We are living in an area (Gold Coast north to Sunshine Coast) that suffers extreme weather conditions with heat and humidity, possibly cold.
At times coping with the usual daily grind can be exaggerated by our extreme weather conditions.
If it’s your wishes to eliminate humidity at home or the office or reduce the effects of above average temperatures or combat cold during winter months, the problem of choosing the correct in house climate control system can be daunting. We have listed for you just a few of the things to consider before you take the plunge in setting up the correct climate control system for home or work place.
Types of Air-Conditioners that are available today
There are a few things to take into consideration while selecting one or a combination or the 4 most popular types of Air Conditioner Systems on the market from Gold Coast - Brisbane - North to the Sunshine Coast. Naturally the type required will depend on area to be serviced including applications and budget.
But basically the 5 categories are listed below
In today’s world it would seem old fashioned but the Wall or Window Mounted System type air conditioners are still available requiring huge amounts of effort to exchange hot air with cold by forcibly pushing out Hot air through to an outlet with Cold air. These types of units are really noisy and expensive to run but easy to install. 
More commonly used systems today are the Split Systems. These applications are more suited to a single room. They're economical to run although the installation costs are higher. This is because the exchange unit is wall mounted inside the room with the noise of the compressor outside, requiring piping and electrical work to penetrate the walls. 
The most energy efficient systems are Multi-split Systems. With these systems it’s possible to control individual room temperatures rather than heating or cooling the entire home, office or commercial premises. The large outside compressor can accommodate in excess of 6 units stationed in different rooms where required. 
For a long term cost effective solution, consider a Ducted Air Conditioning System. Although it’s the most expensive system to setup requiring cool or hot air to be conveyed through alfoil type tubes running through the ceiling cavity or roof area in some cases under floor, it requires an outside compressor connected to an interior central transfer unit. This system would be considered the best long term energy saving system on the market - Last but not least is the Inverter Air Conditioning System. There are in 2 categories including an Inverter and Non-inverter system. Non-inverter Air Conditioners are the most expensive system, uses more power on start-up as it switches on and off when required with temperature fluctuations with the compressor is in the outdoor unit. Inverter Air Conditioners are capable of maintaining a narrow temperature range by varying the Compressor speed. This results in less oscillating of compressor speed and less power usage because fewer switching on and off all the time, hence it makes it cheaper to run because it just speeds up or down as it’s needed.
What Types Of Air Conditioners Heat And Cool?
Another one of the tips for buying an air conditioner is whether you want your system to both heat and cool or only cool. Reverse-cycle Systems offer both heating and cooling options, and while they can be expensive to install, even if you only need heating for a few weeks each winter, they are the most effective for both heating and cooling over the longer term.
Cooling-only air conditioners are ideal if you already have another heating system in place or live in a location that experiences hot summers and mild winters. They have many of the same features as reverse-cycle systems but are generally cheaper to buy.
What Are The Mounting Options?
Air conditioners are usually mounted in one of three ways. Floor-mounted systems are mounted on a wall but at floor level so it suits some room configurations better. This is a good option if you just need your unit for heating as hot air will be expelled at a lower level and then rise to the ceiling.
The most common form of Split-System is the wall-mounted air conditioner, and these allow cool air to sink down while hot air is pushed up and away.
The third option when choosing an air conditioner and its placement is to have your air conditioning unit cassette-mounted. Often more powerful than wall-mounted systems, they are used where other mounting systems aren’t suitable.
What Size Air-Conditioner do I really Need?
The amount of energy required to heat or cool a room depends on the size of that room or area. Not only the size of room but the amount of traffic entering or leaving, air flow will be dependant on movement but as a rule of thumb an airconditioning unit will require 125 watts of power for every square metre of room to be heated or cooled. If your compressor is overpowered ie: too large for room size it will not only be expensive to run but at the end of the day the area will be either constantly too hot or too cold. On the other hand if your selection is underpowered the opposite will happen, it won’t be doing the job efficiently and with continual running the power costs will skyrocket. An under powered unit will have a decreased life expectancy .
How can we balance Running cost with Efficiency?
Depending on the climate zone, heating and/or cooling account for 20%-50% of energy used in Australia today, here are a few tips when considering the purchase that will save you money in the long run. Before you make an investment in your comfort next winter it would be advisable to visit an independent source like our government’s Star Rating Label System this will help you decide how energy efficient different appliances are. The more stars an air conditioning unit has, the more energy efficient it is. Where you see red (heating) and blue (Cooling) stars displayed it refers to reverse-cycle systems. Naturally at the end of the day it’s up to you on how efficiently you use your appliance remembering to close all windows and doors making sure there are now drafts coming under doors etc. Having your Unit serviced regularly by making adjustment to timers and cleaning filters helps in efficient running costs of your Air Conditioner system.
Here are some of the Best Functions Worth Considering
Without a word of doubt the Thermostat settings would have to be on top of the list. The number of features available in today's systems can be confusing but basically we are all interested in Energy efficiency and this collates to running costs therefore:-
If you can effectively control the Temperature through the thermostat to your desired temperature, then you are more than halfway there. Thermostats balance the desired temperature that’s been selected for your comfort.
To obtain the maximum efficiency from your unit from 25- 27 degrees in summer and between 19 - 22 for winter in our area. (Gold Coast To Sunshine)
Using the Economy (or ‘Eco’ mode) can also help reduce power consumption by either automatically reducing the cooling or heating output by a degree or two, or by using sensors to detect if people are in the room and then reducing the output accordingly.
When buying an air conditioner in a humid climate, look for one that includes a dehumidifier or ‘dry’ option, as it will offer an efficient way to reduce humidity that will make the air around you feel cooler and more comfortable.
Having installed hundreds/thousands of air conditioning units from Gold Coast - Brisbane North and the Sunshine Coast over the last few years, DNAQE design expertise will ensure that you get the most in energy efficiency and comfort levels from your air conditioning system.
Don’t wait until Winter hits!
Still unsure what type of air conditioner will suit your needs?
Contact DNA Queensland Electrical today on
P (07) 5437 7433 M 0428 625 320 (Gold Coast, Brisbane North & Sunshine Coast)
