As temperatures in India continue to rise, so does the importance of air conditioners. The AC is fast becoming one of the most essential appliances in the modern household. However, it is crucial to do your research before selecting the right air conditioner for your home. Choosing the correct air conditioner for your home will ensure you aren't left with a massive electricity bill.

The first step in choosing the right AC for your home would be opting for the right type of air conditioner. There are three main type of air conditioners – Window, Split, and Portable ACs.

First off is window air conditioners. These are small air conditioners, commonly used to cool a single room. Because all the parts of a window AC are built into a single box unit, these air conditioners are easy to install and are more affordably priced. Windows ACs are ideal for cooling smaller rooms in the home.  

As the name suggests, split air conditioners have two units, an outdoor and an indoor unit. A split air conditioner operates rather quietly as the compressor is placed in the external unit. Split ACs are capable of providing more efficient cooling and are well suited for both small and large rooms. Split ACs are designed to blend with the room but are more difficult to install. But as with Window air conditioners, the brand/company often dispatches professionals to install the units

Portable air conditioners are mobile units that do not require any permanent installation.

They can be moved freely throughout different areas of the home. These units often come with caster wheels for convenience and are relatively lightweight. These units do not require an installation and are turned on by plugging them into an outlet and flipping a switch. Portable ACs are cheaper and do not require an external condenser unit.                                                                                                     

Once you've determined which type of AC best suits your needs, there are a few more things to keeps in mind.

Cooling Capacity

The first thing to consider when you buyan air conditioner is tonnage, which refers to the cooling capacity of the air conditioning unit. It is essential to choose an air conditioner with the right tonnage, depending on the size of your room. If you have a room smaller than 130 square feet, a one-ton should suffice. However, a 1.5-ton air conditioner would be ideal for a larger room, like a main bedroom or a small hall.

Installation 

Before you buy AC online, you have to ensure that you have a space in your home for it to beconveniently installed. A window AC is compact and easy to install; it only needs to be attached to a window. A split one is a little more difficult to install as the compressor unit needs to be installed outside the house. It is important to install air conditioners properly as 'installation' is tantamount to the ACs' performance. Thankfully, almost all of the major AC brands in India offer free installation whether you buy AC online or at physical retail stores.

Air Quality 

A high-quality air filter is essential in emitting clean air. Today, air conditioners come with filters that remove smoke, germs, and odours from the air. A good air filter will also offer enhanced cooling performance and better energy efficiency by preventing the choking of the evaporator coil due to dust.

Noise Level 

Good air quality is essential to get good sleep, although you don't want to buy an AC that is too noisy. Air conditioners have a noise level of operation in their product specifications. 50dB or less, is the ideal noise level that will ensure you sleep comfortably. 

Star Rating

Star ratings determine the energy efficiency of an air conditioner. While five-star rated air conditioners are more expensive than ones with three or fewer stars, the high rating means that it is more energy-efficient. However, AC prices are quite reasonable, but they consume more power than most household appliances. So, paying more money in the short term will help you save money in the long run. While consuming less energy, a five-star air conditioner will also offer better cooling. 

It is worth noting that if you looking to buy an AC that is highly energy efficient, then an Inverter AC might be worth consideration. An inverter air conditioner can constantly control the speed of the compressor motor to adjust slight changes in the temperature of the room as opposed to constantly switching the compressor motor on and off like with traditional ACs. Inverter offers higher energy efficiency than five-star rated ACs and are also said to offer better performance, while featuring a longer lifespan.

Beyond these key factors, good air conditioners also come with several new innovative features by default

Sleep Mode slowly increases the temperature by 0.5 to 1 degree per hour, till it increases the temperature by 2 to 3 degrees. This ensures you sleep cool and comfortably while consuming less power.

Auto Clean prevents the growth of harmful micro-organisms by eliminating the moisture inside the indoor unit. This function can provide cleaner and healthier air.

As the name suggests, the Anti-Bacterial Filter kills bacteria and maintain integrity of the equipment inside the unit.

