Air Conditioner FAQ | 21 Best Questionnaire

Undoubtedly, the usage and demand for air conditioners have grown tremendously in India recently. Subsequently, with the years progressing ahead, the technology used in air conditioners for cooling is also progressing widely leading to varied Air Conditioner FAQ among people.

So, while you are planning on investing behind an AC for your comfort, there might be some questions and doubts that might bother you ahead of the purchase such as:

• Best Brands in AC in India
• What ton of AC should I buy for my room?
• About Inverter AC
• Which AC is better Inverter or 5 star?
• Blue Fin/Gold Fin technology coating

Hence, after a comprehensive study and analysis, we gathered some frequently asked questions for AC buying in India ( Air Conditioner FAQ ) and compiled in this article. Basically, to give you a clearer perspective regarding the context of AC.

What is the Guide Lines when Buying an Air Conditioner – Everything you need to Know about Air Conditioner

Which are the Best Brands in AC in India?

Undeniably, this is one of the most common Air Conditioner FAQ among the people when planning to buy an air conditioner. Certainly, with numerous options available at your dispense its not just the cost that has to be considered but other factors such as features, BEE star rating & ISEER ratings, cooling capacity & consumer feedback.

All in all, based on our perceptions & research, in India Best AC Brand includes Daikin, Carrier, Blue Star, Voltas, Hitachi, LG & Godrej. No doubt, some of them are global leaders while some are leading long-time legacy in India itself. Altogether, these are reputed brands prominent in the air conditioning mechanism. However, some people might have a better experience with other brands even. 

Which Brand gives the Best service in my area?

Indeed, one of the difficult Air Conditioner FAQ to answer for, as there is a huge lot of variation not just between the service stations but also between the service levels. Basically, it tends to vary from city to city.

Global brands like Daikin or Carrier tie-up with the local service centers for the purpose. However, Indian brands like Voltas or Godrej usually don’t face these problems.

Hence, it is highly recommended that before you invest in buying an air conditioner, you check with your local dealers & AC manufacturing company about the service centers in your city for your ease.

Is AC Harmful for Health? Or Is it bad to sleep in AC?

No doubt, to answer the relative air conditioner FAQs, we need to know that the most comforting temperature for the human body according to research is around 22°C-24°C.  Thus, this proves great when trying to sleep. However, unknowingly, the side effect behind this could be drying out of the air at this temperature. As a result, leading to difficulty in breathing or even dry out of the skin. 

In order, to create a perfect temperature atmosphere while sleeping and thereby save power, the best air conditioners brands nowadays comes with Sleep mode feature, where the AC raises the temperature by 1°C per hour for 2 hours & then for the next 5 hours maintains the same temperature. After this, it switches OFF the AC.

Which size of AC should I buy for my room? Or What ton of AC should I buy for my room?

Contrarily, evaluating & calculating the tonnage of AC before buying it is one of the most ignored yet most important aspects, that is covered in this Air Conditioner FAQ. Certainly, it is quite understood that an oversized AC would eventually lead to overcooling of the room. On the other hand, an undersized AC would take a large amount of time to cool the room. Undeniably, both of these would tend to use a large volume of electricity.

All in all, calculating the size or tonnage of AC includes consideration of the city you live in & its climate behavior, utilities in the room, effect & position of sunlight concerning room ceilings & walls. In addition, to the number of hours & months of usage of AC.

Although, in general, it could be represented as:

Will a Bigger Tonnage AC cool better?

Certainly, a bigger tonnage AC would lead to overcooling of the room. As a result, in achieving the required cooling temperature, it would drop the room temperature below the set limit while in process. And, by doing this it would even consume a higher amount of power.

Can an undersized or smaller sized AC help in saving Electricity?

Well, this is quite common type of Air Conditioner FAQ that people enquire about. Although, it isn’t recommended to use an undersized AC when your requirements are higher. But in case you are running a bit restricted on budget or finances, few factors can be considered and implied to use an undersized AC to serve your purpose. These include:

1. Firstly, if the room size is large, consider placing an air conditioner close to where to you sit, so that you remain comfortable.
2. Secondly, it is recommended to use air conditioners in the economic mode of about 25 temperature settings this helps in electricity savings.
3. Lastly, if your usage of AC is more when the ambient temperature is lower such as night undersized air conditioners could be considered.

But it is important to understand that you can’t deviate on a larger scale while choosing an undersized AC. Basically, a 2 ton AC requirement cannot be sufficed by 1 ton AC.

What is Inverter AC?

