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Choosing the right type of air conditioner that’s big enough for your space can be risky business, but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be.
As a marvellous machine that most Queenslanders are already quite familiar with, an air conditioner is a system that is used to cool down a space by removing heat from the area in question, and moving it elsewhere outdoors.
In turn, the cool air can then be moved throughout a building through ventilation, and allows users to essentially control the temperature in the room where the air conditioner is positioned – at least, that’s what it’s supposed to do.
Buying an air conditioner that’s too small for the space it’s been installed to cool is a faux paux that many homeowners have been guilty of, particularly considering the increasingly hot summers that many of us have sweltered through in recent years. So how do you pick a winner?
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a reverse-cycle air conditioner, portable air conditioner, or inverter split system air conditioner, the most important factor is the wattage. In simple terms, this is what’s under the hood of your air con unit, so it’s a key consideration when selecting an air conditioner that’s big enough to handle the heating and cooling that you need one for.
For the unfamiliar, air conditioner capacity is rated by BTU (British Thermal Unit) and power output is measured in kilowatts. Buying the right size unit is very important as air conditioners that are too big will use more energy, while under-sized ones will not cool the room sufficiently.
When selecting a new air conditioner for a specific area of your home, the general rule is that you’ll need roughly about 0.15 kilowatts per square metre. As an example, the following samples should provide a good indicator on how much power you’ll need per room.
While choosing the right size is vital to maximising performance and minimising those pesky running costs, insulation, location and orientation can also have a significant impact on your air conditioner’s performance. Your climate will also have a role to play in selecting the right type of air conditioner, as a room in Darwin will usually need a more powerful unit for cooling, compared to an otherwise identical space in Hobart.
When comparing your options on the different types of air conditioners, most shoppers opt for a reverse cycle (heating and cooling unit) or a split system. Not all split systems are reverse cycle air conditioners, as some split systems have only a cooling mode, while reverse cycle systems offer both heating and cooling functions. Both of these types of units are made up of two parts, with one attached to the internal wall, while the other sits on the outside to exhaust heat out.
In addition, air conditioners with inverters are also able to vary the temperature of the air they produce, as opposed to regularly stopping and starting either manually or automatically. Although they are usually more expensive, they are often quieter, cheaper to run and achieve the desired room temperature more quickly when compared to other types of units.
Using an air conditioning electrician is somewhat of an all in one service if you’re adding a brand new unit to your home for the first time, as they can supply, install and maintain your cooling system while still doing so in the most energy efficient manner with things like wiring and positioning. Air conditioners should also ideally receive a full service at least once a year, and if prompted, many licensed sparkies will happily clean the filters for you while they’re on the job.
If you notice that your air conditioning unit has gotten sluggish or that your power bills have soared, then using an air conditioning electrician to replace or upgrade your existing unit is always a good idea purely for safety purposes. As a bonus, most will help to remove your old unit as well – but where do you find them?
The good news is that Shield Electrical offers all of the above services and more. With no job too big or too small, we offer air conditioning services for both residential, commercial and even industrial style dwellings and structures to keep you cooler, warmer and ultimately more comfortable.
Here at Shield Electrical, we are a Brisbane based electrical contracting company, and pride ourselves on being shockingly good at watt we do. For us, friendly and reliable customer service isn’t just a nice add on – it’s how we do business. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask our clients.
Established in 2015, Shield Electrical is lighting the way when it comes to providing electrical work with world class customer service. With our headquarters based in the central suburban pocket of Coorparoo, our team of qualified industry professionals are readily available to deliver quality workmanship, fast quotes, and affordable pricing.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an electrician for domestic services, residential, commercial and industrial construction, security systems or even just further energy saving tips, get in touch with us at Shield today to source practical solutions that don’t break the bank.
