FAQ's
How does air conditioning work?
On the same principals as a refrigerator but
split into two parts. The indoor unit acting like the cold plate inside a
fridge and the outdoor unit acting like the warm pipes on the back. Heat is
transferred between the two units using a compressor to circulate
refrigerant.
How much does it cost to run?
Air conditioning and geyser heat pumps
transfer heat between the two units and you pay for the electricity used to
do this. Typical values in cooling are 3 to 1 which mean you can transfer 3
kilowatts of heat with 1 kilowatt of electricity. In heating, typical values
are even better 4 to 1.
Does hot or cold air transfer from the outdoor
unit?
The air in your room is recirculated through
the indoor unit where it passes through a heat exchanger / coil that heats
or cools the air.
Can you have more than one indoor unit to one
outdoor unit?
Yes. There are a number of different ways of
doing this but they have to be designed into the system from the start.
What is a split system?
This is the description given to a system
that is split into two parts indoor and outdoor unit. (Unlike a portable
unit)
What is a multi-split system?
This is where several indoor units are piped
separately to one outdoor unit. (Usually between two and four units)
What are VRV and VRF systems?
Variable Refrigerant Volume and Variable
Refrigerant Flow systems are where a large number of indoor units can run
from one large outdoor unit. This is done with one set of pipes picking up
all the indoor units and then running back to the outdoor unit. (Usually
used in commercial applications)
What are inverters driven systems?
The inverter is an electronic device that
changes the frequency of the electricity supplied to the compressor. This
gives it speed control linked to output requirements. Using an inverter also
allows the compressor to "soft start" which eliminated start up surge and
allows it to run at slower speeds instead of stopping and starting this
greatly increases the life expectancy of the system. Inverter driven systems
are around 30 % more efficient than conventional equipment.
How does a Geyser Heat pump Work? See illustration –
Click here
