The ducted air conditioning is the culmination of the home heating systems. But its efficiency and convenience come at a price. If you’re considering installing ducted air conditioning or replacing your old one, you better be prepared before you start your home improvement project.
As a follow-up to our previous article on the pros and cons of split-system AC and ducted air conditioning, we’ll now look into more detail on how much does ducted air conditioning installation costs. The two main aspects that form the overall cost are the price of the actual system with all its various components, and the second one is the installation itself.
So if you:
Then, read on.
Let’s get to the point, then. Ducted air conditioning doesn’t come cheap, especially reverse cycle systems that can both cool and heat your property in the hot and chilly weather months. It’s a serious property improvement investment, as it’s a long-term beneficial addition to your home that actually boosts the value, saleability or rentability of your home.
Note that prices also vary by the contactors you choose to install your AC.
Last but not least, ducted air conditioning installation costs can increase by the various additional features that the system offers, such as air purification, humidity control and enhanced energy efficiency by fitting the right number of temperature control sensors in a said room.
We’ll look into what plays a role in forming the cost of installing a ducted air conditioner. Other than the labour cost, the size of your property and the number of individual features are the major factors when forming the project’s price. The type of system you choose (conventional or reverse cycle ducted air conditioning) matters too.
Note that the climate you live in can also affect how much you pay. Achieving the optimal thermal efficiency in your home comes at a price. For example, people in Sydney may pay less than Brisbane residents.
The smaller the property, the cheaper it will be to fit your ducted air conditioning.
The more rooms you want to heat and cool, the more ductwork needs to be installed. Add the number of floors your house has, and you’ll be looking at paying for the installation of additional vertical duct lines (droppers), which need to be fitted correctly and concealed in cupboards or whatnot. Furthermore, each room can be controlled separately, in terms of the temperature you’d like to set it at, which will also be reflected in the final cost.
Last but not least, the more rooms you have, the more vent grilles you’ll need to be fitted, which requires cutting through ceilings, walls or floors.
The zoning properties of your ducted air conditioning are related to how you control the airflow (conventional or reverse cycle ducted air conditioning) and temperature in each room.
Each room can be classed as a different zone that needs a different level of heating or cooling. Dividing your system into zones certainly increases the ducted air conditioning installation cost. This, however, in the long-term, will prove to be more energy-efficient, as you can control the running costs of your system. Or in other words, there’s no need to heat or cool the guest room if no one is staying there for months.
Each home is unique, with its own specific structural features. This can make installing a ducted air-con system harder or easier, depending on various factors.
For instance, limitations with fitting the exterior unit safely and without disturbing your neighbours by the noise it generates can increase the installation cost. Or, when it comes to mounting the interior unit and duct lines, you have two standard options – under the floor or in the roof space. People with limited space above the ceiling usually go for installing their system components in the sub-floor space, although slimline alternatives are also available on the market.
Another option you have is to install individual bulkhead units in each room, suspended from the narrow roof space and mounted and concealed on the ceiling, where the duct lines are usually thinner so that they can still get fitted above the ceiling. This, in effect, is a combo version of ducted and split-system air conditioning.
Depending on how many rooms you’ll be air-conditioning, the installation cost can increase because there isn’t enough roof space to accommodate one main internal unit that connects all ducts.
Installing ducted air conditioning begins with a thorough on-site examination, after which you can get an estimate of how much it will cost you. With this, you’ll receive information about what the process may involve in structural work and how much time the job will take. You can expect to pay for the installation about 15% to 20% of the price you’ve paid for the actual system and its components.
The following job aspects will be taken into account for the final installation quote:
The installation service will consist of several steps, in general. Still, each job has its individual requirements, based on the type and size of the property you have and its specific structural features.
So, after your team of installers are done with their site inspection, planning and measuring, they will proceed as follows:
As you can see, the installation procedure of a ducted air conditioning system is rather complex and requires experience and qualified expertise.
Unless you hold all the right certifications and licences, you should not even attempt to install your ducted AC system by yourself. In fact, it is illegal in Australia, and you could receive a fine for it. It’s not worth the try, given how pricy and complicated are these systems.
It’s a difficult job that involves electrical work and the installation of complex components. So, if those are fitted and misconnected, this can put your home at risk. The job usually requires an expert team of professionals who know what they are doing and have all the valid qualifications, knowledge of safety standards and the right to perform such services legally.
Professional ducted AC installation in your area! Contact a reliable expert for the task!
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