Tower AC Buying Guide 2023 [In Detail]

If you’re in the market for a new tower air conditioner, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, consider the size of the unit. Make sure to choose an AC that is properly sized for the space you want to cool. Otherwise, you’ll end up wasting energy and not getting the desired results. Another important factor is the type of compressor. There are two main types of compressors, rotary and scroll.

Rotary compressors are more common but tend to be noisy, while scroll compressors are quieter but more expensive. You’ll also want to decide between a single-hose and dual-hose system. Single-hose systems are less expensive but can be less effective, while dual-hose systems are more expensive but provide better cooling power. Finally, make sure to choose a unit with features that suit your needs. For example, if you have allergies, look for an AC with an allergy filter. With so many factors to consider, it can be helpful to read this tower AC buying guide before making your final decision.

Things to Consider Before Buying Tower AC

Tower air conditioners are a type of personal air conditioner that is tall and narrow, making them ideal for small spaces. Unlike window air conditioners, tower air conditioners do not require any installation, making them a great option for those who want to stay cool without permanently altering their home. When choosing a tower air conditioner, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Cooling power: BTU/h

The cooling power of an air conditioner is expressed in BTU/h (British Thermal Unit/hour). The higher this value, the greater the air conditioner’s power.

To have a purely indicative reference value to calculate how much power you need to refrigerate a room satisfactorily, you will have to multiply the value of BTU per square meter. We emphasize that this calculation is only indicative because other factors affect the air conditioner’s operation. We point them out for completeness:

• The size of the windows and their exposure.
• The degree of thermal insulation of the walls and their exposure.
• The number of people present in the room.
• The type of lights used for lighting the room.
• Any heat sources in operation, such as a computer, oven, or iron.

Without further calculations, we would like to point out that for rooms facing south, you will have to increase the calculation coefficient by about 20% and by 15% for rooms facing east or west.

However, below is a table that summarizes the suitable BTU level based on the size of the room/apartment to be refreshed.

There is also a relationship between BTU/h and wattage of the air conditioner: 1 W = 3.4 BTU/h. Therefore, in light of what we saw above, this is the ratio between the square footage of the room and the required wattage.

However, for the sake of clarity, the above calculations are approximate: first of all, it is necessary to take into account the volume of the rooms to be refreshed and not only the size of their floors; in addition, as mentioned above, there are many other data and characteristics that affect the required refrigeration power.

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2. Air flow

This value, expressed in cubic meters per hour, is essential because the more significant the air flow rate, the faster the air will be refrigerated. Consequently, the greater the quantity of treated air, the better the quality of the air conditioner. In the technical datasheet, you can also find the value relating to the air flow per level of delivery speed. The quantity of treated air will decrease by decreasing the ventilation speed.

A good air conditioner can have an air flow rate of about 250/310/350 m 3 / h. For example, a 4 x 5 x 3 m high room has a volume of 60 cubic meters, so at maximum speed, the air will be treated 5.8 times in an hour.

3. Power Consumption

To understand how much the use of the best tower AC in India will affect your electricity bill, you need to evaluate its energy consumption. To do this, it is crucial to know how to read the energy label, which is required by law for household appliances of this type.

The label shows the most critical information: the name of the model and the manufacturer are indicated at the top, the energy efficiency class in the center, and finally, the technical data on consumption, i.e., kW, the EER value, at the bottom, which indicates the nominal energy efficiency in cooling mode, the noise emitted by the device and the consumption in kWh.

The energy class is indicated with a letter of the alphabet, where A +++ is the highest and D the last: the better the energy class, the lower the consumption, with consequent savings in the bill.

4. Technology (Inverter & Non Inverter)

Another factor also affects energy consumption is the technology of the tower air conditioner, which can be of the on / off or inverter type; let’s see how they differ.

• Tower air conditioners with on / off technology: air conditioners of this type switch off when they reach the set temperature and then restart when the room heats up again.

• Tower air conditioners with inverter technology: the inverter technology, on the other hand, allows the device to remain in operation even once the temperature has been reached, reducing the power to a minimum to guarantee a constant temperature.

The tower inverter air conditioners allow more significant savings on consumption since once the temperature is reached, they reduce the power, thus consuming less energy. On/off type models, on the other hand, always operate at maximum capacity, switching on and off frequently.

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5. Functions/Features

The tower air conditioner models vary in terms of the functions offered and the adjustment of the functions themselves. Usually, tower air conditioners allow the activation of multiple functions.

They are not all essential, and their importance is commensurate with the use you intend to make of the air conditioner. However, we still indicate this aspect as the third factor to consider when choosing the tower air conditioner because the presence of functions can make it more versatile and, therefore, suitable to satisfy a broader range of needs.

The main functions that can be found on a tower air conditioner are the following:

• Timer: This allows you to set the temperature and operating time of the air conditioner and considerably facilitates temperature management throughout the day. In more advanced models, it can be adjusted with remote control;

• Sleep: Adjusts operation during the night, allowing the air conditioner to be remarkably silent.
  
