Features To Consider

There are many things to consider when choosing an air conditioning system. The type of system and the capacity are important but you should also think about things like noise, where to mount it, cleaning, maintenance and more.

Noise

Air conditioners now are not like they used to be. Modern systems are very quiet but you should still check out the noise levels of a particular model before you buy it. In general, the noise generated by an indoor unit can range from 19dB-53dB and 42dB-69dB from an outdoor unit on the quietest fan setting.

See below to compare how these sound levels match up against other common situations.

If your air conditioning unit is creating excess noise, it can interrupt your daily life and even your sleep. The outdoor unit of your air conditioning system typically makes more noise than the indoor unit so placement of the outdoor unit is important if it is close to neighbours, bedrooms and windows.

Before you decide on an air conditioning model, check with your local council and strata rules if applicable as you may have to adhere to noise limits and restrictions.

Where should you mount your unit?

• High wall mounted units sit close to the ceiling on a wall which allows air to flow and spread around the space

• Floor-mounted units sit at floor level which might be more appropriate for some rooms

• Cassette units are mounted inside the ceiling and sit close to flush with the surface

• Floor/ceiling mounted units can sit either on the floor or ceiling

Operating range

If you are living in an area that experiences extreme temperatures hot or cold (outside -10°C-45°C) you may need to consider the temperature operating range of an air conditioning system before you buy it.

Automatic de-icing

Living in a very cold climate can cause frost to build up in parts of your outdoor air conditioning unit. Consider getting a unit with an automatic de-icing feature.