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Air Conditioning Options

As you probably know, the Australian summertime can be extremely hot. When I moved to Australia from England, I knew it would be warm, but I wasn't ready for the intense heat. I had bought a home on the outskirts of Sydney. It was a great place but unfortunately, it didn't have an HVAC system. I moved in during the winter time, so this wasn't a problem. However, when the weather began to warm up, the interior of my home became very uncomfortable. I called in an HVAC contractor who explained my options before installing a modern HVAC system which keeps my house nice and cool.

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Air Conditioning Options

Ducted Air Conditioning: Increasing the System's Operational Efficiency

by Herminia Lopez

If you have recently installed a ducted air conditioner in your home, you should evaluate the energy efficiency of your system. Typically, modern AC units are energy efficient according to their performance rating. However, the exact amount of power consumed will also depend on your entire setup and AC usage practices. If you have had high electrical bills since installing your air conditioner, consider using these simple tips to increase operational efficiency.

Inspect and Repair the Ducts

Ducted air conditioning systems are favourable because they can distribute cooled air around a large home. However, if the ducts are not in good condition, your system will be forced to draw more power and work harder for optimal results. In simple terms, tubes with tears and leaks will lose cooled air during conveyance. Therefore, the system has to work to compensate these losses constantly. You should inspect the condition of your ductwork and have the channels sealed and repaired.

Replace or Clean the Filters

The most apparent maintenance task for AC is the replacement of filters. Unfortunately, most people overlook the importance of this process because it does not seem to change anything. This misconception could be causing high electrical expenses. If your system has dirty or clogged filters, air will not pass freely through the screen. Therefore, the air conditioner has to operate more intensely to force the air through the filter. The result is more energy losses. You can minimise this detriment by replacing or cleaning your air filters on a regular basis, generally every few months.

Insulate the Ducting

If you have been using your ductwork for a long time, you should consider examining the insulation around the channels. While insulation materials are durable, they are not infallible. Deterioration over the years can render the protective batts and blankets useless. If the insulation is showing signs of degradation, you should consider replacing them immediately. You should also take this as an opportunity to install insulation with high ratings.

Practice Zoning and Temperature Control

Finally, you should think about establishing zones for your ducted air conditioner. Simply speaking, you should set up your AC such that you can control the temperature in the different rooms in your home independently. For example, when a particular area is not in use, you can turn off the cooling in that zone while the others continue to receive cooled air.

If you are not sure about the cause of inefficiencies in your air conditioning system or the unit is not operating as expected, you should consult an experienced HVAC contractor.

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