5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying an Air Conditioner

Just after the cold months from November to January, from mid February onwards, atmospheric temperature and humidity increase. This results in a heavy influx of customers to buy air conditioners for their residential and commercial spaces. As Malayalis, we ace at negotiations and fixing the best affordable price, but sometimes we forget about the quality. We use an air conditioner for at least 5 – 10 years, so mistakes made while purchasing will have adverse effects on the electricity charges and comfort of the users. Most users regret the purchase, not because the AC stopped working, but because they made an avoidable mistake. This blog points to some of the common mistakes made while making a purchase.

1. Buying The Wrong Tonnage

It is one of the most common mistakes made by many people, and they do commit it often. Some people think that buying a small capacity AC will be sufficient for them, while others go ahead and make a blunder by buying an AC which is more than what they need thinking excessive is better. The atmosphere in Kerala is warm as well as humid. So if one decides to buy a 1-ton AC, it could suitably cool down a small room of dimensions 10X10 feet in a hill station. However, this 1-ton AC will not serve its purpose when placed in Thrissur, Palakkad, or Kochi during April as it will run without rest for the entire day and even then it wont be able to cool down the room, making you suffer from high electricity bills. 1.5 tons AC should ideally suit all the standard sized rooms, which can be up to 120-180 square feet in Kerala.

Over-sizing of ACs is also an error that should not be made, and an over-sized AC does more harm than good. The air conditioner will cool down the room quickly but won’t remain on long enough to dehumidify it. So buying the right is always better.

Tonnage for Kerala Rooms

100 – 120 Sq.ft – 1 Ton

120 – 180 Sq.ft – 1.5 Ton

180 – 240 Sq.ft – 2 Ton

Since 1-ton AC price in Kerala are quite different from that of 1.5-ton and 2-ton models, selecting the correct tonnage will help you save money and align with your cooling needs

2. Ignoring The Star Rating

In Kerala, the use of the air conditioner is not limited only to summer. The months when monsoon happens are often equally hot and humid. The post-monsoon period before the summer is also hot and humid. Even January and February are unexpectedly warm in the coastal parts of Kerala. This means that many families will keep their AC units turned on for 8 to 10 months of the year. 8 to 10 months is a considerable amount of time. This is precisely the reason why the BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) star rating cannot be ignored. One may find a 3-star AC cheaper than any other. In five years, however, the amount saved while purchasing will be filled up with the increased electricity charges as the 3-star AC consumes more electricity. The electricity tariff is relatively high in Kerala, and the electricity bills will shock you, for sure.

5-star inverter AC units are more expensive; however, the excess cost incurred while making the purchase could be offset by savings on electricity charges.

3. Not Having a Proper Installation Location

Usually people will have planned their TV placement, couch placement, and everything else. However, placement for the AC is usually decided at the last minute. Sometimes, even after purchasing the air conditioner. This too is not recommended. Placement of the indoor unit and outdoor unit of your AC plays a significant role. Indoor units must be placed at an upper position on the wall. They must be out of direct reach of the sun, and the cool air from the unit must reach all corners of the room. The outdoor unit must also should be properly placed with proper ventilation. The outdoor unit must never be placed in a small balcony without any proper ventilation facility. If it gets overheated, then its performance becomes poor.

The problem with many Kerala apartments is that there is very less room left for placement of the outdoor unit. This should be considered while shopping. Another aspect to consider is pipe lengths. More pipes will cost you extra during installation and decrease performance. When you buy Ac online be careful about choosing it from a reputed brand, so that you can get the best services and support.

4. Choosing Price Over Brand Reputation & After Sales Service

Keralite buyers are very wise. Too wise. They compare costs among several vendors, consider the online prices and collect price list from every possible source. However, sometimes in their eagerness to save money they choose the brand which has a poor service network in Kerala. Air Conditioners aren’t products which should simply sit at home and operate. These units need regular maintenance — gas refilling, filter changing, coils servicing etc. In case if there is no service center which is authorized by your manufacturer close to your area, you will always have troubles finding an expert and even getting the genuine spare parts. At least during peak summer time you can’t afford to wait about two weeks till someone will come for servicing your unit. This is not possible.

Daikin, Voltas, LG, Hitachi, Samsung, and Blue Star Air Conditioners have reliable and widespread service networks in Kerala. There are other more expensive or cheaper brands which offer you affordable prices but the after sales service will be a question. It will disappoint you the most during the hot summertime, when you will not get any help with your malfunctioned device, you will regret the purchase, no matter what.

5. Skipping the Warranty & AMC

Everyone looks at the warranty period, which could be varying from brand to brand like one year, five years or ten years for the compressor. But almost no one knows what comes under warranty and what does not. That’s where the trouble begins. Warranties in India normally cover manufacturing defects. Not all warranties cover gas refill, cosmetic damage or problems resulting from voltage fluctuation. Voltage fluctuation is a common occurrence in Kerala during monsoons and summer. The cost of fixing an AC compressor damaged due to voltage fluctuation can range anywhere between ₹8,000 to ₹15,000 if it isn’t covered under warranty. Additionally, AMC or Annual Maintenance Contracts are also offered at the time of purchase, and customers sign them without really knowing what services they will be getting. There are AMCs that offer servicing along with parts and labor costs, there are AMCs that only include labor charges, also there are AMCs that provide one free service each year, some two or three depending on the brand.

Always Register Your Product on the manufacturer’s website immediately after purchase. Not registering your product online means your warranty claim will have to wait, and it could be rejected entirely.

Think Today, For a Better Tomorrow

Purchasing an air conditioner in Kerala is all about making the best decision possible, so that you don’t have to regret for the next 10 – 15 years. The issues mentioned above are easy to dodge as long as you are aware of them before visiting an appliance showroom. Five key aspects such as tonnage, star rating, installation considerations and post-sale services provided by the manufacturer and warranty information – You just need to pay attention to these factors in order to enjoy comfortable cooling without excessive bills.

Kannankandy offers you a selection of high quality split AC, inverter AC and window AC appliances from reputed manufacturers – feel free to visit us!