Portable, window or split aircon?

Side-by-side comparison

The label rows come from the NEA Energy Label and the installation rows from HDB's installation guidelines. See also aircon types.

Prices depend on the model and the job, so none appear here. See aircon installation cost in HDB flats.

Is a portable aircon worth it compared with a split unit?

NEA rates portable aircons only 1 to 2 ticks on its Energy Label, which runs up to 5 ticks (Excellent). Its buying tips say appliances with more ticks are generally more energy efficient. So where you can install one, a split unit is usually the more efficient choice.

Look past the purchase price too. NEA's tips define life cycle cost as purchase price plus annual energy cost multiplied by lifespan in years, so you can weigh a lower price against a higher yearly energy cost.

A portable may suit renters, or rooms where a window unit or condensing unit cannot go in an approved location. That is a judgement about fit, not performance. Weighing a portable aircon vs window aircon? Check whether your flat has an approved window-unit method for that opening, then compare ticks.

Efficiency and the Energy Label

The Energy Label covers air-conditioners, refrigerators, clothes dryers, televisions and water heaters. NEA lists five aircon types: casement, window, split type (non-inverter), split type (inverter) and portable. Each aircon label shows annual energy consumption in kWh, annual energy cost under fixed assumptions, and full load cooling capacity in kW. Compare models on the label, not on adverts.

For split and multi-split aircons, the label is fixed to the outdoor unit and carries its model number. To choose between split types, see inverter vs non-inverter aircon.

Installation rules in HDB flats

Under HDB's installation guidelines, flat owners are responsible for the proper installation, safety and stability of their casement, window or split aircon. A BCA-trained air-conditioning condensing unit installer must do the work, and an installation report must be submitted to the HDB Branch within 14 days.

The same guidelines also require:

• Window units and split condensing units, including the condensate pipe, to follow approved locations and methods (check with your HDB Branch).
• No condensing units along the common corridor; the ledge is only for the condensing unit.
• Internal piping, insulated pipe joints and condensate discharged into a floor trap in the flat.

HDB's maintenance guide lists methods by flat type. In flats with an aircon ledge, the condensing unit goes on the ledge and no window-unit method is shown. In flats without a ledge, some bedroom openings and window sills have one.

Before installing, the owner and installer must check that the condensing units' total running current is within the approved electrical rating. HDB says a new 15A power point or 20A isolator for the aircon needs an electrical permit in flats with a 30 amp main switch; flats with a 40 amp main switch, or upgraded under MUP or HIP, need none.

Running costs

Running cost depends on the model and how you use it, so compare the annual energy cost on each Energy Label. NEA assumes 27 cents per kWh, 8 hours of daily use and 16 hours of standby. That rate is NEA's label assumption, not a current tariff.

NEA's buying tips say oversized units cost more to run and may not dehumidify well, while undersized units do not cool or dehumidify adequately. Its rule of thumb: kW needed equals aircon floor area in square metres divided by 5; multiply by 3,412 for BTU/hr. See aircon size for your room.

The Consumer Product Safety Office says the 15A 3 round-pin plug (Type M) is generally used by energy-intensive appliances such as air-conditioners, and 15A socket outlets should only be installed by qualified electrical workers.

Which one should you choose?

You own an HDB flat with an aircon ledge

HDB's maintenance guide puts the condensing unit on the ledge in these flats and shows no window-unit method, so a split unit fits HDB's listed method. See aircon installation for the job itself.

You rent

Under HDB's guidelines, the flat owner is responsible for aircon installation, so talk to your landlord first. A portable aircon in Singapore may suit you where installation is not possible; check its ticks and its plug.

You want to cool one room

Size the unit with NEA's floor area rule from its buying tips, then compare models of that capacity on the label.

You want to cool the whole flat

NEA's buying tips say a multi-split system's total capacity is usually the sum of the rooms' capacities, but a smaller total may be enough if all rooms are not cooled at the same time. For a detailed assessment, consult your aircon supplier.

When you have a shortlist, compare aircon companies and their published prices.

Questions