AC Guide · Buying

Hot and cold AC: is it worth it in Delhi?

By Saheb Sareen. Updated 2026-11-01.

The answer

Buy a hot and cold AC for a bedroom you use in winter. Buy one too if elderly parents or small children live with you. Need the AC only in summer? Buy a cooling-only one.¹

• It costs about ₹4,300 more than a cooling-only 3 Star. It also replaces a room heater.^11,3
• It burns nothing, so it gives off no fumes.^4,5
• It keeps heating down to -10°C outside. Delhi's coldest day ever was -0.6°C.^2,6

Watch: how one AC cools in summer and heats in winter

1. In summer, the AC takes heat out of your room. It throws it outside.
2. In winter, a hot and cold AC runs the other way.
3. It pulls heat from the cold air outside. It brings it into your room.
4. It moves heat. It burns nothing, so there are no fumes.

A simple drawing. Daikin's hot and cold ACs keep heating down to -10°C outside.^4,2

Hot and cold AC or cooling only: which should you buy?

The rule: need heat in winter? Hot and cold. Summer only? Cooling only. For long summer hours, see 3 Star vs 5 Star.¹

In rupees: one real example

The hot and cold AC costs about ₹4,300 more today. Both come with the piping kit. At full power it heats for about ₹12 an hour, at ₹8 a unit. Once the room is warm, it slows down and uses less.^11,2,9

Hot and cold AC: pros and cons

Pros

• One AC cools in summer and heats in winter.²
• You don't need a separate room heater or blower.³
• It burns nothing. So there are no fumes in a closed room.^4,5
• Its PM1.0 filter catches very fine dust.²
• It stops heating once the room is warm enough.⁴

Cons

• It costs about ₹4,300 more than a cooling-only 3 Star.¹¹
• It comes only as a 3 Star. A 5 Star uses fewer units in summer.⁸
• It comes only in 1, 1.5 and 1.8 ton.¹¹

Cooling-only AC: pros and cons

Pros

• It costs less to buy.¹¹
• You can pick a 5 Star for long summer hours.⁸
• There are more models and sizes to choose from.¹¹

Cons

• It can't heat. In winter you need a room heater too.³
• Kerosene and coal heaters need fresh air to avoid fumes.⁵
• A room heater uses a lot of electricity the whole time it is on.⁴

How does a hot and cold AC heat a room?

• In summer, an AC takes heat from your room and moves it outside.⁴
• In winter, a hot and cold AC does the opposite. It brings heat in from outside.⁴
• This is called a heat pump. It moves heat. It does not make heat by burning.^3,4

Is a hot and cold AC better than a room heater?

• It gives off no fumes. The government says kerosene and coal heaters need fresh air.^4,5
• It uses much less electricity than a room heater, says Daikin.⁴
• It stops heating once the room is warm. A heater often keeps going.⁴
• It also cleans the air. Its PM1.0 filter catches very fine dust.²

How much electricity does a hot and cold AC use?

• A 1.5 ton uses at most about 1.5 units an hour while heating.^2,9
• Once the room is warm, it slows down and uses less. See how an inverter works.²
• In summer, it uses the same units as a cooling-only 3 Star. See units per hour.⁸

Does a hot and cold AC work in Delhi winters?

• Yes. It keeps heating down to -10°C outside.²
• Delhi's coldest day in January 2026 was 2.9°C.⁷
• Its coldest day ever was -0.6°C, in 1935.⁶

What size hot and cold AC do I need?

• We sell them in 1, 1.5 and 1.8 ton.¹¹
• Pick the size for summer cooling. It heats about as much as it cools.²
• Our guide shows what size AC you need for your room.

See it for yourself

• Daikin hot and cold ACs: 1, 1.5 and 1.8 ton, with stock and price.
• 1.5 ton hot and cold, FTHT50: Available on order.

Questions people ask

Is a hot and cold AC worth it in Delhi?

Yes, if you use the room in winter. It costs about ₹4,300 more than a cooling-only 3 Star. And you skip a room heater.^1,11,3

Can a hot and cold AC replace a room heater?

Yes. Daikin says you don't need a separate room heater or blower.³

Is a hot and cold AC good for elderly people and small children?

Yes, it is what we suggest for them. It burns nothing, so there are no fumes in a closed room.^1,4,5

Does a hot and cold AC use more electricity in summer?

No. Its star label shows the same units as a cooling-only 3 Star.⁸

Down to what temperature does a hot and cold AC heat?

Daikin's hot and cold ACs heat when it is as cold as -10°C outside.²

What is the warranty on a hot and cold AC?

The same as any Daikin inverter AC. 1 year on the AC, 5 on the circuit board, and 10 on the compressor.¹⁰

Sources

1. Our showroom advice: a hot and cold AC for a bedroom used in winter, a home with elderly parents or small children, or a home with no other heating (October 2026) (Citi Cool)
2. FTHT50XV Hot & Cold split AC: heating from -10°C to 24°C outside, heating current, PM1.0 filter, inverter (Daikin India)
3. Daikin's Hot and Cold Split AC: Your Partner in All Seasons (a heat pump in winter; no separate room heater or blower needed) (Daikin India)
4. Here's how we ensure comfort all year round (a heat pump moves heat instead of making it, and uses much less electricity than a room heater) (Daikin India)
5. Cold Wave: do's and don'ts ("Maintain proper ventilation when using a kerosene, heater or coal oven to avoid toxic fumes") (National Disaster Management Authority)
6. Lowest minimum temperature over Delhi on 1 Jan 2021: Delhi's all-time lowest, -0.6°C on 16 Jan 1935 (India Meteorological Department)
7. Monthly weather report of Delhi, January 2026: lowest 2.9°C at Safdarjung (India Meteorological Department)
8. BEE star label figures from the Daikin RA Master Catalogue 2026 (ISEER and units a year), shown on each product page (Daikin)
9. Full power = 230 V × Daikin's rated current, as in our AC calculator (Citi Cool engineering)
10. Product Warranty (Daikin India)
11. Daikin hot and cold AC prices and stock today (citicool.in)

More AC questions, answered

• Which ton AC does my room need?: Sized for your city's hottest day, with the right AC from stock.
• Inverter vs non-inverter AC: which one should you buy?: Inverter for a bedroom used 6+ hours a day. Non-inverter for short use, a top floor or a hall.
• How many units does a 1.5 ton AC use in an hour?: About half a unit on the label. Two to three times that on a top floor.
• What is the difference between an inverter and a non-inverter AC?: One is fully on or off. The other slows down. Watch both work.
• 3 Star vs 5 Star AC: is a 5 Star worth it?: A 5 Star for long hours. A 3 Star for nights and short use.
• What is the best temperature to set your AC?: 24°C, and 26°C at night. Never 18°C.
• How much does AC installation cost in Delhi?: About ₹2,700 to fit a split AC, plus copper pipe by the metre. Our rate card, item by item.
• VRV or split AC: which is better for your home?: VRV when you have no space for outdoor units. It costs more to buy and less to run.
• What size AC do I need for my room?: A 1.5 ton for most bedrooms. A 5 Star or a bigger AC on a top floor.
• Coming next: Daikin AC error codes: what they mean
• Coming next: What is ISEER? The star label number explained
• Coming next: Cassette AC or split AC?

Want one AC for summer and winter? Call sales on 77039 00307, or book a ₹99 video call with an engineer, adjusted against your order.