A summer an uncomfortable experience due to excessive heat. Moreover, the rise in the world temperature has turned the months of March-August into something similar to hell pit. But can this hindrance occlude people like us, who have a magical lamp of technology at hand, from living a comfortable life? NO WAY! Technology has gifted us another shield to get protection from the screeching sun in the form of an air conditioner or AC. With the help of this handy machine, we can continue our daily routine comfortably, whether be it study or corporate meetings, even during the sizzling summer.

What an AC is

AC or air conditioner is an electric machine that gives you an option to control the temperature of your room according to your wish. You just set a temperature, whether it is more or less than the actual one outside your room, and in a while, you’ll get that precise degree of warmth.

The way it works

An AC works in the same method of the refrigerator or fridge in your house, but in a larger extent. The difference is, instead of taking the heat away from the edible objects kept in the fridge, it absorbs the heat from an entire room. Then it reduces the temperature with the help of ‘refrigerant’. This chemical substance gets vaporized after absorbing some of the room heat, and the rest of the heat is ventilated through the exhaustion panel of the device. In this way, it helps you to get cozy and chilled out in the burning summer atmosphere. During this cooling process indoor unit produces waste water which drains out. Drain air conditioner water is sign of air conditioner is working properly.

Types of air conditioners

Depending on where the compressor and blower mounted, air conditioners divided into 2 types.

• Split AC
• Window AC
• Portable AC

Split AC

Split AC, as the name suggests, it consists two units. One unit mounted outside of the home (on wall) and the other is mounted inside the home, room. The outside unit consists is a compressor and condenser and inside unit consists blower.Compressor connected to blower by connecting pipe which passes through the wall. Compressor sucks air from outside and made it cool, then passes to the blower. Blower throws out the cold air into the room.

Split AC is more aesthetically pleasing compared to other AC models and split AC perfectly capable to cool the bedroom and even large areas like halls and commercial places.

Where to install split AC

Split AC can be installed anywhere in the home. It offers more installation feasibility compare to other models. Only the thing is, you need to consider is the room in which you want to place Split AC must have an outside exposing wall.

Advantages of split AC

• Split AC is perfect choice for the bedroom because split Ac makes very less noise as it compressor, condenser is located outside which makes lots of noise.
• It can be installed in anywhere in any room. No need to worry about window, frame exists in a room.
• Split AC adds aesthetic, style and good look to room.

Disadvantages of split AC

• Split AC usually expensive comparative to other AC types such as window AC.
• Shifting, reallocating Split AC is much hard core work and expensive one.

Window AC

Window AC is not common in Nepal these days. It consist only one unit with a combination of compressor and blower within it. Window AC can be installed only in the window frame. Blower side of AC facing inside the room, whereas the other side is facing outside open air.

Advantages of Window AC

• Simple installation. Shifting, reallocating and reallocating window AC are much easier and fits in the budget. No need to refill the gas in the compressor while shifting with Window Ac, whereas it needed with Split AC.
• Economical, Price range starts from 25,000 rupees in India.

Disadvantages of Split AC

• Makes loud noise while running
• Window AC disturbs room aesthetics

Split AC	Window AC
Mounted on the wall	Mounted on the window frame
Expensive	Economical
Not portable	portable
Flexibility to install anywhere	Suitable only for small rooms with window slot, and best for those who moves houses frequently
Less noise level	More noise

Portable AC (Not much Available in Nepal)

Portable AC is portable just like air cooler. Portable AC are can move from one room to another instantly where as a window or split as can’t. Portable AC is best suitable for the homes where there is no feasibility to mount split / window AC or peoples who are living in a rented house and frequently reallocating place to place. Even you can move portable AC room to room in your home as you want.

Where to install portable AC

Anywhere at home just like an air cooler, just needs to arrange air hose through the window. A plastic hose is provided with AC, you need to attach hose to AC and put the other end outside the window using a window kit provided with AC. Here the Wikihow guide for portable AC installation

Advantages of Portable AC

• Shifting and reallocation is easy. Just pack in cardboard boxes and move out, is that simple. No need of any technician.
• No need to stick in one room. Within 10 minutes you can shift AC in another room.

Disadvantages of Portable AC

• As portable AC is non common in Nepal, they may be expensive as well as it may not be available in Nepal.

Inverter AC

First of all, Inverter AC doesn’t mean it runs on inverter or it runs even in electricity cuts. It uses an inverter technology, which uses to convert AC current to DC current which further regulate the compressor running speed.

