Pre-shop checklist
Air Conditioner
Numbers to demand
- □Inverter vs fixed-speed compressor: If you run the AC under ~600 hours a year, a good fixed-speed 3-star can be the cheaper lifetime choice.
- □ISEER / star rating: Compare the ISEER figure itself, not just stars — rating thresholds get revised and old stock looks better than it is.
- □Split vs window vs portable: Split needs outdoor wall space within ~5 m of the indoor unit, otherwise copper piping costs jump.
- □Tonnage (1 ton, 1.5 ton…): Roughly 1 ton per 100–120 sq ft, add capacity for top floors, west sun, or 3+ people in the room.
- □Copper vs aluminium coil: Vague words like 'alloy' or 'copper-coated' usually mean not copper. Ask for the spec sheet line.
Ask them, word for word
“What is the ISEER of this exact model number, and what is the cooling capacity in watts?”
A number, not a star rating. ISEER 5.0+ and ~5000 W for a 1.5 ton unit. If they only say “5 star”, ask for the BEE label.
“Is this a true inverter compressor, and what is the indoor noise at high fan speed?”
“Yes, inverter” plus a dB figure at high speed — not the sleep-mode number printed on the brochure.
“My room is top-floor and faces west. Should I go one size up?”
A good salesperson asks for square feet and floor before answering. If they answer without asking, ignore the answer.
Don't fall for
- '1.5 ton is safer' — an oversized AC in a small bedroom leaves the air damp and cycles noisily.
- Free installation that excludes piping beyond 3 metres, the single most common surprise bill.
- Star ratings compared across different years or across window vs split — they are not the same scale.