It’s true; there are a lot of options available when considering replacing or installing a new air conditioner into your home. There are ducted systems, reverse cycle split systems, multi-split systems, portable air conditioners, evaporative air conditioners, and more. Each different type of system has its own pros and cons.
Before we look at the best options, let’s first discuss …
When should I consider a new or replacement air conditioner?
To help look after our environment, and to avoid unnecessary costs, we should use our belongings for as long as possible. This also applies to keeping your current air conditioner running, if it is still economical and keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. At the moment, the Victorian Government is providing incentives to encourage home owners to upgrade away from inefficient types of air conditioners, to high efficiency, electrically powered, air conditioners and heat pumps, and away from gas powered units. The opportunity for a rebate needs to be factored into the cost.
How long should my Air Conditioner Last?
Replacing your air conditioner, rather than repairing it, should only become necessary after around 15 years of use. After that amount of time has passed, most air conditioners will be obsolete, meaning that you can’t get parts when it starts to break down, and likely it will start breaking down soon if it hasn’t already.
Unfortunately, some brands are manufactured at a lower quality, and will break down sooner, and become obsolete earlier than 15 years.
Can I Buy a Reconditioned Air Conditioner?
In case you are considering buying a second-hand or reconditioned air conditioner; our strong advice is DON’T. You will only be purchasing someone else’s troubles!
When considering the cost of the unit and its installation into your home, and also the unknown factors of how the unit has been treated by its original owners, it’s just not worth spending money on a second-hand unit.
How to Choose from so many Available Brands?
Choosing the cheapest and best air conditioner, which is the ideal heating and cooling system for your needs involves weighing up the following:
- Configuration – a split system or multi-split system, is often a great option for small homes or individual rooms. For larger homes or high ceilings, you may be better off with ducted or high wall units. There may be aspects of your home or building that prevent a particular type of system being installed, or aesthetically one type of system will look better than others.
- Capacity – each air conditioner has an optimal heating and cooling capacity i.e. the volume of air that it can efficiently condition, and the type of conditions it works best in. It is important to make the correct capacity assessment and to not skimp; you will pay for that over the long run in discomfort.
- Reliability – you want to buy a brand that is known for reliability, otherwise you won’t get value for money and the longevity out of your unit that you expect. Nortan have decades of experience with all the major (and many minor) brands, and on the basis of this experience can provide you with sound recommendations. From time to time, manufacturers sell or go out of business; we have a good sense of long term participants in the market.
- Price – the adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is true for air con units. The price will increase with quality, features, efficiency rating, and capacity.
- Value for Money – Nortan will help you to ensure that your choice of air conditioner is appropriate when compared with the features and quality of the unit you have selected. We know which units are more likely to last longer, and provide you with the comfort you need in your home.
- Cost to Run – it goes without saying that the unit you purchase should be efficient to run. Each unit is given an energy rating (out of 5 stars) to help you compare apples with apples when making your purchase decision and comparing the running costs. The star rating is a very important consideration.
- Serviceability – there’s no point buying from an air conditioner manufacturer that will cease to be around in a few years time. If the manufacturer disappears, you will face the potentially costly task of trying to find parts.
- Features – deliberately last on the list, the features are important, but not at the expense of configuration, capacity, reliability, value for money etc. Depending on your situation, some features may be worth paying extra for, such as an air purifier, and the ability to turn on your air conditioner remotely using your smart phone (great on those winter nights when you are getting home late from work and don’t want to spend the first 30 minutes at home wearing your winter coat).
If money is no object, some new systems deliver amazing features such as self-cleaning, breeze control (to direct the air flow away from people in the room), ability to program heating and cooling to activate at certain times of the day, with different settings for different days of the week, features to prevent corrosion, and to prevent build up of mould and bacteria. The features are seemingly endless.
How can I qualify for a rebate from the Victorian Government?
Everyone is equally eligible for a government rebate on the installation of a new, high efficiency air conditioning unit to replace an old heating or cooling system.
However, if you have just updated your air conditioner and it doesn’t effectively heat your home, you will likely not qualify for a rebate and you may in fact be better off reverting to the system you previously relied upon. Nortan Air Conditioning and Heating will provide you with an honest assessment of your heating and cooling system requirements, and assist you to obtain a rebate where your particular situation qualifies.
For more information about the Victorian Energy Upgrade (VEU) scheme visit the VEU website or get in contact with Nortan Air Conditioning and Heating.
Which brands does Nortan recommend?
Nortan recommends brands that are serviceable i.e. it is cost effective to keep your unit running for optimal performance over the lifetime of your unit. Brands that fall into this category include (listed alphabetically): Baxi, Braemar, Brivis, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Panasonic and Rinnai. We have featured some of the units available from some of these brands on our website.
Within the brands we recommend, we are confident there will be a unit that meets your particular requirements and budget.
However, if you have your heart set on an air conditioning unit of another manufacturer, we will be happy to review that unit on your behalf and help you make an informed decision.
We look forward to discussing your heating and cooling needs, to help you select the best unit for your home or property.
How much will it cost to install a new air conditioner?
Aside from the purchase cost of a new air conditioning unit, you will also need to pay for the installation of the air conditioner into your home or building. As a general rule, you can expect to pay between $1,800 and $3,000 for the installation, including the electrical and plumbing activities involved.
Nortan can undertake all the required work, including both the plumbing and electrical work, to install your new air conditioner. And we will clean up after ourselves! If there is any external work required, we will ensure your system is finished off neatly to complement your home.
Get in touch to discuss your new air conditioning system with an expert Nortan Air Conditioning & Heating Technician today.
