What to look for in a Smart AC?
Times are fast progressing and we have seen technology progress in leaps and bounds to provide the consumer with smart and connected devices. Now, controlling devices via voice commands is no longer limited to sci-fi novels, they are a reality. Smart appliances have found their way to most modern homes and smart air conditioners are steadily replacing traditional ACs in our homes, in-line with evolving needs of the customer. Did all of this make you want to upgrade that 1.5 ton 5 star split ac that has been around since forever? Here’s a small buying guide to help you make the right decision when you head out to buy a smart air conditioner.
Take Stock of your Surroundings
First and foremost, look around and identify your cooling space. If you need to cool multiple rooms, then you would need multiple units. A measurement unit that will help you is British Thermal Units (BTUs), which measures the cooling power of the air conditioner. The higher the number of BTUs, the more powerful your smart air conditioner would be. Based on the area of the room to be cooled, you can opt for a 1 ton or a 1.5 ton inverter ac.
Energy Ratings
Energy ratings of appliances are a great way to get an idea of the electricity consumption, which will give you a sense of the electricity bill you should expect. Energy ratings are given by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and are denoted by Star ratings on the appliance.
When choosing your smart air conditioner, make sure you don’t buy any that has a star rating below 3 stars. We would suggest you go for a 1.5 ton 5 star split ac so that you can rest assured you have an energy efficient appliance and you can save well on your electricity bill.
Voice Assistant Support
What is a smart appliance if it doesn’t respond to your voice? Check for whether the smart air conditioner is compatible with popular voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant.
Leading brands like Panasonic, LG, Samsung offer appliances that are compatible with Alexa and google Assistant, by default. Voice assistant support allows you to control your appliance through voice commands and facilitates remote operations.
Mobile App
Most brands offer a mobile app to seamlessly connect with the smart appliance. Panasonic’s MirAIe app and LG’s ThinQ app are some examples of mobile apps that manufacturers provide.
Having a seamless connection through a mobile app ensures remote operation of your smart air conditioner and you can even schedule service requests and check on ewarranty claims using the app, with just a touch.
These are just some of the features that one should look out for when making a purchase for a smart AC. Apart from the features, brand name is equally important. Make sure you only opt for trusted brands with an established legacy, like Panasonic, Daikin, Hitachi etc. so that you can rest assured that you will be receiving the best value for your money. Happy shopping!
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