FAQ

What size air conditioner do I need?

Air conditioners are rated in Kilowatts (kw) and it is vital to size the air conditioner correctly, whether it is a split system or ducted system.

If the air conditioner is too small then the system will obviously not adequately cool or heat your room or home. If the air conditioner is oversized then it will be less energy efficient to operate as it will cost more to run a larger system than is actually needed as well as possibly making the room uncomfortable by being too cool or too warm.

As the size of the air conditioner required will be determined by a number of factors, including the size of the room or area to be air conditioned, if the home is insulated, the size and number of windows, the aspect of the room, as well as what the room is being used for (ie kitchen or bedroom). It is important that an onsite consultation and assessment by our representative is carried out before a specific size air conditioner is recommended.

What is an inverter system?

Inverter air conditioners are more energy efficient to operate and can achieve up to 30% more operating efficiency than non-inverter systems by adjusting their power to suit your actual requirements. Inverter systems continually adjusts their cooling and heating output depending on the temperature in the room and when the desired room temperature is reached, the inverter ensures that the temperature is maintained.

Inverters are very quiet when operating and recommended for installations in apartments and villas or if the condenser needs to be installed near a neighbouring property. Inverters provide a more even temperature in the room or area as they carefully adjust themselves to prevent temperature fluctuations and energy loss once the desired temperature is reached.

How often should I clean the filters?

All air conditioners have filters that need to be cleaned at least every change of season and we recommend this to be done more often if the air conditioner is being used regularly such as during a hot summer.

If filters are not kept clean the air conditioner will not cool or heat effectively and will be less energy efficient as dirt and dust will be trapped in the filter and block the airflow. Cleaning a dirty and blocked filter can reduce your air conditioner’s energy consumption by anywhere from 5% to 15%.

A blocked filter on a split system in summer can also produce water dripping down the walls as dirt trapped on the filter freezes and then defrosts when the air conditioner is turned off.

The most effective way to clean the filter is to remove the filter from the indoor fan coil of the split system or from the return air grille of the ducted system and either wash the filter with a mild detergent in the laundry sink or take the filter outside and hose it. Leave the filter to dry in the sun and then return the filter back to the split system fan coil or ducted system return air grille.

For the Titanium Apatite Photocatalytic Air Purification Filter in your split systems, vacuum away any dust and then soak the filter in lukewarm water for up to 15 minutes before putting the filter outside to dry in a shaded area.

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Temperatures

One of the most energy efficient things that can be done is to set the temperature on the controller to between 22-25°Celsius in summer and to between 20-23°Celsius in winter. Be mindful that for every single degree of cooling set lower in summer or heating set higher in winter can increase your energy running costs by up to 10%.

If a hot day is forecast and you are at home, then turn your air conditioner on before the hottest part of the day to allow the system to cool more efficiently and effectively so the unit does not need to work as hard to keep on top of the heat load.

Warranties

Daikin offers a five year parts and labour warranty on all their split, multi split and ducted systems purchased and installed in Australia. Iskra Air Conditioning provides a five year warranty on all installation work carried out. Please note that cleaning of filters and blocked drains are not covered by warranty and is the responsibility of the customer.

What is an 'energy' label?

An energy label is required for all single phase (the standard method of distribution of electric power in lighting and heating), non-ducted air conditioners and provides consumers with information on the energy efficiency of a product. The higher the star rating of an air conditioner, the more efficient the product is.

What is ducted zoning?

Ducted system zoning allows you to group specified rooms within a particular “zone” – ie a bedroom zone or a living area zone. This allows you to select to heat or cool the specific rooms allocated to each zone of the ducted system at the one time, rather than have every room cooling or heating at the same time throughout the home.

Zoning can therefore help maximise energy efficiency and comfort by specifically targeting heating and cooling only certain rooms or areas of your home.
When a zone is selected, cooling and heating will not be distributed to rooms outside the selected zone.

Commonly asked questions