How to cut down on Air Conditioner costs?
There aren’t many of us who don’t love the comfort an air conditioner brings. Reverse cycle systems provide warm, conditioned air throughout your home in winter, then seamlessly switch to remove humidity and cool your space during blistering Australian summers. Air conditioning truly delivers climate-controlled living at its best. But to enjoy all these benefits without breaking the bank, it’s important to find smart ways to cut air conditioner costs and boost energy efficiency year-round.
There is no question that there are many considerations when looking into air conditioners and many people consider them to be ‘too expensive’, however, there are some simple ways that homeowners and renters alike can cut down on the expenses of air conditioner costs.
When you are looking into your air conditioner for your home or office, there is a range of considerations that you need to take into account. If you are doing a new build or retrofitting an existing property there may be a range of air conditioners you are looking into from window units, wall mounted units, split systems or even a fully ducted system.
Also, you may be considering a reverse cycle option which will offer your home or office heating during the colder days and cool, fresh air conditioned air in the sweltering summer. But what system best suits your home?
When the cheapest is not always the cheapest
Without the correct guidance, you may purchase an air conditioner that is far from ‘fit for purpose’, which could end up costing you more money in the long run. For example, if you are trying to use a 2.5kW system (smallest split systems) to head a 40m2 room, it needs to work extremely hard to even ‘touch the sides’ in terms of heating or cooling your room.
As a guide you should stick to the minimum kW required for your room size below:
- 20m2 or smaller – 2.8kW
- 20m2 – 40m2 – 4.2kW
- 40m2 or larger 5.6kW or above
The key is to understand the size of your room to grasp the size of the kW you need to effectively heat & cool the system and speak to an expert on how to do it.
It may be tempting to look at budget systems or only the systems you can afford, but in many cases, this may not be appropriate. You may not have the features or have the power to do what you need, so in the long run, your power bill may catch up with you in the end.
Look at your system’s features carefully
When it comes to selecting the best air conditioning unit that will allow you to ‘cut down on your system costs’ it is very important to review the features that each model has available to you.
When it comes to the split system air conditioners, it may be that the system has a sensor, which ensures when no one is in the room it adjusts the temperature to the most ‘efficient’ running temperature. In contrast, when people are in the room the system is effectively ‘climate controlling’ so not pushing out more air than is required, but adjusting the air levels to suit the situation.
In the world of fully ducted systems, most new systems come with the option to ‘zone’ areas. This is key to cutting down on your air conditioner costs, as you are able to switch off rooms or sections of your home from receiving the heating/cooling when they are not being used. This allows the condenser to not work as hard, increasing efficiency, decreasing power usage and saving you money.
How many systems should I buy?
Especially with new builds, there is often the question of ‘should I get ducted or a series of split system air conditioning units to cut down on my costs?’ There are a few hard and fast rules when it comes to this.
Firstly, you need to see your home as your future needs may require, not necessarily what they are now. So if you are looking to increase the size of your family in the future or maybe relatives visit a lot, do you want their room not to have air conditioning to keep them comfortable?
Then you need to calculate the size of your home, in many smaller urban apartments or units, 2 or 3 split system units may be perfect to cool the whole home, and you have ample space for the three condensers – or one in the case of a multi-head split system unit.
But in the case of a freestanding home, with plenty of access to the outside walls and roof you are not sure, a ducted system offers the best all round performance regarding heating/cooling your whole home – however, it is a much larger system than a simply split system. So in terms of cost of heating the whole home, you are better off with a ducted system, but if you only use small areas of the home it may be a consideration to look at a series of split systems.
In this case, it is always best to speak directly to your air conditioning experts, having them look at your house plans or coming to your home to review your specific requirements is key to having an efficient, cost saving air conditioning solution for your home.
But what if I already have a system, how can I cut down on the ongoing costs?
So far we have largely focused on installing a new system or looking at the purchasing of a system for a new home or office. But what about if you have an existing system installed, even an older one – how can you cut down on air conditioning costs?
Firstly, what are you setting your temperature at?
It’s no secret that setting your reverse cycle heating correctly saves serious money.
Set it to 19 degrees in winter for optimal energy efficiency.
In summer, aim for 25 degrees to keep cooling costs low.
These temperatures help your system run at peak efficiency and performance.
They are the most economical settings for year-round comfort.
Following this tip could save you thousands on energy bills over time.
It also ends the debate about the “perfect” home temperature.
Stick to these settings and enjoy comfort without the cost blowout.
It was long considered that 22 degrees was the ‘optimal’ temperature to run air conditioning systems around the world. Funnily enough, this originated from the 1950’s, at which time it was determined that this was the optimal thermal comfort level of a 44-year-old male, therefore this was what the ‘best’ temperature to run your systems at was locked away.
In the real world, we all have different comfort levels and as such, looking at the optimal running costs of your systems 25 in summer and 19 in winter will save your home or office budget a lot of money.
So you have the temperature set, but what else can you do?
Smart Ways to Cut Air Conditioner Costs
If you’re looking to cut air conditioner costs in your home or office, there are simple, effective steps you can take. From smarter usage to better maintenance, small changes can lead to big savings over time.
Schedule Regular Air Conditioner Servicing
Just like a car, your air conditioner is a machine that needs regular maintenance.
Booking a licensed professional for routine servicing ensures your system runs at peak efficiency.
>A well-maintained system not only reduces running costs but also extends its lifespan—saving you money on replacements down the line.
Only Heat or Cool the Spaces You Use
It may sound basic, but many people overlook this simple tip.
Use zoning functions on ducted systems or just close doors to unused rooms.
This reduces the load on your air conditioner and improves energy efficiency instantly.
Use Curtains and Blinds to Support Your System
Blocking out the summer sun or trapping warmth during winter can greatly reduce your air conditioner’s workload.
>Closing curtains and blinds at the right time helps maintain indoor temperature naturally, making it easier and cheaper for your system to operate.
Energy Efficiency Starts with Smart Choices
There are many ways to cut air conditioner costs—and it begins with the right system for your property.
Choosing an energy-efficient model, setting smart temperatures, and using your system only when needed all contribute to long-term savings.
Get Expert Advice for the Right System
The best way to reduce your long-term cooling and heating costs is to speak with the experts.
Rite Price Heating & Cooling can help you choose the most efficient system for your home or office.
With the right advice and setup, you’ll enjoy better comfort and lower energy bills for years to come.
Visit our family owned and operated showroom in Adelaide or visit our website to arrange an onsite quotation so you can find out the best option for your air conditioning needs.
We offer an obligation-free quotation service all across Adelaide and would love to add you to our list of happy customers.