Not to mention, one of the most advanced & energy-efficient technology in the air conditioning mechanism is Inverter Technology for AC. Well, the compressor in Inverter AC always keeps on running or to say remains ON continuously. Thus, it regulates the flow of refrigerant so that the room remains cooled at a set comfortable limit only. As a result, thereby, consuming less current and power. All in all, Inverter technology is designed in such a way that it can save 30-50% of electricity units over a normal non-inverter air conditioner. 

Check Here: Inverter vs Non Inverter Air Conditioner

Which BEE Star Rated Air Conditioner would be good for me?

Basically, to answer this Air Conditioner FAQ, let us understand that developed by BEE from the range of 1 to 5-star rating mechanism, it depicts the number of stars based on certain calculations to give you the idea of how energy efficient your appliance is. In short, the higher the number of stars highly efficient would be your appliance. Hence, BEE star ratings have an important role in AC selection.

However, in general, a 5 star rated AC would cost higher but would help in large power savings.

Our suggestion:

Usually, we won’t suggest you to invest in any Air conditioner having less than a 3-star rating. However, it depends upon your usage pattern & electricity cost/tariffs of your area. Thus, considering this you can opt to choose an AC between 3 to a 5-star rating.

Do Inverter AC have star ratings? Or Is BEE star rating valid for Inverter AC?

As a matter of fact, this Air Conditioner FAQ is quite justified because till 2015, inverter ACs didn’t have BEE star rating on them. However, it’s since 2016; BEE has introduced giving a star rating to the inverter air conditioners as well. In addition, after Jan 2018, BEE merged the star ratings of both air conditioners Inverter & Non-inverter.

However, there is a difference between the star rating of an inverter air conditioner & fixed speed split AC.

Which AC is better Inverter or 5 star? & Does Inverter AC really save electricity? or Is Inverter AC really worth it?

Well, as stated above, Inverter Air conditioners have their compressor continuously running depending upon the temperature setting of the room. All in all, in the Inverter Air conditioner, it would be ensured that only the required amount of power is provided to the compressor. On the other hand, in fixed speed AC the compressor keeps on getting ON or OFF. As a result, with this behavior, the compressor uses up more energy & electricity compared to that running in Inverter AC. Hence, inverter AC helps in electricity saving.

Accordingly, a general comparison chart that shows the difference in energy consumption between air conditioner Inverter & Non-inverter split AC:

In layman terms, the answer to this relative Air Conditioner FAQ can be simple as a BEE 3 star rated inverter AC will still be more efficient than a BEE 5 star rated fixed speed split AC. However, it is of no use to compare between BEE 2 star rated Inverter AC with BEE 5 star rated normal split AC.

What is ISEER? & How can I use ISEER to compare ACs?

This is an important Air Conditioner FAQ relative to energy efficiency. ISEER (Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the term coined to analyze the working efficiency of an air conditioner apart from the BEE star rating.

Basically, ISEER value states the amount of heat load removed from the room to the amount of energy consumed in this. As a result, it gives us a clear picture to compare that when the ISEER value is high this means more heat can be removed from the room with lesser use of electricity. Hence, air conditioners with higher ISEER ratings are preferable over the lower ones.

However, comparing ISEER value of an inverter AC with the normal fixed speed AC is not advisable. In case, you think of comparing, similar ISEER rated inverter and non-inverter AC, remember that inverter AC has an upper hand in the energy efficiency.

Which is better copper Condenser or Aluminum Condenser? or  Is ok to opt for Aluminum Condenser? or My model Specs mention about Pre-coated Aluminum Fins, What does it mean?

No doubt, Copper & aluminum are highly preferred metals for the condenser coils because of their better heat transfer features. Copper, however, has better heat transfer capacity than the aluminum. But on the other hand, aluminum is easily mouldable & quite cheaper than copper. In short, if your area is not very hot & humid, and the environment is not corrosive you can opt for aluminum condensers as well.

1. Multi Jet or Parallel Flow Condenser:

In addition, Multi Jet or PFC (Parallel Flow Condenser) are made completely of aluminum. Certainly, they are effective and usually, come with anti-corrosion coating for protection as they are more liable to get damaged due to corrosion. But, their maintenance is a bit hassle filled.

2. Coil & Fin Type Condenser:

On the other hand, Coil & Fin type condenser typically has coils & fins structure for enhanced cooling of coolant. Usually, the coils are of copper. Whereas, the fins over it are made of aluminum. Basically, for longer life, it is advisable to have a protective coating over it. Even if it is aluminum then it should be coated with anti-corrosion coating. Altogether, these are commonly termed as pre-coated aluminum fins & preferred by most brands.

What is Blue Fin/Gold Fin Technology Coating?

This is one of the quite common kind of Air Conditioner FAQ people forget to deal with. Since the condenser units of an AC have direct interaction to the outside air for cooling of the refrigerant. Hence, they are highly prone to get corroded over some time. In this case, one has to frequently replace or repair them.

