Air coolers are a wide category of home consumer appliances, with numerous brands offering various models. This variety often leads to confusion regarding the best brand and model suitable for our homes. This article aims to provide a comprehensive solution to help you make a smart choice when purchasing a cooler.
Within this article, we have provided information about different types of coolers, along with a buying guide outlining key factors to consider during the purchase process. We also highlight the criteria we use when compiling a list of the best coolers available.
Let’s continue reading to become informed buyers for any type of cooler.
What is an Air Cooler?
An air cooler is a household appliance designed to cool indoor spaces (and sometimes outdoors) by drawing in warm air, passing it through water-moistened pads or filters, and then circulating the cooled air back into the room.
Things To Consider Before Buying The Air Cooler
Always look at these major 7 key factors before buying any kind of cooler for your home.
Capacity:
The very first point to consider in a cooler is its capacity. The tank capacity will indicate what type of cooler it is and whether it is suitable for your home. Desert coolers generally range from 55 liters to 125 liters, while window coolers are also available in capacities of up to 80 liters and below. Personal/compact coolers or tower coolers are designed for small rooms, single individuals, or bedrooms. So, the choice is up to you.
The Build Quality:
It is one of the key factors you should look for. First, consider whether you prefer a plastic or metal body, and then opt for the best build material. ABS body is shockproof, strong, and long-lasting. Both plastic and metal bodies can degrade over time, so it’s up to you to decide which type of cooler body you prefer.
Cooling Pad:
Types of coolers offer various types of cooling pads. If the cooling pad is a thick honeycomb, it will be best in terms of water retention. If budget is not an issue, choose cellulose honeycomb cooling pads instead of aspen cooling pads. However, most brands nowadays offer honeycomb cooling pads.
Coverage:
The higher the air throw, the better the speed. Before buying one, always check the air deflection and its air throw per hour or minute in the brand specifications. The quality and size of its wings also matter to provide higher air throw. So, if it can cover your room, hall, living area, or whatever space you want to cover, then pick that air cooler.
Portability:
Coolers come in both with caster wheels and without caster wheels, so choose wisely. The build quality of caster wheels matters a lot, so ensure it is durable. Additionally, check for a lock feature so you can secure it in place and prevent movement after filling the tank.
Motor Power & Energy efficiency:
A standard cooler that can cover most Indian rooms, bedrooms, living rooms, and common areas typically has a 200-watt motor power or below, making it compatible with your inverter. So, choose wisely. Some are better in energy efficiency, like Symphony, which comes with below 200 watts and covers large areas with higher air throw due to its energy-efficient motor. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide how much motor capacity you want.
Extra Features:
Always check for some common features in your cooler that make your use convenient and helpful, such as an auto-fill tank feature, drain outlet, fully collapsible louvers, auto swing, 4-way air deflection for large rooms, mosquito net, wheel lock, cord winder, etc.
What Not to Consider When Buying a Cooler
- Zero-noise coolers or claims of the lowest-noise air cooler are often just a gimmick. Coolers always produce some level of noise. While it may vary in intensity, ranging from slightly higher to somewhat lower, due to the presence of wings, fast air throw, and water drain, noise is inevitable. Therefore, don’t prioritize this factor too heavily.
- The cooler brands often advertise higher coverage, which may differ from practicality. Therefore, always check customer feedback and our testing reviews, where we demonstrate the real coverage after thorough testing.
- “Inverter suitable cooler” is a gimmick that every brand highlights. I assure you that any cooler powered below 200 watts can be operated by an inverter. Personally, I recommend avoiding this, as it will drain your inverter’s battery faster.
How Do Our Experts Pick The Best On Our List?
Being an authorized and professional platform, we test various coolers and then select the best air coolers. We conduct extensive testing on major models for extended periods, analyze online feedback and ratings, and then finalize a list of top air coolers in every price segment and type of air cooler.
Plastic Body Cooler vs Metal Body Cooler
People want to know whether a metal body air cooler or a plastic body air cooler is better. So we’ll see which air cooler body is superior between metal and plastic.
A cooler with a plastic body looks better. They have a small and sleek design. They are also less susceptible to electric shock, do not rust, and are lightweight.
A metal body air cooler is always the best in terms of high air delivery. Their bodies are bulky, heavy, and prone to rust, but they have large blades and a better motor with higher RPM and higher CFM, allowing them to provide a higher air delivery rate.
| Feature | Metal Body Air Cooler | Plastic Body Air Cooler |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Generally more durable | Prone to wear and tear over time |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Rust Resistance | Resistant to rust | Not resistant to rust |
| Aesthetics | May have a more traditional look | Often has a modern appearance |
| Thermal Insulation | Better thermal insulation | Lesser thermal insulation |
| Price | Often more expensive | Generally more affordable |
| Maintenance | Requires less maintenance | Requires regular cleaning and care |
| Noise | Higher Noise | Less Noise |
So, if you’re wondering which air-cooler body is better. As a result, it is dependent on necessity. If you want a cooler that looks better, consider a plastic body air cooler. If looks aren’t important to you, but air delivery is, then go for a metal body.
FAQ – How To Buy The Best Air Cooler?
Q.1. Which air cooler gives the best cooling system?
Answer: Symphony, Bajaj, Hindware, Havells, and Crompton are the top coolers that provide the best cooling system.
Q.2. How do I choose an air cooler capacity?
Answer: A general rule of thumb is to select a cooler with a capacity of approximately 1,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) for every 175 to 200 square feet of space. Calculate the volume of the room (length × width × height) and match it with the CFM rating of the cooler.
Conclusion
This article shows you how to buy the best air cooler in India, regardless of the type. We provided a comparison of metal and plastic body air coolers, and we show how we pick the best coolers and what the main factors are overall when selecting the best air cooler. So, read this fully, and you will become a smart buyer by the end.
If you have any suggestions, experiences, or other input, please share them with us.
