Ducted Air Conditioning Brisbane

Before we make any recommendations or take steps to undertake Brisbane ducted air conditioning installation, we will chat with you about your needs and if necessary, visit your property for a quick inspection. The team will assess the construction of your property, including the power supply. When assessing your home’s construction, we are primarily analysing the materials it is constructed of. This is because some building materials harbour more cold air, and certain properties may require a more customised approach to installation than others.

For example, homes constructed mostly of timber are unlikely to retain cold air to the same extent as homes constructed from bricks or concrete, and this will determine where the ducts should be installed. In terms of power supply, our primary concern is safety. If your property is not equipped to support a ducted air conditioning system, we will need to arrange for the appropriate improvements to be made. This will ensure your air conditioner operates efficiently and protects the property’s residents from electrical hazards.

The team will also note the floor plan, internal structure and use of each area, to ensure your system is installed in an optimal manner. Inspecting the number of rooms and the floor space and ceiling height will also give us a clear picture of the area your unit will be required to cool and/or heat, and the potential strain on certain rooms. For example, laundries and kitchens often contain appliances that generate a considerable amount of heat, and your unit will need to be installed to account for this.

Once we have discussed your options based on your needs and preferences, and you have decided upon a suitable unit, we can then organise to install it at a time that suits you. Ducted air conditioning installations in Brisbane typically takes one to two days depending on the size of the unit and what’s involved.

We value our customers and will take proper care of your property during the process. Our team are reliable and punctual, so they will arrive on time. We also welcome your input during the installation process and will strive to meet all of your needs.

Once the installation is complete, we will provide you with your warranty information and full instructions on how to run your ducted air conditioner. If you have any concerns following the installation, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The indoor unit is typically installed in the ceiling cavity, where it’s nice and quiet. If your property doesn’t have enough space in the ceiling, it may be possible to install the system underneath your flooring instead.

The outdoor unit is placed in a discreet location, typically away from living areas where you won’t be disturbed by the noise. We are also mindful of the noise to your neighbours, so we’ll try to install the unit in a spot that suits everyone.

We try to accommodate all requests, however the location of vents will depend on the roof space of the property as this governs where the vents can be placed. We also need to space out the vents as much as possible so that any preset zones are clearly defined.

Your ducted air conditioner should be serviced annually by a qualified professional, which will ensure any potential issues are identified or prevented, and its operational efficiency is maximised. Servicing can include common tasks like checking refrigerant levels, re-gassing the refrigerant, cleaning filters, and checking the integrity of the ducting.

Ducted air conditioners allow you to cool different rooms individually, so if your unit is only working in one room, it may simply be switched off in other rooms. Check your user manual for instructions and if the issue persists, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Ducted AC can usually be installed in a single day, which includes fitting the machines, installing the vents (including the return air vent), and installing the refrigeration piping and ducting itself. Complex, larger jobs may take two or more days, however this is rare. You can expect to have your ducted system up and running in just a single day.

The indoor unit (fan coil) is usually located inside the ceiling cavity, where it’s nice and quiet, and the outdoor unit (compressor) is placed outside, preferably somewhere where it won’t disturb you. One of the best things about ducted AC is that it’s hidden away—all you see are vents, not bulky wall-mounted units.

We certainly try to install the vents in the positions you’d prefer, but we also need to work with your unique property to get the best possible outcome. We’ll talk to you about where we are going to install the vents to ensure you’re happy.

The defining factor is usually how many areas/rooms you want to cool in your home. If you have a house and want to cool three or more rooms, a ducted air conditioner will be capable of doing so with just a single main unit installed in the ceiling (or under your floor), and a unit that sits outside. Cool air is delivered via ducting that runs throughout the house and pumped through subtle air vents in each room.

If you have a small apartment or a house where you only want to cool one area, a split system is a better option because it’s just a single wall-mounted unit, and a unit that sits outside. The split system will be suitably sized for the property, and will consume much less power than a ducted air conditioner, which have much higher energy capacities. If you want to cool multiple two rooms/areas, you can have individual wall-mounted units in each room (this is called a multi-split system).

COVID can spread through the air, which usually occurs from person to person. But there’s ongoing debate as to how often this happens, with some scientists believing it to be low. So while ducted air conditioning can technically spread COVID, we simply don’t have enough research to know how commonly it occurs, if at all (Jessica Craig, 2002, NPR).

