Korea Consumer Agency Evaluates Five Wall-Mounted Air Conditioner Models
Performance Differences Found in Cooling Speed and Maximum Noise
"Consumers Should Compare Noise, Energy Costs, and Other Factors Before Purchase"
The Korea Consumer Agency announced on June 23 that its testing and evaluation of five wall-mounted air conditioner models from major brands revealed differences among products in key performance areas such as cooling speed and maximum noise, as well as in price and electricity costs.
The Korea Consumer Agency provided comparative information on June 23 at the Fair Trade Commission press room in the Government Sejong Complex, testing and evaluating the performance and safety of five wall-mounted air conditioner models with high consumer preference. The photo shows an employee examining the tested products. Photo by Yonhap News
Amid rising demand for wall-mounted air conditioners due to global warming and an increase in single-person households, the Korea Consumer Agency conducted tests to evaluate the quality (cooling speed, deviation from set temperature, maximum noise), energy cost, and safety of these products. The models tested were LG Electronics 'SQ07FS8EES', Samsung Electronics 'AR80F07D21WT', Lucoms Electronics 'A06T04-W', Carrier 'OARB-0061FAWSD', and Haier 'HSU06QAHIW'.
According to the test results, the Samsung Electronics model demonstrated the fastest cooling speed and was relatively superior. When operated in a space maintained at 35 degrees Celsius, with the air conditioner set to 24 degrees and maximum airflow, it took 9 minutes and 53 seconds to lower the room temperature to the set level.
In terms of deviation from the set temperature, three products performed relatively well. After operating each product for five hours following the cooling speed test and measuring the average temperature in the installation space, the LG Electronics, Haier, and Samsung Electronics models maintained temperatures between 22.8 and 23.0 degrees, showing only a small deviation from the set temperature of 24 degrees.
For maximum noise, the Carrier and Haier models performed best. When the air conditioners were operated at 24 degrees and maximum airflow, these two models were the quietest. Among the 7-pyeong models, Samsung Electronics recorded a relatively low noise level of 42dB (decibels). For reference, a quiet living room in a home is around 40dB, while normal conversation or noise inside a department store is about 60dB(A).
Additional features varied by product. The Samsung Electronics model offered the most, with 25 features (such as fine dust removal and space analysis), followed by the LG Electronics model with 18 features (such as UV fan sterilization and blackout compensation).
A Korea Consumer Agency official stated, "Since air conditioners are high-priced products used for long periods, it is important to check whether the necessary additional features are provided before making a purchase," adding, "For wall-mounted air conditioners, it is advisable to consider the size of the installation space and compare cooling performance, noise, and energy costs before making a selection."
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