Basic Operating Instructions for Ducted Air Conditioners

Ducted air conditioners are among the most common type of central cooling and heating used in Australian households and offices. Ducted systems are the ultimate when it comes to cooling and heating, providing a cosy cool and warmth in any space. They are also generally clean and quiet to operate, more energy efficient and offers cheaper running costs than other systems. In this blog, we’ll tell you the right ways to operate a ducted system.

It is important to know that regular servicing of your ducted air conditioner is required on an annual basis. We may recommend more frequent servicing depending on your usage patterns. Your Cold Front installed air conditioner has a 12 month installation defect warranty and the air conditioning equipment has a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty commencing from the original installation date.

Please note: Lack of regular service may impact warranty coverage on your system. Book now

Basic Operating Instructions for Ducted Air Conditioners

1. Before operating your air conditioner in any mode, please ensure all external doors are shut and curtains/blinds on windows are drawn. This helps to reduce the heat load and improve efficiency.
2. If you have rooms that do not require conditioning, close the door to that room and switch off the zone to that area. This will reduce area that the air conditioner has to cool and will reduce your cooling/heating costs.
3. For the best results, inverter ducted units should be set and left to run. Once obtaining the set temperature, they will ramp down and maintain that temperature to stabilize since heat energy is stored in all the walls/floor finishes and fittings.
4. There is a price for your comfort. Running your ducted air conditioner will increase your power bill. The lower the set temperature you choose, the more electricity it will consume. Getting the family used to 26 degrees instead of 21 degrees will be a huge saving on electricity costs.
5. Excessive condensation will form on the air conditioning outlets and other equipment during times of high humidity. Running your air conditioner constantly during these conditions will prevent this condensation from being able to evaporate and dry out. This will lead to water marks around your outlets, dripping from AC equipment and fittings in the roof cavity and damage to plaster ceilings. Avoiding low set temperatures and low fan speeds can help minimise condensation build up but will not prevent it completely. Damage or staining caused by condensation is not covered by your warranty.

To Operate Your Air Conditioner in the Summer

• Select “COOL” mode of operation on the thermostat (Snowflake)
• Set the thermostat temperature control to the “DESIRED TEMPERATURE” (suggested temperature between 24°C and 26°C
• Set the fan operation on high.
• Set zones switches to the zone or zones to be conditioned.

The air conditioning system will now operate on COOLING and will continue to do so until the air cools down to the temperature set by the thermostat.When the set temperature has been reached, COOLING will stop, but the fan will continue to circulate conditioned air.When the temperature rises above the thermostat setting, COOLING will automatically commence and continue until the set temperature has been reached.

To Operate Your Air Conditioner in the Winter

• Select “HEAT” mode of operation on the thermostat (Sun)
• Set the thermostat temperature control to the “DESIRED TEMPERATURE” (Suggested temperature between 21°C to 24°C
• Set fan operation on low
• Set zones switches to the zone or zones to be conditioned.

The air conditioning system will now operate on HEATING, and will continue to HEAT until the air passing the thermostat rises to the temperature set by the thermostat control. When the control temperature has been reached, both HEATING and FAN will stop operating and will remain out of operation until the temperature at the thermostat commences to fail. The FAN remains out of operation to avoid circulating the that is not being heated, which may be sensed as cool air and cause discomfort.

Winter Cycle Defrost

In the winter months when the outside temperature drops below 7°C, the unit may go onto a defrost cycle.During defrost, the system will stop heating for several minutes (in fact, it will blow cold air during that period). This is indicated by a flashing 3 point symbol on the wall controller.The need for defrost is reduced when the system is allowed to cycle off as it should.To minimise the need for defrost, follow these operating procedures:

• Set your thermostat correctly for economical and comfortable conditions. We suggest 21°C to 24°C
• Don’t set your thermostat too high. By setting your thermostat too high, you don’t allow your system to cycle off and this increases the likelihood of frost forming.
• Close doors from unheated rooms. This will result in the thermostat being influenced by cold air from unheated rooms, causing the system not to cycle off enough. This is the same problem as thermostat set too high.
• Let the system complete defrost cycles.
• Don’t turn the system off if it’s defrosting (if you feel a cold draft). This will only make the problem worse, reduce efficiency and increase running costs.

We hope this guide can provide you with the information you need in operating your ducted air conditioners. If you need more information about maintenance and how to take care of your system, contact us today!