“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
This quote, from an unknown source, perfectly summarises what we think about system design for your ducted air conditioning system.
While installation is undoubtedly an important part of the process, it’s the initial research we conduct and design we implement that is at the crux of your new system.
It dictates the size of the system you need, where the ducts will run, and how the grilles will be installed.
Confused? We’ll break it down!
Let’s look at the factors we analyse and the steps we take to design the perfect ducted air conditioning system for your home – and your family.
Why choose ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling for your home?
Before we get into the details, let’s look at some major factors why people choose ducted reverse cycle air conditioning:
- Ultra-quiet, whole-house heating and cooling
- Unmatched energy efficiency to keep your bills low
- Cost-effective solution that is affordable to run
- Flexible, adaptable systems designed to suit your family’s needs
- Clever zoning that gives you the ultimate control
- Designed to last up to 20 years (and adds great resale value to your home)
- Reverse cycle technology means you can keep your home warm or cool, no matter the season
What factors do we look at during ducted air con system design?
There are plenty of variables we need to analyse during system design, and each helps us create a tailored solution perfect to meet your needs.
Here are six of the most important factors we look at that helps us design your perfect ducted air conditioning solution.
1. Window orientation
Of course, we need to look at the way the sun moves around your home. Where does it face in the hottest time of the day, during the hottest part of summer?
How big are your windows? Do they effectively block out light, or are older windows a major factor in your warming home? They may bring light in, but alongside that, they’re also bringing in heat.
On the other hand, tinted windows are great, but unlike our cars, not many of us have them in our homes.
We have to carefully consider your home’s window layout and placement to determine how hot it might get due to large, open windows.
2. Room volume
It seems obvious enough: a large room will take longer to cool than a smaller one. Of course, that’s just one part of the equation.
We also look at ceiling height combined with windows, orientation, and insulation…
3. Building materials
As touched on above, insulation and building materials also play an important factor in designing the right system for your home.
Materials with a higher thermal mass are more effective at trapping heat and releasing it slowly. These sorts of materials include solid brick, concrete, and stone.
A contrasting material would be brick veneer, which is usually a single, external layer of bricks that covers up a home’s timber framing.
Timber is notorious for heat absorption, so naturally it can lead to a warmer and more uncomfortable home during summer. As such, brick veneer homes tend to get warmer than solid brick.
4. Your home’s layout
We also need to look at your home’s floor plan. Is it open plan and single storey?
Or are your living quarters and sleeping quarters on separate floors?
Which rooms do you spend the most time in, and which are somewhat neglected most of the time?
Your home’s layout combined with your family’s lifestyle helps us understand the best way to strategise your system.
We can also introduce you to zoning. This clever technology allows you even greater control of your home’s heating and cooling, by stopping the flow of air to a certain room when it’s not in use.
No one working in the study? Turn its zone off, and redistribute air into the living room, where the family is currently watching a movie and mum and dad are cooking in the kitchen.
5. Size and capacity
Of course, one critical decision we must make is the Kw size of your new ducted air conditioning system.
It’s paramount we get this right from the start, as ducted systems are designed to last for up to 20 years (provided you choose a reputable brand, of course!)
Modifying the size later down the track is both a costly and difficult task.
What happens if you choose the wrong size system?
A system that is too large will…
- Use excessive and unnecessary power
- Cost you more to run
- Abruptly shut off when it reaches desired temperature
A system that is too small will…
- Provide inefficient heating and cooling
- Need to work harder to keep you cool or warm
- Possibly require more frequent repairs as its under more strain to perform
6. Finally, where will the ducts be installed?
Once we’ve looked at the details of your system ‘behind the scenes’, it’s time to see where the external unit will be located, where the ducts will run, and where the grilles will be placed.
Modern systems allow grilles to be placed in the floor, ceiling, or walls – depending on your needs (and your home’s ceiling space).
Need heating and cooling in Melbourne?
Find out if a ducted air conditioning system is right for you!
We hope that by now you understand that there’s certainly no one size fits all solution when it comes to your heating and cooling system.
There are plenty of factors that can influence the heating and cooling solution that’s right for you, and it’s only with strategic system design that we can reach that desired outcome!
Interested in learning more about ducted air conditioning? Click here to compare ducted with other types of systems.
Ready to chat? Get in touch with us today! Give our friendly team a call on 1300 854 525 or fill in this enquiry form and we’ll get back to you soon! You can also also visit us for heating and cooling Melbourne: pop into our office at F6 / 310-312 Governor Rd, Braeside VIC 3195.
