Energy saving tips for your ducting air conditioning Brisbane

September 25, 2014 by Brisbane Air

home energy efficiency ratings Energy bills never seem to fall, and according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Queensland households spend an average of $30 each week on energy used within the home. One of the most efficient methods of keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter is by using air conditioning. Even then, there are always ways to reduce your energy bill further. Here are a few energy saving tips for those with ducted air conditioning systems in Brisbane.

Five ways to save energy with a ducted air conditioner

Ensure your ducted air conditioner is properly planned

A well designed ducted air conditioning system will be based around the size and location of your rooms and your day-to-day needs. It is possible to see the same heating and cooling benefits of ducted air conditioning with smaller units, which are cheaper to run, if the system is properly planned.

Locate your air conditioning units for best advantage

Units should be placed in places where there is air access and clear from obstructions. Outdoor units should ideally be in shade, with adequate ventilation.

Use an energy saving temperature setting

Setting your thermostat at the optimum temperature will save hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars over the lifetime of a unit. By finding the best balance between efficiency and comfort, you’ll increase those energy savings even further.

Set your thermostat cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer: every degree will save money by requiring your ducted air conditioner to work a little less hard.

Maintain your ducted air conditioning system regularly

A well maintained ducted air conditioning unit works more efficiently. Check filters at least once every 2-3 months, replace batteries in the remote control once a year, and check outdoor units are free from debris. Have your ducted air conditioning system in Brisbane, serviced regularly by a professional, and you’ll ensure not only that it runs to maximum efficiency, saving energy all the while, but also lasts longer (saving on replacement cost).

Consider your home’s natural energy saving ability

In the winter, thick curtains will help keep heat in, while using curtains and awnings in the summer will help to keep rooms cool. Also think about how you use your home: when leaving a room for any length of time, close the door and turn the air conditioning off. Use windows wisely – open windows mean air conditioning units work harder.

The bottom line

Be energy wise in the winter and the summer. Follow these few energy saving tips, and instead of seeing your bills rise you’ll have a few more dollars in your pocket for more enjoyable pastimes.

Looking for a summer and winter air conditioner

September 17, 2014 by Brisbane Air

Most people think of air conditioning as a system that cools in the height of summer. Yet a unit also set up as a winter air conditioner has a number of benefits. These include reducing the spread of germs and producing an atmosphere ideal for those that suffer with air-based allergies. Clean air and an ambient temperature will make those indoor days more comfortable, and help the festivities flow during a fabulous family Christmas. Here we look at how you will benefit with a winter air conditioner, also commonly known as reverse cycle air conditioners.

What is a winter air conditioner?

You might think of a summer air conditioner as one which pumps ice cold air into your home or office, though one of its main benefits is the way it removes moisture to dehumidify – dry air means less sweat. A winter air conditioner helps to maintain a comfortable temperature while humidifying the space it serves; in other words, it does the opposite to a summer air conditioner and helps you feel warm rather than cold.

Contrary to popular belief, a winter air conditioner is one of the most efficient ways of keeping your home warm (Ausgrid, 2011). And when combined with a summer air conditioner in the same unit, no longer will there be a need for two separate systems to keep your home or office at the most comfortable ambient temperature. That’s going to save on maintenance costs, too.

The benefits of a winter air conditioner

Though it may be a little more expensive to install than conventional winter heating systems, the running costs of a winter air conditioner will surprise most home owners. A winter air conditioner keeps you warm at half the cost of a gas heater and a third that of electric convection heaters. Apart from the money saved, here are some other benefits of installing a winter air conditioner:

The air filtration system keeps internal atmosphere free from dust and other pollutants, making staying indoors comfortable for those with allergies and helping to prevent germs spreading.
The ideal room temperature is reached rapidly, with control at the touch of a button.
A winter air conditioner is a quiet way of keeping your home at the perfect temperature, and when installed in a conservatory will increase the space in your home (a great addition for Christmas).

Stay warm in winter and save money

The benefits of a winter air conditioner will be obvious from its first operation, and the cost quickly repaid by reducing energy bills. With a number of winter air conditioning solutions available, there will be a system to suit your home and budget. Our experts will be happy to help you choose the best unit for your home, so that you can begin to take advantage of all the benefits a winter air conditioner offers.

5 tips for making the right choice for air conditioning performance

September 11, 2014 by Brisbane Air

AC Unit Front When used effectively, air conditioning not only increases comfort in the home and office all year round, but also saves on energy and reduces utility bills. The many benefits of air conditioning are seen fully by planning ahead, but with so many different types of air conditioning available the choice can be mind boggling. Here are five tips to make the right choice for air conditioning installation and performance for your individual needs.

