How Does Ducted Air Conditioning Work?

Phill Crawley

Smarter Air & Electrical

i 3 Contents

How Does Ducted Air Conditioning Work

When you’re suffering through a heatwave, don’t just sit in front of your old energy-hungry and noisy air conditioning unit waiting many hours for the room to cool down. These days, energy saving inverter ducted air conditioning units can keep a few rooms or many rooms at your happy temperature in both summer and winter both quietly & efficiently. Understanding how ducted aircon works and also how to use your ducted system effectively can be of great benefit to your comfort level at home and also your quarterly electricity bills!

 

How Does Ducted Air Conditioning Work?

How Does Ducted Air Conditioning Work, is a good question. Ducted air conditioners create cool airflow through your home from a compressor condensing unit that sits outside of your house, attached to an inside fan coil unit, found inside the roof cavity of your home.

Ductwork runs through the home and delivers the cool air via discreet round outlets in the ceiling of each zone. Nowadays, ducted air conditioners are also commonly called ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning units, this is because they also warm your home during the cooler winter months.

 

How Ducted Aircon Works For Whole House Cooling/Heating

ducted aircon plan

Now I know what you are thinking! How Does Ducted Air Conditioning Work? How can a single large ducted air conditioner cool my entire home efficiently? The answer is simple. You can opt for a smart zone inverter ducted air conditioning system that allows you to control the amount of cooling in each zone of the house. This means that you can constantly keep the areas you’re utilizing cool, while keeping the ducted air conditioning system off in other zones of the house.

Another advantage of the ducted air conditioning system is that they’re virtually silent. As the compressor is located outside and the fan unit is hidden away in your ceiling space, usually over a living area, you won’t hear it at night. And you certainly don’t have to worry about the overwhelming sound of old-style package aircon units or ‘window rattlers’ as some Brisbane residents call them.

 

The Comprehensive Guide to Ducted Air Conditioning Installation

Ducted air conditioning is a popular choice for heating and cooling homes, especially in areas like Brisbane where the climate demands a reliable temperature control solution throughout the year. But what does the installation process involve? Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Site Assessment of the Home: Before installation, professional contractors assess the property to determine the best system for your needs. This includes:
    • Measuring each room to determine the total area to be heated or cooled & discuss how you plan to use the system eg what is your ideal temperature, how many rooms or “zones” will you run at the same time?
    • Inspecting your electrical switchboard to ensure you have a sufficiently size mains cable, if not a mains cable upgrade may be required.

      The largest single phase ducted air conditioning units available are from Panasonic & Mitsubishi Electric who offer an 18kW single-phase unit, if you need a larger unit than this you will require a three-phase upgrade.

    • Evaluating the space in your roof cavity to determine which brands of air conditioner will fit with your roof truss design. All brands of units are different shapes and sizes so as an example a 16kW Toshiba may not fit but a 16kW Mitsubishi Electric might fit perfectly.
    • Determine a suitable location for the outdoor unit where the noise will not affect your family or your neighbours eg it’s best to avoid placing your outdoor unit too close to a bedroom!
    • Check the ceiling material – Plasterboard or Gyprock ceilings can easily and safely be cut to accommodate the new air con grilles easily however asbestos and fiber cement sheeting can require specialised equipment and licensed specialists.
    •  Work the best location for your return air grille, we suggest keeping these in hallways out of sight as much as possible but away from bedrooms to reduce the chance of hearing the air being pulled through the filters.
  2. Selection of the Right System: Based on the assessment, experts choose a ducted system that fits your home’s size and cooling requirements. Options like MyAir by Advantage Air offer advanced zoning capabilities, smartphone control & individual temperature control for personalized comfort.
  3. Detailed Proposal and Recommendations: A comprehensive written proposal and recommendations are provided, outlining the system’s features, benefits, and costs.
  4. Installation of Ductwork: If your home lacks pre-installed ductwork, contractors will install the air delivery system comprising of flexible duct and other components ready to connect them to the ducted air conditioning fan coil unit in the roof space.
  5. Setting Up the Cooling Units: This involves placing the compressor/condensing unit in the decided location and getting the indoor fan coil unit into the roof, then connecting them together with insulated copper pipe.
  6. Testing and Calibration: After installation, the system is evacuated to remove moisture from the copper pipes prior to the refrigerant gas is released into the system. Once the is  done  your system will be thoroughly tested to ensure optimal performance.  
  7. Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Quality installers services often include ongoing support and maintenance to keep your system running smoothly. Beware of companies that only offer installation or you might be left trying to find someone to repair your system should it breakdown.

By understanding the process and working with experienced professionals, you can enjoy the benefits of a ducted air conditioning system tailored to your home’s unique needs.

 

Smart Zone Control

Ducted air conditioning with individual room temperature sensors

Why not get back from work and be welcomed home with a evenly cooled and dehumidified house!

When it comes to zoning your ducted air conditioning system there are many options. However, the leader in Brisbane is the locally designed and supported MyAir system by Advantage Air which offers a few unique advantages such as:

  • The ability to set different temperatures in each area
  • Smart device control with free Apple and Android apps
  • An 8-Inch touch screen that doubles as a smart home tablet that is permanently powered!
  • Receive notifications when the temperature in your suburb reaches a predetermined temperature. It can even turn your air conditioner ON for you.
  • Google Home & Amazon Alexa integration
  • Set one thermostat or all thermostats as the main sensor, you choose between the ultimate in energy efficiency or comfort.
  • Helpful local Brisbane support from MyTeam by Advantage Air.

