Which Air Conditioning Unit is Best for My Home?

Aug 13, 2020Installation

No matter what your opinion is on climate change and humanity’s influence on global temperatures, you must agree that Australian summers are getting hotter and hotter.

The previous two summers, in 2018-19 and 2019-20, smashed temperature records and were also two of the longest summers Australians have experienced in recent years. What is more interesting is that these records were themselves only six years old, with the summer of 2012-13 being the previous record-setter. Summers are undeniably getting hotter in Australia, and any family should be considering air conditioning to help get them through the peak of summer.

It can be difficult to find the right air conditioning solution for you and your home, with so many different options available. That is where our handy guide comes in. Here we are going to take a look at some of the things to consider when you are deciding which is the best air conditioning unit for your home.

Size Matters

One of the biggest factors that will help you make your decision is the size of the space you want to add air conditioning. If you want to bring air conditioning to your whole home, then a fully ducted home cooling system with ducting to pump cooled air to every room is needed. These rely on a large, central unit that is usually installed discreetly out of sight outside the home.

Most homes and families only need air conditioning in communal areas they use in the daytime when the sun is at its hottest, or in the bedroom for those steamy summer nights to get a good night’s rest.

The most common type of air conditioning unit is the split-system, in which an outdoor unit is connected to an indoor vent unit by pipes filled with refrigerant gas. Units like this can cool an area up to 60m square – perfect for large rooms and open plan living areas.

Window Units and Portables

The use of portable air conditioners and window units is growing in Australia, particularly in apartments in urban areas. They can also be handy to have around the home, as a backup in case a larger unit fails, or to allow you to bring air conditioning to any room such as a child’s bedroom on a hot night.

These types of units are the best option for renters, as they do not require any structural changes to a building and can be easily moved. If you rent your home or apartment, they are the best choice for
you and are still capable of cooling and area up to 50m square.

What is Cooling Capacity?

Many air conditioner manufacturers label their products with cooling capacity in kilowatts (kW’s), and this can help you to choose the right size unit for your room or area. For areas up to 20m sq. you need a unit with 2-2.5kW capacity and for every additional 10m sq. you will need roughly another 1-1.5kW of capacity. Don’t think more is always better, however, and be more conservative when deciding what capacity of air conditioner you need. An overpowered unit for a space will cool inefficiently and inconsistently.

At Environ Air Conditioning, our aim is to reduce your cooling costs and make your home more comfortable. We’ll work closely with you to find the air conditioning unit that will best suit your individual circumstances and budget. We supply and install air conditioning units. This year is expected to be another record-setting summer, and it may hit the highest temperatures recorded, as well as last longer than previous years. Having a home air conditioning unit is the perfect solution for most Australians to survive the coming heatwaves.

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