Think about your space

The first consideration when selecting your air conditioning is that of the space it is going to serve. If in a home, you’ll need to think about the size and layout of rooms, and which rooms will be used most often. If you are installing office air conditioning, then you may need to cater for an open plan office as well as consider future zoning needs.

Choose the right type of air conditioning

There are several types of air conditioning available, including ducted air conditioning and split system air conditioners, the suitability of which will depend upon the required use. Ducted systems are generally best for whole of house and single storey buildings, while split systems are more commonly used in specific areas of homes and office buildings.

Be energy efficient

The more energy efficient your air conditioning unit, the more cost effective it will be. Here in Australia, air conditioning units are rated on the Energy Star System. This rating combines the energy efficiency ratio and coefficient of performance with the type of refrigerant gas used. This produces a star rating between 1 and 10 (10 being the most efficient). Higher efficiency equals lower running costs.

Size your units correctly

Air conditioning units that are too big or too small for the space and location will be less efficient. For maximum air conditioning performance, size really does matter. You’ll need to consider the size of rooms, their locations, and what types of use they will receive when selecting the optimum size for your air conditioning units. This article will help you answer the all-important size question.

Don’t forget maintenance

Even the highest rated energy efficient air conditioning units will require regular maintenance to keep them performing at their peak. Think about where the air conditioning units will be placed, not only for air conditioning performance but also for ease of access. A well maintained air conditioner will give up to 60% better energy
consumption – make sure your air conditioning is easily maintained and serviced regularly.

These five tips will help you make the best choice for peak air conditioning performance. If you require further help, then contact us now to arrange an onsite consultation with one of our air conditioning experts.

Office Air Conditioner Wars and How to Stop Them

July 2, 2014 by Brisbane Air

Office Air Conditioner Wars and How to Solve Them!

In the modern office it’s commonplace to see workers at one end shivering and at the other sweltering. People working at these two extremes see their work suffer: it’s hard to work a keyboard when wearing gloves, and just as hard to concentrate when there’s sweat pouring from your brow.

Even worse are the air conditioner wars that regularly break out between employees. One minute the thermostat is set high, the next it has been turned all the way down. In the worst cases an employee may take and hide the AC remote control.

Arguments at the water cooler are not unheard of.

What do you do to solve the office air conditioner wars?

Continually turning the air conditioner on and off or setting and resetting temperature does little more than increase individual agitation and the office energy bill. Here are five possible solutions to this age-old problem. Which is your preferred route?

Tell your workers to wear less or more as needed
Send the offenders into the naughty corner with a verbal warning
Tell the worst afflicted to have a cup of tea. That always makes things better – and while they have the kettle boiling they can make you a cup, too
Provide a bunch of expensive-to-run desk fans
Call in the experts and design a fit-for-purpose solution

Prevention is better than cure

In many offices, the short term solution is to provide everyone with a fan. The air conditioning gets switched off, and the office is full of noisy motors. Papers fly around like confetti. Yet still the temperature question is not solved.

There are several solutions that can be designed and customised for the office. An expert will be able to design the perfect office air conditioning system, taking into account the size and shape of office space, individual workstations, and number of staff working there.

The position of diffusers, air outflows, and the size and energy efficiency of your air conditioning unit will all need to be taken into account as part of your overall office air conditioning design. Just as no two workers are the same, no two offices are the same.

By taking action to prevent office temperature becoming an issue, you’ll find employees work better and take less time off work. Not only does productivity improve, but energy bills won’t shoot through the roof.

Or you could continue to rely on those expensive desk fans.

Air Conditioning System Efficiency

June 25, 2014 by Brisbane Air

What’s the Most Efficient Air Conditioner?

One of the most common questions that our technicians are asked by customers is to name the most efficient air conditioner. However, in exactly the same way that different people find different cars are best for them so, too, will customers find that the most efficient air conditioner for them may not be the same as that owned by their neighbour.

A better question to ask is, “How do I choose the best air conditioner?”

The functions of an air conditioner

The first thing to consider is the use your air conditioner will be put to. In general, the air conditioning unit that sits outside your home will be required to do three things:

Cool (or heat) your home
Regulate room temperature
Purify the air and remove condensation

Determining the best air conditioner for your circumstances requires consideration of how the air conditioning unit will best achieve these objectives.

With air conditioning units, size really does matter

If your air conditioning unit is too small, it won’t be able to work hard enough to keep your room cool or remove air moisture. A common mistake is to buy a unit that is not man enough to do the job in efforts to reduce energy consumption.

On the other hand, a unit that is too big could add hundreds of wasted dollars to your annual electricity bill.

How much energy will your unit use?

