Summer is coming and, with it, the temperature rises. Something that for many is a delight but that, when we do not have the beach or a pool nearby, it can end up being overwhelming. That’s what air conditioners are for, equipment that allows us to lower the temperature of the house so that the stay is more pleasant. But, like everything related to home automation in recent years, what would you think of being able to control it from your own smartphone? Exactly, both inside or outside the home. Today we explain everything you need to know about smart air conditioners and we show you the most interesting models you can find on the market.
How to choose a smart air conditioner
Perhaps one of the first questions that comes to mind is, why should you choose a smart air conditioner? And, the truth is that it provides a series of interesting advantages that are mainly reflected in comfort and user experience.
The clear, if not the only, difference between these types of devices of “life” is connectivity. Being able to control this equipment through WiFi allows us to do different things that, as we said, give us greater comfort:
- Control the exact temperature from the mobile phone screen.
- Turn the computer on or off, or set a different temperature, using voice commands.
- Activate the device while you are away from home so that, when you get there, the room is at the temperature we want.
These are the main actions that our smart air conditioner will be able to do compared to a classic model. But of course, so that you can do all this and the experience is the best possible, there are a series of parameters that we need to know before getting one:
- Necessary frigories : this is the main parameter that must be taken into account before buying any type of device to cool a room. Depending on the space you want to condition, there is a minimum number of frigories to do so. Simply explained, this parameter measures the cooling capacity of equipment like these. A standard room needs about 125 to 150 frigories per square meter . In the technical specifications of these devices it is normally expressed in BTU (British measurement system) and, to know the equivalent in frigories, we only have to divide that value by 4.
- Energy consumption : another important detail to take into account when buying one of these equipment that, as you can imagine, is directly reflected in the electricity consumption that you will make per month. Although you may have seen it in many places, energy efficiency is measured in classes. These range from class A , this level being the most efficient, to class D , which are the least efficient. Most teams already have class A, so a system of “bonuses” has been devised that reach up to 3 degrees more than this level. So, if you buy a class A +++ efficiency air conditioner, it could consume up to 40% less than the class A.
- Type of air conditioner – There are many different types of air conditioners. The most typical of all is the split one , which would serve to cool a single room. A derivative of this would be the multi-split that, as its name suggests, would have a compressor of greater size and capacity to be able to supply several splits located in different rooms. There are even models of portable air conditioners that allow us to take it from one place to another without many problems, although with a series of limitations.
- Noise level : it is well known that these devices usually generate noise both from the split part and from the compressor itself. We are not going to say anything that you cannot imagine if we mention that the quieter the better for you .
Best smart air conditioners
Having seen the main aspects that you should keep in mind before getting an air conditioner, of whatever type, it is time to talk about the smart versions.
A detail that is added to those that we have already mentioned is, of course, the home automation system in which it can be integrated. In other words, which smart assistant is compatible with . Pay special attention here if you already have advanced home automation because, if you base the home system on Google Assistant and buy a device that is only compatible with Alexa it will be a disaster.
To make your search a little easier, we have made a compilation of the most interesting smart air conditioners on the market. Of course, if you want a portable version, take a look at the article that we have linked a few lines above.
LG Air Purifying Wifi R32
The first model we want to talk to you about is the Air Purifying Wifi R32 from LG , a manufacturer more than experienced in making equipment for our homes. It is a 2-in-1 air conditioner, since in addition to cooling our room it also acts as an air purifier. It is split type, like all selected models, and generates noise below 65 dB. Of course, it has WiFi connectivity and voice control exclusively through Google Assistant.
Cecotec AirClima Connected
Another of the well-known manufacturers within the IoT sector is Cecotec . In this case, we are facing the AirClima Connected model that, as its name suggests, will allow us to use it over the phone or through voice commands. The cooling power of this equipment is 12,000 BTU, it has 5 different modes of use and generates noise below 62 dB.
Daikin AXM25N
We now turn to the Daikin AXM25N , an air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 2,150 frigories. It has A +++ energy certification, WiFi, motion sensor and generates noise at a maximum of 58 dB.
Panasonic KIT-FZ35-UKE
A very interesting model is the KIT-FZ35-UKE from Panasonic . It is a split model with a capacity of 2,925 frigories. It has a comfort mode and a super silent one for when we go to sleep. And, regarding connectivity, it is compatible with the Wifi connection but with an additional accessory that we will have to buy separately.
INFINITON 3720MU
Finally, within our selection, is the INFINITON 3720MU . This air conditioner has a maximum cooling capacity of 3,500 frigories, together with the A +++ energy certification. It has different modes and interesting functions such as Eco, to consume less and maintain the temperature. As with the previous one, for it to have WiFi connectivity we will have to attach an additional accessory that is located within the split itself.
Create your own smart air conditioner
Although this is an issue that we discuss in another article on our website, we find it interesting to tell you that if you have an old air conditioner , you can make it smart with some extra accessories.
There are different alternatives to do this:
- Compatible remote controllers including app access.
- Devices that detect the infrared signal from the remote control itself and, from its application, allow us to control the air conditioning.
- Kits to turn different old models into smart ones.
- Smart connectors.
Without a doubt, the simplest are the latter. Accessories that connect between the air conditioning cable and the power switch to allow us to operate the equipment. Of course, the only thing we can do with these is turn the split on or off.