• Smart: Detects the temperature and automatically adjusts the required cooling power.
  
• Ventilation: An additional function that allows the air conditioning to circulate more quickly in the room.
  
• Dehumidification: The accessory function that regulates the humidity of the air. The reference value for the dehumidification capacity is expressed in l / h. Good dehumidification can even exceed about 30 liters per day. Of course, if your need is mainly to dehumidify the air, a tower air conditioner will not be enough, and we suggest you consider purchasing a dehumidifier instead.
  
• Self-diagnosis function: In the best models, this function detects any excessive ice production and performs an automatic defrost. Another self-diagnosis function can indicate when it is time to replace the limescale filter in the water models. These self-diagnosis functions are essential because they guarantee better maintenance and duration of the air conditioner.

As we have already anticipated, in addition to the various functions available on the air conditioner, it is also interesting to observe how they are regulated. In the most modern models, they can be customized on a value scale of at least three levels. This adjustment can be made either manually – using knobs on the machine body of the air conditioner or through a digital panel equipped with LED light signals – or by remote control.

6. Environmental Impact

However, attention to the environmental impact deriving from using a tower air conditioner is not limited to considerations related to the use of electricity. Tower air conditioners work thanks to a thermodynamic cycle activated by a heat transfer fluid, a refrigerant gas, whose use and disposal can pollute the environment.

The environmental impact of refrigerant gases is expressed by two parameters: the Global Warming Potential (GWP, global warming potential) and the Ozone Depletion Potential(ODP, ozone depletion potential). The EU has established that refrigerant gases whose GWP exceeds 750 must be abandoned by 2025, so we suggest you keep this directive in mind when purchasing a new tower air conditioner.

Many models still use R410a gas, whose GWP equals 2088, while the more environmentally and regulatory conscious brands adopt a natural gas, propane R290, whose GWP is only 3. It must be said that in both cases, the ODP is 0.

7. Noise

When choosing the ideal air conditioner, the last element to keep in mind is the noise level. Considering that the air conditioner can also be used while you sleep or in the living room while watching a movie, the device must guarantee the least possible disturbance.

It is possible that on the product sheet, you will find the noise level indicated by the level of cold air delivery speed since, as it is easy to guess, an air conditioner will be louder when it works at high speed and quieter when the power level delivered is decreased.

Among the various models of air conditioners, you will therefore have to pay attention to the data relating to the decibels (dB) that you can find on the product sheet and, obligatorily, on the energy label. The lower this parameter is, the quieter the air conditioner will be. To give you some reference, we would like to point out that human breathing has a noise level of about 20 dB and that a normal conversation between two people takes place at 60 dB. Therefore, this value is essential to keep in mind, especially considering that an average tower air conditioner has a noise level of around 60 dB. Still, some extremely quiet models even reach 20 dB in night mode.

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8. Other Features

Condensate drain

Condensation is nothing more than the water deriving from the humidity present in the air that tower air conditioners eliminate in dehumidification mode. Some models are equipped with an internal tank used to collect the water, which must be emptied regularly: once full, a float blocks the appliance’s operation to prevent flooding. In other cases, however, the condensate is evaporated internally and used to cool the internal circuits or eliminated through the drain pipe.

Wheels, handle, and remote control holder

The weight of a tower air conditioner can reach up to 40 kg. Therefore the structure of the tower air conditioner must rest on comfortable and reliable pivoting wheels.

In the best cases, the wheels are built with particular attention to the seals to ensure maximum convenience of transport from one room to another and a good resistance and perhaps equipped with a block to ensure immobility and maximum stability once the air conditioner has been placed where you want it. Tower air conditioner should then come with a handle, i.e., a recess located on the short side of the tower air conditioner.

Tower air conditioners equipped with remote control often have a special compartment on the body structure for storing the remote control: you can see an example in the photo opposite. The remote control holder can be an extra element of convenience, but we do not believe it is a fundamental structural element.

Conclusion

The tower air conditioner is a valid alternative to the classic wall-mounted air conditioners, especially if you have limited space in your home or simply do not like the idea of seeing an air conditioner on your wall.

The main advantage of this type of device is undoubtedly the small footprint that allows you to place it even in very small environments. In addition, the internal structure ensures a high level of performance and efficiency in terms of dehumidification, cooling, and heating functions.

Other important features to consider are noise levels, condensate drain systems, wheels or handles for easy transport and remote control storage options. Ultimately, the tower air conditioner is a versatile device that can be an ideal solution for a variety of different home cooling needs.

In this article, we have examined and detailed a number of important elements to be taken into consideration when choosing a new tower air conditioner. In conclusion, we would like to point out that it is advisable to rely on the advice of technicians and professionals to help you select the best model suited to your needs. They will tell you what it is essential to look for when choosing and guide you towards the most suitable product for you.