Size matters when it comes to ducted air conditioning installation.
However, that doesn’t mean choosing the biggest air conditioner size for your house – in fact, in some cases, it could mean the exact opposite.
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to air conditioning in Melbourne: while having a big, powerful system may sound good, a lot of the time it’s the wrong call, and you’d be better off with something smaller – or to be specific – something that’s the right size for your unique home.
It may sound counterintuitive, we know – that’s why we’re taking the time to really dive into the reasoning behind this, and explain why sizing ducted air conditioning systems is so important!
Bigger isn’t better, and here’s why
“It would be nice to have an extra-powerful system, just in case.”
When it comes to ducted air conditioning installation in particular, a lot of people decide to upsize, getting a larger system than they actually need. And many air conditioning installers in Melbourne are happy to go through with it.
The problem is that this often results in a less-than-ideal system being installed in your home!
There are a number of reasons for this…
A bigger system will wear out faster
It may surprise you, but your ducted air conditioning system doesn’t experience that much strain while it’s operating.
Instead, it’s start-ups and shut-downs that have the biggest impact on your system’s longevity!
An oversized system will cool your home down faster, that’s true – and that’s the problem.
That means more frequent start-ups and shutdowns, which in turn means faster wear-and-tear.
Air conditioning systems are designed to run for long periods, not infrequent, stop-start usage.
While your home will cool down quicker, it will come at the cost of having to book more frequent air conditioning service and repairs.
It’s a waste of money
A lot of people choose to upsize, thinking that they’ll save energy with a system that doesn’t have to run as long.
While that may be true, there are a couple of issues with that plan.
Firstly, modern ducted air conditioners use VRV/VRF technology, which makes them considerably more energy-efficient to begin with (negating the efficiency argument).
And secondly, there’s the question of whether or not you really need all that extra capacity.
Because if not, you’re essentially paying for an air conditioning system that you’ll never need to use to use to its maximum potential!
Why waste money on a system you won’t be able to make proper use of?
It would be like buying a Ferrari to keep it in the garage – sure, there’s nothing stopping you from doing it, but it’s not necessary.
That’s essentially what choosing the biggest air conditioning system in your installer’s catalogue is like. While you’ll be able to cool down your home slightly faster, that isn’t really worth the dramatically higher upfront cost.
It just isn’t the best use of your money, full stop.
Is it just me, or is it a little bit humid in here?
Your ducted air conditioning doesn’t just keep you cool – it also removes humidity from your home, improving your comfort that way too.
The problem is that it needs to run for a while before it can start dehumidifying your home.
As we mentioned above, oversized ducted air conditioning systems work quickly – a little bit too quickly, actually.
In many cases, they reach the target temperature and shut off before they’ve been able to thoroughly dehumidify your home.
Your comfort isn’t just tied to the temperature – humidity is another important part of the equation. If your system is too powerful, it’ll struggle to dehumidify your home.
And that directly translates into discomfort.
So while the thermostat may say you’re at a comfortable temperature, the 90% humidity means that in reality, you’re still sweating it out!
Sizing ducted air conditioning systems: how does it work?
Every ducted air conditioning installation job begins with the system design process. This step is all about ensuring that your home gets the perfect ducted air conditioning system to meet its needs.
A large part of that is ensuring that it’s the perfect size – not too powerful, but not underpowered either.
Choosing the right air conditioner size for your house is one of the most important parts of system design.
We start by calculating the exact size of each room in your house – this is essential, as it tells us how powerful your system will need to be to keep your entire home comfortable.
However, that isn’t the only thing we look at when sizing air conditioning systems…
More than just room volume
Room volume isn’t the only thing that affects how powerful your cooling will need to be.
Depending on your property, there are a whole range of other issues that may come into play when determining how big your system needs to be.
For example:
- Windows
- Insulation quality
- Ventilation
- Appliances (such as cooktops)
- Exposure to sunlight
While individually they might not have that much of an effect, together they can change the temperature just enough to require a slightly more powerful (or slightly weaker) air conditioning system.
You can’t forget about usage
How often do you use every room in your house at the same time? Not often, let’s face it!
There’s no point in wasting electricity cooling a room you don’t use much.
Whether it’s the formal dining area, the spare room or your bedroom during the day, a lot of rooms are only used at specific times (or days of the year, like your dining room!).
This reduces the need for a large, powerful ducted heating and cooling system even more.
After all, you don’t need an uber powerful ducted air conditioning system installed if your zoning is set up so that only half the house is being cooled at once.
Comfort is key – and it starts by getting the right size
Get the perfect solution for air conditioning in Melbourne
Sizing your ducted air conditioning system is a crucial first step in ducted air conditioning installation.
Unfortunately, it’s a step that some air conditioning installers in Melbourne skip over in order to get the job done quicker.
As with any major home improvement project, it’s crucial that you find a trustworthy team to carry it out.
In addition to calculating exactly how large your system will need to be during our in-depth design and consultation process, the Alpha Air team also offers something few other installers do: one-day ducted heating and cooling in Melbourne.
Whether it’s a simple split-system air conditioner or a whole home ducted heating and cooling systems in Melbourne, our team will be in and out in a single day!
Get the right ducted air conditioning installation for your Melbourne home – call our heating and cooling specialists on 1300 854 525, or click here to get a free air conditioning quote. You can also visit us for heating and cooling in Melbourne: pop into our office at F6 / 310-312 Governor Rd, Braeside VIC 3195.
