The desktop air conditioner and other AC units still remain a third priority buy when compared with refrigerators and televisions. But the sales have been boosted by the rising demand in the middle- income group and small offices home-office segments. Air-conditioning industry is growing at a hectic pace and is providing a huge chance for all the players. The market has overall done well. The product mix is changing towards high value Split AC.

The rising affordability levels and the high ambient temperatures veteran in the summer months have been key demand drivers

Another reason for the push in sales is observed due to the narrowing variation between the branded and non-branded. In fact based to the latest industry trends, industry insiders reveal that branded AC players are thinking over the thought of further reducing prices.

At present, an entry-level branded AC is priced at about Rs 18,000, which is likely to be brought down to Rs 12,000. Owing to the seasonality of demand in the AC business, nearly 70 per cent of the annual sales takes place in the months of March to May. “In next two to three years, there is huge scope for the market to expand tremendously. The industry is expected to grow at about 20 per cent per annum

Window and through-wall units: Generally air conditioners in homes or other buildings are habitual single rectangular units used to cool an apartment, a house or part of it, or part of a building. The air conditioner units need to have access to the space they are cooling (the inside) and a heat sink. Usually the outside air is used to cool the condenser section. For this purpose, single unit air conditioners are placed in windows or through openings in a wall made for the air conditioner; the latter type includes portable air conditioners

Window and through-wall air conditioners have opening on both the inside and outside, so that the inside air in order to be cooled can be blown in and out by a fan in the unit, and outside air can also be blown in and out by another fan to act as the heat sink. The controls are on the inside.

A large house or building may have several such units. Should virtually every room be cooled with its own air conditioning unit, most of the day, it would be less expensive to use central air conditioning, though that may not be physically possible. Or a desktop air conditioner is a fantastic different!