Understanding Air-Conditioning

Air-conditioning is the ability to simultaneously and effectively control the temperature both cooling
and heating, humidity, air movement and the quality of air in a given space. Warm in winter and cool
in summer, reverse cycle room air conditioner puts the climate in your control throughout all seasons.
All refrigerated air conditioning systems are heat pumps (so are refrigerators). A 'heat pump' transfers
heat from one zone to another, they consist of an indoor and outdoor coil connected by a pipe through
which a refrigerant (gas) circulates.
As warm air passes over the inside coil, heat from the air is absorbed by the refrigerant. This cools
the air that is released back into the room; meanwhile the heat absorbed by the refrigerant is
transferred to the external coil where it is released to the outside air.
Reverse cycle air conditioners also work in reverse to provide heating. During the heating mode, heat
is absorbed from the outside air and transferred via the refrigerant to the air inside your home.
It doesn't have to be warm outside for reverse cycle air conditioners to work - they are capable of
providing adequate heat when outside temperatures are below freezing.
An air-conditioner consists of four main components:
Indoor Evaporator unit
1. Evaporator and inside coil where liquefied refrigerant comes into contact with warm air
causing it to evaporate and absorb heat from the surrounding, causing the surrounding air to
become cold.

Outdoor Condenser unit

2. Compressor - Here the vapour refrigerant (from evaporator) is compressed to a high
pressure.
3. Condenser - The high-pressure vapour refrigerant is liquefied.
4. Capillary Tube - Here the pressure of the refrigerant (still at a high-pressure is lowered by
being forced through a narrow tube (capillary tube) causing energy loss and thus causing it to
release heat.

Types of Air-Conditioning
1. Self-Contained type of air-conditioner is the indoor and outdoor parts being together in one
casing (housing)

1.1. Window/Wall Type airnconditioner is a self-contained unit. It is designed to go through a hole

in a wall or in a window frame. It is best suited in high buildings such as flats and office
blocks.
1.2. Console The console air conditioner is also a self
contained air conditioning unit. Some fit into a hole in
the wall the outside section is covered with a grill.
Other units can be installed by drilling two ventilation
holes in any wall thickness even glass and then hung
like a picture. This type of unit needs to be installed
in rooms that have outside walls. The idea of No
Outdoor unit provides a solution for complex
installations such as with building aesthetics in mind
to ensure continuity of all architectural features and designs on exterior walls.

1.3. Console Split - Console split units are split type systems, similar in appearance to the
Console unit, however the condenser is separated from the indoor unit

2. Wall hung split system - A typical wall mounted split systems consists of an indoor Evaporator
unit mounted at high level on a wall connected by two small copper pipes and electrics to a
weatherproof outdoor unit which can stand on the ground, on wall brackets, or on a flat roof or

balcony. In cooling mode, warm air from the room is drawn into the indoor unit where heat is
absorbed and removed providing cool, comfortable living even on the hottest summer day. The
moisture taken out of the air is drained away either by gravity or a pump is fitted and the water is
drained to a convenient outside drain. They are a simple and affordable way to air condition single
rooms or open spaces. They are the most popular form of air conditioning. The major benefits of
wall mounted air conditioners are: Cost: Wall hung split systems are cheap to buy and install.
Flexibility: You can add air conditioning to additional rooms over time. Control: Each unit has a
simple to use remote control. This allows completely different temperature settings for each room.
By simply flicking the switch your heat pump runs in reverse to keep your room cosy and warm on
winter days.

The Samsung AR series Air Conditioner has a unique triangular design to help take in and give
out lots of air, providing a powerful performance. Innovatively cooling or heating your home fast,
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3. Cassette - Ceiling mounted Cassette Split air conditioners have previously been used more often
in commercial applications, but they are now also finding their way in upmarket home applications.
The compact design allows the cassette air conditioner to blend beautifully with any interior decor.

The compressor unit can be mounted away from the ceiling cassette unit assuring virtually silent
air conditioning operation. This is very suitable for boardrooms and conference rooms where
quietness is essential. The unit is filtered in the ceiling void space.

4. Ducted air conditioning - Ducted air conditioning is the ultimate climate control solution for your
whole home. It consists of an outside unit and an inside unit placed within the roof, this internal
hideaway unit is connected to a series of outlet grills within the house via ductwork.
Depending on the climate function chosen warmed or cooled air is pumped to all rooms that have
an outlet.

The major benefits of ducted air conditioning are:

Whole of home solution: Every room is air conditioned summer and winter.
Easy control: Central temperature and zone control with set and forget timers.
Even air distribution: No hot or cold spots in your home.
Very large range including Inverters, Digital Scroll and Premium systems, the range means
there is a ducted solution for every size and style of home.
Models are available in both single and three phases.
Aesthetics: With only grills mounted in ceiling, ducted systems do not intrude into the
overall look of your rooms like a wall hung unit.
Noise: With all the noise producing equipment in the ceiling or outside, ducted air
conditioning is the quietest of all air conditioning options.
Adding ducted air conditioning also adds to the overall sale value of your home.

Installing
Wall hung split system Air-Conditioning
Installing wall split AC in a home can range from the very simple to some what complicated.
With the seemingly infinite styles of homes it really can come down to choosing the most suitable
options. An installation may be a standard back to back or may need extra piping so the unit is
installed in a preferred position.
If it is not straight forward, one needs to look at alternative options.
Back-To-Back, Keeping It Simple,
Generally a back-to-back installation in most homes is the cheapest option, a back to back install
refers to a split system that has two major components a wall mounted indoor unit with pipes that
run through the wall and down to an outdoor unit positioned directly behind hence the name Back to
Back.

Whether your home is a single brick plaster cavity style or double brick, if we can get it on an external
wall it is pretty straight forward. That is assuming it is a single story home.
When is it worth Spending More on a Split System Installation.
In some cases the indoor unit has only one possible place to be mounted and a back-to-back means
the outdoor unit is positioned in an inappropriate place. In such a case the outdoor unit needs to be
fitted away from the indoor unit. What that entails is extra pipes to be run ether outside or up into the
roof or across to the side of the house and back down the wall, extra pipe and a lot of extra care and
attention to get them in neatly.
Obviously this costs more but in the end, a nice neat job, going for the cheap option would have
meant an air conditioner in for example an entertaining area.

Remember, once these units are installed, they are there for a long time.
Some units don't allow such a long run without adding more refrigerant, which will add extra costs for
installation.
Installing a Split System in a Second Storey Room or a Flat.
If you are installing a split system into a second storey room in a residential home or in a flat, there
are a few common ways in which to do it. Of course it comes down to exactly where you are locating
the indoor unit and also your own personal aesthetic preferences.

In a situation like this there could be a roof just below where the units can be mounted or the unit
could be mounted on a balcony. In extreme cases the outdoor unit can be piped all the way to a
basement or up to a service area on the roof of a building.

Installing a Split System on an Internal Wall

Some installations require the indoor unit to be installed on an internal wall, for example the room may
have floor to ceiling windows on all the external walls leaving no space to mount the air conditioner.
The solution is to run the pipes up into the roof or along the wall, chased or in trucking. Running pipes
to the outside is not the issue here the problem is the drain, in this situation a condensation pump will
need to be installed.