What drives the price of an AC, geyser or heat-pump water heater in India, how to read the BEE label, and the GST and refrigerant rules that apply.
The sticker price of a room air conditioner in India is set mostly by four things: capacity (tonnage), energy efficiency (the BEE star band and its ISEER value), compressor type (fixed-speed or inverter) and format (split or window). For water heaters the drivers are type (storage, instant, gas, solar or heat pump), tank size and, for storage electric geysers, the BEE star label that reflects standing heat loss.
This section explains each driver separately so you can tell what you are paying for. It also covers the rules that change the number on the bill: GST, which for room ACs dropped from 28% to 18% from 22 September 2025, the BEE labelling that every star claim must follow, and the basics of refrigerants such as R-32, R-410A and R-290 that affect servicing later.
Start with the overview of AC and geyser price factors. Every rupee figure on this site is an illustrative example to show the arithmetic, not a market price or a quote from any brand or dealer. This site does not rate or rank brands.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
The factors that set the price of a split, window or inverter AC, a geyser or a heat-pump water heater in India, from tonnage and star rating to GST and installation.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
How to choose between 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 ton ACs for an Indian room using floor area, ceiling height, sun, floor level, occupants and city climate.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
What the BEE star label on an Indian room AC or geyser shows, how ISEER works, why star tables are revised and how to turn the label into rupees.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
GST on room air conditioners fell from 28% to 18% on 22 September 2025. How that shows on your invoice, plus GST on installation, AMC, geysers and solar water heaters.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
What the refrigerant gas in your AC means for efficiency, servicing, gas top-up cost and safety, and how India's HCFC phase-out and the Kigali Amendment affect it.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
Fixed-speed and inverter, split and window, portable and cassette ACs compared for Indian homes on price, installation, electricity use, noise and repairs.
Costs, Star Ratings and 2026 Rules
How storage and instant electric geysers, LPG/PNG gas geysers, solar water heaters and heat-pump water heaters differ in price, running cost, safety and fit for Indian homes.
