Inverter vs Non-Inverter AC: Which One Should You Buy?

An inverter AC changes the speed of its compressor as per the cooling the room needs, while a non-inverter AC runs its compressor at one full speed and switches it on and off. That is why an inverter AC use less electricity, keep the room temperature steady and make less noise. If you run the AC for long hours every day in Kolkata, then inverter AC is the better buy for you.

TL;DR

• As per CLASP, inverter ACs typically use about 20 percent less energy than fixed speed ACs, as they run at part load instead of switching on and off.
• On our website today, the White Westinghouse 1.5 ton 4 star inverter AC costs Rs 58,000 and the 1.5 ton 3 star AC costs Rs 56,000, a gap of only Rs 2,000.
• A non-inverter AC still makes sense when you use the AC for only one or two hours a day, or when your budget is very tight.

What Is the Difference Between an Inverter and a Non-Inverter AC?

The main difference is in the compressor, which is the heart of an AC. In a non-inverter AC, which is also called a fixed speed AC, the compressor has only two states. It is either running at full speed or it is fully off. When the room reaches the set temperature, the compressor stops. Then when the room becomes warm again, it starts again at full power. This on and off cycle goes on for the whole night.

In an inverter AC, the compressor do not stop again and again. It runs fast at the start for cooling the room quickly, and when the room is cool, it slows down and keeps running at a low speed. It just gives the room as much cooling as it needs at that moment. That is why the room temperature stays more steady, and you do not feel that hot and cold change which happens with a fixed speed AC.

You can see this on our White Westinghouse 1.5 ton 4 star inverter AC also. As per the product page, its power input is 1470 watts at full capacity but only 590 watts at half capacity. So, once your bedroom is cool, the AC works at a much lower power for most of the night.

How Much Electricity Does an Inverter AC Save?

As per CLASP, an organisation who works with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency on AC standards, inverter ACs typically use about 20 percent less energy than fixed speed ACs. In some conditions it can be even up to 51 percent more efficient, says the same CLASP paper. But how much you will save in your home, that depend on the running hours, room size, set temperature and how well the doors and windows of the room is closed.

Now let us take one example from a Kolkata home.

• AC use in summer with fixed speed AC: 200 units a month
• Saving with inverter AC at 20 percent: 40 units a month
• CESC gross average tariff as per a PTI report: Rs 7.73 per unit
• Saving every month: about Rs 309
• AC months in a year in many Kolkata homes: around 8 (March to October)
• Saving in one year: around Rs 2,470

More hours means more saving. Like the bedroom AC which runs whole night, or the AC of a home office which runs whole day. But if your AC runs only for one or two hours in a day. Then the saving is very less, as the compressor hardly get any time for running in low speed.

Inverter vs Non-Inverter AC: Side by Side

• Compressor: Inverter AC: Changes speed as per need; Non-Inverter AC: One speed, switches on and off
• Electricity use: Inverter AC: Around 20% less (CLASP); Non-Inverter AC: Higher for long daily use
• Temperature: Inverter AC: Steady; Non-Inverter AC: Goes up and down
• Noise: Inverter AC: Lower, fewer start stops; Non-Inverter AC: More noise at every start
• Price: Inverter AC: A little higher; Non-Inverter AC: A little lower
• Best for: Inverter AC: 6 or more hours a day; Non-Inverter AC: 1 to 2 hours a day

What Is the Price Difference at Kridovia?

Many people still think inverter AC is very costly. But the gap is not so big now. Here is the prices of White Westinghouse ACs on our website today:

• 1.5 ton 4 star inverter AC: Rs 58,000 (MRP Rs 59,990), EER 4.10 W/W
• 1.5 ton 3 star AC: Rs 56,000 (MRP Rs 56,990), EER 3.61 W/W
• 1 ton 3 star AC: Rs 40,500 (MRP Rs 42,990)
• 2 ton 3 star AC: Rs 71,000 (MRP Rs 72,990)

Means, for a 1.5 ton AC the inverter model cost you just Rs 2,000 extra. And if we take the Kolkata example from above. Then this money comes back from the CESC bill before the first summer ends. The 4 star model is also having higher EER of 4.10 against 3.61, so it gives more cooling from each watt.

When Does a Non-Inverter AC Still Make Sense?

Honestly speaking, a non-inverter AC is still fine in some places. Like a guest room that open only when relatives come from outside, or a small shop where the AC run only one or two hours in the day. If the budget is very tight, and you switch on the AC only in the hottest weeks of May and June, then also it can work. But bedroom is different. In Kolkata the bedroom AC runs nearly every night from April to October, as the nights also stays hot and sticky. So there, the inverter AC is the right choice.

Do Inverter ACs Need a Stabilizer?

Many of our customers ask us this question. Most inverter ACs can handle a wider voltage range than the old fixed speed ACs. That is why many homes run them without stabilizer. But the safe range is not same for all models, it is given in the user manual. So read it once. If the voltage in your para drops or goes high very often, then buy a stabilizer, as it protect the PCB and the compressor from damage. And if you are not sure, just call us.

What Does the BEE Star Rating Tell You?

In India the star rating on an AC is given by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, or BEE. As per the Ministry of Power, star labelling became mandatory for inverter ACs from January 2018. From then, fixed speed and inverter ACs are rated in one same scheme, so you can compare the stars of the two directly. More stars means less electricity. The rating uses ISEER, that checks how the AC performs when the outside temperature is anywhere from 24 to 43 degrees C, based on Indian weather data.

The Ministry of Power also says inverter AC share in Indian market went from 1 percent to 77 percent between 2015-16 and 2022-23. And as per the BEE notification, from January 2020 all star rated ACs sold in India comes with default temperature of 24 degrees C. Keep your AC at 24 degrees or bit higher, and you save more power in both type of AC.

[EXPERT QUOTE FROM RIKESH JAISWAL, FOUNDER, KRIDOVIA – TO BE ADDED]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an inverter AC better than a non-inverter AC?

Yes, for daily use of many hours, an inverter AC is better, as it uses about 20 percent less energy as per CLASP, keeps the temperature steady and makes less noise.

How much electricity does an inverter AC save?

As per CLASP, inverter ACs typically use about 20 percent less energy than fixed speed ACs. For a home using 200 units a month on the AC in Kolkata, that is about 40 units, or around Rs 309 a month at CESC's average tariff of Rs 7.73 per unit.

Is an inverter AC costly?

Not much now. On the Kridovia website, the White Westinghouse 1.5 ton 4 star inverter AC costs Rs 58,000, only Rs 2,000 more than the 1.5 ton 3 star AC at Rs 56,000.

Does an inverter AC need a stabilizer?

Many inverter ACs work in a wide voltage range, but it differs by model. Check the voltage range in the user manual, and use a stabilizer if your area gets frequent voltage drops or high voltage.

Which inverter AC is best for a bedroom in Kolkata?

As a general rule, a 1.5 ton inverter AC suits a bedroom of around 120 to 180 square feet. Pick 4 or 5 star rating, as a bedroom AC runs for long hours at night, and more stars saves more power there.

Planning to buy an inverter AC for your home? Then, call or WhatsApp us at +91 8981224400. Just tell us your room size and how many hours you use the AC, and we will suggest the right AC for you, with installation and service by Kridovia Care.