Learn about air conditioning
How it works, in plain words and simple pictures.
The indoor unit
This is the part you see in your room.
It draws in warm air from the room, takes the heat out of it, and blows cooler air back into the room.
You set the temperature you want with the remote control, and it does the rest.
The outdoor unit
The heat taken out of your room has to go somewhere.
A thin pipe carries it through the wall to a box outside: the outdoor unit. Its fan blows the heat away into the outside air.
So air conditioning does not create cold air. It cools your home by moving heat from inside to outside. Think of a sponge that soaks up water in one place and is squeezed out somewhere else.
Heating in winter
The same system can keep you warm too. It simply works in reverse.
Even on a cold day, the air outside still holds some heat. The outdoor unit gathers that heat, the pipe carries it inside, and the indoor unit blows warm air into the room.
Instead of burning fuel to make heat, it brings in heat that is already outside.
One room or several
A single-split is one indoor unit joined to its own outdoor unit. It suits one room.
A multi-split is several indoor units joined to one outdoor unit. It suits several rooms, with just one box outside.
Not sure which? Our builder can price both, and our guide to choosing a system type goes into more detail.
Kinds of indoor unit
Indoor units come in different shapes, but they all do the same job. Choose the one that suits your room.
Wall mounted
For bedrooms, living rooms and home offices.
See wall mounted unitsFloor console
Sits low on the wall where there is no room above.
See floor console unitsConcealed ducted
Hidden in the ceiling, so you only see the air vents.
See concealed ducted unitsCeiling cassette
Set flush into the ceiling of offices and shops.
See ceiling cassette unitsCeiling suspended
Fixed under the ceiling in workshops and halls.
See ceiling suspended units
Fitted and looked after properly
The pipes carry a refrigerant, the special fluid that moves the heat. By law, only an F-Gas certified engineer may handle it. Our engineers are F-Gas and REFCOM certified.
A service once a year keeps your system clean and working well, much like a check-up at the dentist. Our SystemCare plans include it.
Questions people ask
Is it noisy?
Not really. Indoor units are made to be quiet, so you can have one in a bedroom. The outdoor unit makes a soft hum while it runs. Each unit’s page in our shop shows how loud it is.
Does it work in winter?
Yes. The systems in our shop heat as well as cool. Even on a cold day there is some heat in the outside air, and the outdoor unit gathers it and brings it indoors.
How long does fitting take?
Fitting usually takes about a day for one system, and longer for a system serving several rooms. We will tell you how long when we book your date. Our delivery and installation page has more detail.
More answers on our FAQ page.