What are the Pros and Cons of a Smart AC?

Having an air conditioner connected to wi-fi and operated by an app is quite cool. Right? The Smart Air Conditioners can be controlled and operated by your smartphone or tablet, adding to your convenience. You can manage the right temperature and turn your AC on or off from anywhere. But, it is also expensive than the traditional air conditioner and spending extra money on something is not what anyone wants, until it’s worth every penny spent on it. Just like anything else, a Smart Air Conditioner also has some pros and cons connected to it. Let us have a detailed look into the pros and cons of a Smart AC in this article. 

Advantages of a Smart AC

Following are the advantages or pros of a Smart Air Conditioner that makes it worth having one for your home or office:

1. Comfort and Convenience: Smart ACs make it convenient for you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere, with just a tap on your smartphone or tablet. These air conditioners also automatically restore their settings after the restart, saving you the effort of doing it manually. This function also prevents your system from a breakdown that may be caused due to voltage fluctuations. You can also make your home temperature comfortable for you, even before reaching from with the help of apps on your smart device. Smart ACs also come with modes that adjust the temperature as per your sleep patterns and climate. 
2. Connectivity: You can also connect your smart AC to your smart home systems and these systems can lower your blinds, turn the lights on or off, and even turn on your AC at minimal temperature to get a satisfactory atmosphere in your home. Virtual AI assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant help in running your smart home systems and you can also control your AC with voice commands by connecting it to these assistants. 
3. Cost and energy efficiency: Smart air conditioners help in saving energy as you can set your temperature preferences and they automatically slow down after reaching your desired temperature. Also, they can automatically turn off based on your distance from your home with the help of geolocation, in case you forgot to shut it down. You can even set a schedule for your AC on a daily or weekly basis and get your desired temperature and keep the system turned off when not needed without having to remember everything every time. The app used for operating your air conditioner allows you to keep a track of the energy usage by your system and you can even pre-set energy consumption limits. Besides saving on cost and energy, these functionalities of your air conditioner also help in increasing its efficiency and increase its lifespan. 
4. Error diagnosis and preventive maintenance: The app allows you to track the usage of your smart air conditioner and also predicts when it will need clean-up and/or maintenance. The predictions are made on the basis of your ACs usage and the app will send you notifications and reminders whenever there is a need for your AC to get tuned up. 
5. Reduced carbon footprint: Air conditioners release carbon dioxide while running and they are harmful to our environment. Though the Smart ACs also release carbon dioxide, they have a lower carbon footprint than a conventional air conditioner. You can program the Smart AC to work only when needed and also to run at the lowest fan setting, reducing carbon emission. Using a Smart AC as a thermostat also helps in saving carbon emissions, and thus reducing our carbon footprint. 

Some best Smart Air Conditioners available are:

1. LG LW8017ERSM Smart Window Air Conditioner (Wi-Fi), 8,000 BTU 115V, White
2. Midea U Inverter Window Air Conditioner 10,000BTU, U-Shaped AC with Open Window Flexibility, 35% Energy Saving, Smart Control, Alexa, Remote, Bracket Included
3. Frigidaire FGRC1044T1 10000 BTU Cool Connect Smart Window Air Conditioner with Wifi Control
4. De’Longhi 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier & Fan + Cool Surround Remote w/Built-in Temperature Control Sensor
5. GE AHY10LZ Smart Window Air Conditioner with 10,000 BTU Cooling Capacity, Wifi Connect, 115 Volts, White
6. LG LW1019IVSM Energy Star 9,500 BTU 115V Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner with Wi-Fi Control, 2.7 pints/h, White
7. Honeywell HF0CESVWK6 10,000 BTU Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner, Rooms up to 450 sq. ft, Black/White

Disadvantages of a Smart AC

These are some of the cons or disadvantages of a Smart Air Conditioner that you should consider before making any decision about your air conditioner: 

1. Expensive: Being relatively new in the market, Smart Air Conditioners are a little expensive. The price of the AC varies based on its type like wall-mounted, window-mounted, or portable. Even the size of the air conditioner is an important factor in deciding the price.
2. Requirement of multiple units: Also these air conditioners don’t work centrally, and thus you will have to get multiple units to cool your entire home or office. 
3. Installation: Installation of a Smart AC is a difficult task and the difficulty level is also based on the type of system you choose for yourself. These systems take up ample valuable space in your home. 

Conclusion

Even after considering all the pros and cons of a Smart AC, they are a better option than the conventional AC. They make your life more comfortable and convenient with their features and additional modes. These ACs also help you in saving energy and cost with optimal usage. Though a bit pricey, but the advantages and the cost you save on energy bills make it worth the cost. You can also convert your current wi-fi capable air conditioner into a Smart AC with the use of wi-fi adapters and smart plugs. Make a smart choice by getting yourself a smart AC and save energy, cost, and the environment.