Other good features include four-way swing, turbo cooling, and a feature that keeps mosquitoes at bay.

Aftersales Service 

Lastly, there's one very important thing to consider before buying an AC, and this is something that you may not be aware of when purchasing one online and that’s aftersales service. Air conditioners are complex pieces of machinery and require constant servicing by professionals. So, youensure the brand you purchase has an optimal servicing network. Always check reviews for brands with good aftersales services.

Smart ACs 

The Smart AC is the latest innovation in the air conditioning industry. The biggest difference between an AC and a Smart AC is that the latter can maintain or enhance the ambient temperature in your home by using a smartphone.

A smart air conditioner can be controlled using an app on a phone or tablet. A smart AC connects to other devices through the internet. It can also be connected to other smart devices and integrated into your smart home setup. Some smart ACs can also be controlled through voice assistants. Apart from offering several smart features, a smart air conditioner is also better at conserving energy. 

An air conditioner releases more pollution in the atmosphere than most other home appliances. Smart air conditioners are better equipped to save energy without compromising on cooling. A smart AC saves power by slowing down once it reaches the desired temperature set by the user. This ensures that the AC it is not running at full capacity all the time. 

One more benefit of a smart air conditioners is that they are easier and cheaper to maintain. Maintenance is key to ensuring your AC offers optimal cooling and energy efficiency over a prolonged period. With traditional air conditioners, it is impossible to tell when a tune-up is needed until you notice a difference in cooling performance. Smart ACs, on the other hand, are easier to maintain as the app keeps track of usage and will be able to alert you when cleanup or servicing is required. 

The app can even provide reminders for tune-ups, ensuring the AC always runs smoothly and will help you save on maintenance costs over time. Additionally, smart AC prices are not far off from regular air conditioners, so you aren't spending massive amounts of money in the short run for long terms gains. Furthermore, if you already have a traditional air conditioner and want to turn it into a smart one, you can easily get a smart AC controller as they are inexpensive and compatible with most air conditioners.    

For those looking to buy air conditioners in India, here are some of the top brands in the country that will spoil you for choice.

Blue Star is a leading Indian AC brand, headquartered in Mumbai. Blue Star air conditioners are known for their high-performance cooling and energy efficiency. 

LG is a renowned South Korean brand know for large electrical appliances as well as smaller electronics and accessories. However, the company also specializes in providing quality air conditioners with the latest technologies. 

Hitachi is a Japanese electronic appliance brand renowned for its innovative tech and versatility. Hitachi offers an air conditioning system for both commercial and residential purposes. 

Mitsubishi is a world leader in providing air conditioning solutions for industrial, commercial and residential purposes. Mitsubishi is a leading Japanese AC brand. 

Godrej is an Indian consumer electronics brand that offers quality appliances and great aftersales service. Godrej is also known for delivering quality air conditioners at affordable prices. 

Inverter and non-inverter ACs

Let’s start with a non-inverter air conditioner. In these ACs, the compressor motor has a fixed speed. This means that the motor runs at full speed to cool the room, and when the desired temperature is reached, it stops completely. These repeated on-off cycles cause the compressor to consume a lot of electricity. Hence, these ACs are less energy efficient and are relatively nosier.

Inverter ACs, on the other hand, have variable speed compressor motors. Once the room is cool, the speed of the motor drops. Since the motor is not running at full blast all the time, a lesser amount of electricity is used. So, the compressor doesn’t go on and off but is running all the time at a lower power. Because of this, these ACs make lesser noise.

Both ACs have pros and cons. A non-inverter AC will cool your room faster, since the motor runs at full blast when it switches on. The AC price of an inverter air conditioner is also likely to be on the higher side. But on the other hand, inverter ACs tend to be more energy efficient and also last longer because there’s lesser wear and tear of the motor.

Now that you know all that you need to about these cooling machines, go ahead and invest in one that suits your needs. It will help keep the bristling summer heat at bay during the day and create the perfect environment for a peaceful sleep at night.