How Much Does Ducted Air Conditioning Cost to Run?

For many homes across Australia, ducted reverse-cycle air conditioners are the pinnacle of heating and cooling systems.

They’re highly energy efficient, and great at keeping the house cool throughout the summer and warm in winter. But as you keep yourself comfortable underneath the cool air, have you ever asked yourself the question, “How much does ducted air conditioning cost to run”?

According to Canstar Blue, the average annual cost to run your ducted air conditioning can range from $384 to $1964 for cooling, and between $97 and $1457 for heating. These values depend largely on key factors like your location, electricity prices set by your provider, and how frequently you use your ducted air conditioning.

As experts in the air conditioning industry, let’s break down the cost of running ducted air conditioning systems and how you can cut down the cost of cooling your home this summer.

How Much Does a Ducted Air Conditioning System Cost to Run Per Hour?

At this point, you may be wondering how much it costs to run ducted air conditioners per hour. Unfortunately, there is no simple, straightforward answer.

Even with the most energy-efficient system in your home, numerous factors come into play when considering the running cost of your ducted air con system. They include:

• Energy prices from your electricity provider
• Size of the area it is cooling
• How well insulated your home is
• The climate in your area
• Your chosen zoning at the point of ducted air conditioner installation
• Thermostat temperature
• Energy efficiency of your system
• And much more!

Assuming you’re paying on average 35c/kWh for your electricity, your reverse cycle ducted air con could be setting you back a whopping $3.5 per hour! Using it for six hours a day over the summer months could be costing you $1700.

How to Save Electricity with Your Ducted Air Conditioning System

Yes, ducted air conditioning systems can be costly to run. However, compared to split system air conditioning units, few things beat the simplicity of having only one system to heat and cool your entire home.

That’s why we’ve got five ways to help you save on your next electricity bill, so you can still enjoy the comfort of great air conditioning, all without breaking a sweat over the cost.

1. Block Out the Sun

If you’ve got the sun coming through the windows and heating your room like an oven, you’re making your air conditioner’s job harder! This means you’ll be using more electricity, hence more money.

At a minimum, consider closing your curtains and blinds when the sun is most intense in the afternoon. This will mean your home stays cooler, and you won’t need to turn your ducted AC on as early.

2. Use Your Fans

Fans can be one of the most cost-effective climate control appliances in your home. Depending on the speed, you’ll only be spending $0.02-$0.05 per hour. When your reverse cycle air conditioner is in cooling mode, it’s 70-170 times more costly to run! While not known for their cooling effects, fans can maximise the effect of other air conditioning systems in use.

Using your fans on the summer, anti-clockwise, setting will push the cold air down, creating a more effective cooling effect. This means you can set the thermostat to a higher temperature in summer, and save electricity by doing so.

Changing your fans to the winter (clockwise) setting will push the warm air down. Doing this will allow you to set the thermostat to a lower temperature in winter, while still warming your home effectively.

3. Use Your Power

If you think you’re paying too much, don’t hesitate to call rival power suppliers and see if they can offer you a better deal. You might be surprised – you can lower your running costs considerably, not only for summer but all year round.

You might also consider taking advantage of the electricity tariff during off-peak hours, but you’ll need to check your local times.

4. Use Zoning

A ducted air conditioner without zoning capabilities will simultaneously heat or cool every room to the same temperature. Zoning gives you complete temperature control, allowing you to control the volume of air flow to different rooms. It will even let you shut off heating or cooling in unused rooms.

This can go a long way towards reducing the running costs of your ducted aircon over the summer. Instead, you can select the rooms you want to cool and only pay for the electricity to cool these rooms.

Ducted systems can heat or cool multiple rooms but you don’t want to be wasting power and driving up your energy costs providing conditioned air to unused rooms of your home.

5. Keep It Serviced

Your air conditioner will show signs of wear and tear, as well as become more inefficient as time goes on. As dust and dirt accumulate in the filters, this too will make your ducted air con inefficient. Regular servicing will help to prevent these inefficiencies in the first place and keep your filters clean – improving your air quality too!

Servicing your ducted air conditioner will also be able to identify faults before they become very costly repairs in the future. It’s just another way to save on your ducted air conditioning. A licensed professional will check everything from your indoor unit to your condenser (usually in your roof space) and ducts.

The Value of Inverter Air Conditioning

As you consider installing ducted air conditioning throughout your home, you’ve probably looked at a number of important factors. You’ve probably looked at ducted air conditioning prices, energy ratings and maybe even considered where to put the outdoor unit. But there is one crucial point of consideration that we’ve not discussed yet.

Do you look at conventional air conditioners or instead choose a cost effective inverter system?

Choosing a ducted air conditioning system that uses inverter technology can significantly reduce your running costs. Unlike conventional ducted systems that use a fixed speed compressor, inverter systems adjust the compressor speed based on cooling or heating demands. It effectively lowers your energy consumption and delivers greater energy efficiency.

With a ducted air conditioning system offering quiet operation, programmable control panels, and tailored zone control, you’ll enjoy greater comfort while keeping energy costs manageable.

Speak to the Specialists on All Things Ducted Air Conditioners

For more information about ducted air conditioner installations, services and repairs, contact Metropolitan Air Conditioning today.

We can install, service or repair all the major brands, including Daikin ducted air conditioning systems, as well as ActronAir, Braemar, Coolair, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kaden, Rinnai and more.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.