AC buying checklist
Open a section, slide each feature to what you want, and print your own AC wish list at the end.
A window AC is one box fitted in a window or wall opening. A split AC has a quiet indoor unit and a separate outdoor unit.
Quieter indoors and fits on any wall. Needs proper installation and piping.
Cooling power is measured in tons, not weight. Match it to the room: too small struggles, too big cools in short bursts and leaves the room clammy.
Rooms of about 120 to 180 sq ft
Rough room sizes. Go one step up for top-floor, west-facing or crowded rooms.
The common pick for master bedrooms and small halls.
A good install matters as much as the AC. Copper pipes, a short pipe run and a vacuum before the gas is released keep cooling strong for years.
Thick copper pipe and the outdoor unit kept close. Long runs lose cooling. Avoid aluminium pipe.
A fixed-speed AC switches its compressor fully on and off. An inverter AC slows it down once the room is cool, using less power.
Lower bills, a steadier temperature and quieter running. The usual choice today.
BEE stars rate efficiency using ISEER, a score of cooling per unit of power across a typical Indian year. Higher ISEER means lower bills.
Moderate bills
A rough idea. Compare the ISEER and yearly units on each label.
A sensible middle for most bedrooms.
Lets you run the AC at part of its capacity, say a 1.5 ton working like a 1 ton, to save power on milder days or with fewer people.
A handful of steps to scale cooling down.
Many ACs now claim to keep cooling when it is around 52 °C outside, which matters in north and central India during heatwaves.
Keeps cooling in most heatwaves
A rough idea. Shading the outdoor unit helps any AC.
Keeps running in most Indian heatwaves, though cooling dips a little at the peak.
The coil in the outdoor unit throws out the heat. Copper passes heat well and is easier to repair, and a coating helps against rust.
Easier to repair and longer lasting. The common choice.
The gas that carries heat out of the room. R32 is efficient and kinder to the climate than older gases like R410A.
Efficient and common on new ACs. Needs a trained technician, as it is mildly flammable.
ACs remove moisture as they cool. A dry mode removes more without chilling the room, which helps in sticky monsoon weather.
Takes out moisture without freezing the room.
Mesh filters catch dust before it clogs the cooling coil. Extra filters trap finer dust and germs, but an AC is not an air purifier.
A treated filter that limits germ growth on the mesh.
Indoor unit noise in decibels (dB), usually quoted at the lowest fan speed. Every 10 dB more sounds roughly twice as loud.
About as loud as a quiet library
A rough comparison. A fuller bar is quieter.
Fine for most bedrooms.
After you switch off, the AC dries or washes its indoor coil, so mould and the musty smell do not build up.
Runs the fan briefly after switch-off to dry the coil.
Wi-Fi lets you switch the AC on from your phone before you get home. Voice control works through a smart speaker.
The usual remote with timer and sleep mode.
Voltage swings can damage the compressor and circuit board. A stabiliser-free AC handles a wide range, so you may skip the stabiliser.
Works through common dips and spikes. Check the voltage range in the manual.
The compressor and the PCB (the main circuit board) are the costliest parts. Check how long each is covered beyond the basic year.
Long cover on the compressor, the part that matters most.
Your wish list
AC WISH LIST
by TechPP Insights
Your next AC should have these minimum features
Your picks will print here.
Scan to make your own wish list
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Choose at least one spec to print your wish list.
Got the AC home? Learn the remote buttons or air purifier checklist
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