You’re ready to take the plunge on a new air conditioner, congratulations! Before you can enjoy the cool relief from the summer heat, you’ll need to ask yourself: what size air conditioner do I need?
Just like Goldilocks searching for the perfect porridge and bed, there are a few things to consider.
Why is it important to get the right size?
The main reason is energy efficiency. When that 40-degree day hits you don’t want your air con unit struggling to keep you and your family cool.
Don’t be mistaken, bigger is not always better. If your air conditioner is too big or too small it could result in higher power consumption, expensive energy bills, uneven temperatures, and a shorter lifespan for the unit.
4 factors that determine what size air conditioner you need
1. Room size
Dust off those floor plans or use a tape measure to record the length, width and ceiling height of the room. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution and a small bedroom will have a different cooling need compared to a large open plan kitchen and lounge room.
2. Insulation
The insulation in your home can impact on how well an air conditioner works and what size you’ll need. Make a note of insultation including in ceilings and on windows.
3. Location, location, location!
You’re the envy of Sydney with your Northern Beaches home. With higher temperatures and humidity levels, especially between January and March, your location is an important factor you’ll need to consider. Whether you’re in Queenscliff, Balgowlah or Killarney Heights let us quote for your specific needs.
4. Orientation
Depending on whether the room is north, south, east or west facing will also determine what size unit you’ll need. A west-facing lounge room in summer may need a different solution to a north facing one.
You may also need to consider the number of windows or skylights in the room, the number of people in the home, room lighting, and exterior trees or structures offering shade.
How do I calculate the size of my room and what air con I’ll need?
There is a formula to calculate how many kilowatts (kW) the unit will need to be, but we recommend using an online calculator such as Fairair as it incorporates more factors and reduces the margin for error.
Of course, the most accurate way is to use a trusted professional. The experienced team at Climate Care Air Conditioning Services are ready to help you. Get in touch with us today for a free quote.
Does the type of air con matter or will a split system and ducted system both work as well?
We offer a wide range of air conditioning options to choose from and work with both residential and light commercial clients. We recommend getting a free quote to discuss what will work best for your space.
To keep your home cool, go for a split system air conditioner. These units are compact and easy to install to cool a single room or an entire house. Multi-head split systems are also a great option for larger homes, as they allow you to cool many rooms at once.
For light commercial spaces, think about ducted air conditioning units. They’re powerful, efficient and quick to cool down large spaces. VRV systems are also a great option as they allow you to control the temperature in individual rooms.
Our goal is to help you get cooler quicker with the right unit for you. If you’re unsure if you need a split system, multi-head split system, ducted system or VRV system, get it right from the start by taking advantage of our Sydney Northern Beaches air conditioning installation services.
If you need any additional cabling or have load shedding questions upon installing or before installing you can reach out to local northern beaches electrician Matty James with whom we have worked on multiple occasions.