15 Must-Know Factors You Need to Consider Before Buying an Air conditioner

In the changing era of technology and increased global temperature, Air conditioning is one of the most essential appliances that every household should have. But how do you decide which Aircon is best for you? For a buyer, this is the most difficult thing to decide. If not decided wisely, you may regret purchasing the air condition soon. Making this simple, Aircon Servicing Singapore company has created a helpful quick guide you need to check before appearing at the air conditioner store.

#Important factors to be considered while purchasing Air Conditioner

1. Types of Air conditioners

Brainstorming and knowing about your requirements is the first thing that should be done before purchasing an Aircon. There are several types of Aircon available in the market. All have different requirements and features. You should be aware of it, so that you may not get confused about which one to buy at the store. Below is most used Aircon types listed:

1. Window Aircon: If you have a room with a window, you may think about installing the window Air conditioning system. However, it is a good idea but there are some pre-requirements you should know before finalizing your decision. Window Aircons needs more space to fit. Your installation officer may ask for your permission to make windows large for installation. At present Most of the household use window Ac. It will be more efficient if your window is in the middle of the wall. This will help air to go unanimously on both sides.

2. Split Aircon: Those rooms who have no window should go with split AC's. Split Ac will be installed on the top of your wall. This requires less space than the windows Aircon. Also, it looks good on the wall more than larger window Air conditioners. Companies nowadays also tend to provide advanced features in split Aircon to make them more lavish.

3.  Portable Aircon: A few years ago, a new air conditioning system called portable   Aircons came in the market. They were made for small rooms where no large window and split Aircon can be installed. Portable Aircon are small and can be installed anywhere and shifted when needed. Portable Aircons are best to use in small rooms.

Several kinds of other Ac's such as Central Air Conditioners, Hybrid Air Conditioners, Mini-split Air conditioner, Portable Aircon, inverter aircon, non-inverter aircon, etc. are also available in the market but you should not be puzzled with your Aircon requirements and needs.

2.Tonnage

Tonnage can be defined as Aircon's cooling capacity. If you purchase an air conditioner with less tonnage but you have a bigger room, it will directly increase your monthly electricity consumption. Also, it will not cool the space properly due to less tonnage. Similarly, if you purchase an AC with more tonnage than needed it will make you feel resting on the north pole. Here is a simplified solution for your tonnage requirement decision:

·         With room size up to 100 sq. feet: Buy 0.8ton Ac

·         With room size up to 150 sq. feet: Buy 1ton Ac

·         With room size up to 250 sq. feet: Buy 1.5ton Ac

·         With room size up to 400 sq. feet: Buy 2ton Ac

Must Read this Article on  How much air conditioner capacity do you need for your home for detailed information about tonnage.

3. Size of Aircon

The size of Aircon is an important factor to keep in mind while purchasing an air conditioner. Window Air conditioners are a bit larger than split Aircon. House owners with small Rooms should consider that Aircon which needs less space to install. Portable Aircons are made for this purpose only. Big size Aircons can be installed in big rooms without any hassle. Also, it will not give the room any bad look.

But if you try to install big sized Aircon in a small room, your room space, as well as looks, will be affected. The increasing number of windows in the room increases the heat. Apart from this, the size of the room, number of people living in a room, wall facing the sun, stuff and electric appliance in the room also emits heat. You should get yourself clear about all these points before making a decision.

4. Condenser

The expected working life and capacity of the Aircon is decided by the condenser and coils used in it. There are two types of condenser are being used in Aircons. The first one is Copper condenser and the second one is Aluminium condenser. Remember that Aircons are very technical in making so they need extra care and service.

Aluminum condensers are cheaper than the copper condensers. But you may actually need to pay more for maintenance if your AC has aluminum condensers in it. Aircons with Aluminium condensers have a short life expectancy.

 It will be a good idea to go with copper Condensers. They are a bit costlier than Aluminium Condensers but have more life expectancy. The copper condenser will give you more cooling with low maintenance costs.

5. Power consumption

We all know that Aircons consumes too much power. So, power consumption is a must-watch factor before buying an Aircon. Every year NEA (National Environment Agency) changes the green tick ratings of Aircons based on their quality and performance. Higher tick rating means they consume less electricity. Low tick rating means aircon will use more power to work.

