Which home/office AC (air conditioner) to buy ?

[rrnsss]

I have a need for 4 a/c s. Two 2 Tonne a/cs and two 1.5 tonne a/cs.

My least important things are

(1) Looks/status value
(2) Colours/highly complicated options and functions
(3) Energy effeciency

Most Important things

(1) Reliability/Longitivity
(2) Servicability / availabilty of spares
(3) Uncomplicated operation/Not too many functions and modes




based on this I researched and came across 3 options Hitachi, samsung and TCL

all of them have 5 yrs warranty. TCL is dead cheap and hitachi is the costliest.


Does any one have experience with these products? Does HITACHI offer any true quality increase for the additional 13K they charge?

[madan80]

my experience: hitachi is the best. The compressers are imported from Japan (IIRC). And they have some pretty powerful cooling.

Samsung is a fast moving one.

[ashthedivx]

Best is Hitachi, if cost effects the decision then certainly Samsung.

[rrnsss]

I dont mind paying extra, but is there any real value addition interms of logitivity and reliability of the product? I do not want to pay for brand image . Are hitachi components of a better quality than Samsung and TCL

[esteem_lover]

do not buy onida, videocon, kenstar, voltas etc. they all import unbranded chinese units & badge them, yes it is true. their quality is unspeakable. you are better off with Ogeneral/daikin/carrier/hitachi. samsung is a better option in a lower budget.

[kutlee]

Originally Posted by rrnsss

. Are hitachi components of a better quality than Samsung and TCL

Answer yes. I have Voltas, LG and Hitachi. Hitachi is just brilliant. Efficient compressor. so less power consumption. Buy it before they start fitting Indian compressors.

[spindoc]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

do not buy onida, videocon, kenstar, voltas etc. they all import unbranded chinese units & badge them, yes it is true. their quality is unspeakable. you are better off with Ogeneral/daikin/carrier/hitachi. samsung is a better option in a lower budget.

That is not true, at least for Voltas. In fact, Voltas manufactures and exports air conditioners under JVs for companies from other markets such as Fedders from the US and even Haier from China. Not to mention the huge turnkey HVAC projects they have executed for reputed clients globally.

And, they have been early adopters of Energy Efficiency Ratings.

[esteem_lover]

I had the same impression as you until about 2 months ago when we bought 35 splits for our office & all had the manufacturer's name & address located in India. In some of the units, the voltas stickers were put on top of it without fully concealing it. In most of the units, there was no attempt made to mask that

[vnabhi]

I've been owning a Voltas 1.5 split for the past 2 years, and it rocks. It cost me 25 K including installation.
I also have a LG 1.5 window AC for the past 6 years. Within 2 years, the knobs got loose, and the AC makes more sound than expected. I used to own a Sriram 0.75 T AC long back, and it was real silent.
Compared to Korean companies,I think Voltas and Blue Star would be good buys, because their product range is either limited to or focussed on ACs, instead of TVs, washing m/cs, etc.

[hondadude]

My cousin is in the Hotel business and according to him the following three are a cut above the rest

1. O General
2. Daikin
3. Hitachi

Among the low end ones, Samsung is supposedly the best and LG isn't bad.

I have 2 LG A/cs at home for last couple of years and both are fine.

[bigman]

Whatever you do pay the extra and go for the split option.

I hate the noise from the Whirlpool unit we have installed in India. I guess should have paid the extra RS 6,000 and gone for a split unit.

The AC still works fine although the display no longer works and the remote is temperamental. Not fantastic going for a 3 year old unit which has been used for about 40 days in total since it was bought.

[bblost]

Will the price of air conditioners go down after April.

I am buying and I dont know if I should buy in March or in April.

[shuvc]

How is Hitachi after sales service?
I have been quoted around 28K for the 1T split. Is this price ok?

[adc]

Originally Posted by shuvc

How is Hitachi after sales service?
I have been quoted around 28K for the 1T split. Is this price ok?

I have the hitachi quadricool 1.5T - this being the 3rd summer. The AC is terrific, cools fast and the bills are lower than my neighbor's Samsung.

However the after sales was useless, as the last what I knew they have one functioning sales service centre for the whole of Kolkata near Hazra. I called them up last year for a service but then there was the similar office talk like "dekchi, apnake phone korbo" They did not call and I did not follow through. Will call them again for a service before the AC goes on full blast.

[mobike008]

Originally Posted by bblost

Will the price of air conditioners go down after April.

I am buying and I dont know if I should buy in March or in April.

Imran, following are details from a different network ( hyd folks) and latest pricing of AC's

Installation Charges (for standard installation):
Split: Rs. 1000
Window: Rs. 500
Stabilizer : Rs. 1700 (I think this can be bought from a hardware/electrical shop)

1.5 TON Window AC
LG
MRP: Rs. 18,490
Offer price: Rs. 15,900

Samsung
MRP: Rs. 17,790
Offer price: Rs. 15,400

1.5 TON Split AC
LG
MRP: Rs. 24,490
Offer Price: Rs. 22,100


1 TON Window AC
LG
MRP: 15,390
Offer price: Rs. 14,150

1 TON Split AC
LG
MRP: Rs. 20,490
Offer price: 19,150

From what I have heard, the prices will actually go up from April 1st. There is a 2% excise duty cut from next FY, but the AC companies are planning to increase the rates by 3-4% from current rates, so overall the rates will be on the higher side.But I guess the increase, if any, would be around Rs. 300-400.