 

ducted airconditioning works
Invest with the Ducted Aircon Experts

With the average ducted air conditioning system costing around AUD $13,500 fully installed, it’s a not a decision to be taken lightly but it will almost certainly add value to your home. While keeping comfortable is important, when investing in such a large home appliance it’s important to do your research first!

Always ensure you get an expert installation from a local Brisbane installer that really knows their stuff, supplies quality brands and guarantees their work for at least 10 years.

If you want to know more about How Does Ducted Air Conditioning Work or you wish to get more information on our Brisbane ducted air-con installation service, please contact us via our website or phone us today at 1300 476 421.

Smarter Air ARE YOUR LOCAL air conditioning SPECIALISTS

Looking for a reliable local air conditioning installer or repairer for your Brisbane or Gold Coast home?

Smarter Air & Electrical is a small business run by two friends who are passionate about making people more comfortable. We have over 22 years of expertise in installing air conditioning in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast are among our service areas. We’re Brisbane’s leading provider of cutting-edge, high-quality ducted air conditioning systems.

Call Smarter Air & Electrical on 1300 476 421 or fill out the form below to learn more about air conditioning installation and service that will exceed your expectations.

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T B
My wife and I had Smarter Air & Electrical install ducted system in our home. Benji and team arrived on time, they were extremely polite ...
T B
My wife and I had Smarter Air & Electrical install ducted system in our home. Benji and team arrived on time, they were extremely polite and friendly. Benji was professional and had great communication and was always happy to help and answer any questions we had. The team were amazing, everything was done at a high standard. They also left our home clean and tidy. We would definitely recommend them. Thank you again. Tavis and Kelly
T B
T B
Zana Toki
Excellent to deal with and highly recommend. It was very simple process from getting a quote to organizing install. The team that installed were great, ...
Zana Toki
Excellent to deal with and highly recommend. It was very simple process from getting a quote to organizing install. The team that installed were great, Very professional and efficient! The removal of the old split systems and install of ducted was completed fast and everything left clean and tidy afterwards. Would definitely recommend!
Zana Toki
Zana Toki
A.V
All of the staff were amazing. From the two guys who came out to talk to us about our requirements to the team of guys ...
A.V
All of the staff were amazing. From the two guys who came out to talk to us about our requirements to the team of guys who attended on the day of installation. They were very thorough, extremely neat and nothing was a problem. They cleaned up after themselves and made sure we understood exactly how the system worked before leaving. I would not hesitate to recommend Smarter Air & Electrical as professional, pleasant and hard working guys who know exactly what they are doing.
A.V
A.V
Amanda Robinson-Ilka
We did a lot of research regarding air conditioning providers before engaging Smarter Air and Electrical. From the initial phone call with the lovely...
Amanda Robinson-Ilka
We did a lot of research regarding air conditioning providers before engaging Smarter Air and Electrical. From the initial phone call with the lovely Amanda, to the onsite consultation with Davis, through to installation by Tom and the team, the whole process has been seamless, with the entire team being friendly, professional and easy to work with. They left our house clean and tidy after a full day's work. We are very pleased with our ducted air conditioning solution, with a split system for downstairs. Bring on summer. 🌞
Amanda Robinson-Ilka
Amanda Robinson-Ilka
steven Johnman
Thanks to Benji and his crew from Smarter Air & Electrical for installing the new ducted air conditioner system, it was good to see that ...
steven Johnman
Thanks to Benji and his crew from Smarter Air & Electrical for installing the new ducted air conditioner system, it was good to see that they took all of the packaging away and tidy up the work areas.Benji took the time to show me through the setup process for the tablet . Bring on summer.
steven Johnman
steven Johnman
Rebecca Robinson
Great communication from both Alex who helped assist with the quote and Jack who installed the aircon on the day. I live in a townhouse ...
Rebecca Robinson
Great communication from both Alex who helped assist with the quote and Jack who installed the aircon on the day. I live in a townhouse so I was limited with my options but the team went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with the end product. Would happily recommend to others.
Rebecca Robinson
Rebecca Robinson
John Ngai
Team was efficient and there was consistent communication along the process. On-site visit was helpful in determining optimal location of external unit and location of ...
John Ngai
Team was efficient and there was consistent communication along the process. On-site visit was helpful in determining optimal location of external unit and location of internal return vent and controls. Team did a great job during installation. Would recommend service from Smarter Air for those considering air conditioning service and installation.
John Ngai
John Ngai
George Adam
The guys were amazing went through everything from start to finish. Did a great job installing Cleaning as they went looks great .
George Adam
The guys were amazing went through everything from start to finish. Did a great job installing Cleaning as they went looks great .
George Adam
George Adam
ashcroftracing
The whole experience of dealing with the team at smarter air has been amazing! Day of install could not rate there team enough, very polite ...
ashcroftracing
The whole experience of dealing with the team at smarter air has been amazing! Day of install could not rate there team enough, very polite tradesman and very professional in how they did their work. Massive credit to this team from first call to end product
ashcroftracing
ashcroftracing
Mick McIntyre
Thank you very much to everyone at Smarter Air & Electrical. From the quote and related queries, great recommendations on upgrades that we...
Mick McIntyre
Thank you very much to everyone at Smarter Air & Electrical. From the quote and related queries, great recommendations on upgrades that we hadn’t even thought about, outstanding communication in job preparation and scheduling, and a really top bunch of guys on installation day… we can’t thank your whole team enough!! Many thanks, and a big dose of gratitude to all of you. Looking forward to a far more comfortable Summer ahead 🙂
Mick McIntyre
Mick McIntyre

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