Meralco: You can save PHP 60,000 if you replace your aircon every 5 years

Check if it's already time to replace your old aircon units.

File photo: Window-type aircon

Hundreds of aircons tested in the past years

While air conditioners are crucial for summer comfort, it's vital to use them responsibly to avoid skyrocketing electricity bills.

Power utility company Meralco has tested more than 300 aircons in the last 5 years, using its Power Lab facility that can simulate various room sizes.

In its study, Meralco found that:

If the last 10 years are any indication, technology dramatically improves efficiency, and after 5 years, it becomes more cost-efficient to replace an aircon.

Meralco said it tested a 5-year-old 1HP aircon (PHP 7.50 per hour of use) versus a new one (PHP 3.75 per hour). When using the AC for 8 hours per day, you save PHP 900 per month. If a new one costs PHP 20,000, it would have paid for itself in less than 2 years.

Under or oversizing your aircon relative to your room size or dimensions will cost you an extra PHP 1,000 a month, which is PHP 60,000 in five years.

If you buy a small aircon (say 0.5HP) for a big room (say 30sqm), it will be able to cool the room soon enough, but it will cost you because its compressor will be working all the time. If you do the reverse, say install a 1.5HP aircon in a 6 sqm. room, it will still cost you PHP 1,000 more per month because its compressor will be cycling more, which drives consumption.

Meralco noted that the older your AC is, the more energy it will consume compared to newer models. An oversized or undersized AC will give you additional costs on your monthly bill.

What do you think, guys?

Source: Meralco