Where to Use Ducted Air Conditioners
Ducted air conditioning is probably the quietest and most versatile of all air conditioning systems. They are ideal for homes, open-plan offices, shops, schools, restaurants and other large spaces requiring balanced air distribution around the room. Ducted AC units are often the most practical choice for cooling or heating larger areas that are beyond the reach or capacity of wall-mounted units, which can struggle to provide an even air distribution across large spaces.
Ducted air conditioning systems can be retrofitted. However, they are best installed as part of a building project/refurbishment, where we can plan and work alongside your architect (or builder) to ensure that there is sufficient space within the ceiling void or above the suspended ceiling to accommodate the hidden ducted unit.
It is important to note that you don’t have individual control of each grille on a ducted system. The whole system is either ‘On’ or ‘Off’. For this reason, we recommend that you don’t use a ducted system to cool multiple rooms where people may want different temperatures. Suppose you still wish to achieve the aesthetic advantages offered by a ducted system. In that case, we recommend installing multiple ducted systems within your ceiling, giving each user individual control over the temperature settings for their room. This will help avoid those inevitable temperature disputes!
Types of Grilles
Grilles for ducted air conditioners come in all shapes and sizes, and the decision as to which type to use is down to performance in the first instance and aesthetics. Our surveyors will guide you on the most suitable options available, ensuring that the grilles distribute the air gently and evenly around the room. This will avoid cold drafts or the system missing ‘hot spots’ within the room. In some cases, we can design bespoke systems that are tailored to your requirements.
Another very important fact about ducted aircon units is that for every air ‘outlet’, there must be an air ‘inlet’ for the return air. This allows the ducted system to circulate air within the room and cool or heat as required. The Air Conditioning Company has been called out to repair many ducted installations that were carried out by less qualified installers who either did not provide the necessary return air grilles or had incorrectly calculated air flows and installed unsuitable grilles.
Airflows must be calculated correctly to use the correct grilles and ducts. Incorrectly specified ducts or grilles will result in insufficient circulation if they are too large or noisy units, and whistling if they are too small. In addition, if the grille or ductwork is too small and creates back pressure, the system could ultimately fail.
What Grilles do we Recommend?
1. For large rooms, such as open-plan offices, we usually suggest a four-way grill, which (as its name suggests) provides balanced airflow in four directions. These are usually placed centrally in a room and should easily reach every spot that requires cooling or heating.
2. For smaller rooms, there is a wide range of almost ‘invisible grilles’ that leave a very discreet opening (see images). These are usually long and thin and blend into a room, going completely unnoticed by guests. They are ideal for high-end residential installations, offices, restaurants, etc.
The Units We Recommend
We can install ducted units to suit all budgets, however, the actual unit we finally recommend may be determined by physical restrictions, e.g. we may have to select a certain brand because it is the only one that will fit into the available space. You can, however, be assured that whichever unit we select, you will get years of hassle-free use, safe in the knowledge that it is from a leading manufacturer and backed up by our unique ten-year warranty.
When installed in a home or office, ducted air conditioners should be almost silent so that you can get on with your day undisturbed. We do not recommend installing anything with a capacity in excess of 6kW in these environments as noise levels may be too loud, despite having correctly specified grilles and ducts. More powerful systems are still suitable for large shops and restaurants where ambient noise levels ensure that any noise from the system is not an issue.
Daikin Flash Streamer Technology
Daikin has developed an advanced air purification system designed to improve indoor air quality significantly. ‘Daikin Flash Streamer’ uses powerful plasma discharge technology to release high-speed electrons, effectively breaking down harmful viruses, bacteria, allergens, and chemical substances. This innovative system has been rigorously tested and shown to inactivate over 99.9% of airborne pathogens, including SARS-Cov-2, making it ideal for use in homes, offices, and healthcare environments.
Flash Streamer is integrated into various Daikin air conditioners and air purifiers without altering their appearance. If you want to enhance the air quality in your premises with state-of-the-art purification technology, speak to our team, and we’ll provide a tailored recommendation to suit your needs.
We are approved installers and offer a 10-Year Warranty on market leading manufacturers
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