Air conditioning systems with inverter technology are very advanced pieces of equipment and choosing the right type can be confusing. So below we have provided some tips to help you make the right decision.

How many rooms do you want to condition?

You can purchase small split air conditioners to cool/heat one, two and up to four rooms, single and multi head systems. You may wish to air condition your entire house; in this case a larger fully ducted system would be required.

The style of air conditioning unit

Split Systems; nearly all air conditioning units are split systems meaning they have an outdoor unit containing the compressor and is mounted outside and an indoor unit which contains the fan and is installed indoors. The outdoor unit contains the compressor and electronic controls and is where most of the work is done and the indoor unit simply has a fan to circulate the conditioned air within the indoor space. Designing the equipment in this way allows the air conditioned room to be quieter thus creating a more pleasant indoor environment.

High Wall:

These are the most popular air conditioning system used to maintain individual rooms and small offices. They are designed to be discreet both in their operation and appearance while efficiently maintaining the desired conditions. The indoor unit is installed on the wall of the room that is to be air conditioned; this reduces the systems losses and allows individual room temperature control.

Floor Standing:

Floor standing indoor units are generally slim compact units which are installed on the floor against a wall in the room. Manufactures have sophisticated and stylish designs allowing the indoor unit to complement and integrate with the rooms existing fittings.

Cassette models:

A discrete and powerful option with the only visible evidence of the air conditioner is the grill showing in ceiling. This style is available in a large range of capacities and with today’s advanced fan technology the conditioned air is distributed in three or four directions into the room space.

Multi Split:

Multi split systems have only one outdoor unit and up to four indoor units connected. This is a highly efficient and quiet way to air condition up to four different areas. The indoor units can be of different styles, High Wall, Concealed/Bulkhead and Cassette type models.

Ducted Systems:

Ducted systems are the ultimate in air conditioning design and installation. Conditioned air is distributed throughout the house via insulated ducting connected to ceiling outlets within each room. Ducted systems maintain comfort throughout the home; they are invisible, quiet and effortless to operate.

Correct sizing of the system

Selecting the correct size is a very important part of your enjoyment of the air conditioner. Our online size calculator will help you find a suitable size model for your space, click here. Go for a slightly larger model when selecting the correct size air conditioner. A larger model will not need to work as hard as a small model to keep the same room cool. Modern inverter air conditioners are more efficient when working at part load. So in a room a slightly larger unit that is just ticking over will use less electricity also possibly be quieter than a smaller unit that has to work hard to do the job.

Consider the air conditioning systems features;

Generally the air conditioner manufacturer will list many special system features that their air conditioning equipment has; we have listed a few of what we consider to be the more important features below.

The air conditioners energy star rating allows consumers to compare the energy efficiency of air conditioning systems on a fair and equitable basis. Please look at the energy rating website www.energyrating.gov.au/appsearch/air_srch.asp to compare different air conditioner running efficiency.

The noise level of the system, with today’s technology most air conditioners run quietly but to ensure you do not have operational problems after the system is installed the noise levels need to be considered.

Return air filters are fitted to the indoor unit, this part of the system draws in dirty air, filters then cools/heats and redistributes the air back to the room. There are many types of filters e.g. Allergen, Enzyme sterilizing, Photocatalytic deodorizing and Plasma. They all have special properties and assist in absorbing all the nasty little bits that come into contact with the return air filters, helping to provide a cleaner indoor environment for your enjoyment.

Brands

The old adage ‘You get what you pay for’ exists for a reason. The dearer units such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are generally more efficient and or quieter. They also a have better manufacturing process which gives you a better finished product. This translates into better built units, easier installation and should the need arise, servicing which makes the additional purchase price worth considering.