Reverse cycle Air Conditioning

[southee]

Hey guys,

Dont know if this is the right forum.

Thought I would put it out there to see if anyone had any good recommendations of a good place to go to get a reverse cycle A/Con installed at a good price and service. We have a evaporative that needs to be pulled out as well. It's leaking water and we have just had a gutful with it year after year with problems.

We have had two quotes and they are right up there with what we were expecting.

How about brands as well. What is a good one ?? We are looking at Daikin, Fujisu or Temperzone (bit cheaper).

Any comments , ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers guys

[SABRE]

We just put in a ducted system 'southee'.
Are you looking at ducted or a split system ?

[southee]

We just put in a ducted system 'southee'.
Are you looking at ducted or a split system ?

A ducted one mate.

Big call being it's pretty costly. Just seeing if any good reports. How you go with yours?

[GWW]

By "ducted", is that the "box" type thats put into a wall?

I'm looking at getting a couple of quotes at the moment, with a view to getting something put in soon. When speaking to someone from an air conditioning store the other day, they said that not many businesses are installing the box type air cons any more, and he expects them to not be around in a few years time. So i guess if that happens it will be difficult to get replacements parts.

[GWW]

We just put in a ducted system 'southee'.

Did you get a good price for the one you had put in SABRE?

[SABRE]

I got a quote on a fully ducted system years ago, after we first built, and it was going to cost
around $15,000. With kids on the way, we put plans on hold and just limped along with a room
air-con & fans. But having saved a few pennies, we decided to take the plunge before this summer.
Got a pleasant surprise too. They've actually gone down in price. Not sure if this is due to more
competition or cheaper manufacturing costs, but to do the same job, it turned out to be $3,000 less.
We got an ACTRON unit that supplies 9 ceiling outlets (7 zones) for $11,990. (Large 4B home)
When those 42-43 degree days hit I thought I was going to have to put a jumper on it got so
cool in my (home) office.
Can't wait for Winter to arrive. Really looking forward to the look on the neighbour's faces when
they see me walking around inside perspiring, holding a coldie and wearing a pair of budgie smugglers !

[dedja]

SABRE's street ...

[SABRE]

SABRE's street ...

Energy crisis?
What energy crisis ?
LOL

[Booney]

Although not directly involved in the domestic market, I work in the Air Diffusion industry ( Selling grilles,registers and diffusers ) and therefore have many contacts in the Airconditioning game.

PM me and we'll get the ball rolling..

[Psyber]

My first quote in April 2009 was nearly $20K for a ducted reverse cycle set up from Climat in Stepney.
I got an LG based system in June 2009 for $8500 from Affordable Air Conditioning based in Conyngham St. http://www.affordair.com.au/
Johan [Hans] Overbeeke was very good at explaining where vents should be and why, and why I needed a less powerful unit than the first quote was based on.
It all made sense and it works fine for both heating and cooling.

The house is 249 square meters and set up in 6 zones - I can run any 3 at one time effectively in severe conditions.
With the right selection of zones it works for the whole house when conditions outside are not extreme.

[Booney]

What sort of diffuser was installed Psyber? A typical 4 way blow with louvres?

We sell a diffuser that is powered by the supply sir. When in heating mode a damper opens to dump the warm air down into the occupied zone and in cooling closes the damper to maintain the coanda effect and keep the cool air against the ceiling for as long as possible.

Thermally actuated diffuser, very clever product.

[Felch]

I recently built a new house and i used Concept Air for my system. They have since been taken over by Hasties though. I was extremely happy with their design service, but i did have a few issues with the tradespeople they used. They had to come back a few times as zones were not working properly. The system works very well now, even if it is expensive to run (we have 2 x 11.5kw Daikin units, 1 for upstairs, 1 for downstairs) The whole thing cost just under $20k.

[Psyber]

What sort of diffuser was installed Psyber? A typical 4 way blow with louvres?
We sell a diffuser that is powered by the supply sir. When in heating mode a damper opens to dump the warm air down into the occupied zone and in cooling closes the damper to maintain the coanda effect and keep the cool air against the ceiling for as long as possible.
Thermally actuated diffuser, very clever product.

Yes the typical 4 way as you describe. Hans was very specific about where they should be to get the right flow around the rooms.
The ducts all radiate from a central air outlet box rather than branch from each other, making flow control easier.
I have two return air vents - one on either side of the door that divides the main living areas from the other end of the house which has a rumpus room and 4 bedrooms, so that in extreme conditions I can shut the door and put all the heating or cooling energy into half the house.

Hans is also anti Inverters. He says that with the right design, so the system isn't turning on and off all the time, they are unnecessary, and the circuits don't last long and are expensive to replace.

[Squawk]

Has anyone heard anything about Condor Kinetic roof vents - the firm and/or the product?

http://www.condorkinetic.com.au/

I've been thinking of putting roof vents in the roof to complement the R4 insulation and ducted refrigerated air con.

[JK]

I bought an Aircon about 3 years ago from one of the companies mentioned here, and will NEVER EVER have anything to do with them again ... In fact given I often attend some events that their owner does, he'll be copping a serve the first chance I get.

ZERO after sales service and that's no exaggeration ... Even Daiken and other local companies and installers were aware of these guys practices (or lack thereof).

OK, end of rant, feel better now!

[Booney]

Has anyone heard anything about Condor Kinetic roof vents - the firm and/or the product?

http://www.condorkinetic.com.au/

I've been thinking of putting roof vents in the roof to complement the R4 insulation and ducted refrigerated air con.

I dont deal with them direct, but they are well known in the industry.

[Squawk]

Has anyone heard anything about Condor Kinetic roof vents - the firm and/or the product?

http://www.condorkinetic.com.au/

I've been thinking of putting roof vents in the roof to complement the R4 insulation and ducted refrigerated air con.

I dont deal with them direct, but they are well known in the industry.

Booney - well known as a firm favourably? Is their product soundly regarded in the industry?

[SABRE]

If I understand the industry correctly, ALL installers are cowboys.
The secret is to minimise the risk by identifying the d*ckheads a.s.a.p. by bringing in the
manufacturers technicians under warranty as soon as anything goes wrong. (Even if it doesn't !)
Most installation 'general' electricians 'think' they are air-conditioning experts, but never, ever, believe them !
My advice:
If ANYTHING, EVER, goes wrong, call in the manufacturer's technicians whilst under warranty.
Then & only then, will you ever get true and worthwhile advice pertaining to long lasting service.
This really is 'a mugs game' where only the clever survive. Thank you, ACTRON.
A 1st class reliable unit, backed (in S.A.) by a reliable technician, overcame unreliable installers.
Happy to answer all PMs regarding our experience.
Luv,
SABRE

[Ian]

Daikin

For 4 months I asked every refrigeration mechanic I came into contact with the same question.

Most recomended 2 or 3 brands, the one thing in common was they all recomended Daikin, purchased ours from a small family buisiness specialising in Dakin, Thompson Airconditioning (Grange Rd Welland) and the service was awesome, daughter handeled the sales, Dad did the install with his sparky mate.

4 or 5 years later it hasn't missed a beat.

[GWW]

Some handy info in this thread Will probably refer to some of the companies mentioned as i'm currently in the process of getting some quotes from various air con businesses