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Hands up if you’re the type of person who, on one of those overwhelmingly hot and humid 40C days, has sought refuge at the shops – knowing that when the doors slide open, the blast of cool, refrigerated air that smacks you in the face will drop your temp gauge instantly.
You’re not alone. But did you know that the refreshing wall of cool you experienced is thanks to Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?
When it comes to an all-in-one dual heating and cooling system that covers your entire home at once, Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning performs flawlessly all year round, even under the most extreme weather conditions.
It’s why you’ll find these type of systems commercial precincts such as shopping centres, where the year-round comfort of customers is paramount. It’s also why these systems, also known as Ducted Refrigerated Cooling, are the system of choice in overwhelmingly hot, humid states such as Queensland and New South Wales.
Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning is hugely popular with Melbourne homeowners, too! For anyone chasing that frigid blast of cool air upon entering the family home in those withering summer months, Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners are hard to beat.
All that power and performance comes at a price
Before you get too excited, a word of caution …. Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners are a little like V8 cars – all of that performance comes at a price.
For instance, entry costs for a Ducted Reverse-Cycle Air Conditioner installed in a small home, such as a unit, sit around the $9000-$10,000 mark. This jumps to $10,000-$15,000 including installation for the average family home, depending on the size and type of system you choose. For an extra-large or multi-storey home, you should expect to pay $15,000-$20,000.
This is because instead of heating or cooling a single area, Ducted Reverse-Cycle Air Conditioners have the grunt and means to deliver heating or cooling to your entire home – via a comprehensive pattern of ducts and vents that must be installed in your ceiling. Plus, they can be zoned, meaning you can switch off areas of the house that are not being used.
You also need to factor in running costs prior to purchase. These bad boys aren’t the cheapest and average operation will see you paying $5 to $10 a day (compared with just $1-$2 a day for Evaporative Cooling). But you do have control of these costs by using the zoning arrangements and minimising the space you need heated or cooled. However, for those with solar panels on the roof, these costs are much lower.
When setting your thermostat, it pays to remember that each degree Celsius lower (cooler) that it’s set in summer, and each degree warmer in winter, will up your running costs by 10-15%. As a guide, we recommend a setting of 25C in summer and 20C in winter.
Is Ducted Reverse Cycle right for me?
Here are a few important things to consider:
- First up, do you have the space – both in the ceiling for the indoor unit, and outside for the large condenser.
- These bad boys tend to use a lot of power. However, they are perfect if you run solar power – and are ideal for those wanting consistently crisp air on even the most withering hot, humid days. Plus, it’s an all-in-one Cooling and Heating solution for your home.
- Ceiling or walls? Would you like your vents, which come in a range of different designs, affixed as standard square outlets in the ceiling, or as linear grills in the wall?
- How would you like to control it? Controls are usually hard-wired and mounted on a wall and you may opt for one for your entire home, or have extra Controllers installed throughout the house for convenience.
- Zoning. For convenience and economy, we recommend zoning your house to control which parts are Heated and Cooled, and when (for example, heavy traffic areas during the day and bedrooms at night).
Is it worth the price?
As with a V8 car on the road, having power and performance at your fingertips to manage your home climate can be a more costly purchase.
Before committing to investing thousands having Ducted Refrigeration installed in your home – as well as the hundreds of dollars each year to run it – Plum Heating & Cooling will ensure you understand other options available to you. These include Gas Ducted Heating with Add-On Cooler, an Evaporative Cooler or a few separate Split-Systems throughout the home.
When you book a consultation with us, we can go through the pros and cons for each option and guide you to making the best decision for your needs and your family’s lifestyle.
So what are you waiting for? Please call Plum’s friendly, experienced team today on (03) 8360 9622 in Melbourne, or (03) 5292 2219 in Geelong. Or you can contact us via this link https://www.plumheatcool.com.au/contact-us/
