Air Conditioner Buying Guide

Air conditioning units are an essential piece of kit for homes and businesses in hot and changeable climates. At LG, we have a wide range of air conditioners for the home, as well as industrial systems for commercial use. We’ll explain each of these types in more detail below, and look at the size, efficiency and features of our residential AC units, too.

Whether you’re looking for a new AC for your home or business, we have a variety of different types to choose from.

These air conditioning units are designed for residential use.

Split system air conditioners are ductless and made up of two parts: an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor unit. Hot air is absorbed by refrigerant gas from inside through a pipe connecting the two units; the outdoor unit then releases the heat and pumps the cold refrigerant back into the indoor unit, cooling the space.

Split system units are usually used to cool one or an open plan area of up to 60m2.

Split system ACs are popular in Australia – and for good reason. Here are just some of the plus points:

● Split system air conditioners are generally more energy efficient
● They’re typically cheaper to run than conventional ACs
● They operate quietly
● Although they will need to be professionally installed by a licensed LG Specialist Dealer, installation is relatively straightforward
● Once they have been installed, you’ll find that they’re fairly low maintenance; they’re easy to clean, and you’ll only need to clean the filter every month or so.

Ducted system air conditioners are also suitable for home use. These ACs consist of a central unit – which is usually located somewhere discrete and out of sight, like a roof – and connected by ducts to air outlets and sensors in each room. They come with a control panel to set target temperatures, so they’re a good way to cool a whole house.

Ducted air conditioning is ideal for controlling the temperature of a larger home, and they may be suitable for some offices too. To install this kind of system, you’ll need to make a few modifications to your home, so you should take this into consideration before buying.

Multi-split air conditioners are similar to split system units, except that they have one outdoor unit connected to two or more indoor units. This type of AC is good for two or three rooms that are fairly close together – particularly if separate split systems or ducted air conditioning isn’t suitable for your home (if space is limited, for example).

If you’re in the market for a new AC for your business or workplace, we can help: at LG, you’ll find air conditioning systems in store that are suitable for large or open spaces.

Ceiling mounted cassette air conditioners work well in any number of commercial spaces, because they fit discretely into the ceiling and are generally more powerful than wall-mounted units. They’re also quiet, so they’re suitable for offices or anywhere else where noise should be a consideration. Our indoor cassette units also filter the air for a fresher, cooler space.

VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) is an HVAC system that is widely used in commercial buildings, spacious homes or high-rise apartments. It is similar to a multi-split system, but VRF systems are bigger and can connect to more indoor units with longer piping distance. This air solution is more efficient to operate, because it circulates different amounts of refrigerant to each indoor unit depending on the load during cooling operation. This means you can individually control different air-conditioning zones at one time.

One of the key things you’ll need to think about when buying an air conditioner for your home is sizing (or capacity), which is measured in kilowatts (kW).

If you choose an air conditioner that’s too powerful for a room based on its size, the unit will likely run lots of short cycles to reach the right temperature. This may result in the room being too hot or too cold; additionally, you may find that the room doesn’t dehumidify, which means the air won’t be dry enough, so it’ll be uncomfortable to be in. Overpowered models will also use more power and may experience greater wear; resulting in unnecessarily running and maintenance costs.

Alternatively, if you get something that’s too small (or not powerful enough) for a particular room, you may find that the unit dries the air out too much – which, again, will be uncomfortable. What’s more, you’ll find that the unit may need to run more often at maximum power, which will also lead to premature wear and tear.

As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need at least 1 to 1.5 kW of cooling capacity for every 10m2 of floor space. To calculate the floor space, multiply the length of the room by the width. You may also need to factor in the height of the space that’s available, since rooms with high ceilings can require more power to cool.

As well as room size, you should also consider the following:

● Windows and doors: think about the size and orientation of any windows and glass doors in the room. North- or west-facing windows can let in a lot of heat in the summer, for example, whilst rooms with southern-facing windows will be cooler.
● Insulation: are the floors, ceilings or walls insulated? Heavily insulated spaces will be warmer – and require less cooling – than poorly insulated rooms.
● Your location: is your hometown hot and tropical or is the weather milder? A room in North Queensland will require a more powerful air conditioner than a similar room in Tasmania, for example.

At LG, you’ll find 2.5kW and 3.5kW split system units, which are ideal for small- or medium-sized rooms measuring up to 40m2. We also have larger air conditioners for rooms measuring 60m2 or more; you’ll find 7kW split system units and powerful enough for living room type of open area, ducted air conditioners with capacities of 15kW, 18kW and even 20kW.

Air conditioners are given a star rating based on how efficiently they use energy: the more stars a particular model has, the more energy efficient it is. So although upfront costs may be more for a 5 or 6-star rated unit, it will be cheaper to run. Discover more about energy efficient air conditioning with our guide.

For units with cooling and functionality, a separate rating will be given for each. You can find the star rating in the product specifications.

Our air conditioners come with a range of handy features that are designed to improve the day-to-day usability of the unit, as outlined below.

Selected air conditioning units use LG ThinQ^® technology, which allows you to remotely monitor and manage your AC via your smartphone app, and troubleshoot any issues you may have. You can also check your energy usage, including your monthly or weekly usage, via the app.

You’ll notice that some of our air conditioners have built-in Wi-Fi and are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, too. You can turn on the AC or check the temperature using only your voice with this handy feature!

Selected split system air conditioner models come with the Smart Inverter Compressor™. The Smart Inverter Compressor limits unnecessary noise, meaning these air conditioners operate more quietly; you won’t get a sudden increase in sound when the AC goes from just having its fan on to cooling your space, for example. What’s more, this type of compressor adjusts its speed to maintain the desired temperature, so these air conditioners work more efficiently, too.

Our Smart Inverter Compressor™ is designed to handle high temperatures, so it’s ideal for warmer climates like those found in Australia. It can run at variable speeds, making it more efficient for changeable temperatures, and can adjust its output based on its surroundings.

Chill out at home or improve the quality of your workspace with an air conditioning unit from LG. Browse the full range of Air Conditioners online now and find the right one for you.