Choosing a room AC
Four questions that matter more than the brand name.
1. What size does my room need?
This is a common rule of thumb (about one ton for every 100 to 120 sq ft, adjusted for heat). It is not a heat load calculation. A good installer will check your ceiling height, windows, insulation and orientation. An oversized fixed speed AC cycles on and off; a badly undersized one runs flat out.
2. How do I read the label?
The BEE label shows one to five stars. More stars means the model is more efficient within BEE's scheme. The numbers behind it are what you compare:
| ISEER | Cooling delivered per unit of electricity over a typical Indian season. Higher is better. This is the number to compare between two ACs of the same size. |
|---|---|
| Yearly units (kWh) | BEE's declared electricity for the listing on a standard basis. It is not your meter reading; this site scales it to your hours. |
| Listed capacity | BEE's "nominal marketing capacity" in tons. In this list, listings cluster near 1, 1.4 to 1.5 and 1.7 to 1.8 tons, so always check the listed number. |
| Valid till | The date to which the BEE listing runs. Check that a model you buy is within its validity. |
3. Inverter or fixed speed?
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4. What should I ask before paying?
- The full model number of the indoor and outdoor units, then run it through Check my AC.
- The star rating and ISEER, and whether the quote is for the same size you need.
- The price including installation, copper piping length, stand and stabiliser if needed.
- Warranty on the compressor and the whole unit, and who services it in your area.
- Then put two or three options in Compare with the prices to see the cost over the years you will keep it.