Everyone wants the best cooling solution for their home that’s also cost effective – but what is considered the average or cost effective price for air conditioners anyway?
We’ve put together all you need to know about the costs involved for the 3 most popular cooling systems in Australia. Read on to compare your options and make a wiser decision before you make your purchase.
Popular Cooling Systems In Australia
Split systems, ducted air conditioners and evaporative coolers are the 3 most popular cooling systems in Australia.
Split System Air Conditioner
Split systems are by far the most popular type of cooling system in Australia because of its efficiency and versatility.
The split system is divided into 2 separate units: a wall-mounted indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit draws air from the outside while the internal unit works to disperse conditioned air into the house.
The indoor and outdoor units are connected by electrical wires and gas pipes, to provide power and to also circulate the refrigerant throughout the system.
Ducted Air Conditioner
Ducted air conditioning, sometimes called central air conditioning, provides cooling (and heating) for your entire home through a series of ducts.
Ducted air conditioners are able to uniformly cool and heat your home unlike a wall-mounted split system air conditioner. It’s because of this that ducted air conditioners are well-suited for larger spaces, with multiple rooms and floors while split system air conditioners are more appropriate for rooms.
Evaporative Cooling
An evaporative cooler works by cooling air in your home through the evaporation of water.
The main difference between evaporative coolers and air conditioners is that evaporative coolers add humidity to the air it blows out. It’s because of this that evaporative coolers are preferred in locations with drier weather, such as Perth or Melbourne.
How Much Do They Cost?
These 3 types of cooling systems vary in function and complexity, which is why their upfront and installation costs may differ.
Unit | Installation | Total | |
Split System AC | $600 to $2600 | $600 to $5400 | $1200 to $8000 |
Ducted AC | $5000 to $25000 | $600 to $5400 | $5600 to $30400 |
Evaporative Cooling | $2650 to $5000 | $1,558 to $3,751 | $4208 to $8751 |
From the table above, you can tell that ducted air conditioning is the most expensive option of the three. This is mainly because it involves providing air conditioning for your entire home so the function of the system as well as the installation process is more complicated vs. the others.
Factors That Impact Costs
Area
The bigger the area, the higher air conditioning capacity you’ll need to effectively cool or heat the space.
Common sense would tell you that a larger room or space would require more powerful airflow to effectively cool or heat the entire area.
You can refer to the following guide on how much capacity is required depending on the size:
Room Size | Description | Estimated Capacity |
Small (up to 20m2) | Small kitchen, bedroom, study | 2 – 2.5kW |
Medium (20 – 40m2) | Small lounge, bedroom with adjoining bathroom | 2.5 – 5kW |
Large (40 – 60m2) | Mid-sized lounge, large bedroom or kitchen | 4 – 6kW |
Extra large (60+m2) | Large lounges, open-plan areas | 5 – 9kW |
Brand And Model
The type of brand or model you choose depends on what you prioritise: whether its energy efficiency, reliability, cheaper running costs, sleek design etc.
We recommend Daikin and Mitsubishi as both brands offer cutting-edge technology for cooling systems.
To find what’s right for you and your home, make sure you know what you need and do your research first before making a decision.
Other Features And Functions
Cooling systems these days come with all types of fancy features and functions, which can affect their pricing. Here are some of those features:
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Smart technology for you to minimise energy wastage i.e. sensors to detect when room is vacant to switch off
- Quicker distribution of tempered air
- Built-in air purifiers that prevent the growth of mould
Air conditioning suppliers are constantly reinventing their products to make it easier for the consumer to use efficiently. But with these special features comes the extra upfront costs.
Other things to consider when deciding:
There’s a couple other things you should be considering when you’re thinking of buying an air conditioner, namely:
- Running costs
- Maintenance
- Installation time
- Effectiveness in different types of weather
Comparison Of All 3 Systems
Split System Air Conditioning | Evaporative Cooler | Ducted Air Conditioning | |
Power Usage (per day) | High 21 – 28kW*
*Average 2.5kW system | Low 200 – 400W | High ~24kW |
Effectiveness | Generally energy efficient. Models with inverters can achieve 30% more operating efficiency | Most effective in hot and dry climates. Can reach a point of inefficiency if too humid | High upfront costs but cheaper to run in large spaces vs. single units. |
Cooling/Heating | Cooling and heating | Only cooling | Cooling and heating (if reverse cycle ducted system) |
Ease of Installation (how long, will you need to knock down walls etc) | Straightforward
3 – 6hrs to install 2 wall mounted units | Straightforward
3 – 5hrs but this also depends on whether its a ducted system or standalone unit | Complex
Takes 1 full day as ductwork needs to be installed within the roof/ceiling. |
Climate | Good for very hot climates | Best suited for hot and dry weather. However, evaporative coolers can reach a point of ineffectiveness if the weather gets too dry or too humid. | Any |
Running Costs | $40.11 to $130.33/year | $45 to $80/year | $30 to $70/year for cooling $220 to $450/year for heating |
Maintenance | Lower maintenance and repair costs due to its relatively straightforward system | Lower maintenance and repair costs due to its relatively straightforward system | Maintenance and repair work is more costly due to it being a more complex system |
So, How Much Should You Be Paying For Your AC?
Well, that depends. What are your specific needs and how much money are you willing to spend? We hope the information provided above will help guide you as you decide.
Nevertheless, to get you started, use our split system air conditioning estimator and get a quote for your home. If you do have other cooling or heating related questions, feel free to contact our Gaschill team today.
