Friday, March 29, 2024

Beat the Heat with Air Conditioning Solutions

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In India, we have hot days and then we have, even hotter days. According to news, every year the heat crosses the past ten years’ record. Bengaluru went all guns blazing to hit a 85-year-old record in April 2016 according to reports. It is important to keep your cool in such hot temperatures. “As the sweltering heat of summer begins to set across the country during the summer months, people all over the country are running to their air conditioners to stay cool,” says Paras Sirohia, chairman & MD, Cruise Air Conditioner.

The Air Conditioner (AC) is an appliance designed to modulate the temperature settings in a fixed area. The cooling is typically done through a simple refrigeration cycle. A regular AC has temperature settings ranging from 15 to 35 degree celsius, as per requirements. Let’s take a look at the various types of these environment modulators.

A glance at various AC types available today

The first step towards being able to decide which AC to buy, is to wrap our heads around the different types of ACs in the market. This guide will focus on the types of ACs available and which would best suit your purpose.

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Split AC          

Split AC is the most common kind. This consists of two distinct units, an internal and an external one. The outdoor unit contains the compressor, and is often the noisier of the two. It is connected to the indoor unit via drainpipes and electric cables. Due to no moving parts in the indoor unit, this unit of AC is almost silent. These can be fit into walls, and with the latest designer looks, can add to the facade of the room as well.

Window AC

Another common type is the window AC. A single unit housing the compressor, condenser, expansion valve or coil, evaporator and cooling coil, can often be found attached to the lower level of windows. These are effectively the cheapest cost-effective ACs currently in the market. Being a single unit, it takes less effort for installation.

Tower AC

The Tower AC is similar to split AC in the fact that, both of them have two distinct sections. However the difference here is the indoor unit does not need to be installed on a wall. So, there is no need to redecorate the room around the AC. It occupies space on the floor, and due to its high cooling capacity, is suited to very large rooms.

Cassette AC

This takes on a different form and is designed to be installed on the ceiling of the room. Due to its positioning in the room, the cassette AC provides most uniform cooling in a room. But the odd form factor also comes in the higher price range. These are ideal in saving spaces, as they involve the surface of a room with the least human interaction – the ceiling.

Cube AC

Another type is the cube AC, introduced by Panasonic. It is a type of split AC with the indoor look of a window AC. It consists of propeller fans specially designed for fast cooling. The large intake grill, further adds to its performance. It can be mounted on the wall high up, away from the interference of young children in a room.

Million dollar question: Which Air Conditioner?

The selection of an AC is like any of your gadgets. “Buying an AC is always critical and involves analysing various factors before finalising on the right one,” says Sirohia. You weigh the pros and cons, then you match the features with your requirements and make a selection.

Once you know the features, the big question comes to mind. There are a lot of vendors in the market, with a varied list of options, so which one to go with?

While there are some highly customised equipment in the market, catering to very niche clientele, not every appliance is suitable to every user. People living near the sea would require a different set of features, as compared to the people living in the deserts.

This question can be answered by the application of the AC once it is installed. The use cases of an AC will give a better perspective into how the selection process should go by.

Cooling Capacity

A lot of ACs come with cooling measurements, ranging from 0.75 ton to about five tonnes. The point to consider would be the area to cool, and the number of people in that area.

Room Dimensions AC tonnage measurements Available AC configurations
100-150 sq.ft. 0.75 Ton window/cube
150-250 sq.ft. 1 Ton window/cube/split
250-400 sq.ft. 1-1.5 Ton window/cube/split
~500 sq.ft. 1.5-2 Ton split/cassette
~700 sq.ft. 2 Ton split/cassette/portable
~1000 sq.ft. 3 Ton cassette/portable
>1000 sq.ft. >3 Ton cassette/portable

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