Brisbane Air

Brisbane Air Conditioning Specialists

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Which Type of Residential Air Conditioners are Best for You?

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Do you remember the discomfort you felt last summer? When our sub-tropical climate brought us hot, sticky summer days and restless nights? If so, it’s time to start thinking about how you can change your home’s climate this year and start enjoying the comfort and health benefits of air conditioning. With the dizzying selection of residential air conditioners, it can seem a little overwhelming at first. So let’s take a look at some of the basics that you are going to want to consider.

Size Matters

Regardless of the type of air conditioning system you choose, a primary consideration is matching the size and capacity of the air conditioner with all of the space that you want to cool. Choosing a system that is too big and powerful is a waste of money and energy and can even make your room feel a little damp instead of providing the cool and refreshing climate that you want. On the other hand, a unit that is too small will overwork the air conditioner and will not produce the cooling effect that you desire. The cooling capacity of air conditioners is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). The higher the BTU value, the more cooling capacity the air conditioner has.

Energy Efficiency

Thankfully, today’s air conditioning systems are much more efficient than they have ever been in the past. The current star rating system that is used to measure their efficiency was established when the energy labelling standards went into effect on April 1st, 2010. The rating is determined by the Annual Energy Efficiency Ratio (AEER) for cooling and the Annual Coefficient of Performance (ACOP) for heating. Air conditioners with high ratings save you money, use less energy and are more environmentally friendly.

Cassette Systems

Air conditioner cassette systems are generally used when there is not enough roof space for a ducted system. In the past, they were mainly suited to commercial applications, however new technical designs have created a unit with a much thinner profile and therefore they are now also being installed in residential situations.

Wall Mounted Split Systems

Split system air conditioning units are split into two parts, hence the term “split” system. They include an indoor air handling unit and an outdoor compressor unit. Nowadays, most split systems are also reverse cycle, which means they can both cool and heat rooms. In fact, the heating mode of these air conditioner units is generally regarded as one of the most cost efficient forms of heating available. Split systems are perfect for single room and cost efficient solutions, where the outdoor unit can be positioned nearby.

Multi Head Split Systems

This residential air conditioning technology allows you to have a number of individually controlled indoor units all running off of one outdoor compressor unit. This is typically not the most cost effective solution due to additional engineering requirements and the fact that you have to have an individual indoor unit for each room that you want to cool. However they can be the perfect solution if your outdoor space is limited and you don’t have adequate space for a ducted system.

Ducted Systems

Ducted air conditioning systems are the ‘top of the range’ solution and allow for the distribution of cool and warm air all around the house at the touch of a button. These ducted air conditioning systems contain a number of components, such as the air handling unit, the outdoor compressor and a series of ducts with vents in each room. To enhance this air conditioning solution even more, you can add a zone control system that will allow you to control the air flow to each room individually. This will provide you with the ability to distribute the conditioned air where you want it, when you want it. Ducted air conditioning systems also provide you with the greatest flexibility in the positioning of the outdoor compressor.

So with this information in mind you will be a lot more knowledgeable when you meet with a professional to design the perfect air conditioning solution for your home. Getting a professionally designed and installed residential air conditioner will ensure that you and your family can enjoy our incredible summers without all of the discomfort that you may have experienced in the past.

Split System Air Conditioning vs. Ducted Air Conditioning

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According to a government report issued by Energy Efficient Strategies (EES), demand for residential air conditioning in Australia has grown dramatically since 1999 and is expected to continue to grow for quite some time. If you are just now considering investing in an air conditioner for your home, it is important to understand the two primary types of systems that are most common.

Most residential air conditioners fall into one of two categories: either ducted or non-ducted. Each has its own benefits and there are a number of variables that might affect your decision. So let’s take a look at each one to help you determine the best type of air conditioner for your situation.

Ducted Air Conditioning

The basic principle of ducted air conditioning is to circulate cooled air in a room(s), through the absorption of heat in one internal place and then subsequent heat release in an external place. Ducted systems involve a network of ducts and a blower that pushes conditioned air through the ducts to various locations in your home. Ducted air conditioning systems are the ‘top of the range’ solution and allow for the distribution of cool and warm air all around the house at the touch of a button. This type of air conditioning can include a zone control system, which allows you to control the airflow to each room or ducted point, with a typical use being to operate in the living areas during the day and the bedrooms at night. With ducted air conditioning systems, there is also more flexibility in the positioning of the outdoor unit.
This can be a very efficient way to condition your interior air, particularly if you select a power inverter style such as that offered by Mitsubishi Electric. It can provide significant energy savings when compared to a non-inverter system. The Power Inverters are more energy efficient because the system output constantly varies to maintain the perfect living environment. This allows the Power Inverter to cool or heat your home more quickly and efficiently while also maintaining the preferred temperature without fluctuations, which translates into less energy consumption.

Split System Air Conditioning

A ductless split system, in contrast, provides space conditioning through the distribution of cooled (and in some cases, heated) refrigerant via a network of insulated lines to one, or several, fan-coil units placed in conditioned spaces. A ductless split air conditioning system with a single outdoor unit and only one indoor unit is often referred to as a mini-split. They typically use low-profile wall or ceiling mounted fan coil units to transfer heat between the room air and the refrigerant. Multi-head split system air conditioners, such as those offered by Mitsubishi Electric, can support up to eight indoor units, all connected to one outdoor unit.

Ductless split systems frequently include variable speed fans as well as variable capacity compressors and wireless controls. As indoor units get turned off and on, the inverter unit located outdoors adjusts compressor capacity and speed accordingly. This gives you a great deal of flexibility to turn off indoor units when they are not needed and reduce your power consumption. Efficient performance of ductless air conditioning systems depends upon the proper placement of your indoor units. Since they take in ambient room air, condition it and distribute it back into the conditioned space, their location is vital. Improper placement can result in ineffective space conditioning and wasted energy. It is always best to utilise the service of a professional company with many years of experience designing and installing ductless air conditioning systems.

So regardless of which type of system you select, now is the time to consult with a professional and start enjoying the many benefits of air conditioning your home. Summer is right around the corner and we all know how hot and humid it can get here in Brisbane, at least outdoors in unconditioned air.

Ducted Air Conditioning

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Ducted air conditioning systems are a ‘top of the range’ solution for air conditioning Brisbane, and allow for the distribution of cool and hot air all around the house at the touch of a button. These reverse cycle ducted air conditioning systems contain a number of major components, being the indoor air handling unit, the outdoor compressor unit and diffuser outlets in each room.

An additional option is to include a zone control system, which manages the control of the air flows to each room or ducted outlet.  Zoning greatly helps to reduce energy consumption, especially with the new inverter and digital scroll technology. With ducted air conditioning systems, there is also greater flexibility with the positioning of the outdoor compressor unit.

At BrisbaneAir, we deal with the major leading air conditioning Brisbane brands such as Mitsubishi Electric, Actron and Daikin to ensure that we can offer our customers the best ducted air conditioning solution for their Brisbane property.  When you are building your new property, give BrisbaneAir a call to see how they can help you select the best ducted air conditioning solution for your new home.