10 Best Inverter Air Conditioners in the Philippines 2024 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Mechanical Engineer

There are different types of air conditioning units available in the market today. You can narrow down your choice by looking at the most popular ones below.

The most important thing to consider in making this purchase is the size of the room it is supposed to cool. Knowing the appropriate cooling power needed for a specific room will keep your electricity consumption lower and your power bill reasonable. For a 20 sqm room, at least 1.5 HP is preferred.

To ensure the energy efficiency of your air conditioner, check the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of your unit. The allowed minimum EER for air conditioners is 9.1. The relationship between the EER and electricity consumption is indirectly proportional: the higher the EER, the lower your electricity bill is! Another plus? A higher EER means it's a more environment-friendly unit!

Who wants extra noise in your room anyway? Limit the unnecessary noise by choosing an aircon that operates quietly. The best way to confirm this is by checking the unit's noise level or sound level that is usually indicated on its specifications. You might also want to refer to this guide to gauge how quiet a particular decibel is. 

• Whisper: 30dB 
• Library: 40dB
• Moderate rain: 50dB
• Normal conversation: 60dB 

Most inverter air conditioners operate on 30-60dB, but choosing the lowest noise level possible would be best, so you can place it in different areas in your home, like your bedroom and workspace without worrying about being interrupted during your work or rest.

Purchasing an air conditioner promises comfort, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the environment. Understanding the different types of refrigerants in your air conditioner can help you decide the best environmentally-friendly unit to purchase. These are the most common types of refrigerants:

1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), including R12 refrigerant - this type is known to contribute to the greenhouse gas effect, so it was discontinued in 1994.
2. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), including R22 - these are slightly less damaging to the ozone than R12 but are still hazardous given their volume of users, so they were completely discontinued by 2020.
3. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), including R410A and R134 - HFCs are generally safer for the environment. The units that run on these refrigerants are more efficient in cost and energy, reliable, and able to produce better air quality.

Even though the CFCs and HCFCs are already phased out, you may still stumble upon them when buying older units. Hence, it is best to double-check and be conscious about the units that we are purchasing. This way, we can be assured of our health, and we could be at peace knowing that it's not harming the environment.

An aircon is considered both a luxury and a necessity in the Philippines, so when we purchase one, we try to look for the unit that can give us a bang for our buck. If you want to do this, it is a good idea to look for one with additional features that can offer you convenience in the long run.

Here are a few features to look out for when choosing an air conditioner: 

1. Automatic Temperature Control - this feature automatically changes the aircon's temperature based on the room's heat. This prevents rooms from being too cold or too hot!  
2. Timer - This function turns your unit off at a specific time. Setting a timer in your aircon before you sleep can also help reduce the electricity consumption of your unit!
3. Air Filter - different aircon units have different filter features. Some eliminate odor, while others prevent mildew from entering your house! 
4. App-Connected - some aircon units can be connected through an app on your device. This would enable you to check the status and the number of hours it has been running. It can also let you control your unit using your device!