide will help you select the cheapest AC for your home – so let’s get ready to face the summer of 2017.
Some of the factors to keep in mind while buying an AC this summer are:
The capacity of the AC should be kept in mind while buying. For any room smaller than 140 sq. ft., a 1 ton AC will generally be goood enough. A 140 sq. ft. to 180sq ft. room will require a 1.5 ton AC, whereas any room larger than that will require a 2 ton AC.
For a small room, the Onida 1 ton, 3 star split AC White (SA123PBL) is your best option. During this 2016 summers it was retailing on Flipkart for Rs.24,000/=. The price is now down to Rs.22,490/=
With the rising cost of electricity, it is essential to buy an AC which can provide you with the best cooling while consuming the least power. The higher the BEE star rating an AC has, the more efficient it is, and the less electricity it will consume.
The 1.2 tons Hitachi 5 star split AC (RAU514HWDS) is one of the cheapest and most energy efficient AC you will find. At the time of writing, it was priced at Rs.31,989 on Flipkart, though the current product status is ‘sold out’.
The Hitachi 5 star split AC (RAU514HWDS) is available on E-bay though at a higher price of Rs.34773.
While window units may be cheaper, they are not as quiet or aesthetically pleasing as split air conditioners. While split ACs provide better air distribution, window units are easier to install.
You should choose the right kind depending upon your requirements. The Hitachi Summer QC (RAV513HUD) is a 1.1 ton 5 star Window AC. It has auto climate, auto fan-speed, auto power safe and auto restart functions and can work in temperatures of up to 52 degree celsius.
From the peak summer price of Rs.28,000/=, it has now marginally dropped to Rs.27,000/=. On Amazon.
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Your AC should have a good dehumidification unit to reduce the humidity in the room, give increased cooling and more comfort. ACs with a good dehumidifier can give better cooling and more comfort during the monsoon season. Another thing to look out for is the filter. A good filter gives better cooling and improves the efficiency of the AC.
As the performance of the AC depends on the installation (good or bad), it is important to get your AC installed from an authorized dealer. Moreover, Split AC’s have a compressor unit outside, whereas window ACs are a compact unit which can be attached to a window. Certain ACs require very little maintenance, you should ask your dealer how often your AC has to be cleaned for it to give optimum performance.
Air-conditioners with adjustable thermostat, two fans and variable speed will help you get different settings at different times of the day. This means that you can consume least power. Different pre-defined settings can give you better cooling while saving more energy. The Whirlpool Mastermind DLX is a 1.5 ton 3 star split AC. It has advanced cooling options along with variable fan speed. Its noise level is also less(38db) and it has an auto clean feature.
From well over Rs.35,000 at the peak of the 2016 summer, this one’s price has plummeted to Rs.26,564 (SnapDeal Price as of 22-Sep-2016).
Nowadays, ACs can also be used for heating besides of course cooling. These ACs consume less power and can save up to 35% more energy as compared to heaters.
The Carrier 1 Ton Inverter Superia 365 Split Air Conditioner is a Hot and Cold multipurpose AC. Along with the hot feature, it also has auto clean, self diagnosis and follow me featues.
Peak 2016 Summer Price: Rs.45,000 plus (SnapDeal). Currently sold out on SnapDeal.
Available on Zopper for Rs.43,500/=
It is important to select an AC that runs quietly and smoothly. Typically, an AC should not give off sounds more than 60 decibels.
An auto restart function is also useful in an AC. What it does is that the AC switches on to its initial setting when the power comes back on after a power outage.
When it comes to sleeping at night, the sleep mode function is useful as it adjusts the temperature automatically. This not only saves energy but it also ensures that the temperature in your room doesn’t get too low – else that can make your sleep uncomfortable.
The Sansui 1 ton 5 star split AC (SSZ35.WS1-MDA) has a sleep mode and runs quietly. Moreover, its auto restart feature, 5 star rating and active filters means that you will get comfort and efficient cooling. And all this at a very reasonable price.
This model’s price has been reduced by just Rs.500 since May 2016. It is now retailing on Flipkart for Rs.21,990/=
Purchasing the right AC can be a very difficult and daunting task, what with all the different kinds of factors to keep in mind. This guide outlines some of the basic things to keep in mind while buying an AC and also lists a few ACs that are not only good but also well priced. Happy off-season shopping!
♥ Also Check Out: Best ACs in India as per Power Consumption
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