Are you planning to buy an aircon unit for every room in your house? However, you are clueless about what type of aircon, how much horsepower, and what size you need to get. Maybe this guide can help you get an answer for those.
Buying an aircon unit for our home is necessary especially if you have kids. Why? Because of the hotter temperature and high humidity even at night time are hard for them to tolerate.
Maybe for us parents or adults, we can settle for an electric fan even though we have the budget to buy aircon. But for our kids, their welfare is our number one concern. That includes having to sleep comfortably during the night. Having a good night’s sleep affects their performance in school and their behavior during the day.
It may sound like a sales talk hahaha. But really, having aircon in the house offers a lot of benefits.
Unfortunately, buying an aircon is not an easy task. You can not just walk into an appliance store and pick any air-conditioning unit that the salesperson shows you.
The aircon that you will buy normally last for 5 years or more. The cost per unit is also not cheap. For example, a .6 horsepower costs around PHP 10,000. Moreover, if you happened to buy an overpowered aircon relative to the room size then the high monthly electricity bill will be hard to shoulder in the long run.
This is why you really need to think things out first before shelling out that cash for a new aircon unit.
In this article, I will show you the You can read things you need that you have to consider when buying aircon for your home below.
Table of Contents
Room Dimension where you will install the aircon
Normally, in the Philippines aircon is installed in the bedroom and living room. You need to measure the size or area of your room from corner to corner. Also from floor to ceiling.
The simple way is to use this metal tape measure hahaha.
So to get the dimension of your room just multiply the length, width, and height of your room.
For example, the length is 5 meters and the width is 3 meters, and the height is 3 meters. The total size of the room is 45 cubic meters.
You need to know the dimension of your room because it is necessary in getting the btu or heat load. Which is the next tip.
Heat Load of the Room
You need to know the heat load of your room. The reason is so you can get the aircon unit that has the equivalent British Thermal Unit or BTU. This simply means that the aircon size is not too big or not too small.
If the aircon unit is oversized relative to the room. the aircon will frequently turn on and off. This can cause wear and tear of the aircon parts in the long run. Frequent turning on and off of aircon also can cause high electricity bill.
On the contrary, if the aircon is too small relative to the room size. Chances are the aircon will never stop running because it cannot reach the temperature that you set. This again can cause wear and tear for the latter and high electricity bill.
The aircon btu, in particular, is the amount of heat per hour that an air conditioning unit can remove in the room. The higher the BTU the faster the aircon unit can remove the heat or cool the room.
Since aircon units are rated in horsepower in the Philippines. Once you get the BTU or heat load of the room, you need to convert it to HP.
For example, a .5 hp can remove 4800 but per hour, a 1 horsepower (hp) window type aircon can remove 9000 BTU per hour of heat and a 1.5 hp can remove 12000 BTU per hour.
The factors affecting the heat load are the number of persons occupying the room on average, sunlight exposure, ceiling light, insulation of walls, climate, humidity, and appliances in the room. Basically, anything that generates heat or sources of heat inside and outside of the room affects the heat load.
It is quite complicated to compute for BTU or heat load so it is easier to use an online calculator. With this calculator, you need to provide the dimension of your room, the regular number of people inside, the type of room, insulation, sun exposure, and climate in the Philippines.
At this point, you probably know the corresponding aircon size in horsepower / HP relative to the heat load BTU of your room.
What you need to know now is the type of aircon unit that you want to buy.
Aircon Designs Availability
In the Philippines, the common types of aircon that you can buy in appliance stores are window type, split type, Portable type, and centralized/commercial type. Each of them varies in cost, features, and installation requirements.
Window Type Aircon
If your room has an available square slot for your aircon and a ready power supply. Then the easiest decision is to buy a window-type aircon. The reason is you can install it by yourself.
It is also advisable to get the dimension of the square slot so when you visit the appliance store you can compare it to the available aircon size at hand.
A .5hp non-inverter Window type aircon cost roughly between 10k to 15k pesos. On the other hand, an inverter is almost double the price of non-inverters.
Split Type Aircon
If there is no rectangle slot on your room’s wall. You can consider the split-type aircon.
From the phrase “split type.” The aircon is divided into two parts. The indoor part is composed of evaporator coils and blowers. The outdoor parts are composed of a compressor and condenser.
you need an aircon technician to install this for you. The technician needs to plan the installation and they need to drill a hole for the pipes needed for the split-type aircon.
The SRP of 1hp inverter split type aircon is above PHP 30,000 while a non-inverter is around PHP 28000.
Portable Aircon
There are a handful of aircon makers in the Philippines that sell portable air conditioners. This requires an installation that you can do by yourself.
The advantage of this aircon type is you can move it to any part of your house. You only need to set it up near the window or an opening for its exhaust.
Suggested retail Prices for 1hp and 1.5hp are PHP 20,500, and PHP 23500, respectively.
Commercial / Industrial Air-conditioning Unit
Commercial or Industrial aircon units are used in Malls and huge space offices. Normally, you can see its exhaust installed on the ceiling. This aircon type is also sometimes a split type aircon, multi-split type, and or ducted aircon. Moreover, this aircon type needs a contractor or specialist to be able to install it properly.
Aircon Type
Aircon type refers to Inverter or Non-Inverter aircon. According to panasonic.com, the critical difference between an inverter and a non-inverter aircon is the former can regulate the aircon’s compressor motor speed. This means that when the room has reached the desired temperature based on your settings. The compressor motor will automatically lower its speed just enough to maintain the temperature. As a result, there is a savings in electricity consumption for us consumers.
