Are you considering upgrading your current heating and cooling system? Maybe you’ve been using a portable aircon for months now and your room isn’t cooling, or your current split system is damaged from decades of use.
The question is, should you go for an evaporative cooling system or a reverse cycle cooling system? This blog will draw a comparison between both, highlighting costs, energy efficiency, health benefits, eco-friendliness, and what might be best for your property.
According to Sustainability Victoria, evaporative coolers draw in hot air through a series of wet filter pads, which are supplied with water from a tank at the base of the unit. Wall-mounted and ducted systems draw in hot air from outside, whereas portable units draw in room air.
As a cost-effective method of cooling your home or office, they can also keep indoor environments fresh and clean by filtering the air as it passes through the system.
How does it work? By using the natural process of evaporation to lower air temperature, here is a quick breakdown:
What are some of the key components of an evaporative cooling system? Let’s take a look.
Air conditioners nowadays are, more often than not, reverse-cycle and can remove heat, cool, humidify, and recirculate the air in your home. They have a heating mode and a cooling mode.
In cooling mode, the system extracts heat from the indoor air by passing it over a cold evaporator coil containing refrigerant. This absorbed heat is then expelled outside, and cool air is circulated back, lowering the room temperature.
In heating mode, the system absorbs heat from outdoor air (even in cold weather!), and as the refrigerant is now warm, it releases heat into your home.
Split systems are designed to cool a single room or open-plan area, and they have a separate indoor air handling unit connected to an outdoor compressor unit by refrigeration piping. Wall-mounted is the most common indoor unit, but you can also invest in more discrete options such as bulkhead units and ceiling cassette units.
So, you’ve got a budget to stick to when looking for a new unit. What are the yearly costs you can expect?
Using both water and electricity, the running costs always depend on the cooling capacity of the unit and the fan speed you choose, the type of water management system in place, and weather conditions outside.
In a medium house (160 square metres), ducted evaporative systems with an inverter have an annual energy cost of $18 and $30 yearly for standard ducted evaporative cooling.
In a large house (220 square metres), ducted evaporative cooling with an inverter costs $25 a year or $42 a year with standard efficiency ratings.
For example, water usage will be higher on the hotter, dry climates, and these costs can be reduced by using the cooler only when needed and on the lowest, most comfortable fan speed. It’s a good idea to operate the fan when it’s humid outside.
What affects the running costs of a reverse cycle air conditioner? Inverter air conditioners have a variable speed (or inverter-driven) motor. Instead of switching the compressor on and off, it runs at full speed when cooling demand is high, and slower when the demand is low.
In comparison to standard air conditioners, the average annual energy cost for a medium room (30 square metres) is $27 for a 2.5-star efficiency rating and $17 a year for a 5-star efficiency rating.
Image Source: sustainability.vic.gov.au
For a larger area (60 square metres) a 2.5-star split system air conditioner is $54 a year, and a 5-star efficiency rating costs $33 a year.
Evaporative Cooling System
If you’re planning on selecting an evaporative cooling system, you need to compare different models for efficiency. Since they don’t require energy or water labels, always make sure to ask the installer or retailer about the model’s features. Ask:
About the power consumption of the evaporative air conditioning at full, half, and the lowest fan speeds.
What water management system will be used, as well as the expected daily water consumption of the unit in your location.
Is it a standard or inverter system? Inverter systems convert less power on lower fan speeds and use less electricity over the summer than average models!
As stated in this article by ScienceDirect, air conditioners have been found to be important in reducing the detrimental impacts of extreme temperatures on health and productivity. Let’s take a look at an in-depth comparison:
For example, Daikin cares for your air! Daikin split systems and air purifiers are designed with an air-purifying filter. Many are fitted with a more advanced Titanium Apatite Deodorising Air Purification filter. These not only trap most microscopic airborne particles but assist in decomposing odours and absorbing and deactivating bacteria.
There are many ways you can customise your heating and cooling systems!
Evaporative cooling has a range of temperature control options such as the Brivis Touch Controller! You can control a Brivis evaporation cooler and add-on cooling using the high resolution touch screen. What are some of its features?
Both split systems work well for the environment in their own way, but what should you choose?
Daikin split system air conditioners are designed with eco-friendly features such as:
How do Brivis evaporative cooling systems offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional air conditioning?
So, what is the best option for your home? It depends on a lot of things, such as how big your space is, the energy efficiency rating you’re looking for, your yearly budget, and if you have any health needs. Don’t be afraid to do more research before making a financial committment.
If you would like to learn more, read about the 15 benefits of a reverse cycle air conditioner!
Do you need air conditioning services in Boronia, Box Hill, Burwood, Camberwell, Caulfield, Doncaster, Toorak, or Vermont? Aust Climate supports you with Daikin air conditioning repair and Brivis evaporative cooling repair.
Whether you’re stressing about your overall energy consumption installation costs, or want to upgrade your current refrigerated air conditioning unit, Aust Climate can help you.
With over 25 years in business as trained technicians, we offer a 6 year workmanship guarantee for evaporative cooling systems by Brivis, split systems by Mitsubishi and Daikin. Contact us today for a free online quote by calling 03 9726 4444 or visit our showroom in Chirnside Park!
