Dual Inverter Air Conditioner vs Conventional Non-Inverter Air Conditioner - The Consumer Guide

Last Updated on 15 February, 2024 by Sourav Roy

Air Conditioners; these cooling appliances have come such a long way. Rather than just delivering cool air, the modern versions ensure you get fresh and clean air as well. The emergence of dual inverter technology has made such an appliance even more tempting.

Buying the right air conditioner is not an option anymore; it’s pretty much a must! The heat in India is no joke. It can be absolutely dreadful at times. Nevertheless, we can’t just invest in an air conditioner with a blind eye. It needs an explicit thought process and some analysis, being such an expensive appliance. Although, with me around, you don’t have to get worked up about it. You don’t have to do anything at all.

All your questions will be answered by the end of my blog. I only need some of your time.

A dual inverter air conditioner is one of the newest types of air conditioners. This kind of AC comes with all the recent technologies and high-end features. However, the conventional non-inverter AC also has its own set of advantages.

So, who outdoes the other in this race? Dual inverter air conditioner vs non-inverter air conditioner. Who can be the winner? Let’s find out!

Before we get there, let’s discuss how an air conditioner functions. Hang on; we are not in for a technical discussion. Instead, I am going to brief you up about it in the simplest way.

Five Major Components of an Air Conditioner

1. Refrigerant

Refrigerant, also known as a coolant, is like a travel partner. It carries the hot air from the inside to the outside. It is a coolant that conveniently changes the gas to a liquid state and goes back to the gaseous state.

2. Compressor

The compressor is designed to control all the elements. It pressurises the refrigerant in the unit to cool down the hot air. It is done by squeezing the gas tightly together.

3. Condenser Coil

The condenser coil is placed on the outside of the air conditioner unit. The compressor passes on the high pressure and temperature refrigerant to the condenser coil. It is designed to facilitate heat transfer to the outside unit.

4. Expansion Valve

An expansion valve is a connection between the condenser and evaporator coil. It is commonly known as the metering device. The expansion valve cools down the refrigerant by depressurising it. It also regulates the amount of refrigerant that should enter the evaporator.

5. Evaporator Coil

An evaporator coil is one of the most important components of an air conditioner. It plays a huge role in absorbing all the heat from indoors. It is the part where the refrigerant cools down and takes in the heat in the room, putting it in the outside unit to be processed. As a result, all you’re left with is cool air.

How does an Air Conditioner Function?

The evaporator coil absorbs all the heat. The vent pulls in the warm air and pushes it to the evaporator coil.
The compressor works on raising the temperature of the refrigerant.
The heat is then transferred outside.
The refrigerant gas then gets cold.
This process gets repeated.

Dual Inverter Air Conditioner vs Non-Inverter Air Conditioner: Which one is Better?

If you plan to get your hands on a new air conditioner, you must know the inside-out of both these types of air conditioners.

Let’s discuss the two in brief. Also, feel free to glance through our blog: Top AC brands in India and what you should expect from them if you want to know about more fascinating Air Conditioner technologies.

Dual Inverter Air Conditioner: What to Expect?

A dual inverter air conditioner is designed with a twin rotary compressor. In this technology, the compressor draws more or less power depending upon how hot the air is and the thermostat level. The easiest example would be, it’s like a car accelerator. It gives more power when the compressor needs more power. It gives less power when the compressor doesn’t need as much power. The speed and power of the compressor are adjusted depending upon the requirement. The Japanese initiated the dual inverter technology.

The technology also includes two compression chambers. They produce a difference of 180-degree compression timing. It operates flexibly in a variable range of 720 RPM – 9,000 RPM. (Revolutions per minute).

Inverter compressors also use ozone friendly refrigerants like R410A.

