Last year, there was a meteorological consensus that 2024 would be the hottest year for the earth. As tropical countries are experiencing severe heat, Bangladesh is also bearing its brunt. In fact, the country is under a severe heat wave which is expected to continue into next month as well. In this scorching heat, air conditioners are a sigh of relief for many. There are several types of air conditioners each with specific features. Here’s everything you need to know to buy the perfect AC for your home. 

Types of Home Air Conditioners 

When it comes to home air conditioners, the choices may seem a bit confusing. There are several types based on size, function, and cooling options. The most common types of air conditioners for home use are: 

Central Air Conditioner 

Central air conditioning units are usually seen in commercial spaces. This system uses a large unit that is typically installed outside the home. The adjoined duct is used to distribute the cool air to various rooms. 

Central air conditioners are best suited for large homes or for maintaining a unified temperature across the home. It also comes with a high initial setup cost. 

Ductless Mini-Split System 

Ductless mini-split systems are the most common type of air conditioner for homes in Bangladesh. This system has an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor air handling unit. It is ideal for separate cooling in each room.

The initial setup cost and operational cost of this system are much less compared to central air conditioning. 

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Window Air Conditioning 

Window air conditioning is a self-contained unit that is directly installed in the window or the wall of a room. This system is ideal for small rooms or single apartments. 

Portable Air Conditioner 

Portable air conditioners are also self-contained types of air conditioners. The system usually has a moveable duct that exhausts heat through the window. This system is best suited for renters or for cooling specific areas temporarily.

Hybrid Air Conditioners 

These systems combine a traditional air source heat pump with a gas furnace, providing efficient cooling and heating options. The operational costs of hybrid systems are significantly less as they can efficiently switch between gas and electricity. 

Smart HVAC Systems 

Smart HVAC systems use smart thermostats to optimally cool your home. Smart HVAC systems are installed with different types of air conditioning systems to increase their efficiency and reduce the overall cost. 

Read more: Tips to Keep Home Cool in Summer Without AC

What to Consider Before Buying a Residential Air Conditioner?

There are several spatial and technical aspects to consider before buying a home air conditioning unit. Here’s to name a few.

Cooling Capacity 

The cooling capacity determines how fast an air conditioner can cool your home. It is measured in BTU or British Thermal Unit. A system with insufficient BTUs will struggle to cool the area effectively, while one with too many BTUs will cycle on and off frequently, leading to inefficiency and temperature fluctuations.

Inverter vs. Non-inverter 

Inverter AC tends to be more energy efficient thanks to its intelligent cooling capabilities. They are more expensive compared to non-inverter ACs. However, they can save a lot of money in the long run. 

Dehumidification Feature 

For humid and tropical weather like Bangladesh, it is recommended to buy AC with a dehumidification feature. It will help to remove the excess moisture from the air and improve the comfort level. 

Type of System 

Decide on the type of AC system based on your home. For example, a single detached apartment is better off with split systems. On the other hand, a central AC system is better for duplex or triplex-style homes. 

Type of Refrigerant

If you’re cautious about the long-term health effects of your AC, then you should consider the type of refrigerant used in the AC system. Many older models come with R-22 coolant which is being phased out due to environmental concerns. If you want environment-friendly options, it is recommended to go for R-410A refrigerants. 

Besides these, it is important to look at the budget, features and controls, warranty and support, noise level as well as user reviews before buying an AC unit.  

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How to Determine the Size of AC Unit for Your Home?

You may have noticed that ACs come in configuration like 1 ton, 1.5 ton, or 2 tons. Have you ever wondered what this means? The ton is essentially the configuration you should be looking at to determine the correct AC unit for your home. 

It refers to the amount of heat needed to melt one ton of ice over 24 hours. Alternatively, in the context of AC, ton refers to the amount of heat that can be removed from a space in a matter of 1 hour. A 1-ton AC can remove up to 12000 BTU of heat per hour. The following table can be a reference for the correct tonnage depending on floor size.  

Read more: Beat the Heat: How to Stay Cool in Simmering Hot Weather?

Best Home Air Conditioner in Bangladesh at Different Prices

Now let’s look at several home air conditioner options at different price ranges in Bangladesh. 

Under 50K BDT 

Midea 1 Ton Inverter Air Conditioner (MSI12CRN)

Midea 1-ton inverter AC can be a great choice for those looking for reliable AC at a budget price. The split system AC has several specialized features making it a perfect choice for both private and commercial use. Moreover, the external unit has an IP24 weather rating for enhanced durability against the elements. The wide coverage and noise-less operation alleviate the indoor experience as well. 

Key Features 

- Uses R-410A refrigerant 
- Rotary compressor offers optimized cooling 
- Operational temperature ranges between 17 to 30 degrees Celsius
- The thermostat can be easily controlled with the included remote
- The intelligent inverter uses a timer option to automatically turn on or off the AC
- Has a maximum room coverage of 120 sq. ft. 
- Comes with 10 year compressor and 1 year of spare parts and service warranty
- The current price of a Midea 1 Ton Inverter Air Conditioner is 43,500 BDT.

Hisense Official 1 Ton Full DC Inverter AC

Hisense is another reliable brand when it comes to home air conditioners. It has several built-in intelligent features making it a bargain under 50K BDT. For example, the DC inverter AC has a self-diagnosis and auto-protection feature. There’s also self-cleaning, refrigerant leakage detection, and a 2-way draining connection on the AC system. 

