Canberra’s summer heat can quickly expose problems with an ageing air conditioner. A living room may become uncomfortable every afternoon, one bedroom might stay warmer than the rest of the house, or the unit may run for hours without making the space comfortable.
The equipment itself is not always the problem. A renovation, new home office or extra living area can change how your home needs to be cooled. Large west-facing windows can also make some rooms noticeably hotter during the afternoon.
If you’re considering a new cooling system for your Canberra home, start by looking at how the house is being used and what is already installed. The Energy People has more than 25 years of experience working with Canberra households on heating and cooling, including upgrades to existing ducted systems.
Start With Where the Problem Is
Pay attention to when and where the discomfort occurs.
A living room that heats up from mid-afternoon may be affected by west-facing windows. A bedroom that remains warm overnight can have different requirements, while a room that has recently become a home office may now need cooling during the day.
An extension can create a similar change by adding living space that was not part of the original installation.
This can help you work out whether the system needs a repair, an extension or a full replacement.
Already Have Ducted Gas Heating?
Replacing the entire setup is not always necessary if you already have ducted gas heating.
Add-on refrigerated cooling can be connected to compatible ducted gas heating, allowing the existing ductwork and outlets to provide both heating and cooling. The Energy People offers add-on cooling for suitable systems.
It can be a practical option if the existing heating system is still in good condition. Before installation, the ductwork, electrical supply, equipment location and available access need to be checked.
This means a functioning heating system may not need to be removed.
Get the Capacity Right
Choosing the right capacity involves more than measuring the floor area.
A proper assessment considers insulation, ceiling height, window orientation and how much direct sunlight the rooms receive. These factors affect how much heat enters different parts of the house and, in turn, how much cooling those areas require.
For example, a living area with large west-facing windows may gain considerably more heat during the afternoon than a shaded bedroom of a similar size.
An undersized unit can struggle on Canberra’s hottest days. Going significantly larger is not automatically better either. The right capacity depends on the home’s construction, layout and how each room is used.
Look at Heating as Well as Cooling
The cold winter months are also worth considering if the existing heating is ageing.
Replacing air conditioning can be an opportunity to look at year-round comfort rather than treating summer and winter as completely separate projects.
Reverse-cycle air conditioning provides both heating and cooling. The Energy People offers reverse-cycle split systems and ducted reverse-cycle systems.
A split system can suit an individual bedroom, study or living area. Ducted reverse-cycle is better suited to homes where several areas need to be conditioned, with zoning available on installations designed for it.
If your heating system is already due for replacement, a reverse-cycle system can provide heating and cooling in the same upgrade.
You May Not Need to Cool Every Room
Think about how you actually use each part of the house before deciding how much cooling you need.
Someone working from home may need the office cooled during the day, while the living areas become the priority in the evening. Bedrooms that are not being used at those times do not necessarily need the same level of conditioning.
A split system can cool an individual room or selected area. With a ducted reverse-cycle installation, zoning can provide separate control over different parts of the house where zoning is available.
Check the Installation Requirements
Your home’s layout can also affect what is involved in the installation.
Indoor and outdoor unit locations, electrical connections, duct runs and access all need to be considered. Depending on the building, ducted work may require access through the roof or underfloor space.
Before agreeing to an installation, ask:
- Where can the indoor and outdoor units be positioned?
- Can the existing ductwork be retained?
- Will the electrical supply need upgrading?
- Is there enough space for the equipment?
- Will roof or underfloor access be required?
- What servicing will be needed in the future?
For an older installation, these practical points can affect the work involved and which options will suit the house.
When Is Replacement Worth Considering?
An ageing air conditioner does not automatically need to be replaced.
If it remains reliable and only needs routine servicing, keeping it may be sensible. Repeated breakdowns, declining performance and rising repair costs are stronger reasons to look at an upgrade.
Replacement may be worth discussing when:
- Rooms remain uncomfortable while the unit is running
- Cooling performance has noticeably declined
- Breakdowns are becoming more frequent
- Repair costs are starting to add up
- The home has been renovated or extended
- The existing installation no longer suits how the household uses the space
An inspection can help determine whether the equipment can continue to do the job or whether replacement is the better option.
What About Other Home Energy Upgrades?
Cooling is sometimes considered alongside other improvements around the home.
If you’re also reviewing your hot water system, a Reclaim heat pump is designed for household hot water rather than indoor cooling. The Energy People supplies and installs Reclaim hot water heat pump systems in Canberra.
If you’re considering both, the hot water and cooling systems can be assessed separately to find the right option for each.
The Energy People has more than 25 years of experience servicing Canberra and has more than 52,000 heating and cooling installations in Canberra homes.
Final Thoughts
The right cooling system depends on how your home is used and what is already in place. Your existing heating, room layout and the way you use different areas can all influence which cooling option makes sense.
For Canberra homes, it is also worth thinking about heating and cooling together. If your current system is ageing or no longer meeting your needs, an assessment can help you decide whether an upgrade is worthwhile.
Talk to The Energy People
If your current system is struggling, The Energy People can assess your existing setup and explain which options may suit your home, from add-on refrigerated cooling to split or ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning.
Talk to The Energy People about your cooling needs and find the right option for your Canberra home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can refrigerated cooling be added to ducted gas heating?
Yes, where the existing installation is compatible. Add-on refrigerated cooling can use the current ductwork and outlets to provide cooling alongside the home’s heating.
Is air conditioning suitable for Canberra’s climate?
Yes. Reverse-cycle air conditioning provides heating in winter and cooling in summer. Split and ducted options are available.
Do I need to cool the whole house?
No. A split system can target a particular room, while zoning can divide a ducted installation into separately controlled areas.
Is evaporative cooling an option?
It can be. Evaporative cooling works differently from refrigerated air conditioning and suits homes where the building and ventilation are appropriate for this type of installation.
