If you are thinking about installing an air conditioning system or updating your current cooling equipment, you’ll need to know a little more about air conditioning installation. So, here we’ll look into split system installation in Perth and the other options that may be appropriate for your home.
The Costs of Installation
There are a number of factors that affect the costs of air conditioning installation. In addition to purchasing the equipment itself, you will also need to pay for labour costs. The costs of installing an air conditioning system in an average sized home can range from $600 to thousands.
The cheapest form of air conditioning is portable or window style units, but these are also the least efficient. So, while the initial costs are lower, this is negated by the higher running costs. One of the most cost effective options is a split system installation. In Perth, this is also one of the most popular choices, as there is no need to pay for ductwork to be installed.
There are also other factors that can affect the installation costs. For example, if you want a zoned system, the installation cost will be higher. This will allow you to independently adjust the temperature of different areas of your home, increasing your home comfort and energy efficiency, but it does require sensors and more controls, hence the higher cost.
The best way to get an exact cost for installation in your home is to speak to a professional air conditioning specialist for a quote. The quote will be based on the specific dimensions and characteristics of your home.
Operating Costs
Another important consideration for aircon installation is the operating costs. There is no point in cutting corners to get a cheap install; if your energy bills skyrocket every time, you use your system. The prices to run an air conditioner can vary significantly according to your air con type, room size, insulation, and other factors like your electricity tariff. The average costs in a standard Australia home are $0.50 per hour, which adds up to $4 per day when your system is running for 8 hours each day. This means that you may add between $1,000 to $2,500 to your electricity bills depending on where, when, and how often you use your air con.
For example, if you run your air conditioner 24/7, you may pay $1,300 during the summer with a split system and $6,500 for whole house ducted systems. Obviously, the size of your room can also play a role in the costs. Small rooms can be cooled more quickly than a large room, so this is reflected in the running costs.
System Considerations
There are some minimum requirements that can help you to make an informed purchase decision.
- Room Size: You will need to work out the size of the area that you want to cool. To gain a rough estimate of your room sizes, multiply the width, and length in metres. This will give you a figure in square metres
- Equipment Size: Generally, small rooms of less than 20 square metres require AC systems with a minimum capacity of 2.8 kW, while larger rooms of 40 to 60 square metres require 5.6 kW.
- Insulation: In a well insulated home, you will need a minimum cooling capacity of 1.5 kW for each 10 square metres you want to cool.
- Other Factors: There are also other factors that will determine the right system for your home, including your ceiling height, size of windows, insulation, and level of sunlight.
The Types of Air Conditioners
As we’ve touched on above, there are several types of air conditioners that are commonly used in Australia.
If you want to cool a single room, a window air conditioner can provide an effective solution. This type of system involves a single unit that is fitted to your window sill, or a slot cut into your room. This unit blows cool air into the room while pulling out heat from inside the room.
This is a variation of a window unit, but it mobile. Portable units have a hose vent that is used to eject warm air through a window or exterior wall. Although this tends to be a noisier form of air conditioning, it is also one of the cheapest ways to cool one room. It is also a good choice for renters, as there is no need to make structural changes to the home.
Split systems have two units: an indoor evaporator and an outdoor condenser. The indoor unit can be discreetly placed in your room and can even be used for heating in the winter.
Ducted or central air conditioning systems are more common in larger homes or multi storey buildings. This can be more practical than installing units in each room; the series of supply and return ducts carry cooled air to different rooms in your home and pull warmer air away.
Which Air Con System is Best for Your Home?
The precise choice of air con system for your home will depend on your budget, your home, and your cooling preferences. An experienced technician will assess the floor plan and size of your home, your home construction material and other factors such as ceiling cavity spaces, size, and positioning of doors and windows and the quality of your insulation before making recommendations.
Ducted systems can provide the greatest efficiency, but the installation can be very disruptive. If you don’t currently have a ducted system, you will need to have ducts, vents, and controls installed in every room, so that the cooled air can travel from the air conditioner units around your home.
A split system installation is far less disruptive, and each unit can work independently, so you don’t need to cool your entire home, just the rooms that you’re using. The installation will involve connecting the unit to a condenser outdoors, but the connections are only small, flexible pipes, so there is minimal need for drilling holes in your walls.
Again, an experienced air conditioning technician can guide you through the options and recommend the systems best suited to your home.