Choosing air conditioning: what to consider?
Buying a new air conditioner is a long-term investment, so there are other factors to consider in addition to price. Here are some useful tips to consider when buying an air conditioner.
Optimum size and performance of the air conditioner
The choice of the optimal climate is clearly determined by the size of the room. If the air conditioner is undersized, it will not cool the space properly and economically, it will ‘struggle’ to achieve the ideal temperature, and it will wear out more quickly. If it is oversized, you are likely to have spent more money on the equipment itself, even if you have spent more on unnecessary extra consumption.
It's worth consulting an expert as early as the planning stage, as dozens of factors can influence the choice of the optimum climate size (location, insulation, wall and window dimensions, ceiling height, shading, etc.)
Under normal conditions and assuming residential use, the following performance figures can be expected for each room size:
Air conditioning efficiency and energy savings
Efficient air conditioners consume less energy in the long term, so they will have lower maintenance costs. Manufacturers will indicate both refrigeration and heating energy consumption on the technical data sheet of the appliance (e.g. ‘A++/A+’, where the first value refers to refrigeration and the second to heating), but it is also worth looking at the COP, SCOP, EER, SEER.
What types of systems exist?
Depending on the house or apartment and the comfort criteria, you can choose a monosplit air conditioner (for one room or a specific part of the apartment) or a multi split air conditioner (if you want to cool/heat several rooms). Based on the indoor unit, you can choose between high-sided, parapet (at radiator height), coffered (in the suspended ceiling) and ducted (hidden in the suspended ceiling) air conditioners.
How much guarantee do they give on the air conditioning?
Of course, an important aspect is the warranty offered by the manufacturer, which varies from brand to brand. Three years is the general warranty, but there are also extended warranties of 5-7-10 years. The conditions vary, but generally one or two suitable maintenance services per year are a basic requirement.
Useful convenience features
Beyond the basic functions, there can be big differences between air conditioners in convenience options such as remote Wi-Fi connectivity, intelligent motion detection (which adjusts the temperature when the room is empty or someone enters the room, or does not blow air on the occupants for efficient operation), 3D airflow, vertical automatic airflow, extra quiet night mode, and more.
Would you also use the air conditioner for heating?
In recent years, air conditioners optimised for heating have become increasingly popular, and their design makes them ideal for heating as well as refrigeration.
Cleaner indoor air with air conditioning?
We spend a very large part of our lives indoors, so it is particularly important to have good indoor air quality, especially where there are children, elderly people or people with respiratory problems. It is then a good idea to choose an air conditioner with a multi-layer filter that effectively cleans the air, removing pollutants, allergens and other harmful substances. It also neutralises pet odours.
The noise level is not all the same
If the air conditioner is going to be in a doctor's surgery, home or office, noise levels may also be important. There are very significant differences between air conditioners, so if this is a priority, it is worth considering this when making your selection.
Design
It's worth considering whether the air conditioner will fit in with the style and look of your home. Thankfully, gone are the days when air conditioners were just white boxes on the wall. Nowadays, air conditioners are available in a wide range of colours and designs, adding value not only in terms of function, but also in terms of aesthetics.
What is a good air conditioner without professional installation?
It is useless to buy an excellent air conditioning system if the installation itself is performed in an inappropriate way. Although it may be tempting to get a cheap installation, a bad installation can be a very expensive story, so it is very important that your air conditioner is installed by an experienced partner authorised by the brand/manufacturer you have bought, if only because this is often a prerequisite for the warranty.
We are proud to have installed thousands of air conditioning systems, from home split air conditioners to large industrial and commercial air conditioning and ventilation systems.
Whatever your air conditioning challenge or need, we are here to provide you with the highest quality solutions. Contact ICE-STAR Service with confidence!
