In Australia, summers are getting hotter, dyer and longer. For many people, the warming of the weather come September, October and November spells a new wave of emotion – not just elation at the end of winter, but that creeping sense of dread that comes from knowing just how hot your home is going to get.

40-degree days? Awful. A home that heats up like an oven, retaining heat for days to come? Even more awful. At G Store, we understand that efficient cooling of your home doesn’t need to cost the earth. That’s right – you no longer need to choose between your comfort or a guilt-free, piping-hot home in the height of summer. In the contemporary market, there are a huge variety of quality air conditioner systems and units available – something to suit your exact needs, specifications and budgets.

In this article, we’ll unpack 5 of the most frequently asked questions regarding how to choose the best air conditioner for your specific circumstances.

1. What types of air conditioners are there?

There are a number of types of air conditioners available on the market today:

Split-system air conditioners
Multi-split system air conditioners
Ducted air conditioning systems
Evaporative cooling systems
Hydronic heating/cooling systems
Portable air conditioners

But which air conditioner is right for me?

To understand which option is going to be best-suited to your needs, there are a number of things you’ll need to consider including:

The size of the space that needs cooling (e.g. single room or multiple rooms?)
Your budget for upfront costs
Your relationship to the option of clean, sustainable energy sources
The design of your building

Let’s look at some of the best and most efficient air conditioning system options that fall into these categories.

2. Which air conditioner is best for a small room?

When it comes to cooling a small room, split-system air conditioners are a fantastic option. A split-system air conditioner is a system that operates via the use of two units: one that is installed externally to the home or building, and another often white, oblong unit that is installed high on the interior wall of a building – this is typically the kind of unit that comes to mind when we think of “air conditioning”.

Here’s how a split-system air conditioner works:

It consists of two connected “coils”: the indoor coil (called the evaporator, and part of the indoor unit), and the outdoor coil (called the condenser, and part of the outdoor unit)
The coils have a liquid refrigerant inside them, which moves throughout the system
The evaporator (indoor unit) has to be kept cooler than the temperature of the room, and the condenser (outdoor unit) has to be kept warmer than the ambient air around it
Essentially, the indoor unit absorbs heat while the outdoor unit cools and pumps cold air into the indoor unit – the insulated tubes that facilitate this process are piped through a small hole in the wall

But why are split-system air conditioners so useful for small spaces?

With only one evaporator unit, they can easily cool down and maintain the temperature in your small space. This means that if you spend most of your time in a single room or area of the house, you can save mountains on your electricity bills by choosing a split-system air conditioner that’s well-suited to that specific space. Split-systems are also generally thought to be a better option than ducted systems in smaller properties where direct control of that specific space is desired. With remote control and wifi options available, split-systems put you in 100% control of the space in which you live.

What’s more, high-end, quality split-system units will allow you to purchase an evaporator that is well-designed and aesthetically pleasing, meaning seamless integration with your interior design, no matter what the style. Offering high-quality units by LG, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and more, G Store prides itself on stocking only the most efficient, reliable and beautifully designed split system air conditioners on the market.

Want to discuss which unit is best-fit for your needs? Give our award-winning team a call now on 1300 137 567 for your obligation-free discussion!

3. Which air conditioner is best for a large home?

If you’ve got more than one room to heat or cool, a multi-split system air conditioner might be your best option. A multi-split is an air conditioning system with several indoor units, all attached a single outdoor unit or compressor. The indoor units are connected through carefully installed refrigerant lines, rather than ducting which can often be cumbersome and expensive to retrofit and install.

But why could a multi-split system be better for you than ducted AC?

Firstly, while many ducted systems have zone control options, multi-split systems allow individualised control of multiple spaces by multiple members of your family. Consider for a moment that you may have several people in the house at the one time. Alternatively, if you’re looking to install a multi-split AC system in the office, you could have multiple employees working from the office at the same time, each with their inividualised climate requirements.

Multi-split systems allow for the rooms in each of those spaces to be individually controlled using the remote control device allocated for each room’s evaporator unit. This means that while your kids might want a slightly cooler temperature in their bedrooms while they sleep, you can still be comfortable relaxing in the lounge room at a temperature that works for you. What’s more, multi-split systems are quiet, energy-efficient, and – particularly with regards to the units G Store stocks – designed to be aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eye. On the other hand, you might choose a ducted air conditioning system if:

You’re building a new home – the ducting can be simply an easily installed in a new build
You’re after non-negotiably whole-home heating and cooling connected to every single space throughout the building
You require supremely low-profile look-and-feel, as ducted systems do not require evaporator units to be installed on interior walls
You want to increase your property’s value – ducted systems are generally seen as the most well-designed systems from an aesthetic perspective

At G Store, we stock the highest-quality, most energy-efficient ducted systems on the market. Just phone our award-winning team today on 1300 137 567 for your entirely obligation-free discussion regarding your options.

4. Which air conditioner is most efficient?

The other option you have when it comes to cooling (and heating) your home is a hydronic heating and cooling system. A hydronic system is one of the most cost-effective and energy-efficient forms of in-home heating and cooling. Usually implemented during the construction of a new house, most hydronic systems can be used in either heating/cooling mode and involve the transportation of either warm or cool water through piping around the house, usually installed under the floor.

What’s key to a hydronic system’s efficiency is that because a hydronic system’s cooling temperature only needs to be a few degrees below the desired temperature of the room, it can operate by using very little energy. Its installation method also makes it far less likely to be susceptible to air leaks and other hurdles to passive cooling that can inhibit split- and multi-split systems. Just think – if your windows are poorly sealed and leaky, it may be worth tending to these first before considering the best heating/cooling option for your home. Which leads us to what many apartment-owners and residents of smaller, older-style buildings consider their saving grace during the warmer months:

5. Is a portable air conditioner my only option for cooling an apartment?

While apartment buildings with balconies rarely encounter the issue of disallowed installation, it’s still the case that many owners corporations prohibit the installation of split-systems due to what’s considered the “unsightly” nature of the external unit. However, with the climate shifting rapidly and summer temperatures on the rise, there may only be so long before regulators require corporations to be more sensitive to the health, wellness and safety needs of both owners and residents.

Portable air conditioners can provide a markedly non-invasive and temporary solution to your immediate cooling needs if the space in which you live cannot have a split- or multi-split system installed, for whatever reason.However, it’s important to be aware of the downfalls of portable systems, too:

Noise levels – can be challenging, and quite high compared to other units

Energy-efficiency – these are by far some of the least energy-efficient options on the market

Suitability to the space – portable air conditioners are generally only suitable for a small space or apartment that has adequate window design for temporary installation

Pollutants – because of the way that many portable air conditioners circulate air, they can be susceptible to circulating allergens too

Ultimately, your choice of unit is exactly that – your choice. But it helps to remain informed about the options best suited to your needs.

Wrapping up

When it comes to air conditioning solutions for your home, there are a variety of considerations to take into account, all of which are dependent on your particular circumstances, needs and requirements. Are you ready to find a safe, efficient and reliable air conditioning solution that’s best-suited to your home or office? Check out our Learning Centre for further info, or give our friendly sales team a call today on 1300 137 567 for your obligation-free consultation.

We’ll look forward to speaking with you.

Your Top 5 Air Con Questions: Answered