It is not a great idea to purchase a low-cost aircon which uses more power to work. This will increase your electricity and maintenance costs every year. So Aircon Service Singapore company, MCL suggests you go with the high tick rating Aircons.

6. Brand

Obviously, if you haven't listened to the name of the Aircon brands in Singapore before. You won't feel confident about Buying that Aircon. So choosing an Air conditioning system that is from a highly credible Brand is a safe. This gives a feeling and confidence about the quality of the air condition.

Also, it assures you that if something goes wrong there will be good warrenty and service. Don't hesitate to take reviews from your friends, relatives about the specific aircon brand if they are using it or have used it before. This is another smart effort you can make in order to not wasting your money on less credible and cheap quality brands.

7. Cooling efficiency

Cooling speed and efficiency is also an important point to note while buying Aircon. Every AC has a thermostat installed in it. This measures the room temperature and gives a signal to the condenser. For example, you set your Ac to 16 and the current room temperature is 30. Then thermostat will signal the condenser until the room temperature becomes 16. After reaching 16 thermostats will cut the signal.

If you have a programmable thermostat and good condenser in Aircon, it will take less time to reach the 16 degree temperature. Aircons with a bad quality condenser and thermostat will consume more electricity and will take more time to get to 16 degrees. This increases the load on the Air conditioner and reduces the efficiency of Ac.

8. Noise

Consider noise as an important point while making a mind to buy an Aircon. Many Aircons produce more noise when working. Always prefer the Aircons who produce noise of less than 50-60 DB. Ask the Aircon provider about the noise of it. A noise-making Aircon will disturb you while working and sleeping. Also, it affects the hearing capability of a person who works 24*7 in Air condition. If your Air condition makes much noise in starting then chances are higher that noise will increase after some time. In the future, It’s going to cost you more in terms of money.

9. Aircon rating and EER

The Green tick ratings provided on AC tells a lot about the quality of the product. Green Tick ratings are based on different factors. The major factor is energy efficiency. EER (Energy Efficiency Rating) tells about how much energy your Ac is going to use. So Always consider Aircons who have 3 or more than 3 green ticks provided by NEA.

10. Dehumidification Unit

Pre-check and ask your dealer about the quality of the dehumidification unit installed in Aircon. The Air condition you are thinking to buy must be good in Dehumidification. The task of the Dehumidification unit is to reduce the humidity of the room.

Aircons who have a good Dehumidification unit increase the overall efficiency and reduces future service costs. One more thing to check is the filters installed in it. Good quality filters in Ac increases the cooling and efficiency of Aircon.

11. After-sale service and warranty

Everybody knows that If a customer gets disappointed, he will never ever buy something from that company in the future. Keeping this in mind, always go with the brand who provides value to its customers after selling something. After-sale service is the point where the company's credibility is being tested.

Electronic equipment can malfunction easily at any time no matter what brand it is. Getting a long warranty period with purchase is good. Make sure their after-sale service is also good and positive. If you have already purchased the aircon and experiencing dissatisfaction with help from your dealer side. You can get a quote from Aircon Servicing Singapore company, MCL Aircon (one of the most trustworthy Aircon servicing provider in Singapore) for aircon servicing/ installation/ repairing and replacing.

12. Maintenance Needs and Costs

The maintenance need of the Aircon depends on the Installation (Good or bad). Even with high ratings, your Air condition system may cost you more if not installed properly. So, make sure your installation and aircon servicing is done by an authorized person.

Before purchase, you should also make it clear from the dealer how often the Aircon need maintenance and servicing for better performance. You can’t postpone your Aircon maintenance because it will result is less cooling and more power consumption. This thing will affect other parts of Ac and can result in more monetary expenditure.

13. Multipurpose

Nowadays Aircons are not just about cooling rooms. They have become advance. They do more than cooling. The market is filled with advanced technology Aircons which can do advance pieces of stuff like auto-restart, wifi facility, control from the outdoor, automatic temperature adjustment, etc.

Focus more on the basic features of the Air conditioner. They should be good and worthy. You can consider these advanced features if you want while buying the air conditioner.

14. Appropriate to room

The cooling of the room is the first thing someone notices when he enters the room. The second thing can be your Aircon. It will be a good idea if you buy an AC who makes your room more beautiful. You are not going to tell them its features unless they notice your aircon's sleek design and beautiful body. Choose a decorative color or design that fits your room and adds a feather to your room’s cap.

