Ducted Air Con System Installation
in the Sutherland Shire
Here in NSW, it can get rather hot during the summer months, making your home uncomfortable without an air conditioner. When you are ready to say goodbye to the heat and bring blissful, cool air into your home, a ducted air conditioning system is likely at the top of your list of options. While these systems are efficient and powerful, they are not suitable for all homes in the area. Here’s what you need to know before you decide if ducted air con is right for you. Kitchen and living area with ducted air conditioning vents in ceiling
Evaluation
EVALUATING YOUR HOME’S SUITABILITY
Before you dive head-first into researching ducted systems, you’ll first need to determine whether your home is a candidate for this type of air conditioner. There is more to this decision than just the number of rooms in your home. COOLING NEEDS To begin with, you’ll need to think about the cooling needs of each room. For example, some rooms in your home may stay perfectly comfortable with a breeze through an open window, while others may feel like the inside of an oven. Ducted air conditioning systems are costly to install, so it may not make financial sense if you only need cooling in a few rooms of your home. For that purpose, a split system may be a better option. If your entire house is roasting throughout the day, though, ducted air con will likely be your best choice. ROOF SPACE Next, you’ll need to evaluate the amount of space in your roof or between the floors in a two-storey house. In addition to needing enough space for the ducts, there will also need to be room for the installers to move around throughout the installation process. If they have difficulty gaining access, they may have a hard time installing everything properly, which can impact the efficiency of your system. Not only that, but complicated installations can increase labour costs as well. Ideally, you should have enough space in your roof for the technicians to install everything as efficiently as possible, with minimal impact to any plumbing or electrical wiring in the area. During your initial consultation with your air con installers, they’ll let you know if your home is capable of accommodating the ductwork and can give you an estimate of the overall costs involved. OUTDOOR CONSIDERATIONS In addition to the ducting inside your home, you’ll also need to have enough space in your yard for the outdoor unit. This contains the refrigerant that cools the air, as well as the motor for the system, so this is one of the most important components. Typically, you’ll need to have about a square metre of space in which to fit the unit. It is important to note that air conditioners are quite noisy, so you’ll want to position the outdoor unit away from your bedrooms and other areas in which you spend a lot of time. Don’t forget to take your neighbours into consideration as well. They likely won’t be happy with your new air conditioning unit being placed right next to their bedroom window! Qualified technician installing a ducted air conditioner in a Sydney home |
Installation
INSTALLING A DUCTED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
Putting in the ducts for your new air conditioner is a complicated process, so you should always leave it to the professionals. Here’s what to expect during the installation. The technicians will start with a thorough inspection of your home to determine the most appropriate locations for the ducts, internal vents and outdoor unit. Typically, this step is completed during your initial consultation, so you’ll likely also get a cost estimate for the parts and the labour involved at this time. On installation day, your air con technicians will start by cutting a hole in your ceiling for the intake vent. This will supply the air to be cooled to the unit, and the size will vary depending on the specific air conditioner you have chosen. The next step is to install the outdoor unit and run the necessary pipes and electrical cables to connect the indoor unit to the outdoor one. Once all of the equipment is in place, the technicians can cut holes in each room for the air vents that will supply the cool air. They can then fit the vents to the holes and install the ducting inside your roof to deliver the air to the vents. Finally, they’ll install the main control unit for the system in a convenient location inside your home. This will enable you to adjust the temperature as needed. The last step in the process is to power up your system and test that everything is working correctly. After that, you’re good to go! Hand typing on calculator |
Costs
THE COST OF INSTALLING A DUCTED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
There are a number of factors that go into determining the cost of a ducted system, so it is difficult to offer a specific dollar amount without actually inspecting your home. In general, though, you can expect to pay somewhere in the range of $2,000 to $6,000 for the equipment and installation. Your specific cost will first depend on the air conditioning unit you choose. As you might expect, larger units that are capable of cooling large homes will cost more than compact units designed for smaller homes. The complexity of your installation will also come into play. If the technicians can easily move around in your roof space, your labour cost will be much lower than if the space was constricted. Of course, larger homes will incur greater costs due to the sheer relative size of the job. Female home owner adjusting temperature control on wall. CHOOSING A LICENSED INSTALLER Under Australian law, all air conditioning installers must be licensed by the Australian Refrigeration Council, as they will be handling the refrigerant required to cool the air. You can verify a company’s licence via Service NSW’s public register. Here at Momentum Air Conditioning, we are fully-licensed to operate in NSW, and have worked with countless homeowners throughout the Sutherland Shire and Eastern Suburbs. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your air conditioning needs. Our experts will help you decide if ducted air conditioning is right for you. Call now to get started! |
