How much does it cost to install air conditioning in Brisbane?
The cost of commercial or residential air conditioning completely depends on which AC system you choose. Our friendly experts are on hand to answer all of your questions and pricing queries, so don't hesitate to contact us.
We'll help you work out the best air conditioning unit for you, depending on your needs, the size of your home, and your budget. For example, ducted air conditioning systems will be more expensive than split systems.
As a rough guide, an air conditioning installation cost can range from $600-$10,000. It all depends on which type of air conditioner unit you go for and what you need it to do, i.e just cool one room at a time or the whole house.
To find out how much a new air-con unit will cost, contact our friendly team members for expert advice and a free quote (replacement quotes are free, site visits for fault diagnosis will incur a charge).
Can you install an AC unit yourself?
In short, trying to install an air conditioning unit by yourself is not a good idea. Even if you know your way around an air-con system and you're comfortable with electricity equipment, only qualified tradesmen should supply and install air conditioners.
Air conditioners are complex systems and only qualified professionals should install or repair them. This is especially true of split systems. Furthermore, you'll need the help of an air conditioning specialist to help in the early stages of designing and purchasing your unit.
Installing an air conditioner is a tricky business and requires specific skills and a lot of experience to get it right.
At Sun City Air, we proudly have the skills and experience needed to safely and effectively install your air conditioning unit and would urge you to have your unit professionally installed.
Do air conditioners use a lot of electricity?
How much electricity your air conditioning unit uses depends on the type and how much you use it. Some models are more energy-efficient than others, and although they will be more expensive to buy, in the long run, they'll work out cheaper to use.
An average air conditioning system will use around 3000-5000 watts for approximately 8 hours a day during the hot summer months. The type of AC system you have will affect the running costs too.
A ducted reverse cycle air conditioning system that has to cool the whole house will use the most electricity, costing around $2.45-$3.45 per hour.
Is it cheaper to buy AC in winter?
Most people think of air conditioning as an essential summer appliance, which is understandable. For most, installing or upgrading their AC is something they'd only do once the hotter months start to approach. But installing an air conditioner in winter could save you time and money.
First, taking advantage of an air conditioning service in the winter will beat that summer rush. If you leave it until the summer, you may find it difficult to book your installation as quickly as you want to.
Typically, it is cheaper to buy air conditioning in the winter. As the temperatures cool down the prices tend to come down too. Another reason to have air conditioning installed in the winter is that they're much cheaper to run than traditional heaters!
Which is better central AC or split AC?
Central (or ducted) and split systems are the two most popular types of air-con, but which one is better? Both of them have their pros and cons and it really depends on what you want out of your unit and your budget.
If you want to keep your entire room cool and you have a higher budget, then central air conditioning is ideal for you. But if you're on a tighter budget and you're ok with only cooling a couple of rooms, then a split system will get the job done, as well as saving you money.
Is it hard to install a split system air conditioner?
Like any major appliance, split systems should only be installed by a trained professional. Split systems require expert installation and all electricity and safety switches will need to be properly fitted to ensure your warranty is maintained.
With DIY becoming more and more popular, it can be tempting to have a go at installing your own air conditioning, but if you're not a trained and certified professional, it can be dangerous to attempt it.
You need to have a license and the experience to understand how to work with refrigerants, install copper pipes and fit safety switches. If you don't have any of this knowledge, it's essential that you leave it to a professional.
What brand of air conditioner is the quietest?
When buying air conditioning, most people want a unit that runs quietly, because let's face it, no one wants to have to listen to a noisy machine all day! Ductless mini-split units such as Mitsubishi systems are some of the quietest AC units available.
With a noise level of around 32 decibels, ductless systems are super quiet. Not only that but they also have some of the best SEER ratings and offer the most efficient performance.
So why are ductless systems so efficient and quiet? The tubing that connects the wall-mounted unit to the condenser unit is very small.
In addition, the conditioned air is distributed through the wall-mounted units instead of ductwork, which is responsible for the annoying whooshing sounds commonly associated with air conditioning! All of this combined works to reduce the noise substantially.
Do air conditioners lose efficiency over time?
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and even if you maintain and look after your air conditioning regularly, it will eventually start to wear out. As AC units begin to age, their energy-efficiency levels can start to drop.
But how old is too old? Usually, an air conditioner that was professionally installed and serviced can last around 10-15 years. If yours is older than this, it's probably time to call one of our Brisbane-based air conditioning technicians to assess whether a replacement is needed.
What is the best air conditioner brand in Australia?
There are lots of great quality AC manufacturers in Australia, and our air conditioning experts are trained to fit a wide variety of brands and models.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries air conditioners are incredibly popular, and it's isn't hard to see why. Mitsubishi offers a huge range of air conditioners, from mini-split systems to ducted air conditioning and even commercial systems for large buildings.
They design their AC systems with a focus on energy efficiency and effectiveness. They are perfectly designed to cope with the harsh heat of Australia and even better, they're super quiet!
