Unpacking Air Conditioner Energy Usage

While determining your air conditioner energy usage will usually vary and depend on a number of factors, what’s the general cost to run one during summer? 

Although it’s no secret that our energy bills are certainly much higher than they used to be, one of Australia’s biggest energy companies recently warned that retail electricity prices may increase by more than 25% within the next twelve months. 

With the cost of living placing pressure on a growing number of Australian households, where you live can also have an impact on the price of your power bills. For people who live in the northern half of the nation, life would almost be unbearable without an air conditioner during the peak of summer. 

While air conditioners have long received a bad rep as a big electricity sucker, understanding your air conditioner energy usage can be a gamechanger on multiple fronts. Not only will you have the knowledge to know how much it costs to run one, but you’re then empowered to make changes on how to reduce this type of expense. 

Three Air Conditioner Running Costs To Consider 

Most of us already know that an air conditioner is a split 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. 

While it’s true that these types of machines can pack a punch on the bottom line of a quarterly power bill, air conditioner energy usage isn’t the only cost to consider for homeowners thinking about investing in one in time for summer. 

Unit Price And Installation – Installing air conditioning can cost anywhere from $600 to $5,500 depending on the type of unit you’re interested in and the complexity of your situation. The size of the air con unit will be a big factor in the price but for standard domestic air conditioning installation, expect to pay from $60 to around $110 per hour plus GST. 

Air Conditioner Running Costs – The average reverse cycle air conditioner set at 24 degrees costs anywhere from about $23 to $300 a year to run, depending on the size of the room and location. A medium-sized room of 20 to 40m² would cost roughly between $46 and $215 a year, while in larger areas (40 to 60m²), it would add about $64 to $300 in annual electricity costs.

Servicing And Repair Work – Like all big investments, your air conditioner will eventually need to be cleaned, serviced and sometimes repaired, so it’s important to factor them into your budget for air conditioner running costs. Things like cleaning the filters can be done yourself, but an annual service should be conducted by a licensed air conditioner electrician. 

While choosing the right size air conditioner is vital in 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. The correct unit will help to reduce your air conditioner energy usage as the machine won’t have to work as hard to get the job done. 

In addition, keep in mind that the above are relevant for standard split system air conditioners and that ducted air conditioning is usually quite a bit more expensive to install, operate and maintain. As an example of this, ducted air conditioning running costs in Brisbane alone balloon out to roughly $816 per year, or roughly three times more than a split system. 

Given how important the role of your air conditioner is, if you’re on the hunt for a decent sparky to help you safely install or maintain one without spending a small fortune, finding a reputable and local electrician to get the job done can feel a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. Thankfully, the team at Shield Electrical offer a solution. 

Where To Get Advice On All Things Electrical 

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.