15. Conclusion

Aircons are costly to manage, so purchasing one is a big decision for middle-class people. But if you have checked all the points. Aircon Servicing Singapore ,MCL Aircon (A leading Aircon servicing provider of Singapore) mentioned above before purchasing the air condition. You will never feel regret about your choice. Many people do the silly mistake of buying AC just on the suggestion of the dealer. You should not do this mistake. You must have some knowledge about the aircon you are going to buy. Keep these points in mind and take the appropriate decisions about the aircon which is best for you and your family.

How much air conditioner capacity do you need for your home?

Summers bring the dread of heat. High temperature causes discomfort, sweating, and faster exhaustion. We’ve used fans to have the air flowing, but as the summer advances, air conditioners become necessary to provide a comfortable environment. Modern air conditioners provide fast and effective cooling. Recent advancement in technology has made aircons more energy-efficient too. The question that pops up when considering an aircon purchase is – How much capacity do I need?

 

Let’s first understand air conditioning capacity

An aircon’s cooling capacity is measured in tons. This capacity is often referred to as the “tonnage” of the air conditioner. Simply put, higher the tonnage, greater is the aircon’s capacity to cool. Said another way, an AC with a higher tonnage can cool a greater area.

If you’re considering an air conditioner for your room, its capacity would primarily depend on the area of the room and how much heat enters the room externally. The AC is essentially a heat pump that removes heat from your room. Tonnage refers to the rate at which an aircon can remove heat. Higher the tonnage, faster is the heat removal.

Capacity may be represented in various forms. The essence remains the same – “How much heat can the aircon remove per second.”

How is AC capacity measured?

Ton (tonnage), BTU per hour, and Watts are the three most common measures of air conditioning capacity. Since all the three measure the same aspect, there must be a way to compare and connect them.

Let’s be very clear – tonnage has no connection whatsoever to the weight of the air conditioner.

1 Ton of air conditioning = 12,000 BTU per hour = 3500 Watts of cooling (approx.)

You may have seen watts in the power consumption section of the air conditioner. That number measures how much energy the system consumes every second, whereas capacity indicates how much heat the system removes every second. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and is a standard measure of heat used decades back. For your curiosity, it is the amount of heat released when a match stick is burnt all the way.

Now that you know the equivalence, it is simple mathematics.

2 Tons of air conditioning = 24,000 BTU per hour = 5150 Watts cooling (approx.)

At least one of these three numbers are mentioned on the box or specifications sheet. It would allow you to make an informed decision on the capacity of air conditioning you need.

Factors affecting AC capacity requirement

Climactic conditions are the primary determiners of AC capacity. If you live in a tropical area, the high temperature and humidity would require a higher capacity aircon as compared to a place which has relatively lower temperature and humidity.

Here is a detailed list of the factors affecting cooling requirements.

· Room area (square feet is the commonly used measure)

· Climate – maximum temperature and humidity

· Number of individuals typically occupying the room during AC usage

· Ceiling height

· Presence of kitchen

· Heat generated by other electrical appliances

· Total area of windows in the room

· Floor number and building height

· Are your premises located on the top floor?

· Construction material used for walls, doors, and windows

· Points of air leaks in the room

Capacity calculation

We’ll now see how to calculate the air conditioner’s capacity using the abovementioned parameters.

 

Area

Calculate the area of the room for which the aircon is being sized. Once you have the area in square feet, follow the indicative capacity, as mentioned below.

Room size (square feet)	Indicative capacity (Tons)	Indicative Capacity (BTU / hr)
150 to 250	0.5	6000
250 to 400	0.6	7000
400 to 550	1	12000

This table is meant just for reference. Other factors significantly affect these calculations. The calculations in the table assume that two individuals occupy the room during aircon operation.

Climate

If the temperature crosses 45 degrees Celsius frequently, the size requirement increases significantly. Add 6000 BTU per hour to the number you have calculated until the previous step if the climate in your area has many days where the temperature would be over 40 degrees. Since heat flows from a higher to lower temperature, the compressor needs to be powerful enough to discharge excess heat even when the ambient temperature is very high.

