How does hot and cold air conditioning provide heat?

It works in the same way that your fridge extracts heat from its interior. It extracts heat from the air outside and can do this even when the exterior temperature is very low, well below zero in fact.

The efficiency of hot and cold air conditioning system is measured by a coefficient of performance. A good quality air conditioning system can have a coefficient of performance of about 3 to 1.
(Which means you can transfer 3 kilowatts of heat for 1 kilowatt of electricity).

What Air Conditioning do I require?

The simple answer is every property will have different requirements for air con. It is related to the size of the rooms and the number and type of windows as well as many other factors. This is why a free survey of your property is undertaken by ourselves to establish the best configuration for your home.

How does air conditioning work?
On the same principle as a fridge but it is split into two distinct parts. The interior unit acts like the cold plate inside the fridge, and the exterior unit acting like the warm pipes on the back. Heat is transferred between the two units using a compressor to circulate a refrigerant. The refrigerant is a gas.

How much does it cost to run? 

Air conditioning units transfer heat between the two units and you pay for the electricity used to do this. The coefficient for cooling is slightly lower than the one for heating but as a rough guide 1 kilowatt of electricity produces between 2.5 & 3 kilowatts of cooling or heating. Currently this costs around €0.11

Can you have more than one interior unit to one exterior unit? 

Yes. There are a number of ways of doing this but they have to be incorporated into the system from the start. This is a further benefit of our free survey

What is a split system? 

This is the term given to a system that is split into two parts interior and exterior unit.

What is a multi-split system? 

This is where more than one interior unit are piped separately to one exterior unit(usually between two and four units).

What are inverter systems? 

The inverter is an electronic device that changes the frequency of the electricity supplied to the compressor motor. This gives it speed control linked to its output requirements. Using an inverter also allows the compressor motor to “soft start” which eliminates start up power surge and allows it to run at slower speeds instead of stopping and starting. This greatly increases the life expectancy of the system. Inverter systems are around 40% more efficient than the older systems which stop and start.

How often should I have my air-conditioning units serviced? 

Annually, maintenance of your system will save you money on your electricity bills and help your system perform efficiently. A maintained system will also last longer so it’s wise to protect your investment. Air conditioning is best checked in the Spring.

How long does it take to install? 

Usually a single unit could be installed within a few hours, or a multi- split unit in about a day.