Summer has almost arrived meaning it’s that time of the year when many of us rely on air conditioners to keep us cool. Whether you are building, renovating or replacing an air conditioning unit in your home or office, it’s important to know what your options are and what type of units are available.

When you begin researching the air conditioning the terminology can get a little confusing, so let us help you by explaining more about air conditioning systems.

Ductless Split System Air Conditioners

Are one of the most popular air conditioners installed in homes and in small offices. Split system units have one indoor unit and one outdoor unit. The indoor unit is usually wall mounted and is ideal to cool one room, or a specific area in your home or office. The benefits of split system air conditioners are they can heat and cool, they also take up less space, do not require ducting and are considered to be a very quiet unit. Split System air conditioners are also popular due to being available in a range of sizes and their aesthetic slimline design blends into your residential or commercial space.

Ducted Split System Air Conditioners – also known as Central Air Conditioners

Are able to heat and cool and are the perfect choice if you have a large commercial space, or if you want to heat or cool many rooms in your home. This type of system has a central unit which is installed outside and through a system of ducts, air is distributed throughout outlets and sensors installed in each room. This system is ideal for larger spaces, as individual rooms can be temperature controlled by installing different zones, meaning one room can be cooler, while another room can be warmer; or one room can be on and another room can be turned off when not in use.

Evaporative Coolers – also known as Swamp Coolers

Are designed to be used in dry and arid areas. Evaporative cooling systems draw in the outside air, which then passes over damp pads causing the water to evaporate and then distribute throughout the home or office. This cooling system adds moisture into the room, but must not be installed in locations with a high humidity, because the system’s cooling ability lessens when the outside temperature is humid.

Packaged Air Conditioning Units

Are a self contained heating and air conditioning system that are used in large commercial and industrial buildings, such as hospitals, supermarkets, aged care facilities, hotels and high rise apartments. This large unit is usually mounted on the roof and are ideal for buildings where there is not a lot of floor space inside. These units are effective in cooling and heating many rooms, they also have the benefit of climate control and are one of the cleanest forms of heating and cooling, as they filter the air before expelling it into the room.

Refrigerant Air Conditioning – Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) or Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV)

Are air conditioners designed for large houses and buildings and have the ability to maintain individual zone control in each room and each floor of the building. These units are available in a Heat Pump system where all zones are in cooling or heating; or the more popular Heat Recovery system where some zones can be cooled and some zones can be heated simultaneously.

We hope we have provided you with more information about air conditioners. If you have further questions, please call us on 0490 333 461. Our team at Mako Air have 20 years experience supplying, installing and servicing commercial and residential air conditioning systems and are here to help!