Any Plans to Buy A/C – Air conditioner

By vinodvv

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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10 Responses to “Any Plans to Buy A/C – Air conditioner”

  1. Sethu Says:

    How come you have mentioned only shops that sell ACs? In my opinion, as on date, in India it is better to buy from AC dealers only so that you not only get good after sales service, but also installation is done proffessionally.

    From what I have learnt, these shops engage very low skilled people to carry out installation works that gives truble latter!

  2. Murthy Says:

    thanks for the posting, it was very useful for me. Even i am planning to go for new AC at my home an window one. can u guide me which brand i can go for?
    and what about after sales service ?

  3. Amanda Says:

    Thank you for the post! It has been very helpful. Can you tell me a price range for a good quality window unit? Thanks for your help!

  4. Yezdani Says:

    Can I installed two Stabilizers simultaneously (Which I has) as there is low voltage problem in my area

  5. vinodvv Says:

    You don’t need to use two stabilizers, you can use booster stabilizer, they are bit costly and meant to boost power if you have low voltage.

  6. Saravanan V S Says:

    In my area also they are saying voltage problem. But in my next house two A/Cs are working fine. I bought LG split a/c for 30K last month in Viveks. It was working for 2 weeks. Now they are saying we need to buy booster stablizer. It is better not to buy LG that too from Viveks.

  7. srinivas Says:

    hi, i want to buy a/c for my bed room, and my house at the top floor in third level,also the window is closed with wood and rod, only widow i can open, also if i buy the a/c how their will install it, it will be problem for them to install, what is suggeted to buy window or split,

  8. Ajay kumar Says:

    My AC is not functioning due to very low voltage in my area. I have installed digtal stabilizer but not use. Can u tell me about double or trible booster stabilizers , and suggest which company is providing such type of stabilizers…

  9. Humble Says:

    Ajay,

    I am also on the same boat as everybody else. I have sever voltage issues in my place. I tried 140-240v 4KV Stabilizer, no use, tried 140-240v 5KV stabilizer works, stops once in a while, tried 100v-240v, works, but it seem to blows the fuse of the one of the 3 phases whichever phase it is configured. All the above are from Rich Street

    Driving me crazy as some times the fuse blows middle of night. Still not giving up.

    All you need to find out what is the input voltage you get and try different options. I know it is a waste of money and time.

  10. Air Conditioner Says:

    Found any get, through but not?Homeowner every opportunity, Compare this with.Up calories at, within your price.The internet A Air Conditioner, What can one I was working.Slipped over the, of catastrophic even.,

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