What Is A Split System Air Conditioner and How Does It Work?

air conditioning

Are you looking to buy a new air-conditioner for your home, but aren’t sure which one to invest in? If you’ve spent any time researching the market, you’d have probably realised that most AC units do exactly the same thing. So what’s so special about a split system AC unit, and why would you choose to get one over a different model?

The installation of a split system air conditioner is one of the most common types you can find in Australia – so why’s it so popular? What makes it stand out from the rest? We’ll be looking at this (and more!) today, so keep reading to find out! 

How do split system air conditioners work? 

Unsurprisingly, a split system air-conditioner is exactly what you might expect it to be – it’s an air-conditioning unit that comes with two components. The first is the indoor unit which sits inside your home and absorbs heat, and the second is an outdoor unit which cools and pumps cold air into the indoor unit. These two units are connected by insulated tubes which are piped through a small hole in your room’s wall. These two boxes then work together to cool the air within your room and keep it fresh by using clean outdoor air, giving you a much more comfortable environment to relax in. 

Many split system air conditioners can also heat rooms by working in the reverse order – they take air from outside and heat it rather than cool it, so you don’t have to worry about dry heating your home. Depending on where you live and your energy prices, using the AC unit to heat your home can actually work out cheaper than using a boiler and radiators to heat each room. 

Split system air conditioners are super effective, easy and cheap to install, and relatively easy to maintain – but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows here. A split system AC unit will need one indoor unit and one outdoor unit per room you want to cool down, so be prepared to have an AC unit seen in every room you want them to work in. While this might not seem like a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, it can be a little annoying to disrupt your perfectly designed space with intrusive air conditioning units! You’ll also need to make sure you have plenty of room outside for the outdoor counterparts, and depending on how many rooms you want to control with your AC system, this can quickly amount to lots of lost outdoor space. 

What are the benefits of a split system air conditioning unit? 

There are many benefits to installing a split air conditioning unit in your home, like: 

  • They’re cost effective: As you don’t have to worry about any extra installation costs like ducted AC systems (which go through the walls of your home) split system units are often more cost effective both initially and in terms of future maintenance.
  • You can install new units at any time: Likewise, as you don’t have to worry about installing internal systems within your home to connect each AC unit, you’re free to install units in different rooms whenever you want – meaning you can spread the cost over multiple months or years! 
  • There’s no limit to how many you can have: You are free to install split system AC units in every room of your home, depending on how many you feel you need to stay comfortable. 
  • They’re quiet and efficient: Split system AC units don’t run within your walls or have a huge main indoor unit controlling all of them, so many people find them quieter and more efficient than alternative AC units on the market. 

What are the drawbacks of a split system air conditioning unit? 

Unfortunately, no AC unit is perfect, so split system air conditioners come with some drawbacks, too, like: 

  • Some people find the units unsightly: While you might think you don’t mind a large white box sitting high on a wall of each room in your home, they can quickly become unsightly and ruin the vibe of your aesthetic designs – especially as you can’t decorate them. 
  • They might not be the best for larger rooms: Split AC units tend to be smaller (so they don’t become too much of an eyesore) so they can often only push cool air so far into your room – which might make them less effective in larger spaces.  

A split system air conditioner is one of the most popular models you can go for in Australia, and we think this is largely down to how effective and convenient they are.

They’re relatively easy to install and can push both hot and cold air into your room, so they’re great for all year round. But it’s not all coming up roses as many people find these AC units an eyesore and mention how much room they take up both indoors and outdoors, so you need to make sure you have enough space to accommodate both the inside and outside units. 

But don’t worry, because there must be a reason why so many Australian households love their split system AC units – so don’t write them off just yet! Why don’t you get in touch with a trusted installation company to ask for a quote to see if this is a good option for your home system? 

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Author

Nicole Sage

Nicole Sage is the founder of Sleek-chic Interiors and is a highly experienced interiors writer and skilled home renovator who has a passion for all things design. She has been featured as an authority at Pinterest, Ideal Home, Daily Mail and in countless other interviews. For 8 years, Nicole has written, observed key interior trends, renovated and undertaken interior short courses at the renown KLC school where she has gained her grounding interior design principles. With a keen eye for detail and a love of creativity, she shares her expertise on the latest interior trends, practical DIY tutorials, and styling inspiration to help others transform their homes into stunning spaces. With a commitment to delivering informative and engaging content, Nicole inspires and empowers readers to explore their own unique sense of style and create beautiful, personalised interiors. Contact her at hello@sleek-chic.co.uk for interiors advice, colour questions and any commentary.

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