How to Buy the Right Air Conditioner for Your Needs
Confused about air conditioners? Find the perfect cooling solution for your home! Learn about all air conditioner types, factors to consider, and top picks.
Don’t let it get too hot at your place this summer! Equip your home with a new air conditioner to keep you cool for the summer, this year and beyond. An important appliance to have in your home, an air conditioner may also serve to warm your home during winter. As a necessary home addition, an air conditioner is a purchase that is worth putting some time, effort and research into.
Find your perfect cooling solution with our Air Conditioner buying guide where you can view all the different types of air conditioners, read up on all the essential factors to consider before you buy and then view some of our top pick air conditioners.
Air Conditioner Types
-
Spilt System Air Conditioners
These energy efficient air conditioners cool the air by blowing in cool air and expelling the heat outside. There are two unit to these systems, one wall-mounted in the room and an outside compressor unit. Spilt Systems Air Conditioners are great for large and open plan living areas while multi-system air conditioners might be handy for those with bigger, multi storey and multi room homes.
-
Window/Wall Air Conditioners
This air conditioner style suits small to medium sized rooms, designed to be installed on a wall or mounted on a windowsill.
-
Portable Air Conditioners
Great for spot cooling in small rooms, portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room, providing flexible cooling. It is worth noting that this type of cooling requires ducting via a venting kit mounted to a window in order to expel heat from the room.
What is a Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner?
A Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner provides both heating and cooling, giving you the ability to cool your house in summer and keep it warm in winter, all from the one unit. Reverse Cycle operation can be typically enjoyed from a Spilt System Air Conditioner, as well as Window/Wall Air Conditioners and Portable Air Conditioners.
What is Inverter Air Conditioning?
An Inverter Air Conditioner is powered by an inverter motor that is able to adjust its speed of operation in response to the cooling demand. An inverter motor is much more efficient when compared to a traditional compressor. A traditional compressor will run at a constant speed the whole time while an inverter compressor (motor) is able to save power once it reduces its operation when the set temperature is reached.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a New Air Conditioner
- Your space, the air conditioner’s capacity, and installation type
An air conditioner’s heating and cooling capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW), with a higher number indicating powerful operation that’s suitable for larger rooms.
As a guide:
|
Room Size |
Cooling and Heating Capacity (kW) |
| Small room up to 20m2 |
2 – 2.5 |
|
Medium room up to 40m2 |
2.5 – 5 |
| Large room up to 60m2 |
4 – 6 |
|
Extra-large room 60m2+ |
5 – 9 |
-
Filters and air purification
If removing harmful airborne germs and particles, and clearing the air is essential to you, keep an eye out for a range of filters including HEPA filters, ion filters and activated carbon filters.
-
Technologies and user flexibilities
Does the air conditioner feature customisable settings like a timer, night mode and other modes to suit your needs? Can the air conditioner help provide personalised, efficient cooling or heating with the use of a human or presence sensor?
-
Control type
Is there a remote control included with the air conditioner? Is the air conditioner smart enabled, so it can be controlled remotely via a smart device, an app or using your voice with compatible smart home assistants?
Air Conditioner Tips
- For spot cooling and greater portability, opt for a portable air conditioner which is also ideal for renters
- If you move often and want a budget friendly and flexible option, a Window/Wall Air Conditioner will be great as it can be installed from the wall or windowsill and removed easily
- Get a smart air conditioner if you want seamless app or voice control like the rest of your smart home
- The ideal inside temperature in your home in winter is between 18-20˚C and between 23-27˚C in summer. Each degree of difference increases your energy consumption by up to 10%, so make sure you close doors or blinds to maximise the heating or cooling effect.
Our Top Pick Air Conditioners
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC C2.5KW H3.2KW REVERSE CYCLE SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONER
Perfect for smaller areas like the bedroom and home office, this Mitsubishi Electric Reverse Cycle Spilt System Air Conditioner features 2.5kW cooling and 3.2kW heating capacity to easily manage your home climate.
