In Perth, air conditioning is a must-have for every home. Even if you live by the coast and get the sea breeze, you can’t completely escape Perth’s scorching hot summers. So, when it comes to choosing an air conditioner for your home, where do you start?
There are several factors you need to take into consideration. Perhaps the two most important are:
- The size of your house
- How your home is insulated
The climate you live in is also key. In Perth, we experience hot, dry summers and occasional periods of high humidity – anyone with an old evaporative air conditioner will know how uncomfortable those humid days are. If you’ve been putting off your new air-con system take note; according to the weather stats from the WA Government, Perth is getting hotter. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at which air conditioner is best for your home.
What size Air Conditioner do I need?
Buying an air conditioner shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it is a substantial long-term investment. The performance of your AC will impact both your comfort and power bill.
When air conditioning suppliers talk about the size of an air conditioner, they don’t mean physical dimensions but rather its cooling capacity – which is measured in kilowatts. The first step is to calculate the size (in square metres) of the spaces your air conditioner will serve. You also need to factor in the height of your ceilings. Whether you want a ducted air conditioning unit or split system, these measurements will help you find the most efficient and affordable solution. It’s best to talk to your supplier about the formula they use to measure the room capacity vs kilowatts needed.
Some other factors that may influence the size of your air conditioner include:
- Number of skylights
- Heat transfer between walls
- Type and amount of lighting
- Type of home foundation
- Number of residents in the home
- Number of windows
Ducted Vs Split System Air Conditioner
The decision on what type of air conditioner to install often comes down to ducted air conditioning vs split system air conditioners. Each has its pros and cons, so let’s look at how they stack up.
Effectiveness
Split systems are more suitable for single and small rooms. Ducted air conditioning is ideal for larger rooms and is highly effective in controlling temperatures evenly throughout the entire house.
Up Front Cost
When it comes to the cost of purchasing and installation, ducted air conditioning is naturally higher. The ducted unit caters for the whole home and can be switched on and off to cool or heat individual rooms. Split systems don’t have a particularly high installation cost per unit. However, if you were to install multiple split systems units around your home you may find the cost ends up being similar to that of the ducted unit.
Operation Cost
The running costs of an individual split system air conditioner are lower than a ducted system. However, ducted air conditioners can be adjusted to run only in one room which reduces their operational cost.
How much does it cost to install an Air Conditioner?
Depending on the size of your room, split air conditioners start from $1900 fully installed.
Whole home ducted air conditioners start from $8,500 fully installed. Again, the final cost will depend on the size of your home and the type of unit needed.
Which Air Conditioner brand is best for residential homes?
The team at Perth City Air use three trusted brands to deliver quality air conditioning in residential homes – Daikin, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi. Daikin is a popular split-system brand that has been servicing Australia for more than 50 years. Panasonic has been operating since 1958, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was first released in 1975.
These brands provide long-term value for Perth residents and will stand up to the harsh summer heat year after year.
If you need air conditioning advice, talk to Perth’s air conditioning experts, Perth City Air. We provide efficient, affordable and reliable air conditioning for all areas of Perth.
For a no obligation free quote, fill out the ‘get a quote’ button above or feel free to contact us.
