Heating and cooling

How to choose the right air conditioner for you

• Start with size

  When choosing a new air conditioner, pick a size that will meet your needs.

  Air conditioners look similar but come in a wide range of heating and/or cooling capacities. 

  There are many things that affect the size of air conditioner you need, including:

  • the space you are looking to cool – including the size of the space, and whether you are looking to heat/cool a single room, a larger space, or your entire home
  • the building features – the right size depends on your wall material, insulation, and windows
  • the climate – if you live in a cool climate, you need a product that can cope in the cold.

  Because of this complexity, you should get professional advice before deciding on the right size.

  If your appliance is too small, it will work harder to heat or cool the space and may be unable to maintain the right temperature. Appliances that are too big will end up costing you more money, both upfront and in running costs.

  Make sure you select the right size product, so you stay comfortable and don’t use more energy than needed.

• Know your climate

  Knowing your climate zone helps you find the best air conditioner for your location.

  Look at the map on the Zoned Energy Rating Label to locate the climate zone you live in. The capital cities are listed in the star rating boxes to the right of the map for easy reference.

• Compare energy efficiency

  The more stars, the more money you save.

  Use the star ratings for your climate zone on the Zoned Energy Rating Label to compare the energy efficiency of similar sized appliances. Remember the more stars there are, the more efficient the air conditioner is, and the more money you will save on running costs each year.

• Seek professional advice

  Experts can help you make the right choice.

  As with any large purchase, it’s a good idea to discuss your options with several suppliers or installers so they can advise on the air conditioners that may be appropriate for you. They will also be able to advise on running costs and placement of the air conditioner to improve its energy efficiency.

• What about noise?

  Don't let the air conditioner disturb your peace!

  The house icon on the bottom of the Zoned Energy Rating Label shows how much noise the air conditioners will make when operating at full power. For air conditioners with both internal and external components, such as a split system, there are separate inside and outside noise ratings. The outdoor noise level is important to consider if it will be near a window, bedroom or close to a neighbour’s house.

Frequently asked questions

• What types of air conditioners are not required to carry an Energy Rating Label?

  The following air conditioners are not required to carry an Energy Rating Label.

  • Evaporative air conditioners.
  • Ducted air conditioners (but may have a voluntary label).
  • Three phase air conditioners (but may have a voluntary label).
  • Multi-split air conditioners (units with several separate indoor units each with a separate control).
  • Air conditioners with a rated cooling capacity (or for a heating only product, a rated heating capacity) of more than 30 kilowatts.
  • Water-to-air air conditioners.

• How does an air conditioner compare to a normal electric heater?

  Reverse cycle air conditioners are much more efficient at heating than standard electric heaters (bar heaters, convection, or radiant heaters).

  Air conditioners heat a room by extracting heat from the outside air and moving the heat into the room. As air conditioners are designed to move heat rather than create heat, they can be more than 100 per cent efficient in the sense that for every unit of electricity they use they can move some three to five units of heat into the room. Standard electric heaters, on the other hand, have an efficiency of approximately 100 per cent – so for every unit of electrical input they can produce around one unit of heat output.