Quality air-conditioners

I refer to Giacomo Spina's letter (June 24) and I fully agree with him about the experience he encountered in purchasing an unserviceable air-conditioner since, unfortunately, this is becoming common practice in Malta.

However, I must point out that there still are some good and professional companies around.

The fault is primarily the buyer's because the majority of buyers go for the lower priced air-conditioners which usually are of very cheap quality, unreliable, having a short life span and do not have any technical or spare parts backup by the seller or the manufacturer, in spite of offering fictitious long-term guarantees.

An awareness campaign should be introduced on purchasing air-conditioners, since an air-conditioner is not just an ordinary "domestic appliance" but a piece of very sophisticated combination of thermodynamic, electronic and mechanical equipment, which needs great care in designing, applying, installing and servicing. Unfortunately, many suppliers of air-conditioners in Malta are themselves not very familiar with or qualified in air-conditioning.

A buyer has to watch out for cheap units with advertised gimmicks such as "Japanese technology" or "Made in Japan". Hardly any air-conditioners are nowadays made in Japan because, due to high costs there, most units are now made elsewhere in the Far East. Only a few high priced units are now produced in Japan.

Another important factor that one can note is that most units made in the Far East now carry a prefix of KFR before the model number; these are definitely not made in Japan but are cheap units which, in spite of carrying the CE mark, do not comply with EU directives and regulations.

Besides, air-conditioners carry a quality tag and should ideally be in the medium price range and at least be of a brand that manufactures air-conditioners (since there are many names around which are not the original manufacturer).

These should preferably have the Eurovent certification to ensure the actual BTU ratings are real, have the ISO quality certification and follow the EU Council Directive 92/75/EEC with regard to energy labelling.

That way you will be at least sure that you are not just buying any air-conditioner but a quality one.