If you’re thinking about investing in an air conditioner for your residence in Kincumber, you’ve likely noticed the vast array of options available. Essentially, you’ll be deciding between two primary types: ducted or split-system cooling solutions. Each of these categories has its unique variations to ponder. Before we delve into the specifics and advantages of various air conditioning technologies, there are several terms that are common to both ducted and split-system units:
In both ducted and split-system air conditioners, the term “reverse-cycle” denotes that the units provide both heating and cooling capabilities, not merely cooling. Air conditioners chill spaces by extracting warm air, cooling it, and then recirculating it into the room, while expelling the heat via the external unit. To heat a room, reverse-cycle air conditioners simply invert this operation, drawing in warm air from outdoors (even in frigid outdoor conditions, there’s still heat energy available to be drawn in). Reverse-cycle air conditioners are notably efficient heaters and typically more cost-effective than their gas or electric counterparts.
Opting for a ducted or split-system air conditioner in Kincumber might introduce you to ‘inverter’ technology. Inverter air conditioners adjust the compressor speed (typically housed in the outdoor unit) according to the unit’s power needs, enhancing efficiency and cooling speed. For example, a 10kW inverter system can initially use 12kW to cool quickly, then reduce to a lower power, like 3kW, to maintain the temperature. On the other hand, non-inverter models, running only at a set power, often use more energy by cycling on and off to maintain desired temperatures, generally making them less cost-effective.
Choosing either a ducted or split-system air conditioning system will include an outdoor unit. Affixed to the building’s exterior, this box houses the compressor, propeller fan, circuit board, and heat exchange coil, and is responsible for circulating refrigerant to its corresponding indoor unit. This exterior box might also be termed the ‘condenser,’ ‘heat exchanger,’ or simply, the ‘compressor’.
Ducted air conditioning is the ultimate cool comfort in summer, and cosy warmth in winter. A ducted system can maintain ideal temperatures throughout your whole house or business in Kincumber, and cover much larger areas than other air conditioning technology. A ducted system usually comprises an outdoor unit and a central indoor unit that connects to multiple vents or ducts throughout your building, usually in the ceiling but occasionally in walls or under the floor. Duct grills come in a range of styles, and can be seamlessly integrated into almost any interior. It’s also the quietest air conditioning technology so it’s ideal for bedrooms or boardrooms where you don’t want any distractions.
Ducted systems can be set up to create different temperature ‘zones’, so for example you could choose to have a kitchen where multiple people are cooking (creating heat) cooled more than a bedroom with a single person who is trying to sleep. They have advanced sensors and air distribution ducts that make sure air is distributed evenly throughout each zone, so there aren’t hot or cold pockets in a room.
Our team in Kincumber supply and install a wide range of ducted aircon units suitable for both homes and businesses.
The name split system comes from the air conditioner being split into the indoor unit (with a fan, remote receiver etc) and an outdoor unit (with the compressor, propellor fan etc). Some outdoor units can connect to multiple indoor units, and these systems are called multi-split or multi-head systems.
Split systems will mostly use inverter technology but not all do so it’s worth checking. Each indoor unit can usually only cool one room, although depending how powerful they are they may be able to cool large, open-plan rooms in some homes. They are the most popular choice of air-conditioner for homes in Australia. Generally they are cheaper than ducted but not quite as powerful or consistent.
For Split System Air Conditioning Kincumber, our team are available to chat with you if you need help determining if an inverter or non-inverter air conditioner is the best option for your circumstances and budget.
Most portable air conditioners have a single duct that connects to a window to vent heat from the room, it draws air from the room and vents it outside. This results in an air pressure reduction which means more hot air is drawn into the room from other areas of the house. This means portable air conditioners have to work very hard to cool a room, are energy-inefficient, and therefore expensive to run. Most will not have an energy star rating because while they may cool down a person in part of a room, they will not cool the room effectively, and that is how the energy star ratings are measured. It is predominantly for these reasons that we don’t recommend or sell them.