 

Occupants

The human body releases a lot of heat. An individual at rest would produce 100 W of heat. Depending on the activity level, this number may rise significantly. If you are choosing an aircon for your home gym, its capacity requirement would be significantly higher than one for a bedroom because of the calories burnt during exercise. For every additional occupant in the room, add 600 BTU per hour as additional cooling capacity.

Taking an example, a 450 sq. feet hall would require a capacity of 12000 BTU per hour indicated by the table. However, considering that ten persons may occupy the hall in case of a party or gathering, an addition of 600 BTU per hour per person would effectively increase the capacity requirement by 50%. Given the fact that occupancy is only one factor, the capacity should be chosen sensibly to avoid an undersized or an oversized aircon.

Ceiling height

If the height of the ceiling is significantly higher than the 10-12 feet, add additional capacity in proportion. If your ceiling is 2 feet higher than average, it demands a 15-20% increase in air conditioning capacity since the aircon cools the entire volume of air in the room.

Add about 2000 BTU per hour of extra capacity in case of a higher-than-normal ceiling.

Presence of Kitchen

Cooking requires heat. Heat requires more air conditioning; if you’re sizing the air conditioner for a hall or any other area that has a working kitchen add 4000 BTU per hour to the required capacity.

Cooking and air-conditioning are tasks that may not be done simultaneously since they oppose each other. If your room is heavily air-conditioned, the microwave and the induction heaters consume more energy to cook the food.

Conversely, this added heat would prompt your air conditioner compressor to run longer to remove the excess heat.

Heat generated by other electrical appliances

While it may seem little, it is the small bits that add together and form a sizeable chunk. This applies to the small electronic gadgets in the room, as well as any large appliance that you may be using.

A 50-inch LED TV would consume between 50-100 watts of power, most of which would be dissipated as heat.

LED tube lights and bulbs consume between 10 watts to as much as 100 watts. An efficient ceiling fan would consume 50 watts, while a laptop would typically dissipate between 10 watts and 50 watts power.

This case is commonly applicable to home-offices, where multiple employees use laptops, mobile phones, laser printers, etc. Add applicable BTU per hour to the capacity as per the applicable conditions.

 

The total area of windows in your room

Bigger windows would let the ambient heat “steal” your room’s cooling. If the windows are facing towards the North or Northeast, subtract about 10% of the basic capacity decided in the first step.

On the other hand, if the windows face towards the west or southwest, add about 10% of the basic capacity determined initially.

Total number of floors (in case of a high-rise)

Heat rises, and if you occupy one of the higher floors, the condenser will face additional load trying to cool the hot air. This does not call out for a specific increment in capacity; however, you may want to buy a higher capacity AC if this is the case.

Presence of floor above your premises

This is an important factor and may impact the air conditioning capacity significantly. If there is a floor above yours, the ceiling of your house would not be directly exposed to the sun. If your house is on the top floor, your ceiling would be continuously heated by the sun. If this is the case, increase the base capacity by 25%.

 

Construction material used for doors, windows, etc.

The material used to construct the place plays an essential role in determining the insulation level. Higher the insulation, heat would take more time to seep into the room. Wood is an excellent thermal insulator. If the door’s made from wood, it will take a lot of time for stray heat to seep into the room. On the other hand, if the door is made from a metal sheet, there’ll be a quick “loss” of cooling.

Points of air leak in the room

Insulation is not just about the construction material. It also means that any points that could lead to the cooler air inside to escape outside should be plugged as much as possible.

Problems with under-sizing or over-sizing

A common thought that many buyers have is to buy an aircon with higher tonnage and avoid going through the hassle of calculating the required capacity properly. Buyers on a budget may prefer going for a smaller-capacity air conditioner. These are cases of oversizing and under-sizing.

Undersizing

An undersized air conditioner would struggle to maintain the room at the set temperature. This would result in a higher compressor ON time, which would place undue stress causing it to wear out faster. With an ambient temperature higher than usual, there is a possibility that the aircon may not be able to achieve temperatures, especially in the lower range. A compressor working ceaselessly would result in very high power consumption leading to increased energy bills. Please check our guide on energy saving tips.

An undersized aircon not only fails to provide the comfort you desire but also consumes excess energy and has a lesser life than an adequately sized aircon.

Oversizing

An oversized aircon is better than an undersized air conditioner, but it also has demerits. While it may cool the room faster, it would require higher capacity electrical components like circuit breakers and wiring. Faster cooling leads to another issue – frequent ON and OFF cycles for the compressor. The aircon’s components, including the compressor, wear out earlier because of higher-than-usual switching. The electrical relay that cuts off the compressor may be the most loaded component in this case and could fail prematurely.