Key Features 

- Uses R32 refrigerant 
- Has a copper condenser with a gold fin 
- 3-speed fan control with both horizontal and vertical auto-swing
- Intelligent inverter with auto restart feature 
- Fast cooling technology saves up to 65% of energy consumption 
- Dedicated sleep operation 
- LCD wireless remote controller for thermostat 
- Comes with 10 year compressor and 1 year of spare parts and service warranty
- The current price of the Hisense Official 1 Ton Full DC Inverter AC is 48,900 BDT.

Read more: Air Cooler price in Bangladesh with Buying Tips

Under 1 Lac BDT 

Haier 2 Ton CleanCool Inverter AC

Haier 2-ton CleanCool inverter AC is perfect for those looking for a 2-ton option under 1 Lac BDT. The AC comes with smart features like self-cleaning, smart dry, and inverter plus. The AC uses the moisture in the air to rapidly cool and evaporate any dust particles leaving clean and fresh air every time the AC is turned on. 

Key Features 

- Provides intelligent temperature support using Haier’s internal digital algorithm
- Up to 65% energy saving with inverter plus feature 
- Optimum cooling using Haier’s proprietary i-Feel technology 
- 100% 7mm Grooved Copper condenser 
- Uses R32 refrigerant
- 58 dB outdoor noise level 
- Comes with 10 years of compressor warranty and 1 year service warranty 
- The current price of Haier 2 Ton CleanCool Inverter AC is 84,400 BDT.

Gree Brand Fairy Split Inverter 1.5 Ton AC

If you’re looking for a 1.5-ton split inverter AC, then Gree can be your go-to option. The AC has several intelligent features like a timer, intelligent defrosting, drying operation, and a clock display. There’s also an auto clean, self-diagnosis, and turbo mode to alleviate the overall experience of the AC. 

Key Features 

- Uses R-32 refrigerant 
- Covers up to 180 sq. ft. 
- Rotary-type compressor with 100% copper coil 
- Intelligent i-Feel and comfortable sleeping mode 
- Supports Wi-Fi for external control 
- Multi-fan speed with multi-air flow direction 
- 10 year compressor and 1 year service and spare parts warranty 
- The current price of Gree Brand Fairy Split Inverter 1.5 Ton AC is around 73,000 BDT. 

Read more: Summer Safety Tips for Elderly to Avoid Heat-related Illnesses

Under 1.5 Lac BDT

Panasonic ECONAVI Inverter Deluxe 1.5 Ton Air Conditioner

Panasonic Econavi is a well-known line of home and commercial air conditioning systems. Even though the price is on the higher side, the inverter deluxe 1.5 ton brings Japanese tech and reliability for long-term use. 

This AC has a built-in odor removal function along with Panasonic’s own Nanoe-G bacteria and virus filtration system. 

Key Features 

- Econavi tech with 5 eco sensors for intelligent cooling 
- Quiet mode operations 
- Mild dry cooling to keep the relative humidity high 
- 4-way air swing control 
- Upto 38% energy saving with intelligent control 
- Both soft and dry operation mode 
- Auto restart and timer settings 
- Comes with 3 years of compressor, 1 year of spare parts, and 2 years of service warranty 
- The current price of Panasonic ECONAVI Inverter Deluxe 1.5 Ton Air Conditioner is around 118,500 BDT.

SHARP Brand Split Inverter 1.5 Ton AC

Speaking of ACs under 1.5 Lac BDT, a Sharp split inverter 1.5 ton can be an excellent choice for personal use. The J-tech inverter combines both inverter and eco-technology to provide maximum comfort with minimal energy usage. 

Key Features 

- Temperature increment at 0.5 degrees split 
- 14 m long power jet airflow 
- 65% energy saving 
- AIoT technology 
- Plasma cluster clean air 
- Rotary type compressor 
- R-410A refrigerants 
- 10 year compressor, 2 year spare parts, 2 year service warranty (first year free) 
- The current price of Sharp Split Inverter AC is 111,900 BDT.

Read more: Summer Heatwave: Here’s How to Keep Children Safe 

Under 2 Lac BDT 

General 2.5 Ton AC 

When it comes to reliability and longevity, there are only a few brands that can rival General. General ACs are a common sight in commercial use. However, the brand also makes wall-mount home air conditioners. Their 2.5-ton (ASGA-30FETA) model specifically caters to that need. 

Key Features 

- 6-speed control with an additional power cooling mode 
- Optimized airflow with dual suction design 
- 36% higher fan output 
- R-410A refrigerant 
- Rotary compressor with copper coil 
- 2-year compressor and spare parts and 3 years of service warranty 
- The current price of this AC is 1,79,900 BDT. 

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Final Words 

Home Air conditioners have become a necessity during the glaring summer of Bangladesh. While it's not a replacement for the natural cooling options, an air conditioner provides much-needed relief from the scorching heat of the summer. 

The prices of residential air conditioners today are within the reach of the middle class too. Increased innovation with inverter technology has significantly reduced the usage cost of AC units. It is recommended that you buy an AC system that suits your setup as well as the space to be covered. 

Read more: 10 ways to reduce your AC power consumption and lower electricity bill this summer