Air conditioning systems are a staple in our homes because of the dry sweltering heat we endure from December to March. With rising household costs and summer on its way, many Aussie homeowners are looking for cost-efficient ways to stay cool. This article will help you compare which air conditioning system is best for your home.
Ducted vs Split System: Which is more affordable?
The first question that comes to mind when considering air conditioning systems is which air conditioning system is more affordable? While it may seem like a simple question, it can be a little bit more complex than expected. What do you consider to be affordable – is it the initial installation costs or the long-term running costs? Or is it somewhere in the middle?
The two most common air conditioning systems are split systems and ducted air conditioning (aka evaporative cooling).
- Split Systems are the most common to install in Australia because they have affordable installation costs but can cost more to run in the long term and with more systems.
- Ducted Cooling has a higher installation cost but, compared to split systems, is cheaper to run in the long term.
To compare: in general, it costs $3.45 to run a single split system for an hour whereas it can cost as much as half of that to run ducted cooling as it uses natural resources to function.
The other reason why split systems can be more affordable is because of their reverse cycle heating. This means you can use a singular air system all year round.
What should I consider when purchasing an air conditioning system?
When installing or considering affordable air conditioning options it is important that we take into consideration a few things that may impact the efficiency, running costs and overall comfort of your home.
These include:
- The Size of Your Room: Make sure to measure the length, height and width of the room
- Type of room: Will the air system be in the bedroom? Living room? Or open space?
- The Size and Orientation of Windows: Windows are the biggest threat to heating and cooling efficiency. Consider which way your house faces and where your windows are placed as a north-facing window lets in a lot more heat than a south-facing window.
- Shading and Curtains: They can trap the cool air inside to maintain the comfort of your home and are an affordable addition to maximise efficiency.
- Local Climate: This can affect how well your air system performs. In Geelong, we can have sweltering summer days and chaotic 4-seasons-in-1-day spring days which impacts the external units of your air conditioning system.
The Most Important Thing To Consider: Energy Efficiency
In Australia, electrical appliances including air conditioning systems are rated based on their energy efficiency and cost output that may affect the environment. It allows customers to make more informed purchasing decisions.
The general rule is the more stars your air conditioning system has, the more efficient it will be but there are a couple of other things you should take notice of when reviewing the energy efficiency ratings.
One of those things is the climate rating. In April 2020, the Australian government updated the rating systems to include how efficient each air conditioning system is in different climates throughout Australia. Geelong is categorised as a “cold region” because we have more than half of our days below 20℃.
They also added a few things to the ratings including how efficient air conditioning systems are at different temperatures. Energy Rating has provided a calculator and comparison sheet for you to compare how efficient each system is at the same temperature and how many kilowatts it uses over an hour.
Finally, you should take note of how much noise your system makes. This is a new addition to the energy rating labels and provides you with information on how loud your air conditioning system is when running at full capacity. Here is a quick brief on how noisy other appliances are to help you make a decision:
- 30dBA: typical noise in a quiet home
- 50dBA: inside of a quiet car while driving
- 60dBA: having a typical conversation
- 75dBA: an operating vacuum cleaner
Choice recently evaluated how much it costs to run an air conditioning system over the summer period based on its power usage.
- A Small Air Conditioning (less than 4 kW) costs $310 – $490 each year
- A Medium Air Conditioning System (4kW-6kW) costs $390 – $550 each year
- A Large Air Conditioning System (greater than 6kW) costs $420 – $660 each year.
If you are looking to save more on these costs, consider purchasing an air conditioning system with Eco-Mode. It sets a target temperature and regulates the temperature to maintain the comfort levels without flooding cooler air into your home.
Want to install an affordable air conditioning system?
At North West Air Conditioning, we have a range of high-quality affordable and Australian air conditioning systems available. Our team are qualified technicians who have extensive experience in installing air conditioning systems in Geelong and Surf Coast homes. If you are in need of a new air conditioning system this summer, get in touch via the contact form or give us a call.