Choosing the right air conditioner for your home or business in Kincumber can be a complex process. There are many estimators available that will use general calculations such as a small room – up to 20m² – requiring 2-2.5kW of power, or a large room of 40–60m² needing 4-6kW, but these are a little simplistic. Room size is definitely one of the things that has the biggest impact on what type of air conditioning unit you’ll need, and what size it should be, but you need to consider more than just the floor size. The height of your walls will affect how it cools, the total volume of the room is more important than the floor space – a room with really high ceilings needs more energy to cool. You should also factor in:
You may be tempted to think that if you just get the most powerful air-conditioner available, or go for a higher model than an online estimator suggests that it will be a safe purchase, but that is not actually the case. An air conditioner that is too big is not just more costly to run than it needs to be, but it can also give you a worse quality of heating or cooling. It may not dehumidify or dry the air enough, the automatic systems may turn on and off so frequently that it causes damage, and it can also leave your room too hot or too cold. Similarly a unit that is too small for your room will have to work too hard, causing excessive wear and tear as well as huge power bills. Units that are too small can also dry your home’s air too much.
It’s always a good idea to seek a recommendation from an expert that can assess your property to find the best solution. The Globalrez team offers free quotes to residents of Kincumber over the phone or online here.
In Kincumber, there are many brands to choose from, and most of the big names make dozens of models, so it can seem impossible to compare between them. Mitsubishi, Haier, and Samsung on average are some of the most economical and environmentally friendly on the market. Mitsubishi is also often a favourite among consumer groups such as CHOICE, and Fujitsu is one of the most popular brands in air conditioning in Australia. ActronAir is well regarded as it is Australian-owned and their products are Australian-made, and Daikin – although it now has overseas ownership – still offers Australian-made air conditioners.
Most of these brands offer quality products, and it is a matter of watching out for any special sales or cash back offers to find the best value among them. Generally these companies will have similar models in similar price brackets, although you might have to be careful when looking out for particular features. For example, if you want an air conditioner that adjusts the temperature based on whether it senses people and movement you will have to look for different names with different brands – for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries it’s Eco Operation; for Haier it’s Eco-pilot; and for Daikin it’s Intelligent Eye.
You can expect to pay at least $1000 for a split system air conditioner, ranging up to closer to $4000 for multi-head systems. To get ducted you will probably be looking at $6000 minimum, but likely significantly more in larger properties. Obviously the initial cost is only part of the expense of owning an air conditioner, so it’s worth looking into the efficiency of the models you are considering. Comparing split systems is often relatively straight-forward using the energy star rating system, but because ducted systems will be different in every house you’ll have to ask an installer to get a better idea of the running cost for your home.
Most air conditioning manufacturers recommend regular servicing – twice a year, at the start of summer and the start of winter. Regular servicing and maintenance ensure your air conditioner runs at maximum efficiency, extending its lifetime as well as keeping operating costs at a minimum.
Regular servicing through Globalrez will also mean that your unit located in Kincumber will qualify for the full warranty of up to ten years, rather than just the standard one-year manufacturer’s warranty.
A comprehensive service involves more than just cleaning filters, it’s a full service of all the indoor and outdoor components, as well as comprehensive testing to ensure all components are running at full capacity. A service includes duct cleaning – a cleaning of the supply and return air ducts and registers, grills and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing
Not quite what you were looking for? Check out Air Conditioning Mosman or Air Conditioning Windsor or view all of our locations.
Kincumber is a south-eastern suburb of the central coast region, located 91km north of Sydney. Flanked by ocean on one side and trails and nature reserves on the other, it’s easy to see why locals describe this town as their little slice of heaven. Featuring good schools and local shops that remember you by name, Kincumber offers the much-craved comfort gained by its small-town feel. Within minutes of amazing beaches, it’s easy to access everything the central coast has to offer. With amazing treks in the national park, plus skate parks, ovals and beaches, there is plenty to do to keep active amongst the birds and trees.