Which air conditioner should I buy?

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, choosing a good air conditioner is the ideal solution for keeping a room (or even a whole house) cool. There are several parameters to consider when choosing the right air conditioner, mainly its BTU power, energy class, and whether to choose an inverter or conventional (on/off) model.

How many BTUs should I get?
The BTUs of each air conditioner refer to its power, i.e., the amount of energy that the unit either absorbs in cooling mode or “gives off” in heating mode. Choosing the right BTU is very important when making your purchase, as a low-power air conditioner in a large space will be insufficient and will “burn” a lot, while a high-power unit in a small space will again be inefficient as it will not be able to effectively dehumidify the room.

“A rough estimate to calculate how many BTUs we need is 250 per cubic meter of room, or about 750 BTUs per square meter,” says Christos Giannakandropoulos, Energy Inspector. So, for example, if you have a space of 13-18 square meters, then a 9000 BTU air conditioner is ideal, while if the space is 25-40 square meters, then 14000 BTU is the ideal choice.

Tip: Before purchasing an air conditioner and to ensure that it will perform perfectly, it would be a good idea to check the sun protection of the openings in your home and see if you need awnings or some form of shade on the windows. Also, pay close attention to where you will place it. The indoor unit should be in a place where it does not “hit” you, while the outdoor unit should be placed in a location where it is easy to maintain and well ventilated. It is a good idea to leave a space behind it so that air can pass through and it is protected from plants that will block its components and cause it to malfunction.

Inverter or normal?
It is a fact that conventional air conditioners are much more economical than inverters much more economical option compared to the inverter, but the latest are much more economical in terms of their operation . Moreover the most well-known brands have abolished their conventional devices and are now throwing all their production to inverters.

Inverters operate according to the conditions prevailing in the space. When you turn them on, they operate at maximum capacity so that the space reaches the conditions you have set. Once these conditions are reached, they continue to operate but at a significantly reduced rate in order to maintain them. Conventional air conditioners, on the other hand, either operate at a constant rate or cease to operate, depending on the temperature in the space. In any case, inverters consume less energy than their conventional counterparts and, despite their higher cost, they quickly pay for themselves.

What energy class?
As Mr. Giannakandropoulos states, anything above energy class Beta is good. Energy class A air conditioners are quite expensive, and you can choose them if you think you will be using your new air conditioner continuously. The more you use your air conditioner, the more efficient and economical it is to choose a higher class.

Tip: Regardless of energy class, it is very important that the inverter air conditioner does not operate in the room when the outside temperature is too high, as it will not perform at the desired level. Inverter air conditioners perform ideally at an average outdoor temperature of 27-30 degrees Celsius.

How much will it cost me?
A conventional 9000BTU air conditioner will cost you, indicatively, around €200 without installation costs, while an inverter of equivalent power will cost around €400.