I was precisely confused 5 years back when I want to buy an Air Conditioner. I went to couple of electronic stores to study and understand. But believe me, they prevail upon your decision. Unless you have done thorough study, you would give-in. At that time I was not a member of Mouthshut and not knowing much to study forehand.
I bought a 1.5ton Samsung Ac(window) for my room size of 140 sq.ft. As I said, they prevail upon you and convince you that you need more than 1 ton. this shop owner deals in Samsung products and he sold me this. Remind you that it was not my choice. Neither I have studied other models much. Now I realise after using it for 5 years that just 0.8 or 1 ton is good enough.
Provided your room is east facing and your western wall is not exposed to sun. Secondly I live on 1st floor of a 4 storied apartment. So the roof is also not exposed. I guess in this circumstances 0.8 to 1 ton is good enough for a room size 120 to 140 sq.ft. My second room is also east facing and its western wall is not exposed to sun. If your room is west facing and size is above 150 sq.ft, I guess you should go for 1.5 ton.
We buy AC for cooling. And I found this piece is best. In hot summers of above 40 degree Celsius its cooling is absolutely comfortable at 27 degree. Mind you it is an old model. so it did not show room temperature but it displays’set’ temperature. So I am in no mood to exchange it. I will do it after using it for another 5 years. I guess by that time we get more feature loaded ACs. I also don’t think that the room should be cool before I reach home and for which I need a mobile activated AC. If the unit is good one, it cools within 15 minutes flat. I switch on my AC only when I am in and it takes not more than 15 minutes to cool. Initially I put it at 24 and after 15 minutes I switch it to 27 degree. All this in hot summers.
Power consumption is what looked at next to cooling. I believe it is a 2 star AC. There was no’Star’ label on it when I bought. But it is 1540 W power is I guess places it in 2 star range. I guess, it consumes around 100 units per month and we operate it for 6-8 hours a day. I have no issues here. Though a 0.8 Ton AC would have saved more money, I am OK with it now. The second one I would like to buy now for my another room will be 0.8 or 1 ton. I am sure about it. I would also go for Split, as the cost are negotiable now and the difference is marginal.
Coming to the functioning and service of the AC, I believe it all depends on the dealer and’service contractor’ in your area. I live in western Ahmedabad and I found the service is excellent. They call you up every 6 months and check if everything is OK. I get it serviced once in a year and pay around 250bucks. That’s all. So far I have not changed any part. No gas leak, no parts coming out, no issue with cooling. Only once the remote was not working properly. So I got it done in just 24 hours. not a major one to get bothered. As I said, it all depends on how best is the service contractor. Before you want to buy an AC, It is always best to check with your neighbors about their AC performance and service issues and of all cooling. Go for the best neighborhood feedback.
Now if you ask me which one I go for? Samsung, LG, HITACHI, Voltas, Onida, Vediocon.I have not yet decided. I will go to couple of stores, see the cooling personally, check the service back up and go for it. As Samsung is already giving me good service back up, it will be on top of my list. Above all, I will go through as many reviews possible in Mouthshut and get a feel about it.
Thank you guys, for reading my review.