In order, to overcome the issue of damage due to corrosion, the condenser tubes are coated with special anti-corrosion paints under Blue Fin or Gold Fin technology. All in all, this helps in providing a longer life to the condenser tubes.

Both these technologies have their positives and negatives. Gold fin technology has better and more resistant to corrosion. On the other hand, Blue fin technology comparatively is less priced.

Is Stabilizer required for my AC?

To answer the relative Air Conditioner FAQ, you need to inspect the voltage fluctuations & power surges in your area. Fixed speed split AC where the compressor keeps getting ON & OFF would largely be affected by the voltage fluctuations.

In case, the fluctuation results turn out to be higher than expected, it is better to install a stabilizer at once for the equipment safety.

Nowadays, many air conditioners have an in-built voltage stabilizer in them for their protection. You can find the advisable limits from their tags.

What is Air Purifier, dust, bacterial filters in AC? Are Air Filters necessary for my use?

Since air conditioners do not take any outside air into the room. Primarily, it circulates the air inside the room taking away its heat to keep the enclosed room cool. However, with the rising global hazards, air quality has degraded over a while. And even circulating the same air in a closed room for a longer while helps in the build-up of bacteria & molds.

As a result, apart from air conditioning, it becomes necessary to keep the air quality optimum. For this, different filters are used in the AC that helps in arresting such dangers in the air.

It’s not mandatory instead totally depends on your personal choice which filters you need to have.

What is Dehumidifier?

In general, the air around us contains humidity or to say moisture in it. In order, to arrest or control excess moisture in the air, dehumidifiers are installed. Without any much hassle, with the Dry mode, you can evacuate out much of the humidity from the room.

Would you give any specific suggestions of AC based on my budget?

As mentioned, each customer has different experiences with different brands. Certainly, a single brand can’t suffice the needs of everyone and help to answer related Air Conditioner FAQ. That’s practically not happening. In addition, with the budget & capacity fixed, Choose the brand that you feel serves you best & the only preference that has to be given in priority is the ISEER ratings & star ratings with the annual power usage.

Which refrigerant is the environment or eco-friendly?

CFC & HCFC gases have caused much damage to the environment. With the years, the world has now moved over & switched to HFC for the purpose. HFC gases like R32, R410A 7 R290 are highly effective in cooling & simultaneously eco-friendly.

However, they could mild or highly flammable. These have to be taken care of while handling and during working.

Should I go for Window AC?

Over the years, manufacturers have taken their attention off the window ACs and have started focussing on split ACs. As a result, there hasn’t been any breakthrough technical advancement in Window AC. A BEE 5 star rated Window AC is somewhat equal to BEE 4 Star rated normal Split AC. Apart from this, 1 or 2-ton Window AC nowadays does not have BEE star ratings on them.

In case you are running heavily tight on your budget, you can consider 1.5 ton 5 star rated Window AC.

Read More: Air Coolers Buying Guide | A Comprehensive Guide

Why is my AC running but not Cooling?

Well, the primary job of an air conditioner can cool the hall in, to take away the heat from the air in the room / hall & dump that heat through transfer outside. In this manner, the room gets cooler. The common reasons why your AC is not cooling & what to do if ac is not cooling?

Might be because of:

1. There could be a loss of refrigerant because of any leakage. In this case, you need a technician that would find & arrest the leakages accordingly.

2. The condenser coils could be dirty or choked, as a result, the refrigerant won’t lose the heat effectively to get cooler. Timely cleaning of condenser unit is a must.

3. The evaporator coils have refrigerant in them for cooling. In case the airflow over the evaporator is restricted it might lead to the formation of ice layer over the coils. In this scene, do not operate the AC & thermostat; let the ice melt in wait in the due time for the technician to find the cause.

4. This could be because of clogged filters that require timely cleaning or the failure of blower that circulates the indoor air due to any possible reason.

5. Check for the clogging of drains that removes the moisture obtained while cooling the air. Build up of moisture can damage the entire system as well.

6. Apart from these general issues, there could be a system fault that needs the attention of the service engineer.

Is it safe to Buy AC online?

One of the major concerns while buying an air conditioner online is the warranty, delivery, installation & support from the brand. For this, you need to check for the seller. If the seller is genuine & provides the original product with complete warranty & consumer support then buying an ac online isn’t a bad decision as you can end up having a great deal in your pocket too.

In case, you still have any questions or doubts other than these about Air Conditioner FAQ in your mind bothering you, feel free to reach us in our comment section.

Air Conditioner meaning in Hindi: एयर कंडीशनर