Selecting and installating an A/C at home

Installing an A/C
This is a very important issue in the minds of consumers, especially in the hot summer months. A/C is no longer the luxury item that it once was- It is very much affordable with the rising standard of living and also with the rising belief that summers are hotter every year compared to all previous years (we could potentially blame this on global warming :)). Given this, more and more people are opting to install the A/C in their homes. This process however, is not very clear and straightforward and in turn causes a lot of heartburn for those who expect it to be very smooth. The following attempts to explain one potential way in which consumers can go about this issue.

The first step is to identify the type of A/C to go for. Nowawadays most people go for split A/C where the machine (along with the compressor) sits outside the home (usually on the sunshade on top of the window) and there is a fan or vent that is installed inside the room. This fan/vent houses all the controls and is connected to the machine through pipes. It is better to go for copper pipes (as opposed to Aluminum or other types of pipes) since the copper pipes last longer, especially when exposed to the humid and salty chennai air. The other type of A/C is the window A/C which is slowly losing its place in the sun primarily because of security concerns (need to cut the window grills to install it) and also due to the cumbersome installation process. Split A/C on the other hand is reasonably simple to install for trained technicians and the fact that prices have dropped significantly make it a good alternative to window A/Cs.

The second step is to decide on the tonnage (power of the A/C) based on the dimensions of the room. For most bedrooms (~150 sq ft or so) 1-1.5 tons would work. If it is a fairly large room, then 2 tons might be needed. Expert advice on the tonnage can be obtained from the dealer also when buying the A/C.

The third step is to decide on the shop to purchase the A/C. It is better to go for multi-branded outlets (e.g. Viveks, Rathna Fan House or other local outlets) where one can compare multiple A/Cs and their features and then make up his/her mind. It is recommeded that consumers visit a couple of shops and ask for price quotes (for the same model) before purchasing. Prices can vary by as much as Rs. 1000 between shops for the same model. In addition, some shops may throw in freebies such as free installations, free gifts etc when purchasing. Some things to be kept in mind while selecting the A/C
- Star rating of the A/C - the dealer will always push for the consumer to buy a higher star rating A/C, claiming that it saves energy. For normal usage (3-4 hrs a day), this may not be a big saving if one carefully looks at the power rating of the A/Cs
- Remote and a digital display are very important in an A/C. Remote - for obvious reasons and Digital display to show the temperature and the start/stop timer setting etc.
- Once the A/C is selected and paid for, the installation comes into play. Most of the A/C brands offer installation services and it is generally a good idea to go with the company installation - typically it costs about Rs. 1000 for installation. This includes installing both the machine and the fan/vent and connecting them. The following need to be kept in mind for installation:
- If there is no sunshade to seat the A/C, then clamps need to be installed on the outside wall to house the machine. This will be extra and may cost anywhere between Rs. 500-Rs. 700. The consumer should check with the A/C shop while signing up because sometimes the technician will arrive without the clamps and it will be an irritant if they are needed.
- Along with the A/C purchase, a pre-specified length of the pipe (~5m) and a stabilizer is included. If the machine is to be installed quite some distance away from the room, then more piping may be required and the customer will be charged extra. In most of the cases, this will not be necessary, though.
- If the consumer arranges for installing the A/C through a private mechanic, then the A/C vendor will typically caution that the consumer will not receive the free services from the A/C company (It is not clear if this is actually the case, but it is better to be safe here than deal with service problems later)
- It is better to check if the power line for connecting the A/C is available within the bedroom, close to where the A/C needs to be installed. This is usually not in the scope of the A/C install technician and it may cause problems if it is not available. It is better for the consumer to check with an electrician regarding the power supply for the A/C before going in for the purchase.

The final step in the process is to ensure that the installation of the A/C is complete and the A/C is working properly :)

Have a happy and cool summer :)