Summer can be unbearable, with almost every Indian city consistently experiencing temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius. While places like Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad are dry, cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata are humid, which makes it more uncomfortable. Should you go for an air conditioner or an air cooler? Let us explore these options and see which appliance suits us better.
Here’s a full comparison table of Air Cooler vs Air Conditioner considering India’s climate, humidity, weather conditions, and all relevant aspects:
| Feature | Air Cooler | Air Conditioner |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling Mechanism | Uses evaporative cooling (water based) | Uses refrigerant based cooling (compressor, condenser, and evaporator) |
| Effectiveness in Indian Weather | Works best in hot & dry climate | Works in all climates, including humid areas (South, Coastal India) |
| Performance in Humid Weather | Less effective – increases humidity further | Works well in high humidity |
| Temperature Reduction | Lowers temperature by 3-8°C | Can reduce temperature by 10-20°C |
| Humidity Control | Increases humidity (not ideal for humid areas) | Reduces humidity, ideal for humid regions |
| Power Consumption | Low (80W – 300W) | High (900W – 5000W) |
| Electricity Cost | Low running cost (saves power) | High running cost (more electricity consumption) |
| Initial Cost | ₹3,000 – ₹15,000 | ₹25,000 – ₹70,000+ (split & inverter ACs) |
| Installation | No installation needed | Requires installation (indoor & outdoor units) |
| Portability | Portable, easy to move | Fixed unit, not portable |
| Air Circulation | Uses fresh air, circulates cool air naturally | Recirculates the same air |
| Best For | Dry regions (Delhi, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, UP, MP, Gujarat) | All climates, especially humid areas (Mumbai, Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata) |
| Air Filtration | Basic dust filters (not as effective for air purification) | Advanced filters (HEPA, PM2.5, anti-bacterial filters) |
| Water Requirement | Requires frequent water refilling (daily in peak summer) | No water required |
| Maintenance | Cleaning water tank, fan, and pads regularly | Requires professional servicing (gas refill, filter cleaning) |
| Eco-Friendliness | Eco-friendly, no refrigerants or harmful gases | Uses refrigerants, some of which may harm the environment |
| Usage in Open Spaces | Works well in semi-open spaces (balcony, terrace, room with open windows) | Works only in closed rooms |
| Longevity | 4-7 years (depends on maintenance) | 10-15 years (with proper servicing) |
| Noise Level | Moderate to high (due to fan and water pump) | Low to moderate (inverter ACs are quieter) |
| Cooling Speed | Takes time to cool down a room | Cools room instantly (within minutes) |
| Smart Features | Basic controls, some models with remote | Smart ACs with remote, Wi-Fi, app, voice control |
Air Cooler – Budget-friendly and suitable for dry climates.
Places like Delhi have hot summers, but the winters are cold. So, you only need an AC for four to five months a year. Under such circumstances, you can opt for air coolers at considerably lower prices, starting from around Rs 5,000.
Secondly, Delhi has a dry climate. Since air coolers use water for cooling the air, they provide the humidity required to make it comfortable. Dry heat can give you a burning sensation all over your body. An AC is not ideal because it cools the air and does not increase humidity. On the other hand, an air cooler increases humidity levels and provides the best relief from dry heat.
Air Conditioner – Better cooling and suited for humid climates.
An air conditioner is better when the climate is already humid. The cooling effect of air conditioners reduces humidity levels, dries the sticky perspiration from your skin, and energizes you tremendously.
However, air conditioners are significantly more expensive than air coolers and consume more power. At the same time, air conditioners are best for cooling closed areas. They do not require much attention except for their regular maintenance. On the other hand, air coolers require you to fill cold water constantly to get the required cooling effect.
Air Coolers vs Air Conditioners
So, let us compare the air conditioners and air coolers and see which appliance suits us better.
Cost
The air cooler is a simple device with no expensive components like compressors, evaporator/condenser copper tubes, refrigerants, sensors, etc., like air conditioners. Therefore, air coolers are significantly cheaper than air conditioners.
Durability
Air conditioners are more durable than air coolers and last for nearly eight to fifteen years. In contrast, an air cooler loses its potency within three or five years. Continuous exposure to water can result in the air coolers getting damaged sooner than air conditioners.
Portability
Though you have portable air conditioners today, an AC is generally a fixed appliance. But the air coolers are versatile because you can carry them from one room to the other. This portability factor makes air coolers preferable to air conditioners.
Power Consumption
Though we have inverter AC compressors today, these appliances consume more power than air coolers, which are simple electrical appliances like fans. So, an air cooler is better than an air conditioner when comparing power consumption.
Functionality
Air coolers work on the simple process of taking in fresh air from outside and cooling it through wet absorbent pads. On the other hand, air conditioners use refrigerants and the principles of condensation and evaporation to cool the air circulating in the room.
Comfort Angle
Air conditioners can cool the air instantly and provide excellent comfort. Besides, the cooling effect lasts extended periods even after switching off the AC. Air coolers can also provide quick cooling but are slower than air conditioners. The cooling effect does not last as long as the air conditioners.
Environmentally friendly
Air conditioners emit chlorofluorocarbons and are thus not environmentally friendly. However, you get ACs that use high-quality refrigerants that minimize greenhouse gas emissions to cause less environmental damage. Air coolers do not emit any greenhouse gases. Therefore, they do not pollute the environment.
Humid conditions
An air conditioner is always preferable to an air cooler in humid conditions because it can balance humidity levels. On the other hand, air coolers cannot work in humid conditions. The humid air released by air coolers relieves dry conditions but can accentuate humidity levels in humid conditions.
Maintenance Issues
Air conditioners do not need daily maintenance. However, they require expensive maintenance. Replacing the gas can be expensive. Besides, AC components like PCB, sensors, etc., are expensive. Air coolers require you to add cold water daily. Otherwise, they do not incur much maintenance costs.
Air circulation
An air conditioner works best in closed rooms because it works on the principle of circulating cool air inside the room. Poor insulation can affect its cooling performance. On the other hand, air coolers are suitable for closed and open spaces because they pull in fresh air from outside, cool it, and circulate it back into the room.
Cooling Coverage
Air conditioners can cool entire rooms because you place the indoor unit at a considerable height on the walls. There are no blind spots that receive less cooling. An air cooler has more blind spots than an AC because it cannot cool the area immediately behind it or at the sides. So, an AC has higher cooling coverage than an air cooler.
Let us now compare an air cooler and air conditioner model to understand their differences better.
Which is the ideal appliance – An air cooler or an Air conditioner?
Of course, the air conditioner is the better appliance because it provides better cooling and sustains it for extended periods even after switching off the appliance.
The air cooler can keep the air fresh because it can work in open areas. However, the top AC models have air purifiers and high-quality air filters to purify the air inside the room.
Air coolers can become messy because the water can spill from the machine into the room. Air conditioners do not cause any mess because the outdoor unit is kept outside the room, and the drainpipe drains the water outside.
Performance-wise, air conditioners can cool the room to set temperature levels up to 18 degrees Celsius, whereas air coolers do not have any temperature control mechanisms. They can cool the air and disperse it back into the room but not drastically reduce the room temperatures like ACs. Besides, ACs come with innovative technology like convertibility, etc., to deliver better and optimal cooling.
If you are budget conscious and cannot spend vast amounts purchasing ACs, an air cooler is a good investment. But an air conditioner is always preferable because of its better performance, cooling capacity, durability, ease of maintenance, etc.
