The Advantages and Disadvantages of an Inverter AC

Advantages

a) About 30 per cent to 50 per cent cheaper to run as it consumes less power compared to a conventional AC

b) No voltage fluctuation caused by compressor

c) Maintains constant room temperature

d) Efficient cooling and heating

e) Can be run on solar panels

f) Apart from savings in monthly electricity bill, there is huge savings on fuel if run on backup generator

g) The additional price paid for an inverter AC gets recovered in electricity bills within a few months

h) Environment-friendly due to the use of better refrigerants

i) Safe for household wiring due to lower power consumption

j) Suitable for large and small rooms

Disadvantages

a) If room is not insulated, power consumption increases and so does the electricity bill

b) Efficiency decreases at noon if weather is extremely hot (over 45 degrees C)

c) Relatively expensive repair and maintenance due to the expensive service support and the components used

d) Models too powerful for the room size may run frequent short cycles to achieve the target temperature. This can result in the room getting too cold or too hot; inadequate dehumidification (that is, not drying the air enough, making the room feel less comfortable); increased power usage and running costs; and wear and tear on the system e) Underpowered models may have to run more often at maximum output and dry the air too much

Keep Your Checklist Handy Noise

Check the air conditioner’s noise levels; these can be found in the specifications. Some models have a quiet mode for the indoor unit, and sometimes the outdoor unit too. This may reduce the cooling/heating power or airflow, but will keep the air conditioner running at a very quiet level.

A noisy indoor unit may interfere with your activities, conversation, or sleep. A noisy outdoor unit can disturb you or your neighbours.

Capacity

The capacity of the air conditioner should be considered depending on the floor size of the room where it will be installed. A rough measure is that an area in the range of 120 ~140 sq. ft area will need a 1 ton AC, 150 ~180 sq. ft area will need 1.5 ton, and 180 ~240 sq. ft area will need 2 tons.

Star-rating labels

Once you’ve worked out what capacity you need, compare the star ratings of models of similar capacity. The more the stars (from 1 star to 5 stars), the lower the running costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Air conditioners come with star-rated energy-efficiency ratings; these have been standardised/implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Government of India. Therefore, any AC with more stars will consume less electricity than one with a lower star rating.

After-sales services

After-sales service and other add-on features like warranty will certainly be a plus for your purchase. Look for longer warranty and a service-oriented brand that has the capabilities and good network to meet the servicing need of your product.