In the hot and recently hazy weather in Singapore, an air-conditioner has now become a necessity in the modern house, big or small. With manufacturers rolling out all different kinds of technology, promising to improve air quality, help make cleaning easier or simply lower your energy cost it’s easy to get lost with all the choices and designs provided.

Therefore, there is a need to help breakdown your needs to help facilitate the decision making process. Here, we will take you through a few important considerations before you start hunting for a new air conditioner to fit your home.

1. Number of rooms you wish to air-condition:
   
   There is a need to decide whether you would like your whole house to be air-conditioned, some rooms only or perhaps the option of just fitting an air-conditioner in just one room.
   
   
2. The power of the air-conditioner required:
   
   Air-conditioners come with a capacity measured in BTU/Hr (British Thermal Units per Hour). The capacity you require depends on the size of your room and the general formula to calculate the BTU/Hr you need is given by:
   
   Area (Length x Width) X 337 = BTU/hr, where Length and Width are in measured in metres.
   
   Of course if you’d like to be more accurate in your estimation, you may add this number to other factors that can increase your BTU/Hr Requirement like Heat generated by lighting (Total Wattage of all Lighting X 4.25) or number of occupants in the room (No. of Occupants X 400)
   
   Some manufacturers use Watts to replace BTU. 1kW = 3412 BTUs
   
   Too high a BTU/Hr may lead to an increase in energy cost while too low a BTU/Hr will lead to an inefficient cooling of the room.
   
   
3. The type, design and brand of air-conditioner:
   
   Various types include window units, single split, multi-split and inverter units.
   
   Inverter air-conditioners feedback and regulates the output of the compressor hence reducing the load on the main compressor, saving energy. However, depending on the brand, such air-conditioners may be more expensive at the onset and the technology pays for itself through the money saved through energy savings over the years.
   
   Window units are mounted at the room which they are cooled and contain all the necessary parts of the air-conditioner to cool the room. They are usually mounted on a bracket facing the outside of the room or at the window where the hot air is pumped out. These units tend to generate much more noise than spilt units. However, no piping is required.
   
   Single split units consist of two parts, one of which is an outdoor condenser and an indoor fan coil which cools the room. A piping is required to for the system to run.
   
   Multi-split units consist of one condensing unit attached to multiple cooling fan coils which are present in the different units in the various rooms. Piping is required from every unit to the condenser. More than one compressor may be needed if there are many rooms and due to the design of split units, they tend to be much quieter than window units.
   
   A wide variety of brands and designs are available for each type of air conditioner, from basic changes in colour to sleek wall mounted units that are highly compact and discreet. Depending on your budget and the overall design of the room, you will find a wide range of air-conditioners available to suit the design concept of your home.

Single Split Air conditioners

Mitsubishi MUA10VD
Features   Capacity 9000 BTU/hr Dimension 815 (W) X 278 (H) X 244 (D) Weight 9 kg Sound level 26 -32 – 39 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $861 Additional Notes: Very low noise production due to large diameter fan. Econo-cool Energy Saving Feature Easy to clean Model Available in 12000 and 18000BTU versions
Carrier 38CJR010 Features Description Capacity 9000 BTU/hr Dimension 790 (W) X 275 (H) X 208 (D) Weight 10 kg Sound level 26-33-39 db(A) Retail Price inclusive of installation $798.00 Additional Notes Easy to clean model	back to top
Toshiba RAS-10GAX
Features Description Capacity 9000 BTU/hr Dimension 740(W) X 250(H) X 185(D) Weight 7 kg Sound level 31 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $829.50 Additional Notes: BioEnzyme Filter , Self Cleaning
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System 2 Models
Mitsubishi Electric MUX 19TV
Features Description Capacity 19000 BTU/hr total Dimension 815 (W) X 278 (H) X 244 (D) Weight 9/10kg for Indoor Unit Sound level 26-32-39 db(A) 29-36-42 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $1564.50 Additional Notes: Very low noise production due to large diameter fan. Econo-cool Energy Saving Feature Easy Clean Feature Consists of 2 units, one 9000BTU and one 12000BTU
Carrier 68SQ218	back to top
Features Description Capacity 18000 BTU/hr total Dimension 790 (W) X 275 (H) X 208 (D) Weight 10kg for Indoor Unit Sound level 26-33-39 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $1656.90 Additional Notes: Quiet Air Management System Easily washable Consists of 2 units, each with 9000BTU
Toshiba RAS-M18UAX4 Features Description Capacity 18000 BTU/hr total Dimension 790 (W) X 275 (H) X 208 (D) Weight 10kg for Indoor Unit Sound level 22 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $1354.50 Additional Notes: Filtration System Self Cleaning Consists of 2 units, each with 9000BTU
System 3 Models
Mitsubishi Electric MUX 20TV Features Description Capacity 20000 BTU/hr total Dimension 815 (W) X 278 (H) X 244 (D) Weight 9kg for Indoor Unit Sound level 26-32-39 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $1953.00 Additional Notes: Very low noise production due to large diameter fan. Econo-cool Energy Saving Feature Easy Clean Feature Consists of 3 units, each 9000BTU
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Carrier 38FMB323 Features Description Capacity 24000 BTU/hr total Dimension 790(W) X 265(H) X 174(D) Weight 8kg for Indoor Unit Sound level 30 db(A) Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $3435.60 Additional Notes: Carrier Intelligent Energy Saving Multi System Digital DC Twin Rotary Compressors Consists of 3 units, each with 9000BTU/hr
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Toshiba RAS 3M20UAX5 Features Description Capacity 21000 BTU/hr total Dimension 790(W) X 275(H) X 218(D) Weight 8kg for Indoor Unit Sound level - Retail Price Inclusive of Installation $2257.50 Additional Notes: Includes Air Purifying System Consists of 3 units, each with 9000BTU/hr