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How to Choose a Home Air Conditioning System

Living in a very hot climate without air conditioning can be downright miserable. If you swore last year that you'd never again suffer through another season of heat rash, restless nights and poor concentration, you'll need to look into all the different types of home air conditioning systems. Today we help you choose the cooling type that suits you best, with a review of 6 different home air conditioning systems for different usage patterns.

Portable air conditioners

Portable air conditioners are generally cheap to both buy and run, per unit of cooling power. However, they are only suitable in smaller living areas. That being said portable air conditioners are very useful in some situations.

You can get:

• Portable refrigerative air conditioners
• Portable evaporative models
• Portable reverse cycle home air conditioners that double as heaters

Buy a portable home air conditioner if:

• You want to cool two small and separate areas of the house at different times
• You are renting
• You don't need to lower the ambient temperature by a large amount

Refrigerative wall/window air conditioners

Wall/window home air conditioners are permanently installed, and can offer quite a lot of cooling power at low purchase and running costs. Here we are talking about cooling-only models, although there are also reverse cycle types that can heat your home as well - see below.

Buy a wall/window home air conditioner if:

• You're a homeowner
• You have enough window space that a window-installed unit won’t block out light
• You need a lower purchase price and installation cost

Reverse cycle air conditioners

Reverse cycle home air conditioners are the best option for almost all homes. They can double as both home air conditioning and heating units, and are cost effective to buy and run.

Buy a reverse cycle home air conditioner if:

• You're a homeowner
• You need refrigerative cooling (your climate is often humid)
• You need to cool large areas
• You live in a climate of varying extremes - hot summers and cold winters
• You want a ducted home air conditioning/heating system

Evaporative air conditioners

Evaporative home air conditioners have some unique features, but a narrow range of application. They can be portable, fixed or ducted.

Buy an evaporative home air conditioner if::

• You live in a dry climate - they don't work well in humid climates
• You live in an area where water supply isn't a problem - they can use up to 20L of water a day
• You want a lower purchase price
• You have pets or indoor plants

Options for your air conditioners

Most types of air conditioners can be ducted, and some types have models within the range that are inverter systems. Each of these options can be a real budget-saver, and help you keep far cooler, in some situations.

Buy a ducted home air conditioner if::

• You're a homeowner
• You'll be staying in your home for at least the next 4 years
• You want to cool the entire house at once, or large zones
• You can handle the higher purchase and installation price

Buy an inverter home air conditioner if::

• You live in a generally hot climate and will be running your air conditioner for long periods at a time. (4 hours or more)

Natural cooling options

Natural cooling options usually take a little more planning time than simply buying a home air conditioner. In some cases they have higher capital costs, in other cases they are free. Naturally cooling your home is a mixed bag, but worth looking into. In some cases, these methods can also supplement and create better efficiency in appliance-based home air conditioning:

• Fix heat leaks in your home, including air vents and exhaust fans, gaps around doors, gaps where pipes enter the house, gaps between the walls and cornices, etc.
• Make north-facing windows large, east and west facing windows small.
• Invest the time and money in insulating your house as well as possible
• Shade all of your external windows
• Plant trees and bushes to either shade your house, or channel breezes towards it