4 Things to Consider when Buying an Aircon
Aircons are often heavily used in Singapore to combat the year-round heat, which is why, apart from regular aircon servicing in Singapore, it’s also important to select the right aircon unit for your home. Doing so could help ensure that your aircon wouldn’t turn out to be incompatible with your home, and that it would operate optimally for the years to come. With that in mind, here are some essential things to consider when buying an aircon.
Window Unit vs Central Unit
There are two main types of aircons in the market — window units and central units. The former is designed to cool individual rooms, while the latter is designed to cool the entire home. Before deciding on either type, it’s important to know the difference between the two. A window aircon is a standalone unit that doesn’t contain other parts; instead, it already has a condenser, evaporator, thermostat, and a built-in fan. As the namesake suggests, it can be fitted into a window frame (or more commonly, on walls) and is effective in cooling single rooms. Given the simplicity of window units, aircon maintenance in Singapore should also be easier to do.
On the other hand, central aircon units require many more parts; for instance, a separate condenser sits outside the building and uses a set of pipes to run coolant into the air handler. These units also require a duct system within the building in order to distribute cool air to each room. Central aircon units are more commonly found in commercial buildings where there is more room to set up said duct systems that these units require. If your home does too, then you’ll naturally have more options.
Cooling Capacity
This may or may not be obscure knowledge, but it’s important to first measure the cooling capacity of your room (measured in BTU), before buying an aircon. Without it, it’s easy to get a unit that is either too strong or too weak for your room, and each has its own unwanted consequence. For instance, if you buy an aircon unit with a low BTU, it will tend to run continuously in order to cool the large space it is placed in — this will cause your energy bills to shoot off the charts. Additionally, a unit that is constantly overexerting itself may result in more frequent aircon repair in Singapore. Conversely, having a unit with too high a BTU will cause it to shut off before the space is fully cooled and dehumidified. This can result in inconsistent temperatures throughout your room.
Energy Efficiency
As mentioned earlier, aircons are often used for long periods of time in Singapore, so you’ll want to find a unit that is energy efficient so you can enjoy cool air without feeling the enormous pinch in your wallet. Fortunately, energy-efficient aircon units can easily be identified by the Energy Star certification, which means that these units use 10% less energy than regular units. On top of that, you’ll also want to familiarise yourself with the Energy Efficiency Ration (EER) measurement. This indicates how many BTUs are used per watt of power; basically, the higher the EER, the more efficient the aircon unit.
Learn more: 4 Ways To Reduce Your Aircon Energy Consumption
Maintenance Requirements
Regardless of the aircon unit you’re planning to buy, it definitely needs regular aircon maintenance in Singapore every once in a while to stay in good condition. Over time, aircon units accumulate dust, dirt, and various kinds of debris, which can clog filters and cause the unit to exert more energy to keep your room cool. This not only raises your energy bills, but can also cause problems within the unit itself. While you can probably perform your own surface cleaning, there’s nothing as thorough as having professional aircon servicing in Singapore done to your unit (we recommend doing it once a year).
For all your aircon maintenance and servicing needs, find the right solutions here at GoodCool. With years of experience in the industry, your aircons will be in skilled and safe hands. Check out our website for more information about our various services.