Maintenance cost is higher for larger air conditioners, and replacement parts are priced higher. A larger aircon would also be able to compensate better for sources of heat like electrical appliances, gadgets, open doors, or windows. You’ll end up wasting a lot of electricity because you would not be aware of heat seeping inside the room. Check our guide here on how much it costs to service a aircon in 2019.

Conclusion

The capacity of an air conditioner must be finalized after considering all factors. It is a simple process of considering your landscape, building, room, and other points that may warrant a need for additional capacity. An adequately sized aircon would provide consistent cooling – neither slow nor fast. There would be lesser wear and tear, leading to high longevity. Energy efficiency is optimized when a properly sized aircon is used.

Keep following our aircon service blog for new content on air conditioners. We’ll provide you the best tips related to air conditioning. Please read here on our top 5 reliable and best aircon service providers list in Singapore. Please take note your air conditioner service need be done at least once a year.

The Importance of Clean Aircon Filters

Air Conditioners provide cool and moisture-free air even when it is searing hot outside. The aircons not only control temperature and humidity but also remove harmful particles and contaminants from the air. Before the air is circulated, a set of filters clean the air, which means you get to breathe cleaner air, thanks to the aircon.

These filters, therefore, keep you healthy. It is necessary to clean them regularly and replace them as per the recommended schedule to keep the air conditioner healthy. Clogged air filters cause a lot of problems and significantly increase wear-and-tear to the unit. In Singapore, the aircon is used for long hours, and the problem becomes more pronounced. Before you call professional services for annual maintenance, you must know that cleaning them is a job that requires less than 30 minutes.

How are filters connected to the core AC parts?

Let us understand how a clogged filter would damage an aircon. Before that, you would need to understand the basic functioning of an aircon which is summed up in a few points

1. The compressor in the condenser compresses the refrigerant and removes heat

2. The compressed gas circulates through the tubes and reaches the evaporator (indoor) unit

3. It is allowed to expand in the evaporator whose coils get chilled

4. Air from the room is made to flow over the chilled evaporator coil

5. Air, now colder, pass the filters, gets cleaned and causes a cooling effect

What happens when the filters aren’t kept clean?

The major effects you’d feel when the filters aren’t clean are – delayed cooling and lesser airflow. This delayed cooling is because of the reduced rate of airflow through the condenser coil.

The coil, which gets chilled, is unable to exchange heat with the ambient air, and its temperature drops below freezing point, causing ice to form.

This is the point where your AC starts getting affected.

· Ice formation starts bending the fins of the coil

· A thick build-up of ice could bend or puncture the pipes containing the pressurized refrigerant

· Any damage to the evaporator is difficult to fix

· Leak of refrigerant would lead to lesser cooling and more load on the compressor

Effects of water leakage

· Chances of corrosion of the aircon unit and a possibility of electrical damage

· Spoilage of the wall where the aircon unit is mounted

· Growth of mold and bacteria leading to foul smell

· Electric shock hazard due to current leakage

Increased Wear and Tear

Clogged filters restrict proper airflow on the evaporator coil. You already now know that ice would work in this case. However, the room temperature does not drop. This causes the compressor to keep working. If the filters are extremely clogged, the compressor may work for hours continuously and do nothing but damage. You’d waste a lot of energy to have ice where you don’t want it to be.

The circuits inside the air conditioner are also overloaded in this case. Continuous supply of current to the compressor strains the components on the PCB and reduces their life.

Compressor damage

The compressor is the component that consumes maximum power. It has moving components that compress the refrigerant. Compression releases heat. Sunlight, electrical heating, and heat from compression make the compressor extremely hot. This loads up the bearings, which would suffer premature failure if this continues for a long time. There is oil inside the compressor to keep the moving parts lubricated. This oil begins to burn and lose its efficiency at higher temperatures.

You now know the importance of cleaning air filters. They can damage every component of the air conditioner. Clean the filters once every two weeks and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for replacement. Aircon service in Singapore is equally important because, like air filters, other components need maintenance. Book your service at MCL Air Conditioning. We provide AC service, repair, and installation through our team of highly-trained professionals.