SPOILT FOR CHOICE: There is a wide range of ACs in the market

Time was when air conditioners were a luxury product. No longer. In our crowded, over built-up cities living without ACs in summer has become very uncomfortable indeed. And now that summer is round the corner, many people will head to the market to shop around for air conditioners to cool their homes.

There is wide range of well known brands available in a variety of models and price ranges. Which one you buy — a one tonne or a two tonne, a window or a split —depends on your particular needs, budget and choice. Indeed, one is spoilt for choice when it comes to ACs as there is a plethora of brands such as LG, Samsung, Voltas, Electrolux, Godrej, Haier, Carrier, Hitachi, Panasonic and Daikin vying for the consumer’s attention. But one should keep some AC basics in mind before choosing a particular product.

First of all, you need to find out what capacity of AC you require. Whether you go for a 1, 1.5, or a 2 tonne AC depends on the area of the room, the height of the ceiling, the number of people in the room, exposure to sunlight and so on. In general, a 1 tonne AC is sufficient for a 110-150 sq ft room. If the room is between 150 and 220 sq ft, go for a 1.5 tonne, and if it is between 220 and 300 sq ft, you will need a 2 tonne AC.

The other important feature to look out for in an AC is its energy efficiency. Make sure it’s not an electricity guzzler that will burn a hole in your pocket even as it cools your bedroom. As Anand Swarup Agrawal, chief executive of Capital Electronics, Calcutta, points out, “While choosing an AC, one should pay attention to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) star ratings that determine the energy efficiency of any electronic product for home use.” An AC with a five star rating is the most energy efficient so it pays to go for that.

Today, most popular AC brands are coming up with value added features to tempt consumers. For example, Voltas has launched 50 new models in the window and split AC categories. Pradeep Bakshi, COO, Voltas says, “All the new models are green as they consume less energy. We use a scroll compressor that minimises power consumption.”

Samsung, another popular home appliances brand, has also expanded its Invincia and Purista series of air conditioners for the Indian market. Ravinder Zutshi, deputy managing director, Samsung India, says, “Samsung has introduced 14 new split AC models and four new window AC models this year. While the Samsung split ACs are priced in the range of Rs 22,540 to Rs 49,420, the window ACs are priced in the range of Rs 20,400 to Rs 26,210. Both are available in 1 tonne, 1.5 tonne and 2 tonne capacities.”

What’s more, the company claims that its Invincia series comes with a smart inverter technology that saves upto 60 per cent energy when the AC is on, and that the Purista Plus series comes loaded with a feature that eliminates bacteria, fungi and even viruses like H1N1in the air.

That sounds impressive. But consumer experts are often sceptical of claims that ACs will deliver germ and pollution-free air. Says Preeti Shah, director, Consumer Education Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad, “A few years back Panasonic advertised that its Econ Dust Buster AC offers 99 per cent dust-free air. The Advertising Standards Council of India questioned the company on this but they never responded. Obviously, they had no scientific proof to validate their claim. More often than not, these are marketing strategies to lure the customers but they cannot be scientifically substantiated.”

ACs come in a variety of price bands. Across brands, window ACs range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 32,000 and split ACs from Rs 14,000 to Rs 48,000. Industry experts say that split ACs are fast becoming more popular than the window variety simply because it’s easier to instal them. You only need to make a hole in the wall to fix a split AC while some amount of masonry work is required to instal a window AC. Moreover, the price gap between window and split ACs has shrunk in recent years, making the latter more affordable. As Kamal Nandi, vice-president, sales and marketing, Godrej Appliances, says, “The market for split ACs is growing faster. In fact, we are expecting a 75-80 per cent surge in the split AC market this year.”

Godrej has introduced 42 new AC models, of which 29 have a five star rating. “People prefer stylish models in a variety of colours to match with their interiors. And the star rating is important while buying any electric appliance today.”

With so many types of ACs available in the market, consumers too are looking around to get the best for their homes. “I have a window AC from LG. But this year I would like to go for a Panasonic Cube, the new model that has just come in. It is a trendy looking split AC,” says Debanjana Roy, a homemaker in Calcutta.

however, before you zero in on a particular product, do check out its after sales service. Most companies have an effective after sales service in place. Samsung has a 24-hour help line and organises annual free service camps throughout the country. “A three-day free service camp was organised between March 11 and 13, 2011, all over India for Samsung air conditioners and refrigerator owners,” says Zutshi. Voltas too has call centres and “complaints within the same city are resolved within 24 hours,” stresses Bakshi. For the summer the company has recruited 2,000 new technicians to provide smooth after sales service, he adds.

Godrej on the other handhas 450 service providers across the country.

A dealer in Calcutta who does not wish to be named says that one should only go for companies that provide after sales service directly instead of outsourcing it to its franchisees. “Usually, the franchisees give good service in the first year. But after that their service becomes sloppy,” he says.

So don’t let the summer get you down. Get an air conditioner, but make sure it’s the right one for you.