How to Choose an Air Conditioner for an Apartment in Tbilisi

Tbilisi's climate — why choosing an AC here is different

Tbilisi is neither Moscow nor Istanbul. Summers are dry, long and harsh: 35–40 °C from May through September, with July spikes up to 43 °C. The Kura valley adds humidity, so it can feel up to 5 degrees hotter than the thermometer says.

An air conditioner runs 4–5 months straight, sometimes through the night without a break. That means a cheap “one-season” unit will eat up its own savings on electricity and repairs within two years — and the wrong capacity turns it into a noisy fan that can't cope with the heat.

That's exactly why the choice deserves a systematic approach.

Inverter or On/Off — the short answer

An inverter. Almost always. Here's why:

• Smoothly varies compressor speed — no abrupt starts and stops
• Holds the temperature to within ±0.5 °C instead of ±2–3 °C on an On/Off unit
• Uses 30–50 % less electricity
• Runs quieter: 20–24 dB versus 32–38 dB at On/Off start-up
• Compressor lifespan is 30–40 % longer — no shock start-up loads

On/Off makes sense in one case: you use the AC less than two months a year and the budget is tight. The price gap is 300–600 GEL and pays back in 2–3 seasons. Browse inverter models and on/off in the catalogue.

Sizing BTU: don't trust “100 BTU per square metre”

The basic formula — 1 m² = 100 BTU — only works for an ideal room: ground floor, north-facing, one person, no appliances. In reality you need corrections:

• South- or west-facing: +10–15 %
• Panoramic windows or a glass facade: +15–20 %
• Top floor with an uninsulated roof: +10–15 %
• More than 2 people in the room regularly: +600 BTU each
• Computer, TV, kitchen appliances: +300–500 BTU per device

A 25 m² room on the south side of a top floor isn't 9,000 BTU — it's at least 12,000. Undersizing means the AC runs flat out without ever reaching the set temperature. Your electricity bill climbs and the comfort never arrives.

Try our selector by room area — it applies these corrections automatically.

Energy classes: A, A+, A++ — the practical difference

The gap between class A and A++ is 20–30 % of electricity use. That sounds abstract. Here are real numbers for a 12,000 BTU model:

• Class A: ~180 GEL per season
• Class A++: ~120 GEL per season
• Savings over 5 years: 300–500 GEL

At the same capacity and price, always pick the higher energy class. If A++ costs 200–300 GEL more than A, it pays back in 2–3 seasons.

Noise level: critical for the bedroom, important for any room

Noise is measured in decibels. Every +3 dB doubles the loudness. Here's the scale:

• 19–22 dB — quieter than rustling leaves. Ideal for a bedroom
• 24–28 dB — a whisper. Comfortable for any room
• 30–34 dB — a quiet office. Fine by day, disturbing at night
• 36–40 dB — a noticeable background. Real discomfort

Important: look at the noise level at minimum fan speed, not maximum. The AC runs at minimum 80 % of the time.

Refrigerant: R32 is the new standard

R410A was the standard for the last 15 years. R32 is its replacement. Three reasons R32 is better:

• Global warming potential (GWP) is 3 times lower — greener
• Needs less charge — cheaper to service
• Higher COP (coefficient of performance) — more efficient

All the new Midea models in our catalogue already use R32.

Wi-Fi module — do you need it?

In short: if you want to switch the AC on from your phone on the way home — yes. It's especially handy to:

• Start cooling 20 minutes before you arrive
• Check you didn't leave it running after you left
• Control the climate at a country house or office remotely
• Integrate with Google Home or a voice assistant

Models without Wi-Fi are 50–100 GEL cheaper. If phone control isn't essential, that's a sensible saving.

Pre-purchase checklist

• What is the room area and which way do the windows face?
• Inverter or On/Off? (Almost always inverter.)
• Which energy class? (A++ all else being equal.)
• Do you need Wi-Fi?
• Who will install it? Professional installation isn't optional — it's a condition of the warranty.

The right choice now means quiet, savings and steady cooling for 10–15 years ahead.

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