Traditional non-inverter air conditioner compressor motor sometime go “on” and “of”. Whereas, inverter AC compressor is always in “On”state. Although, inverter AC compressor is always on, it saves electricity a lot. When we switch to non-inverter AC, its compressor motor starts running at high speed to cool the room at the desired temperature. After reaching the desired temperature, it stops the compressor motor. When room temperature increases, it starts the compressor again. The compressor is gone “On” and “Off” again and again.

Whereas. The inverter AC compressor motor is always “On”. When the switch on the inverter AC, its compressor motor starts running at high speed to cool the room at the desired temperature. After reaching the desired temperature, it not stops the motor, instead it runs motor with minimal speed so that room temperature constantly maintained at the desired temperature.

When the air conditioner compressor motor goes ‘On’, it consumes peak level electricity. So traditional non-inverter AC whose mother goes ‘On’ and ‘Off’, obviously consumes more electricity. The inverter AC motor is always on so there is no electricity peaks and save electricity a lot. Inverter technology is just like a car accelerator. When compressor needs more power, it gives more power and when compressor needs less power, it gives less power. As inverter AC compressor motor is always on, it controllers the compressor motor speed, electricity consumption based on the room temperature.

	Non-inverter AC	Inverter AC
Compressor motor always	On and Off	Always On
Electricity consumption	More	Less
Reach to desired temperature	Takes time	Quickly
Appliance lifetime	Moderate	High
Price	Normal	Expensive

Overall inverter AC is electricity saving and gives go you quick cooling. Inverter AC is performing better than non-inverter BEE 5 star rating AC.

AC size and capacity

Choosing the right size air conditioner is tricky. Oversized air conditioner cools the room faster than usual, but consumes electricity lot, whereas, undersize air conditioner needs to work hard to cool the room, consumes electricity lot, even though it’s not able to cool the room efficiently.

AC capacity depends on the size of the room. Before buying an AC, how to calculate the required AC size by measuring the room square foot area. Generally, Air Conditioner size rated in tonnage whereas, in foreign countries they use BTU (British Thermal Unit). Here we summarize the required AC size based on room square foot area.

Room size	Required AC size
0 to 80 Sq Ft	0.75 tons
80 to 120 Sq Ft	1 ton
120 to 190 Sq Ft	1.5 ton
190 to 300 Sq Ft	2 ton

Here, we summarize the other factors which are too affecting the Air Conditioner size. For instance, if you are living in a tropical area where temperature in summer exceeds the 40 degree Celsius, windows covering are is more than 25 Sq. Ft. Which allows more sunlight, heat penetrates in the room. In the below table, if any scenario matches, increase the Sq. Ft by 30% while calculating require air conditioner capacity.

• Room ceiling height more than 10 Sq. Ft
• Room has multiple windows and windows covers more than 25 Sq. Ft
• Room situated on the 3rd floor and above or on terrace
• Summer temperature more than 40 degree celcius
• AC compressor mounted towards sun direction
• Room walls directly exposed to sunlight

Aluminium coil Vs Copper coil

In air conditioner coils are used to convert gas refrigerant to liquid refrigerant, vice versa, which further helps to cool the room. Coils can made up of copper or aluminium depending on the manufacturer. Regards aluminium coil vs copper coil, the copper coil has high heat transfer rate, less corrosive, high coil strength. Whereas, only the best thing about the aluminium coil is cheaper, economical than copper coil.

Features

Anti-bacteria filter

An inbuilt filter removes invisible substances like dust mites, bacteria, pollen and other allergens. Overall, makes refreshing room environment. These filters avoids dust mite deposits on the internal part of AC and helps increase the lifetime of AC.

Dust filter

These mesh filters avoids dust mites evaporate at home. Whatever dust particles stick to these filters. For better performance user has to clean these filters with plain water once in a month, depending on usage.

Room heater

Built in room heater gives the cozy feeling in winter by just a button click. No need to purchase, maintain a room heater in winter. By just a button press, AC converts into cooling mode.

Dehumidifier

Dehumidification allows to remove excess moisture from the room. Such as in spring and fall room covers with high level of moisture, and cause stickiness, sweating, makes bacteria growing environment. Dehumidifier removes excess moisture and gives cozy, comfortable feeling.

Auto clean function

It avoids the mold and bacteria formation on internal part which affects AC cooling functionality and increase AC life time.

Auto detect

AC stores user preferred temperature setting in its memory chip and adjust the temperature itself to change in outside temperature or humidity. Some advanced technology air conditioner detects number peoples in a room based on body temperature and adjust the cooling temperature.