Similar size units can compare entirely differently in the amount of energy they use. To help compare energy efficiency, here in Australia we use a star ratings system with the most
efficient unit rated at 10 stars. This rating will also help you estimate how much electricity the unit will use over a year, helping you to budget accordingly.

Don’t forget how the unit looks

The size and energy rating of your unit is only part of the story. It will also need to be designed well enough to withstand both summer and winter weather, as well as running smoothly and quietly: the last thing you’ll want is a unit that disturbs either you or your neighbours during your downtime.

Your unit will need maintaining

Finally, your unit will need regular maintenance to ensure it carries on doing the job intended. A poorly maintained unit will cost more to run and need replacing before its time. Easily maintained units will help you keep on top of any servicing required.

How to choose the best air conditioning unit

In the Brisbane climate, air conditioning is not simply a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a necessity. Combining the above factors will ensure you get the best air conditioning unit for your circumstance. Our technicians will take into consideration not only how you want your unit to look, but also the other factors which need to be considered to make the right choice:

Your home’s square meterage
How many people live in your home
The insulation you have
Your home’s orientation to the sun

Only by fully considering all of these questions will you be sure you benefit from the most efficient air conditioner for your home.

Appropriate Air Conditioner Size and Capacity

June 25, 2014 by Brisbane Air

What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?

If your air conditioning unit is too small, it just won’t be able to maintain your home at the temperature you want it to. It will work so hard to do the job that it will use way more electric than you expect, too.

However, using an oversized system won’t win any prizes, either. A unit that’s too large will constantly turn on and off, increasing strain on the compressor and your energy bill.

It’s not simply a question of energy efficiency when selecting the right size air conditioner: the choice is a little more complicated than selecting the best looking unit with the highest energy rating. Here we look at how to decide what size air conditioner you need.

Start with the size of your living space

A larger room will need more cooling capacity, and it is this that will be the main factor in determining the required size of air conditioner unit. Not only will you need to consider the size of your rooms, but also their use: the more use your rooms receive, the more air conditioning they will need.

It’s not simply a fact of measuring floor space, either – rooms with high ceilings need a different air cooling capacity to those with lower ceilings.

Shady or sunny?

Second, you’ll need to consider the aspect of your home and the room(s) you want to cool. A room which is bathed in sunlight all day will need the air conditioner to work harder, and that will mean a bigger size of air conditioner.

What type of insulation do you have?

Poorly insulated rooms may let out the heat during the winter, but they also affect internal heat in the summer too.

How many people need cooling down?

Finally, the more people there are in the air conditioned space, the larger the air conditioning unit you’ll need. People give off heat, so for every extra person that lives in your home (or works in your office, if the air conditioner is for your workplace you’ll require that little extra air conditioning power.

Making the decision

It’s perfectly possible to measure your home and estimate the size of air conditioner you need, but to ensure the size is correct you need also to factor in aspect and inhabitant numbers, as well as use and insulation..

This calculator from the Australian Institute of Refrigeration will help you to estimate the size of air conditioner needed for your home, but in order to gain an accurate calculation you should consult an expert. They will have the tools and experience required to ensure your air conditioner is the right size, giving you maximum room temperature efficiency at lowest running cost.

How To Boost Your Air Conditioners Performance

June 15, 2014 by Brisbane Air

Want to Boost Your Air Conditioner’s Effectiveness?

With the tropical heat in this part of Australia, many businesses and homes are crippled by high energy bills bumped up even further by inefficient air conditioning systems. You don’t
have to turn off your air conditioning unit and struggle in the heat to cut those bills, though.

Here are 7 things you can do to make your air conditioner more effective and reduce those electricity bills without reducing your comfort level.

Have your air conditioning unit serviced regularly
An engineer will ensure that coils are cleaned and replaced if necessary. Dirty or malfunctioning coils can cost an air conditioner as much as 10% of its efficiency. A service should also concentrate on coolant levels and airflow throughout the system. You may be able to clean coils yourself using a toothbrush, but you should take care not to damage them.
Change filters regularly
Dirty filters make air conditioners work harder by restricting airflow. Changing or cleaning on a monthly basis will help your air conditioner maintain its efficiency.
Stop system leaks
By ensuring your ducts are properly insulated, either with mastic tape or sealer, and then making sure the ductwork is professionally cleaned every two to three years you’ll further enhance air conditioner efficiency.
Keep the unit clear of obstructions
Prune nearby plants and make certain that the unit has several feet of clear air space around it to increase free flow of air. Debris in the air conditioning unit is a major cause of unit inefficiency.
Raise your thermostat temperature and set your unit to ‘auto’
Each degree you increase your thermostat temperature will save you several percent on your air conditioning bill. To reduce that bill further still, set to auto and stop turning your system on and off!
Use shade to cool your rooms
Keeping sunlight out keeps your home cooler. Draw your curtains on south facing windows, and consider shaded landscaping in your garden which can also be used to protect your air conditioning unit from excessive heat (by some estimates this action alone increases air conditioner effectiveness by up to 10%).
Turn off your lights
Lights are one of those un-thought of sources of heat. Make sure that all lights which are not needed are turned off – especially when there is no one in a room (children are notorious for lighting the whole house). As you can see, there are plenty of things you can do yourself to ensure your air conditioner is working as effectively as possible. By combining all of these things with regular maintenance work undertaken by an experienced technician, you’ll make certain that your air conditioning unit is working at maximum efficiency and lowest cost throughout the year.

