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What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need?

  • Written by NewsServices.com

This is the most common question most homeowners get when they decide to shop. Let us find the answer here.

In summers, the Australian heat can turn unbearable. When things get sweltering, a good quality air conditioner is the best idea to keep your family comfortable. Most homeowners when thinking about air conditioners get a question in mind. The first question is what size air conditioner do I need. Have you never got this question in mind so far? Then, you should understand why choosing the right size of air conditioner matters.

Why Choosing the Right Air Conditioner is Important?

Before you choose an air conditioning system for your home, it would be a good idea to talk with an expert for air conditioning installation near you. An installer can help you determine the right size appliance for your home. The biggest benefit associated with having the right aircon size is that it will aid the system to run a complete cycle without any trouble. Also, the right size will make sure that your space will stay cooler for a longer time. In turn, you can cut down on the energy cost in the long run.

Know the Common Misconception on Sizing:

Some homeowners are least concerned about air conditioning size. Do you know the reason? They think that an oversized system is a way to go. But, in reality, it will not bring you much benefit other than faster cooling. Even it will result in overcooling of your space. In turn, you will end up paying huge electricity bills. Also, a bigger size aircon than the actual requirement will make the system shut down quickly as compared to the actual requirement.

If your aircon is bigger than the actual size required, you will experience that the building does not cool sufficiently. It means that when the wood, furniture, and walls when not cooled will permit humidity and heat to get back into your property. In turn, the air conditioner will start again and again. As a result, bigger systems run for a very short time but more often than you actually need. In turn, the system will lose its life quickly, and even it will contribute more to your electricity bills.

Now, if a bigger system is not worth it, can I go for a smaller unit than the required will be your question. When you choose an undersized system, it will not run effectively. Even in this case, you cannot save on your electricity charges. Can you guess why? Yes, you will have to run the appliance for a longer time. Only then it can make your entire property or room cool. In turn, it will force you to spend more on electricity charges.

What Factors Does Professional Consider When Identifying the Right Size AC?

When you get help from a professional like ComfyHome, we will consider different factors to decide on the right air conditioning size for your home in Melbourne. Here is a few of them:

  • * The shade your property gets from shrubs and trees

  • * The age of your property

  • * Ductwork, ventilation and insulation

  • * Level of air sealing.

  • * The height of your ceiling

  • * The number of people in the room

  • * The type of materials you have used for your roof includes tiles, tin and similar materials.

These are just a few examples. The reason is that we consider many other factors to make sure that we suggest the right AC size for your property.

How to Calculate the Right Size AC?

Among many other factors, the size of the AC to be installed depends on the size of the room in which you have planned to install the system. The general rule in Australia is that you will require between 120 and 150 watt of power per square meter of the floor area of the room to be air-conditioned. You can use a simple formula to know the total floor area of the room. It is nothing but the width x length of the area that you wish to cool. Simply multiply the floor size with appropriate wattage. The wattage relies on the features of your house. The size of the AC unit required for a given property is measured in kilowatt capacity. You should be particular about calculating the kilowatt capacity of the specific room in which you have planned to install the AC unit in your home. When you do this, you can save yourself from spending huge on electricity bills.

Here is a table to give a general idea of the suitable Air conditioner kW capacity for different room sizes:

Type of rooms

Size of rooms

Suitable kW capacity of Air Conditioner

Open play area, large lounge

60-80 Square Meters

7-9.5kW

A mid-size lounge, bedroom with an ensuite, a large bedroom

35-60 Square Meters

5-6 kW

Mid-sized kitchen, small room with a high ceiling, small lounge, bedroom

25-35 Square meters

3.5 kW

A small lounge, study room, bedroom, a small kitchen

10-25 Square Meters

2.5 kW

From the table above, you can understand that air conditioning size mainly relies on the size of the area that you want to cool.

Other crucial factors:

Apart from the size of the room, three other crucial factors are to be considered when deciding the size of the AC unit you need:

  • Orientation: This factor denotes the direction in which the room to be cooled faces. When you take the case of a room with a west or north-facing window, it will get a lot of heat during the summer. But, when you take the case of a room with a south-facing window or a shaded window, the room will be cooler. In the former case, the kW required will be higher, while in the latter case, it will be lower.

  • Location: Your property’s location in Australia can also be a deciding factor. For instance, if you live in Hobart, you will need a lesser kW AC for cooling a specific size room. For the same size room in Darwin, you will need a powerful AC.

  • Insulation: Ceiling insulation plays a major role in making a property thermally efficient. So, it is an essential factor to consider.

We at ComfyHome are here to help you calculate the right size AC. Irrespective of whether you decide on a split system installation or a ducted AC installation, we will help you identify the ideal size.