Any Plans to Buy A/C – Air conditioner

Do you have any plans to buy A/C in chennai?
Here are few to do’s and don’t before you buy one to beat the heat in chennai.

This guide is intended for home users with decent budget.

A/C – Air conditioner are available in two variants

Split A/C: The outdoor hold the compressor unit while the indoor houses for the blower.
Benefits:

1. Less noise as the compressor unit is placed outside
2. Copper tubes and wires can be consealed so your interior looks neat.
3. Positioning of the internal unit at desired place.

Losses:

1. More the copper wiring, more is the transmission loss because of heat. (Internal unit and the external unit are connected with copper tubes)
2. power consumption is more compared to window A/C with same ton Capacity.

Window A/C:
Benefits:

1. Less power consumption when compared to Split

Losses:

1. Can be noisy after few years of installation
2. Cannot be positioned where ever on your room. If needed you may have make a block of hole on the wall
3. The are certain situation where you cannot install a window A/C, as there is no option other than to opt for Split A/C

To do’s:

1. Do the ground work, before you decide to buy. Call up an A/C mechanic or an Electrician next door and check whether your 3 Phase power points can house for your A/C (balance the power usage between rooms)
2. Check the room size, ask him which A/C would suit or currently needed. The Split or Window A/C. If there is an option for Window A/C prefer that, If your are looking to save money on electricity bills.

Don’ts:

1. If you are staying on the top floor with an open terrace or ground floor with open terrace. Kindly arrange for false roofing.
2. If your loft and the shelves are open try to cover them. If left open A/C take more time to cool the room.

Places to look for A/C
Well lot of stores offer A/C mela’s do watch out for these stores, compare the rates and decide. Here is my choice or stores listed below

1. Rathna Fan house / Rathna Cool store (not on the main road little inside) and not Ratna Firm house this is on the main road
   
2. Jayam & Co
3. Shahs
4. Viveks

What you need to check when Buying A/C from the dealer
Window A/C:

1. Free Home delivery, what is the extra cost if you are outside city outskirts
2. Installation charge (1000 INR approx)
3. Wooden frame work to hold the Window A/C (450 INR approx)
4. Check for water outlet provision or arrange one on your own.
5. Stabilizer the most important one
6. A/C power socket with box – (500 INR Approx)

Split A/C:

1. Free Home delivery, what is the extra cost if you are outside city outskirts
2. Installation charge (1000 INR approx)
3. How many meters of Copper Cables is free, What is extra Copper cables per meter cost (currently 450 INR/meter).
4. How many meters of 3 core electric Cables are free (Power supply for the A/C internal and external unit + the Power console). If they don’t provide, buy from the local store.
5. Cost of L shaped brackets to house the unit (750 INR)
6. Check for water outlet pipes provision and cost of pipes
7. Stabilizer the most important one. Do check for double booster options.
8. A/C power socket with box – (500 INR Approx)

Some dealers offer few freebies, don’t fall for it. Models are your choice which I don’t want to discuss about.

Important: Carrier has launched new models priced very high which talks about energy conservation with 5 Star rating. While the other A/C manufacturers say the Star rating would come to effect only in late June 07 which the energy conservation ministry had announced on the News paper daily recently. Not sure about which one is true. Think twice before you decide.

Would you like to know about servicing the A/C
Here is the new post Know, Howto – about A/C servicing

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