Air Conditioning troubleshooting tips

May 12, 2014 by Brisbane Air

On a hot summer’s day, there is nothing worse than finding your air conditioning system is not working properly (or at all). It can be frustrating and annoying. Even worse, you may have to wait for a technician to come out to affect a repair.

Most modern air conditioning units are very robust, and with proper maintenance and regular service visits from a qualified engineer you will enjoy years of trouble free operation. But what can you do if there is a problem?

Start with the basics

There are several things you can check and resolve in a few minutes. Start at the beginning and eliminate the most obvious causes first.

If the air conditioning unit is not working, the first thing you should check is the power. It may be something as simple as a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. This is the easiest repair to make, but if it breaks down again quickly there may be a bigger problem with the air conditioning unit itself. In such a case you will need to call a service technician.

Next on your checklist should be the thermostat settings: try reducing the temperature by 5 degrees. A thermostat set too high may result in the air conditioner running unevenly, or not at all, and inadequately cooling the room.

Finally, check the air conditioning unit is clean and free of dust and dirt. The outside unit in particular can suffer if there are weeds or bushes growing in close proximity. Make sure they are trimmed, and cut back to ensure there are no obstructions.

You’ve checked the obvious and the unit still isn’t working properly

Once you’ve checked these basics, it is best not to try and resolve any further issues by yourself. In trying to fix more complex problems, you may cause more harm. Instead, call a professional and let them diagnose the cause of your air conditioning issues.

An experienced service engineer will check refrigerant levels and search for leaks, test and check for noise and vibration, as well as checking switches and cut-outs. They will correct amperage currents of units and motors, and lubricate accessible bearings.

Prevention is better than cure

Here at Brisbane Air we have been installing, servicing and repairing air conditioning units in Brisbane for more than 30 years. We put this experience to use to bring the best service to our customers, and recommend that residential customers should have their system serviced at least every 18 months.

Even the newest, most advanced systems will benefit from a regular maintenance program. Regular servicing will save you money in the long run, and keep your air conditioning system working at peak efficiency no matter how hot the Summer.

Noise Regulations for Air Conditioning in Brisbane

May 9, 2014 by Brisbane Air

When you’re sitting in the garden, taking advantage of the sun, it’s easy to notice your neighbour’s air conditioning unit working away and disturbing the peace. You’re less likely to notice the noise your own unit is making, though, because you’ll be inside when it’s on.

Brisbane City Council has put a limit on the permitted noise level from air conditioning units, with direction notices and on-the-spot fines for breaking the rules. If your unit is too noisy, you could face a heavy penalty.

How loud is too noisy?

Brisbane City Council rules defines an unacceptable air conditioning noise level as more than 5 decibels above background during the day, and 3 decibels at night. When you consider that during the day, in a quiet residential street the normal background level is 35-45 decibels, the unacceptable level is not very loud at all.

How can you reduce the noise your air conditioner makes?

With just a few simple tips you can ensure you minimise noise levels generated by your air conditioner. These tips may even save you money on running costs:

Limit the hours you use your air conditioning – Do you really need it to be running all day and night?
Locate your outside units as far away as reasonably possible from neighbours and sensitive areas such as bedroom windows.
Erect a solid fence or barrier to absorb some of the sound, or install an acoustic enclosure.
Ensure your unit is serviced regularly, as units can become noisy over time due to constant running and lack of maintenance.

Should you decide to modify your existing unit to reduce noise, remember such modifications should only be carried out by a qualified engineer.

Of course, you can avoid the noise issue altogether by ensuring you select the correct size of air conditioning units, and the best model for your home, before initial installation.

Don’t fall foul of Brisbane City Council noise levels

If you think your air conditioning units are too noisy or you are looking to replace old units, our experienced air conditioning Brisbane technicians will be happy to advise you. All units sold by Brisbane Air are extremely quiet, and our fully qualified service technicians will advise on the optimum location for external units.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you stay within the noise laws and save money with energy efficient air conditioning units.