Home appliances
Most AC regret comes from two mistakes: buying the wrong tonnage for the room, and ignoring the running cost. The sticker price is maybe a third of what the machine costs you over five summers.
A few questions about your situation, not about the product.
Answer all 4 questions to see the spec sheet to shop with.
How much heat the AC can remove per hour — not the weight of the unit.
Why it matters
Undersized units run non-stop and never cool; oversized units cool fast, switch off, and leave the room clammy.
What to check
Roughly 1 ton per 100–120 sq ft, add capacity for top floors, west sun, or 3+ people in the room.
An inverter compressor slows down instead of switching fully off and on.
Why it matters
Steadier temperature, far less noise, and 20–30% lower electricity use for heavy daily runtime.
What to check
If you run the AC under ~600 hours a year, a good fixed-speed 3-star can be the cheaper lifetime choice.
Cooling delivered per unit of electricity across a season.
Why it matters
This is the number that shows up on your bill every month, not once at the shop.
What to check
Compare the ISEER figure itself, not just stars — rating thresholds get revised and old stock looks better than it is.
Where the noisy compressor sits: outside (split), in the wall (window), or in the room (portable).
Why it matters
Split is quiet and efficient; window is cheap and easy to service; portable is a last resort for rented or glass-walled rooms.
What to check
Split needs outdoor wall space within ~5 m of the indoor unit, otherwise copper piping costs jump.
The metal in the heat exchanger.
Why it matters
Copper transfers heat better, is repairable, and survives coastal humidity far longer.
What to check
Vague words like 'alloy' or 'copper-coated' usually mean not copper. Ask for the spec sheet line.
How far cold air reaches, and how loud the indoor unit is.
Why it matters
For a long or L-shaped room, weak throw leaves cold pockets; for bedrooms, anything over ~40 dB is noticeable at night.
What to check
Quoted noise is usually the lowest fan speed — ask for the high-speed figure too.
Extras: fine filters, PM2.5 claims, and a dry mode that pulls humidity without over-cooling.
Why it matters
Dry mode is genuinely useful in monsoon; filter marketing mostly is not.
What to check
Any filter needs washing every 2–3 weeks or your cooling drops and your bill rises.
Typical range: modest 3-star fixed-speed to premium 5-star inverter units.
