Your home is the most important space in your life. You spend countless hours at your home and it should be comfortable, cool, and inviting. With ducted air-conditioning, you can maintain a comfortable environment in your home on one of the hottest days of summer. Here are the features to look for when choosing the right air conditioner for your home.

What is ducted air-conditioning?

Ducted air-conditioning is a centralised whole-home cooling system in which the compressor & heat exchanger are located in a single outdoor unit, or “condenser.” The condenser can be placed on wall brackets or on the ground.

The indoor unit is installed in your roof cavity, this unit houses the evaporator heat exchanger, metering device & the blower fan which distributes the cooled air throughout the home. They distribute cool air through flexible ductwork & then out of aesthetically pleasing vents in your ceiling, floor, or walls.

This type of air conditioning differs from window units because you don’t need to worry about finding space for it inside your home. All you have to do is have enough roof space to house the indoor unit & a small space for it outdoors, the footprint of the outdoor unit is normally 1100mm wide * 600mm deep!

Benefits of having a ducted air-conditioner

It’s important to consider the difference between a split and a ducted air-conditioner. Split air conditioners are perfect for cooling single rooms that require less than 7kW of air conditioning. If you need to cool the whole home or require more cooling capacity, then it might be time for you to consider getting a ducted air-conditioner.

Ducted systems will keep every room at your desired temperature by diverting warm or cool air through it’s network of flexible ducts.

You can control your ducted system from a simple wall controller which allows you to turn zones ON/OFF as required. Alternatively you can upgrade to a more advanced controller such as MyAir by Advantage Air which is actually an Android tablet which doubles as a smart home controller. MyAir has the added benefit of increasing your energy efficiency thanks to it’s individual temperature sensors, these sensors regulate the amount of air flowing to each room effectively shutting the airflow OFF when the desired temperature is archived and then diverting to the zones that still require further cooling.

Another benefit of choosing a ducted system is that you have a single unit to look after and maintain whereas with split systems you would have multiple outdoor units which also take up valuable real estate around your home.

If you’re unsure about what type of system is best for your needs, consult an expert who can help you choose one that’s best suited for your property and needs.

How does it work?

Ducted air conditioning has come a long way over the years & nearly all units on the market are controlled by an inverter. The inverter monitors indoor & outdoor temperature conditions to increase or decrease the speed at which the compressor runs, saving you money on your power bills.

The way a ducted system works is that the warm air in your home is sucked up your return air grille which is fitted with a filter to remove any dust or dander. The air then travels through the cold evaporator coil where it is cooled and dehumidified before being distributed through a network of insulated flexible ducts, which are hidden from view inside walls and ceilings. These ducts carry cool air from your indoor unit to different parts of your home as needed, including bedrooms and living rooms.

Your ducted cooling system also works as a dehumidifier as it draws moisture from the air as well as heat from your home. Then it releases dry cool air back into your homes, keeping you comfortable year-round.

When should you choose a ducted or split system?

Air conditioning can be split into two different categories: ducted and split.

The upfront cost of a ducted air conditioning is more than a split system air con, but it’s worth the money if you want to maintain temperature consistency throughout your home.

If you are considering installing split systems keep in mind the cost of installing three splits systems vs a whole-home ducted the price is very similar. This type of system provides pressure-balanced cooling so that it delivers even temperatures throughout the home. Ducted air conditioners are also good for homes with unique architectural features, such as designer homes with unconventional design features as you won’t need to have any unsightly split indoor units mounted on the walls in every room.

In short if you just need to cool one or two rooms then a split system air conditioner makes sense however if you need to cool three or more rooms then it totally makes sense to consider a whole-home ducted system.

Know before you buy.

Choosing the right air conditioner for your home is an important decision. You want to be sure that you invest in something that will not only cool your home, but that will also last and provide all the features you need.

There are many different types of air conditioners on the market today and they each offer a variety of features to make them unique. But before deciding on one, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• How many rooms do you need to cool?
• What is your budget?
• Do you require air purification?
• How much space do you have around your home for the outdoor unit? Do you have enough room for multiple split systems?
• Do you have adequate space in your roof cavity for a ducted indoor unit? Normally 2 meters squared and at least 1m high.

Get In Touch With Smarter Air

Ensure you have the correct size air conditioner that’s optimised for your home by choosing Smarter Air, the ducted professionals. Our air conditioning systems are supplied by Panasonic, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Samsung and TECO. We have been trained by Airsmart and are specialists in their products. Airsmart is the world’s most innovative heating and cooling system. It uses the IES system to redefine air purification and comfort. We only offer trusted brands and provide a 10-year workmanship guarantee on all installations. Get in touch with us today for a free quote and we will ensure you get you the right system for your home & budget.