Using the remote control, set operating times for the day or week with the 24-hour timer and weekly timer. You can also access your preferred air conditioner setting with the ‘i-save mode’. ‘Night Mode’ limits the level of noise, disables beep sounds and reduces the brightness of the unit’s indicator. This Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioner can also be connected to the home Wi-Fi for convenient control via your smart device 1.
WESTINGHOUSE C2.7kW H3.5kW REVERSE CYCLE SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONER
Also ideal for smaller areas of the home like bedrooms and home offices is Westinghouse’s C2.7kW H3.5kW Reverse Cycle Split System Air Conditioner (WSD27HWA). This air conditioner makes it easy to enjoy a breezy summer and warm winter with just the one unit. Being a reverse cycle air conditioner, this compact and modern unit cools and heats, with the use of a HEPA 13 filter to deliver cleaner air. Boasting smart app and voice control compatibility, this Westinghouse air conditioner enables a smarter home climate control experience.
PANASONIC C7.1KW H8.0KW REVERSE CYCLE SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONER
This Panasonic Reverse Cycle Spilt System Air Conditioner is best used for servicing big bedrooms and spacious living areas. Featuring 7.1kW cooling and 8.0kW heating capacity, inverter technology and intelligent ECO+ A.I. function, cooling is automatically adjusted to meet the room’s conditions in a way that effective and energy-saving.
Enjoy healthier living with the air conditioner’s Nanoe™ X Air Purification that removes pollutants including mould, allergens and pollen. Nanoe™ X Air Purification can also be run independently of cooling or heating 2, making it perfect for households with Asthma, allergies and sensitivity. With built-in Wi-Fi, you can remotely control cooling and heating via the Panasonic Comfort Cloud app 3 on your smart device. This smart, family-friendly Panasonic air conditioner is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa 4, meaning you can also control comfort levels simply with a voice command.
VIEW ALL THINGS AIR CONDITIONERS
Still undecided about which air conditioner to get for your home? Our new Seasonal Buying Guide Video will guide you through all the important features to know and factors to consider when buying a new air conditioner. Click on the link below to watch the video!
FAQs
When choosing an air conditioner, consider these key features:
- Energy Efficiency: High Energy Star rating, inverter technology.
- Cooling Capacity: Matched to room size.
- Noise Level: Low noise operation, especially for bedrooms.
- Smart Features: Wi-Fi connectivity, voice/app control, smart sensors.
- Air Filtration: High-quality filters for clean air.
- Additional Features: Dehumidification, multiple operating modes, timer, sleep mode.
To determine the right air conditioner size for your home, consider these factors:
- Room Size: Measure the length and width of the room in square metres.
- Ceiling Height: Higher ceilings require more powerful units.
- Insulation: Well-insulated rooms require smaller units.
- Climate: Hotter climates require larger units.
- Number of Occupants: More occupants require more cooling power.
- Sun Exposure: Rooms with more sunlight exposure require larger units.
- Small Rooms (up to 20m²): 2-2.5kW
- Medium Rooms (20-40m²): 2.5-5kW
- Large Rooms (40-60m²): 5-9kW
- Extra Large Rooms (60m²+): 6-10kW
A split system air conditioner is a popular choice for heating and cooling homes. It consists of an indoor unit that cools or heats a room, and an outdoor unit that releases heat or cold air. Split system air conditioners are energy-efficient, quiet, and relatively easy to install. They are also versatile, allowing you to control the temperature in specific rooms.
Yes, many air conditioners can be used for heating. This is particularly true for reverse cycle air conditioners. These units can switch between cooling and heating modes, making them a versatile option for year-round climate control. They extract heat from the outside air, even on cold days, and distribute it throughout your home.
It's important to note that not all air conditioners have this heating capability. So, when purchasing a new unit, ensure it's a reverse cycle model to enjoy both cooling and heating functions.
Reverse cycle air conditioners are highly efficient heating and cooling systems. Unlike traditional electric heaters that generate heat, they transfer it from one place to another. This means they can produce significantly more heat or cooling energy than the electricity they consume, making them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice.
Featured Products
SKU: WSD27HWA
C2.7kW H3.5kW Reverse Cycle Split System Air Conditioner
View Product