Ducted air conditioners work on electricity, so they need a power source to function. There’s another type of system called gas ducted heating, but this is completely different to air conditioners, and unfortunately we don’t supply them.

How much does ducted air conditioning cost to run?

It is not mandatory that ducted air conditioning carries an energy efficiency rating label, although some manufacturers do choose to label them. However, they do need to meet minimum energy performance requirements according to the Annualised Energy Efficiency Ratio (AEER) and/or Annualised Coefficient of Performance (ACOP) for Australia. It is generally the most expensive form of air conditioning to run (up to $2 an hour in energy usage based on 35 cents per kWh), compared to a split system, which costs around 60 cents.

However, ducted systems often include zoning that allows you to activate and deactivate certain areas of your home, which can make a substantial difference to energy usage. If you’re only wanting to cool the master bedroom at night, and a specific zone has been created for this area, you can turn off every other zone and have the system working to a much lower capacity. When this is taken into account, energy for ducted systems can become almost comparable to split systems.

What size ducted air conditioner do I need?

To calculate the required size of a ducted air conditioner, you’ll need to follow three steps:

1. Determine the total floor area of the space that needs to be cooled
This is usually the living areas and bedrooms. We’ll use 100m2 for our example.

2. Calculate the total wattage for the air conditioner
To calculate the required wattage for the AC system, you’ll need to do the following:

• For properties with a ceiling height of 2.4 metres: multiply the total floor area by 150 (watts)
• For properties with a ceiling height of 2.7 metres: multiply the total floor area by 160 (watts)
• For properties with a ceiling height greater than 2.7 metres: multiply the total floor area by 175 (watts

Let’s say your property has a ceiling height of 2.7 metres. Our calculation would be 100 x 160, which comes to 16,000 watts.

3. Convert to kilowatts
Now all we need to do is convert our number to kilowatts. To do so, simply add a decimal point three places from the end of the number. In our 16,000 watts example, this would convert to 16.000 kW, in which case you’ll need a 16kW system.

What brands do you recommend?

We recommend and install gold-standard ducted air conditioners from Panasonic, Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric. Here is a brief rundown of the models they offer.

Panasonic

Panasonic’s range of ducted air conditioners feature smart technologies including Wi-Fi and intuitive voice control, with a range of capacities.

• High Static Ducted: Has high static and large airflow capabilities for installation flexibility. “Static” refers to the amount of pressure a unit needs to overcome friction. The longer the ducts required, the more static that’s needed. Therefore, this model would be suitable for larger properties. Capacities range from 6kW to 22.4kW.
• Slim-line Ducted: Ideal for properties where space is limited. Capacities range from 6kW to 14kW.
• Ultra Slim Ducted: At only 200mm high, it can leverage the tightest of spaces.

Daikin

Daikin air conditioners include features such as automatic airflow adjustment and fan speed selection to suit the set temperature, and a Night Quiet Mode to reduce outdoor noise levels while you sleep. Additional functionality includes an off timer, weekly schedule timer, and a quick cool/heat mode that temporarily increases power to reach your desired temperature.

• Premium Inverter Ducted: Designed with R22 retrofit capability, it is suited for small to large properties.
• Inverter Ducted: A compact design for small to large houses, and ideal for installations where roof and outdoor space is limited.
• Slim-Line Ducted: Suited to narrow ceiling spaces.
• Bulkhead System: Designed for those who are after a discreet installation, ie. if the property has “drop” or shallow ceilings.

Mitsubishi Electric

This brand features four series of ducted air conditioners with a number of models in each. The range includes reverse cycle models that offer cool air in summer and heat in winter. They can incorporate zone selection and are ideal for multiple room applications.

• Ceiling-concealed: Has a low profile and lightweight design with a wide selection of fan speeds.
• Ducted 10 to 13.5kW: Offers quiet operation with single-phase or three-phase power options, plus optimal airflow due to high static pressure.
• Ducted 16 to 19kW: Has a two-piece construction with single and three-phase power options.
• Ducted 22kW: Has the largest heating/cooling capacity with a three-phase power supply.

Split systems = 2 to 3 hours

Ducted systems = A full day