This makes them perfect for use in bedrooms, home offices, or nurseries where an ultra-quiet operation is essential.
How much does it cost to run an air conditioner per hour?
The running costs of an air conditioning unit can vary greatly depending on the size of your rooms and your AC unit as well as the electricity prices of where you live.
Using your air-con unit for cooling is more expensive with it costing up to $0.50 per hour to cool your home and just $0.25 per hour for heating. If your unit runs for 8 hours you can expect to pay around $4 per day.
Your air conditioning unit may add an extra $200 - $1,000 onto your electricity bill, depending on how much you use it.
For example, if you run your air conditioning 24 hours a day, you could be paying around $1,300 to cool your home with a split system, whereas ducted systems would cost approximately $6,500.
What are the top 5 air conditioners?
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
There are many air conditioning brands available today but Mitsubishi is the only brand to have been given a 5-star rating for overall satisfaction. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is a premium brand that packs its air conditioners with impressive features.
Their Allergen Clear system is great for getting rid of any allergens and it's incredibly energy efficient, meaning you can keep your home cool and be eco-friendly simultaneously.
Panasonic
Whether you need to cool a small house or a large hotel, Panasonic delivers the perfect Brisbane air conditioning solution. Their products provide comfortable environments even in the extreme heat of the Australian summers.
Packed full of intelligent features and advanced technology, Panasonic is the perfect air conditioner supplier for your Brisbane home. Whether you want a split system, ducted system, or a reverse cycle split system, we can install your new Panasonic air conditioning unit.
Fujitsu
One of the most popular air conditioning suppliers in Australia, Fujitsu manufactures pretty much every type of air-con unit you could think of. With cutting-edge technology and advanced features, Fujitsu units are suitable for residential and commercial buildings.
Along with offering lots of different types of air conditioning units, they also have three ranges that you can choose from; Classic, Lifestyle, and Designer. This means that there's something to suit everyone's budget.
LG
LG stands for Life's Good, and an LG air conditioning unit really can make your life good! If you want a voice-activated unit, LG is for you. The LG air conditioning company also claims to offer a wider range of operations compared with regular air-con units.
They offer wall-mounted, ducted, split system and multi-split system units, all of which are reverse cycle and feature the 'Active Energy Control' function. This allows the user to set a cap on how much energy the unit consumes, dramatically improving the energy efficiency.
Daikin
Our Brisbane-based air conditioning company has lots of experience installing and preparing Daikin air-con units. With over 80 years of experience, Daikin provides reliable and energy-efficient solutions for a wider range of settings, from private homes to commercial buildings.
With advanced and innovative technology, Daikin air conditioning units are some of the best on the market today.
We're more than happy to provide repairs, servicing and new installations, and our air conditioning, Brisbane-based experts will be with you quickly in case of sudden breakdowns, ensuring your Daikin AC unit is running again in no time.
How many hours per day should AC run?
On a boiling hot summer day, it may be tempting to leave your Brisbane air conditioning on all day. But did you know that leaving your AC running constantly can wear it out pretty quickly and send your electricity bills through the roof?
Assuming your AC unit is the right size for your house, it should cool your home in bursts of around 20 minutes. If it's a very humid or hot day, it may need to run longer to reach the required temperature.
If your air conditioning has been running for 20 minutes and it hasn't made any impact on the temperature inside your home, it's probably too small. If that's the case you'll need to upgrade to a bigger size.
An air-con unit that's too big will run on shorts cycles and cool your home much quicker, typically in less than 10 minutes. Although reaching a cool temperature faster sounds better, these short cycles mean that your air conditioning won't reduce the humidity effectively.
How can I reduce my AC electric bill?
One of the easiest ways to decrease your electricity bills is to keep a consistent temperature during the day. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, setting the temperature slightly warmer in summer and cooler in winter ensures that the unit is not working overtime and skyrocketing your bills.
Another thing you can do is close the curtains and doors and turn off the lights that aren't in use. This decreases heat absorption and makes it easier for your AC to function effectively.
Making sure your unit is well maintained is also a great way of helping it to run properly and reduce your bills. This sounds obvious but once the AC unit is installed, many people forget about the maintenance of it.
Simple things such as cleaning and replacing the filter and dusting the vents and outside components can all help to ensure your unit is working efficiently.
How do I know what size air conditioner to buy?
To get the most out of your Brisbane air conditioning, it's important to get a system that's the correct size for your home. A unit that's too small will overwork just to keep up, which in turn will increase your bills.
On the flip side, a unit that's too big will be overkill. When it comes to air conditioners, bigger doesn't mean better. This is because if the room is cooled too quickly, there may not be enough time for the unit to fully extract the moisture from the air, leaving you feeling uncomfortably hot and sticky.
Our air conditioning specialists can help you decide which size is ideal for your home. They'll effectively measure and assess your space to see which size will provide the best performance.
