AIR CONDITIONING … WHERE DO I START? EXPERT ANSWERS TO YOUR TOP QUESTIONS

AIR CONDITIONING … WHERE DO I START? EXPERT ANSWERS TO YOUR TOP QUESTIONS

Are you looking for a new air conditioning system but have many questions? Needhamair are here to help answer the top questions we receive about air conditioning.

Air conditioners play a crucial role in keeping us cool, comfortable during summer, and warm in winter.
Several questions can arise when it comes to choosing, using and maintaining an air conditioner. Here are our answers to some of the most common questions we receive.

What type of air conditioner is best suited to my home?
If you are looking for an air conditioning system that suits your individual needs, you should consider various factors such as, available roof space, the size of the area/s, your budget, lifestyle and personal preferences.
Due to their low cost and installation flexibility, wall mounted split systems are a fantastic option for heating an cooling commonly used spaces such as the living room or bedroom. Alternatively, a ducted air conditioning system may be more suitable if you require cooling or heating throughout the home. Ducted air conditioning has the option of dividing your home into zones with a zone controller, saving energy and money by only air conditioning the areas being used.

What size air conditioner do I need for my space?
When considering your air conditioning needs, its essential to investigate the capacity (measured in kW) required to cool the intended space sufficiently. This is achieved by conducting a Heat Load Calculation, which factors in various aspects such as the number of rooms, orientation, size, insulation material, window size and type, occupancy profile, air tightness etc, by performing this calculation we can help you select the right system for your home.

Installing a system that has a capacity below the required capacity (or under capacity) will tend to result in the system running at full capacity for an extended period, which may consequently increase electrical power consumption and overall operating costs. It may also fail to cool the room adequately if the capacity is lower than the space requires. We recommend that you visit us at our showroom with your house plans (or email them to us) so that we can create an accurate heat load for your home.

How can I choose an energy efficient air conditioner to help reduce electricity costs?
Look for air conditioners with high energy-efficient ratings and inverter technology. Air conditioners in Australia are rated using ZERL ratings. ZERL makes it simple to select the most energy efficient split system air conditioner for your home. The rating system divides the continent into three different climate zones (hot, average, cold) allowing you to quickly identify and compare air conditioners based on location. The more stars there are, the more efficient the air conditioner will be. “Perth Metro” is rated in the Average category.

What is the ideal temperature to set for my air conditioner?
According to research conducted by Mitsubishi Electric for the 2021 Healthy Homes Trends report, Australians voted the perfect room temperature for an average summer day to be 21 degress – Mitsubishi electric recommends setting the room temperature to 23 degrees in summer for optimal energy efficiency

Are there any special features that I need to look for?
The beneficial features of an air conditioner can vary based on the individual needs and usage. However, some more useful features include Wi-Fi control, Dual Barrier Coating, Night Mode and Quiet Operation.
WiFi Control – with WiFi Control technology as an added option, you can connect your Mitsubishi Electric air conditioner to your smartphone, table or online account, enabling you to remotely control it via an internet connection. This is particularly useful if you want your room to be at the prefect temperature when you arrive home or if you have forgotten to turn it off when you have gone out.
Dual Barrier Coating – dirt and dust are among the biggest enemies of air conditioners as they can slow down the machine and make it difficult to heat or cool the room. Fortunately the Mitsubishi Electric AP Series as a solution to this problem. This series used Dual Barrier Coating on the heat exchanger and internal surfaces, which helps reduce the amount of dust and greasy dirt that adheres to the unit. This technology, designed by Mitsubishi Electric allows the unit to stay cleaner for longer and makes cleaning the unit easier.
Night Mode – is a helpful feature that can be selected through the remote control of a wall mounted split system and is designed to improve comfort while sleeping. This mode works by decreasing the LED brightness on the indoor unit,, disabling alert beeps and reducing the operational noise levels of the outdoor unit buy up to 3dB. Doing so helps ensure a more peaceful and comfortable sleeping environment
Quiet operation – achieving true comfort is not only about achieving the perfect temperature but also about reducing noise levels. The Quiet Mode feature helps to reduce the internal fan’s noise levels so you can read, sleep and relax in peace.

How can I maintain and clean my air conditioner to ensure optimal performance?
Whether you have a ducted or a split system, regular maintenance of yours home’s air conditioning system will help improve its performance and extend its life span. To ensure your system is operating with maximum efficiency, it is recommended that you clean your unit as instructed by the manufacturer and have it serviced regularly.

The most important thing you can do to get the most out of your air conditioner is to clean the filters regularly. Cleaning the dust and fluff out of the filters allows the air to flow freely through the air conditioner without having its labour and work harder to do its job. It also ensures the air produced is cleaner for your household.

What is the expected cost of operating an air conditioner in terms of electricity usage?
To estimate and compare the running costs of different air conditioner models the Australian Government provides a helpful Energy Rating website this website is a great resource that allows you to search and compare energy-efficient air conditioner models for your home. By providing estimate running costs for each product the website helps you find the best option for your budget and energy-saving needs

How can I reduce the energy costs associated with my air conditioner?
There are several ways to help make your air conditioner use more energy-efficient. Try to follow the tips below:
Set it to an ideal room temperature of 23°C. or if you’re willing to tolerate a slightly warmer temperate, setting it to 24-25°C can help reduce power consumption.
• Close doors to unused warmer rooms, as the heat from those rooms can move to cooler, air-conditioned spaces and out more strain on your air conditioner.
• Keeping windows covered by closing blinds and curtains can help keep much of the harsh summer heat out of your home, especially if you have west-facing windows.
• Regularly clean air conditioning filters
• Use Wi-Fi control with remote access to turn it on before you get home or check if it’s off after you leave.

As a trusted installer of ducted air conditioning systems and various types of split systems (high wall. floor mount, ceiling cassette etc); Needhamair are dedicated to providing expert advice and innovative solutions to your cooling and heating needs.

We hope to assist you in making an informed decision and enjoying energy-efficient and reliable air conditioning that keeps you comfortable throughout the year.

Please visit us in our Homebase Subiaco showroom where we have multiple working systems on display; or call or email us on 08 9432 4600 or sales@needhamair.com.au