SMS gone, AC on

Generally speaking, air conditioner takes 10 to 15 minutes time to cook up the room. This feature allows you to switch to AC just before few minutes before you reach home from outside by sending an SMS to the air conditioner’s selected number. Whenever you reach home, you get cool, refreshing environment that too without taking any time.

Best window AC in india

• Blue Star 2WAE081YC 0.75 Ton 2 Star Window AC
• Voltas 185DY 1.5 Tons 5 Star Window AC
• Hitachi 2 Ton RAV222HUD Summer QC Window AC
• LG LWA5CP3A L-Crescent Plus Window AC (1.5 Ton, 3 Star Rating)
• Blue Star 3W18LB 1.5 Ton 3 Star Window AC
• LG 2 Ton, 1 Star LWA6CP1F Window AC

Best split AC in india

• Voltas 185Cya 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split AC
• Voltas 245DY 2 Ton 5 Star Split AC
• Voltas 243 CYi Classic Yi Series Split AC (2 Ton, 3 Star Rating)
• http://www.amazon.in/LG-LSA5PW3A-L-Pearl-Rating-Aluminium/dp/B00TZMVTUY
• Voltas 1.5 Ton 5 Star Split AC White (185JY)
• Onida S092FLT-N 0.8 Ton 2 Star Split AC

Best AC brands in India

As every other electric device, air conditioners are also produced by a handful of well-known and trustworthy companies. As it’s an everyday used the device, you should definitely go for a known brand, instead of doing some experimental shopping (after all, experiences of the previous users also count). Keeping this in mind, you can visit the showrooms of these mentioned brands: LG, Electrolux, Champagne, Whirlpool, General, Samsung, Symphony, and Voltas. If you want to have an Indian brand, you can choose from Godrej. All of these products have proved their durability in the last couple of years.

• LG
• Bluestar
• Carrier
• Samsung
• Hitachi
• Whirlpool
• Godrej
• Haier
• Lloyd
• Onida
• Videocon
• Kenstar
• Voltas
• Daikin

Electricity Consumption Calculation

A 1.5 Ton split air and window AC will cost you differently, if the energy efficiency rate shows different stars. Generally, an eight hour operating AC will cost Rs. 7.00 daily. But it also varies according to the temperature that you demand and the actual temperature outside. Know more about Air conditioner tips for electricity savings.

Price

Only a few years ago, air conditioners were considered as a prodigal product. But the rise in their demand due to global warming and the subsequent productions of the factories has brought this highly desired and costly good at our reach. Nowadays, one can easily get a brand new air conditioner at quite a reasonable price. The price of 1 ton AC starts from Rs.25000 and it goes till Rs.35000.On the other hand, the range of 1.5 ton runs between 30k to 45k, while 40k to 52k can gift you 2 tonnage weighing AC. If you like to have an inverter one, you should extend your budget a little more.

Some necessary tips concerning your air conditioner

1. 1. Choose the correct size of AC for your room. A larger AC may cool down the room quicker but it will increase the electricity bill. Besides, we mustn’t waste away our finite resources, right?

1. 1. Try to do a little research on the prices. Albeit, we have given you a glimpse of them some minutes ago, it may differ a little bit in different localities.

1. 1. Wherever you buy your AC from, be it a showroom, you must check your machine thoroughly before you receive it as your own. This will ensure you that there is no flaw in the machine.

1. 1. If you would like to have a window AC, then make sure that your room has a corresponding size window at a convenient position to put the AC on.

1. 1. If you prefer a split air AC, you should keep the number of windows of your room in serious consideration. Too much air ventilation may disturb the cooling rate.

1. 1. As AC’s need proper maintenance, you should renew servicing contact provided by the company (in most cases, there has been a 4-times-a- year contact) in due time.

1. 1. Like most electrical products, your AC should be protected from dust and excessive heat.

1. 1. If you are going to have an AC for lasting period and private use, try to buy an inverter one. Though it will cost you more, it will give you a longer service. Plus, the window AC’s and the split air ones can be swept over by the inverter AC’s in the near future.

1. 1. In order to buy a highly efficient and low energy consuming AC, you should check the EER(Energy Efficiency Ratio) label. BEE provides stars to the ACs according to this label and it ranges from 1 to 5 stars. So that you can easily have an idea about which one will be more convenient for you.

Now, these were the necessary information on air conditioners. All you have left to do is to visit the nearby showrooms or browse a shopping website for your set. So hurry up and grab your AC, prior to the upcoming summer season, if possible!