Replacing Sensors on Your HVAC System

How to Choose Heating and Cooling Systems for a New Home Build

14 February 2018 by Olivia Morris

Many people opt to start with a clean sheet of paper when they're getting ready to set up a new home. They've bought the land and are sitting down with designers and engineers in order to build the home of their dreams. As they do so, they have many things to consider, including how they're going to heat and cool the premises, and in most cases they have three different systems to choose from, each of which has its pros and cons. What do you need to consider if you're looking at this issue right now?

Three Options

Heating and cooling systems may be split, multi-split or ducted when it comes to a comprehensive, new home build. Certainly, it is possible to choose individual wall units for budget installations, but in a major build, those three are generally the options.

Split Systems

A split system features a compressor that's located outside the house and an independent condenser unit that is placed inside. Split systems are relatively quiet, certainly much more so than window mounted units.

The physical location of the system will be based on the predominant need. For example, in a hot climate where cooling is the main focus, then they'll be mounted on the ceiling panel, while they are likely to be mounted at floor level in a location where heating is more of a focus. It is certainly possible to mount them in a more central position using adjustable louvres so that they can be "angled" upward or downward, as appropriate.

Multi-Split

In the case of a multi-split system, a variety of internal units are connected to the external compressor. In this way, individual rooms can be treated differently according to demand. In a much larger home, you will need an upgraded compressor with solid output so that the rooms furthest away from its location can be conditioned equally as effectively. It's important to check with the engineer before and during installation to make sure that everything works according to spec.

Ducted Systems

The third option is based on installing ducts throughout your home, which can cool or heat the home regardless of the number of rooms. Each room is served by vents that connect to this ducting, and there will be a centralised grill to recirculate air through the system, to be processed again.

Zoning

In larger homes, many people decide to split everything up into zones. This allows them to be conditioned individually and very precisely according to the time of day and this can help to control overall running costs through the year.

Making Your Choice

Have a word with your heating and cooling supplier, to determine what type of installation would best serve your purposes.

Share

Search