Advantages of a Dual Inverter Air Conditioner

Powerful: The inverter air conditioner operates at a maximum capacity as soon as it starts. Therefore, you can attain the set temperature in a short span.
Maximum Comfort: Inverter ACs ensure a comfortable ambience. They can adjust the capacity depending upon the changes in the air conditioner load. It also adjusts based on the difference between the present indoor temperature and the temperature set. As such, you’ll always be sure to get the highest level of comfort.
Low on noise and vibrations: A noisy compressor can be so infuriating. However, in dual inverter air conditioners, the 180-degree compression timing operates at a full capacity and is completely stable. Hence, there’s low emission of noise and minimal vibrations.
Quick Cooling: An inverter air conditioner maintains precision in temperature control. The speed of the appliance varies as per the demand. It does not have to run at the maximum speed. The appliance uses a twin rotator to deliver variable tonnage while eradicating all the heat from the room. Through this process, the mechanism makes sure the desired temperature is attained soon. Therefore, you can expect quick cooling.
Eco Friendly: An inverter air conditioner generally uses an eco-friendly refrigerant gas- R410A. It is a hydro-fluorocarbon based gas and does not harm the ozone layer in any way.
Low voltage operation: Stay safe from voltage fluctuations with inverter air conditioners. They can operate with voltage as low as 140V without any interruptions. In such a case, the power supply converts into a direct current first. It then reconverts the power into an alternating current to the compressor motor.
Double Utility – Heating & Cooling: Just like summers can be dreadful, winters can give you shivers too. A dual inverter air conditioner promises double utility. Along with cooling, it can warm up your room and substitute a heater. This process does not take much time. The compressor functions at high speed to heat the room. It then moves to low speed to maintain the room temperature.
Smart System: An inverter air conditioner is a smart appliance. It provides complete control on energy consumption and usage. Furthermore, the appliance also keeps the user in the loop by providing all the insights of technical factors like voltage and watts. You can also schedule the operation of the air conditioner as per your requirement.
Silent Operation: Inverter ACs require less power to function. Also, the air conditioner functions as per the room temperature. It adjusts accordingly rather than turning itself on and off. So, you will not hear the loud noise of the compressor turning on and off.
Sound Sleep: We have already talked about how an air conditioner functions silently. On top of that, once you set a temperature on the thermostat, an inverter AC maintains a steady room temperature. That gives you the luxury to enjoy a sound sleep at home. You will not wake up in the middle of the night feeling too cold or hot.
Energy Efficient: When judging the appliance based on energy efficiency, inverter air conditioners score high on that aspect. Whether you are looking for cooling or heating, the appliance can do it in a short period. This mechanism ensures less consumption of power. Therefore, it is more energy-efficient.
Long-Lasting: Dual inverter air conditioners are designed with a mechanism to consume less power. It means the compressor works less. Hence, it is less prone to wear and tear. So, you can expect a long lifespan from it.
Compatible with Solar Power: Not all window air conditioners and split air conditioners are compatible with solar power. So, if you have solar power at home, installing an AC that is not compatible can become a big problem. But, dual inverter air conditioners can operate smoothly through solar energy. This one is a big advantage as you get one more viable power source, one that will cost you a lot less money in the long run.
Suitable for all room sizes: Whether your room size is small or big, an inverter air conditioner can satisfy your cooling requirements well. The inverter technology delivers even cooling throughout the room.

Disadvantages of a Dual Inverter Air Conditioner

High on Maintenance: An inverter air conditioner is designed with sophisticated components and has a high number of moving parts. Therefore, maintaining the appliance can get expensive. Moreover, in case of any repair, it can burn a hole in your pocket.
Steep initial cost: The inverter air conditioner is designed with high-end features and advanced technology. As such, the initial cost of the appliance is steep. Barring that, installing it is also expensive.
Does not dehumidify the room: Dehumidification is achieved when the air comes in contact with the indoor unit. An inverter AC runs in short cycles since the desired room temperature is attained quickly. Whether you are looking for cooling or heating, the process happens rapidly. This mechanism can lead to inadequate dehumidification.
Does not use the common refrigerant: The dual inverter air conditioners use the R410A refrigerant. It is eco friendly but not very common. Therefore, repairing an inverter air conditioner, where this refrigerant is not easily available, can get very difficult.
Needs specialised AC technicians: In case of any issue, you cannot get it fixed by any local technician. Doing that would be like inviting more trouble rather than solving it. Therefore, you must schedule the service only from the company technician. It is a safe option but also an expensive one.
Inadequate cooling at high temperature: In areas with a temperature of more than 45°C, the inverter AC works less efficiently. The low speed of the compressor and the high ambient temperature can lead to insufficient removal of heat.

Those were the strings attached with the dual inverter air conditioner. Now let’s move to the conventional air conditioner.

Conventional Non-Inverter Air Conditioner: What to Expect?

A conventional non-inverter air conditioner does not function like the inverter one at all. The compressor can turn on and off to maintain the room temperature. When the appliance is on, it runs at full capacity. And once the thermostat achieves the desired temperature, the compressor stops functioning completely. It means the compressor works at peak load until it reaches the set temperature.

Non-inverter air conditioners are available in split and window types. Let’s get to the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of ACs.

Advantages of a Non-Inverter Air Conditioner

Inexpensive: The major advantage of a non-inverter air conditioner is the cost. It’s affordable to all and an inexpensive appliance. The functioning, inexpensive components, and wide availability make the appliance economical.
Low on maintenance: Unlike the inverter one, the non-inverter AC is low on maintenance. Replacing and repairing the air conditioner components is fairly cheaper.

Disadvantages of a Non-Inverter Air Conditioner

High on noise and vibrations: The compressor of the non-inverter unit functions at the highest speed and then turns off once it reaches the set temperature. This mechanism makes the unit work very hard. Therefore, the unit is prone to wear and tear. It also makes the appliance high on vibrations and noise.
Consumes more energy: A non-inverter air conditioner can get you whopping energy bills. This is because the start and stop process of the compressor puts a lot of pressure on the unit. Therefore, it consumes a lot of energy.
Short life span: An inverter air conditioner can easily be a victim of voltage fluctuations. The frequency of turning the compressor on and off deteriorates the unit tremendously. It shortens the lifespan of the unit.
Global warming: A non-inverter air conditioner generally uses R-22 as the refrigerant. It has less potential for ozone depletion but can lead to global warming. Hence, it is not such an eco-friendly option.

Dual Inverter Air Conditioner vs Conventional Air Conditioner: Crisp Comparision

Now, let’s compare the two air conditioner systems based on a few important factors.

1. Compressor Comparison

The compressor of an inverter air conditioner functions intelligently. It delivers an enhanced and precise way of maintaining the temperature. Therefore, the unit does not have to run in full power.

The conventional unit compressor functions differently. The compressor turns on and off depending upon the requirement and put a lot of load on the unit.