Meanwhile, the non-inverter aircon does not have that speed regulation capability. Its motor only runs at full speed. When the aircon has reached the desired temperature, the motor stops. Afterward, when the temperature drops to a certain level, the motor will run at full speed again.
If you compare this scenario to an electric fan. You have a choice to set the fan’s motor speed to number 1, 2, or 3 depending on your needs. On the other hand, for non-inverter, you can only set the fan’s speed to number 3 only. Usually, max speed always consumes electricity the highest.
Now that you know the difference between an inverter and a non-inverter aircon. You can choose between the two.
Of course, this depends on your budget. As the inverter aircon costs more when you buy it. However, you save roughly 30% to 40% on electricity costs as you use it. Non-inverter is cheap when you buy it. But it costs more when you use it.
Aircon Energy Efficiency (EER)
Energy efficiency is also another factor when buying an aircon. Usually, aircon makers include in the specifications the energy efficiency of their appliances. Take a look at that “yellow card” in the refrigerator. There is also a corresponding yellow card for the air conditioning unit.
The ideal energy efficiency scenario is when the aircon uses 1 kWh of electricity, it should also be able to remove 3412 BTU of heat. More like a 1 is to 1 EER scenario.
However, no air conditioning unit can do that at the moment. So you can choose whichever aircon unit is close to that 1 is-to-1 scenario. Maybe there is 1 is to .9, or 1 is to .8. I hope you get what I mean here.
If we will compare the aircon to two cars with 100 percent identical specifications but different brands. The first one runs at 15 km per liter. The second run at 13km per liter in the same road condition. So based on this, the first one is the more efficient in terms of fuel consumption.
Normally the aircon with a higher Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is the best choice. However, has a slightly higher price.
You can check the value of the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of the aircon in the yellow card attached to it. If you are not familiar then ask the salespeople in the appliance store.
Real Price of an Aircon Unit
Most of the time, the price is the only consideration of most aircon buyers. Whichever aircon brand is the cheapest in terms of price, the consumer will choose it. But hopefully after reading these aircon buying tips. Your point of view now has changed.
Aside from the aircon price. You can now weigh and consider whether the aircon is inverter or non-inverter, types, and energy efficiency. Because in the end, the price is just the initial cost of acquiring an aircon. What really will have an effect on your monthly electricity bill is the daily usage of aircon.
The real price of the aircon should be computed like this: aircon unit price plus depreciation cost plus (daily usage in pesos multiplied by 365 days multiplied by 5 years or more).
Real Aircon price = aircon unit price + depreciation cost + (daily usage in pesos x 365 days x 5 years or more)
After you get the value based on that computation. Buy the aircon that offers has the cheapest cost in the long run.
Air Conditioning Unit Features
The aircon features are also another consideration. Though I would say it is secondary.
There are aircon units that come with remote control, aircon timer, sleep mode, 7 in 1 air filter, dehumidifying capabilities, and so on. Basically, select the aircon unit that has the features that you need on a daily basis.
For example, if you prefer to use the aircon for a number of hours only. It is better to get an aircon with remote control feature. You can set an ON and OFF timer on the remote control. If you will place the aircon near the ceiling like the split-type aircon, it would be better to get an aircon with remote control hahaha. Because you can not use a ladder just to turn it on or off.
Decibels or Aircon Noise
Your aircon has a compressor, fans, blowers, and other moving parts. When your aircon is turned ON, these moving parts produce noise. This noise is measured in decibels.
In general, if the aircon has high decibels of noise then it will affect your sleep at night. It will also affect your concentration during the day. Try to let someone shout or talk near your ear while you memorize your lessons for school. It is annoying and at the same time very disturbing.
Take note that window-type aircon of the same horsepower as split type will produce higher decibels. Simply because they are one unit. The compressor, fans, and blowers in the window-type aircon are in one box. This type is also closer to you because it’s in your room.
On the other hand, the compressor and fan of a split-type aircon are normally located outside of the house. So the parts located inside are the evaporator and blower which is generally quieter or has lower decibels.
So if you are considering buying an aircon. Select the aircon with the lowest decibel. It means that it is quieter.
Parts and Labor Warranty for Aircon Unit
The aircon brand that offers the longest number of years in parts and labor warranty is the ideal choice. It means that when the aircon broke down under normal working conditions within the duration of the warranty. The brand will repair or replace the aircon free of charge.
Before buying an aircon, ask the salesperson which among the aircon brands in the Philippines has the longest warranty with respect to parts and labor.
There are also options to lengthen the duration of the warranty. For example, from 2 years it will lengthen to 5 years. This is not free but you can avail of it if you have the budget and you trust the aircon brand and the appliance store.
Service Center Availability
The service center is the place where you will bring your heavy aircon unit for repair. In many instances, the service center technician does a house visit so they will repair the aircon in your house. As you can see in the photo, the Samsung service center technician visits the house to repair the TV. By the way thanks to him for repairing the tv. The technician that specialized in aircon repair will also the same thing.
Make sure that the aircon brand you plan to buy has nearby service centers. The reason is so when your aircon breaks down they can immediately go to your place to repair it.
For example, if you are in Davao and the nearest service center for your aircon brand is in Bohol. It will take the technician forever just to go to your place.
I hope you got my point.
Conclusion
Your aircon unit will usually become part of your home for more than 5 years. It will also become part of your monthly electricity bill hahaha. Sometimes, you need to renovate your house so your aircon fits it properly.
This is why you should really think about the aircon brand, the efficiency, and the type of aircon that you need to buy.
I hope this aircon buying guide will be of help to you.
