How To Choose Your Air Conditioner

Choosing the right air conditioning unit can be extremely confusing. On top of hundreds of companies trying to sell you what they say is “the best” one out there, there are so many different types to choose from. If you’re struggling to determine which one is suitable for your home, here are our top tips on how to choose an air conditioner.

Do I Need An Air Conditioning Unit?

Air conditioners are important appliances in any Australian home. Whilst some consider that they don’t always look appealing, they offer a number of benefits all year round.

Not only do these units keep your home comfortable during the summer and winter, but they will also circulate clean, fresh air into your rooms. Some AC's like Hitachi also rid the air of any impurities too, which is great for people with asthma and allergies. However, an air conditioner can be a significant investment, so making sure that you’re investing in the right unit is important.

Here are a few of the unit types we can offer you.

Split Air Conditioning

Split air conditioning units are the most popular option, and it’s not hard to see why.

Their ease of use, alongside their low running costs, make them one of the best investments for homeowners looking to buy on a budget.

The system itself is split into two units (hence the name 'Split' system) – the first rectangular looking unit is located inside the room to cool or heat the space  . The second unit is located outside, shaped more like a suitcase, and is responsible for supplying cooling or heating to the indoor unit as required. The only downside to split A/Cs is that they can’t cool your entire home – they’re designed to cool the room that the indoor unit is installed in.

Multi-split Systems

If you’re in need of an A/C that works like a split system but covers more rooms in your home or office, then a multi-split system might be the right one for you. This is a cluster of indoor units, installed in a number of different rooms, which are all attached to one large outdoor unit. Although a higher initial investment, this is a better option for those who want to keep a couple of rooms cool.

Ducted Cooling Systems

Not disimilar in nature to multi-split systems, ducted cooling systems work by channelling cool air through a series of ducts from a larger unit located in the ceiling space of your home. But one of their biggest benefits is that they allow you to air conditioin many rooms from the one central system.

However, although they are discrete and very energy efficient, these air conditioning units are a higher initial investment cost to install, so they won’t be suitable for everyone. Plus, most of the components are concealed in the roof space, which your home may not have.

It’s best to get an assessment from one of Mackies design engineers before deciding on this type of system.

Choosing The Right Size A/C

Once you’ve decided on the right type of air conditioning system, the next step is to determine the right size unit for your needs. Generally speaking, you will need about 1.25 – 1.7 kilowatts of power for every 10 square metres if you have a standard ceiling height.

Mackies can determine the correct system for your needs by carrying out a thorough heat load analysis.

If you’re ready to buy your next air conditioner, contact us at Mackie Electric & Refrigeration by calling us on (02) 6552 2377 today.