As summer rolls around in Australia, heat loves to creep into our homes, making it extremely uncomfortable to just hang out and relax.
And as much as we love jumping in the pool to cool off, it’s not always possible and, besides, we’d shrivel like prunes after a while!
That’s why you need to stay cool by installing air conditioning in your home.
But it’s not quite as simple as just deciding that you want air conditioning in your Australian home. There are a few decisions you need to make.
Namely, do you want to install a ducted or split system air conditioner and what size unit do you need to cool your home?
Don’t worry if you have no idea just yet. Read on for some key information that will help you make your decision.
What Are Ducted And Split System Air Conditioners?
There are two main air conditioner types: ducted and split system.
Ducted air conditioners are built-in units that work by treating the air in a centralised area and then distributing it around the home through a series of ducts installed in the ceilings. This pushes cool air into the room to cool it.
Split system air conditioners are the units seen most often in houses. They have two components – one that sits indoors, and one outdoors. In essence, the indoor component captures the warm air and sends it through the system to the outdoor component where it’s treated and cooled then pushed back to the indoor component to be pushed through the room.
Both types of air conditioners have benefits and drawbacks to consider.
The Pros And Cons Of Ducted Air Conditioners
Ducted air conditioners are more often seen in large buildings, but they are becoming more common in everyday Australian households. Could they be the best option for you?
Pros Of Ducted Air Conditioners
- Can cool large spaces easily
- It’s easier to cool the whole home, with many systems featuring individual room temperature control
- It’s a more robust, long-term solution
- Quiet air conditioning means no disruptions to your sleep, work, or relaxation
Cons Of Ducted Air Conditioners
- It’s more expensive to install
- As it’s quite an intricate installation process that requires connecting ducts in the walls and ceilings, not all homes are eligible for it.
- Must be installed by professionals
- It’s expensive to run if you’re only cooling one or two rooms
Pros Of Split System Air Conditioners
- More affordable to buy and install
- You can add more units to your home as needed
- It’s a cost-effective option for small homes that only need one or two rooms cooled
- It can be installed in most households
Cons Of Split System Air Conditioners
- They are quite bulky, which can slightly ruin the look and design of the room
- They aren’t as powerful as ducted systems, they can only blow the cold air so far, meaning they aren’t very effective in larger rooms.
How Do I Choose The Size Of My Unit?
Once you know what kind of air conditioning you want, you need to know the size of the unit you need.
All air conditioning units measure their power in BTU (British Thermal Units). The higher the BTU of the air conditioning unit, the better it is at cooling your room.
And while you could go for a generic unit that is seen as possessing enough BTU power to cool the average living room (believed to be 6000-8000 BTU), you’ll get much better results if you take your room size into account.
To measure the amount of BTU necessary to cool your room, you’ll need to take the following measurements in feet:
- The width of your room
- The height of your room
- The length of your room
Essentially, you need to work out the square footage of your room.
Once you have your measurements, the equation is as follows:
Height x width x length x 5 = BTU needed to cool your room.
Don’t worry though, if you’re not great at maths, this handy calculator will do the work for you. Just remember, to get the most accurate results, double-check your measurements first!
Get The Best Air Conditioner For Your Space
You’ve got a few options available to you when it comes to air conditioning sizes and types. And now that you know the difference between the various unit types and understand how to choose the correct size, we hope you feel more empowered to make your decision.
Here at O'Brien’s, we’re experts in installing air conditioners in homes in Australia to make sure you can enjoy summer the way you like it – chillin’!
To get started buying and installing your air conditioning, contact us for a quote today!
