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.