1 Ton vs 1.5 Ton AC – which is better? Learn the differences between the two and find out which one to choose for your home.
With the summer season around the corner, I was thinking, just like you to buy an air-conditioner a couple of years back. The months of May through July can become really sultry and if you don’t have an air conditioner, your home can be the gas chamber.
As I was looking for purchasing an air-conditioner, I decided to follow certain important steps. This article talks about the difference between 1 ton and 1.5 ton AC, AC room size, the importance of rating of an AC, and how we can select the best one depending on our requirements.
The very first step is to know your requirement. It is very important to know what you are looking for in an AC. One of the most important things is the capacity of an AC, that is, if you are looking for a 1 ton or a 1.5 ton AC.
1 Ton vs 1.5 Ton AC: differences at a glance
| PARAMETER | 1 TON AC | 1.5 TON AC |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling Effect | The cooling effect, though depending on the size of the room, is lesser for 1 ton AC. | For a 1.5 ton AC, the cooling effect is more, provided the room is more than 140 square ft. |
| Efficiency | Efficiency is less in a 1 ton AC, if the room is more than 140 square feet. | For a room larger than 140 square feet, the efficiency is more. |
| Electricity Consumption | Low electricity consumption | High electricity consumption |
| Expenses | It is pocket friendly | Expensive, since high electricity consumption |
| Cooling Capacity | The cooling capacity is less. | 50% more cooling capacity |
| Price | Lower in cost | Higher in cost |
| Warranty | Less warranty period | Warranty period is more (in most cases) |
| Power Requirements | Low power requirements | High power requirements |
| Room Size in Sq. Feet (Coverage Area) | Up to 140 square feet (approx.) | Up to 180 square feet (approx.) |
Following are our top recommendations of 1 Ton and 1.5 Ton split ACs based on factors, such as features and popularity –
| Panasonic 1 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Smart Split AC | LG 1.5 Ton 5 Star AI+ DUAL Inverter Wi-Fi Split AC | Panasonic 1.5 Ton 5 Star Wi-Fi Inverter Smart Split AC |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
3 things you should consider in your air conditioner
When I decided to purchase my own AC, I made a list of 3 points that I focused on. They include the following:
- Power consumption: Low power consumption of the AC with extra-cooling of the atmosphere.
- Durability: Making sure that my AC has a more lifetime duration is very important. The mean lifetime of an AC is 5 years, thus I knew that I wanted to purchase one which supports a good durability.
- Low maintenance cost: The cost of maintaining an AC can be very high. Thus, while purchasing my AC, I made sure that the AC has a low maintenance cost. I also looked into the warranty of the product.
After I made my requirements clear, I made a choice on the rating of the AC. I was looking for 5-star AC because 5-star AC consumes less energy.
1 Ton vs 1.5 Ton AC: what are the differences?
But, the next decision was a bigger decision to make. Should I go for a 1 ton AC or a 1.5 ton AC?
Now, before I go into the detailed difference between the two, I must say that I did not have much idea about it initially. But, as I kept on researching about it, I could develop an opinion.
After proper research, my understanding on the difference of these two tons of AC is that it represents the refrigeration effect that an AC can give.
Functioning of an AC is about re-circulation of the warm air into the colder one. When an AC is of 1 ton, it takes about 210 KJ of energy in converting the warm air from the surrounding and supplying the cold air to the room. This way, it ensures that the cooling effect is spread in the entire room.
A 1 ton AC will take close to an hour to cool the room. On the other hand, a 1.5 ton AC, with a room of similar size, will take close to 30 minutes to cool down the room. Selecting the right ton of AC depends on the area that you wish to cover.
If the area that the AC is willing to cover is high, you should look for a 1.5 ton AC as it has a better refrigeration effect. With a better refrigeration effect, the room will be cooled in a better way even with lower energy consumption. The reason for this is that 1.5 ton AC has a larger coolant area thus making the air cooling system more efficient.
1 Ton vs 1.5 Ton AC: which one should you choose?
In my personal opinion, it depends on the area of the room that an AC has to cool. 1 Ton AC comes with the advantage of lighter weight whereas 1.5 ton AC has better efficiency. The servicing costs are somewhat similar for both the variants.
Yet what is important to know is that, a higher ton of an AC would require you to pay more bills. This is why you must also look forward to checking your wallet before selecting the ton of an AC.
Moreover, under Indian circumstances, the temperature is hot and humid during the summer. Often, with more humidity in the air, it becomes important to have an AC with better capacity to dehumidify the air. You can experience an excellent cooling with a 1.5 ton AC provided you have a room for cooling.
There is a rule of thumb that I often follow. When the size of the room is more than 140 square feet, I always go with a 1.5 ton AC. If you have a wider room, you will enjoy a wonderful cooling, though you might be spending a bit more. I prefer spending little extra for a comfortable life.
But, I would suggest that if you have a room smaller than 140 square feet, you should stick to 1 ton AC. Switching to a 1.5 ton AC might make your room chilled which can be very uncomfortable at times.
Here is a small chart according to AC tons and coverage areas –
| 1 Ton AC Room Size | Less than or equal to 140 square feet |
| 1.5 Ton AC Room Size | 140-180 square feet |
| 2 Ton AC Room Size | Bigger than 180 square feet |
Conclusion
The main difference between 1 ton and 1.5 ton AC is the cooling capacity as per the room size. A 1.5 ton AC is bit expensive, consumes more electricity, but has faster cooling time and can cover larger room areas (around 140-180 square feet). On the other hand, a 1 ton AC is cheaper, has lower power consumption, and is suitable for a room-sized up to 140 square feet.
Purchasing an AC depends on your requirements. Make sure you are very clear about what you are looking for in it and decide accordingly.
