Getting the right type of air conditioner can be a bit daunting. There are many manufacturers and models on the market as well as different types of systems. Your local electrician will guide you through this process, but they can only do so by knowing your budget, your property and other factors like how much it will get used etc.

You won’t be expected to just pick the right system off the shelf and have an electrician or aircon company just install it so don’t worry, but knowing what your options are beforehand will certainly make things simpler so let’s take a look.

Things to Consider

  • How Many Rooms – This will basically dictate the amount of power measured in kW (kilowatts) and will largely dictate the price for the type of system. For rooms:

10m2 to 20m2, a 2.6kW unit should cool the room

20m2 to 30m2, a 3.5kW unit should cool the room

30m2 to 45m2, a 5-6kW unit should cool the room

45m2 to 65m2, a 7-8kW unit should cool the room

  • Noise – Modern air conditioners are all very quiet, they are usually only noisy when worn or badly maintained but ducted aircon is usually quieter than split so if noise is a factor, then this should be considered.
  • Running Costs – A split system is generally cheaper to run than a ducted but a ducted one will offer greater control over the temperature of each room. There isn’t a huge difference but long term it will be measurable.
  • Control – All major types of aircon systems will come with different controls, whether they be remotes or they link to smart home systems that can be controlled by your smartphones or tablets. This can be a very handy feature but ducted will give you the most control over individual temperatures in each room.
  • Appearance – Ducted is almost invisible so this is a clear winner, but not all homes and properties are able to have this system installed due to space restrictions. Split systems are now having smaller and smaller units that will also blend in more with your decor.

Types of Aircon

There are about 8 types of air conditioning systems on the market, but for the purposes of this article, we shall stick to 3 or 4 as we are focusing on homes.

  • Split System – These are the most common and generally the least expensive. They can also be floor mounted. The cooling unit is wall mounted whilst the fan and motor are mounted outside.
  • Ducted – Also known as “Central” means a central cooling unit is mounted outside and powers the whole house but requires ceiling mounted ducting to be installed in your home. A high up-front cost but also ultimately can be cheaper than multiple split systems and depending on how you use it, it can also be more efficient in the long term due to better control.
  • Window – These units are mounted into the lower parts of windows and are great for small individual rooms. There is just one unit and they can be noisy but the overall cost is lower than other systems. Not ideal for large rooms though.
  • Portable – These units are off the shelf and require no installation. Really only of any use in limited circumstances and doesn’t really qualify as proper air conditioning. Usually quite noisy and obtrusive but ideal for just one room in a house.

Conclusion

Aircon is a big investment for a home, and it will get even more complex if you have an existing aircon and want to switch. The info above should provide a good guide to where to start but consulting your local electrical aircon specialist will mean you end up with the perfect system for your home for many years to come.

Rob Martin electrical specialise in aircon for homes and offices and with their 15 years of experience, you can trust you’ll get the right system.