What To Consider When Choosing An Air Conditioning Unit For Your Illawarra Home
Helpful Tips From Beaumont Air’s Eric Guilly
If you’re building a new home in the Illawarra, renovating or you’re just a little bit over the unusual weather patterns of recent times, you’re probably on the hunt for an air conditioning unit.
Or certainly thinking about it.
But when you don’t really know your reverse cycle from your split system, it can be a little daunting navigating which air con unit is going to work for your lifestyle and your home.
So, we chatted with Eric Guilly owner of local biz Beaumont Air about what you should consider when choosing an air conditioning unit.
Here’s the five questions he‘s asked the most…..
And – bonus! – his answers.
1 :: Should I cool my whole house or just a single room or area?
We find that most people are either looking for a whole house solution or a single room solution.
So working out exactly what areas you’d like to cool and heat is the first step.
Consider things like where you spend most of your time? Are other rooms shaded or don’t get the afternoon sun so are totally fine without extra air con? Or do they need extra heat in the winter but not in the summer?
Some people find they live most of their life in a certain part of the house, so they’re happy for us to install a unit that focuses on that particular area.
Other customers use the entire house – for example, a big family with kids – so an air conditioning unit with zones is a good option for these guys.
2 :: Can I get an air conditioning unit with effective running costs?
In Australia, we use our air conditioners for most of the year, so customers are always keen to minimise their running costs.
Air conditioning technology has come a long way. It used to be cut a hole in the wall, install your unit and turn it on and out it would come with no possibility of managing the temperature [not to mention the damage it would do to the environment].
These days there are systems that are almost neutral in relation to ozone depletion. Most systems have inverters that in theory allows the unit to reduce it’s power consumption as required.
Climate control is another way to reduce running costs. Many units now have the ‘smarts’ to manage the conditions within the house which in turn manages the efficiency of the system.
Combine that with a solar system – which is very popular with customers – to manage the running costs even further.
3 :: Where will the air conditioning unit go?
One of the first things I ask my clients is what is more important to you – heating or cooling?
If the answer is heating, I look for options for installing a ducted system under floor if the space is there to do that.
If they say cooling, we look for an option in the roof.
It comes down to basic physics. Hot air rises, cold air drops!
Of course, if those options aren’t available because of a slab or the way the house is built, we’ll come up with an alternative plan that is just as effective.
4 :: Can I operate my air conditioning unit from my smart phone?
Whether it be Bluetooth or wi-fi, all major manufacturers have that capability now.
Many of our customers have gone down the pathway of creating a ‘smart home’ and it’s a great way to manage your utilities.
Many units will do all the thinking for you once you set it up, of course. Set it up to suit your lifestyle – when you’re coming home, when you’re out of the house, when different zones are being used – and the connectivity will give the system [and you if you need to] the ability to manage the climate and operation of the unit.
It’s great for Airbnb’s. When a guest arrives for the weekend, the Airbnb host can set the temperature and comfort level in the home remotely, so the guest doesn’t have to work out the air con, press all the buttons and get frustrated when they try and work it out [we’ve all been there!].
And when the guest leaves, the owner can turn the unit off via their smart phone which means the system isn’t running for hours and hours when it’s not being used and running up the bills.
5 :: How much?
Ah yes, this is a very important question for all our customers and fair enough. Installing an air conditioning unit in your home is an investment so you want to get it right and get value for your money.
We cater to all budgets. There really IS an option for all budgets.
Cooling or heating one part of the home is a way to save money.
The cost is also impacted by how the house is built.
If we’re dealing with things like raked ceilings and concrete slabs, the install may be a little more labour intensive and sometimes we have to create a bespoke solution – a good air conditioning installation company will be clear with those costs up front.
For us at Beaumont Air, we always aim to install an air conditioning unit that suits our customer’s lifestyle, property and budget.
Awesome – thanks Eric!!
Beaumont Air and Electrical specialise in the service, maintenance and installation of commercial and residential air conditioning, heating, ventilation, refrigeration systems and all electrical needs. The team focus on creative solutions, quality outcomes, competitive pricing, exceptional customer service experiences and new technology. Find out more information about this awesome local business here.
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