Inverters: Do you need them?

Inverter air conditioners , and other kinds of inverter appliances, have risen in popularity within the last decade. They’ve been hailed as eco-friendly wonders and can even reduce your electricity bills. But are inverter air conditioners better? What the difference between an inverter air conditioner and a non-inverter? Read on to find out.

Compressor

The compressor is a key component in the aircon and refers to the part in the air conditioner that compresses the refrigerant gas into a liquid form. Once in a liquid form, the refrigerant begins to cool, lowering the air temperature in the room.

Compressors in inverter and non-invertor aircons are vastly different. In an inverter unit, the compressor is controllable. When cooling (or even heating) is required, the compressor works harder to increase or decrease the output it creates. With a non-inverter aircon, you basically have two settings–running at max capacity or not at all. There is no in-between or way to control it.

Efficiency

As mentioned earlier, inverter aircons have the ability to reduce your electricity bills because of the way it controls its compressor speed and changes the temperature as necessary. Where non-inverter aircons run at max capacity (even when unnecessary), inverter aircons can reduce the energy they use by 30-50% (as compared to a non-inverter type).

Performance

The inverter aircon’s compressor makes it superior to the non-inverter in terms of performance. It has the ability to adjust to the temperature you’ve set for the room and will internally adjust based on what it's thermostat senses. Non-inverter aircons will only operate based on the setting you key in. Either way, both inverter and non-inverter can handle the job of cooling a room.

Cost

Non-inverter aircons win this round. When it comes to price tags, non-inverter aircons are far cheaper than their inverter counterparts. Installing and cleaning an inverter is also more costly.

While the cost for an inverter may be quite steep, many consider this to be an investment, especially for users who are looking for long-term units. Many argue that the savings from reduced electricity bills give them an ROI from their unit in as quickly as one year.

To sum it up, here are the pros and cons for both the inverter and non-inverter aircon.

PROS

Inverter

• Energy efficient–the compressor is not constantly running at max capacity due to its flexibility to be controlled. This makes it energy-efficient and eco-friendly.
• Quiet–because it uses less power, it creates less noise.
• Investment–Apart from its efficiency and functionality, inverter aircons have been found to be far more durable than non-inverter aircons.

Non-inverter

• Cheaper–non-inverter aircons cost far less than an inverter aircon and are cheaper to install.
• Maintenance–non-inverter aircons can be cleaned by the owner themselves (whereas professionals are typically called in to clean inverter aircons).

CONS

Inverter

• Expensive–because of the advanced technology required to build inverter aircons, they cost more than non-inverter aircons.
• Upkeep–inverter aircons are more expensive to maintain because parts cost more, installation is more expensive, and professionals are required to clean them.

Non-inverter

• Noisy–non-inverter aircons are designed to switch on and off every time it reaches a certain temperature, which can be annoying or distracting for owners.
• Short life span–the constant cycling between on and off of the non-inverter aircon speeds up the wear and tear on the compressor unit, giving it a shorter life span.
• High electricity bills–non-inverter aircons are known to cause high electricity bills because of the start-stop process of its compressor system.

When it comes to aircons, what you end up buying really depends on your budget. Both inverter and non-inverter type aircons are adept at cooling a room and keeping its occupants comfortable, which is the main purpose of an aircon. While energy-efficiency and high performance may be a plus factor, the steep price tag may not be within budget for many. A non-inverter aircon works just as well and when used mindfully, can keep your electricity bills reasonable.

Whichever you end up choosing, make sure you check out the different payment options your store has to offer you. Metrobank has tied up with multiple stores and offers 0% interest for as long as 36 months for your purchases when you use your Metrobank credit or debit card. Apply for a Metrobank card today.