Which Home Climate Control Systems Are Best for Investment Properties?

With daily temperatures rising throughout the world and areas of Australia reaching 35˚C on average, a home climate control system or an HVAC is crucial if you want to survive the heat. It’s also a given if you’re looking to put your property on the rental market. Nobody wants to live in an oven. 

But which HVAC or air conditioning system should you go with? Ductless? Ducted? Split or zoned? What does it all even mean? 

Let’s find out. 

Types of Home Climate Control Systems

If you’re thinking of installing an air conditioner on your property, there are four types you could go with. Let’s dig into their pros and cons below:

1. Split Systems 

A split system is controlled by a single thermostat and comes with both heating and cooling units. The former is gas-powered, uses a fan or evaporator to push heat through your property’s ductwork, and is found in your basement, utility closet, or another indoor space. 

In contrast, the cooling unit uses a compressor, refrigerant, and coil to cool air — and pushes it through tubing in your home’s ductwork. It’s typically found outside. Regardless of their differences, both units are highly efficient, having an EER rating of 8.5 or higher. 

Pros

• Affordable 
• Replaceable 
• Energy-efficient 

Cons

• Require ductwork
  

2. Hybrid Split System

Similar to a split AC system, a hybrid system has heating and cooling units. But instead of only running on gas, its heater can use electrical power, which means you can run it during wind or hail and electricity or gas shortages. 

But the electric-powered heater is slower and less powerful than its gas counterpart, so it might not heat as efficiently and may not increase the attractiveness of your property. 

Pros 

• All-weather compatible 
• Easily replaceable  

Cons

• Less powerful
• Slower to heat up
  

3. Packaged Heating and Cooling System

A packaged heating and cooling system is a simplified version of a split system. Its components are stored in one large unit, and you can easily connect it to your property’s supply and return ducts, which makes it easy to install. 

Plus, you can place these systems anywhere since they don’t require a lot of space. This makes them an excellent investment if you have a small property. 

Pros 

• Can be placed anywhere 
• Easy to install 
• One-unit construction 

Cons

• Wear out faster

4. Zoned Systems 

A zoned system is a localized AC system. It’s created by installing manual or automatic dampers in your home’s air ducts to control the airflow. These dampers enable you to stop air from flowing into areas you don’t want and into those areas you do. 

So, zoned systems give you more control over the temperature throughout your house. For instance, if you’re sitting in the living room watching TV, you don’t want to waste energy heating up your bedroom.  

If you don’t have much square footage, you could get away with one AC unit when creating a zoned system. However, if your home is bigger — say three to four rooms — you’ll need to invest in two or three units. 

Pros 

• Offer greater control  
• Highly efficient  

Cons

• More expensive
• Require extensive ductwork
  

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Climate Control System? 

Before checking out the various types of AC systems available on the market, you need to consider the following factors: 

1. Property’s Features

Your property’s features determine the type of air conditioning system you need. That’s why you have to consider your property size, location, and orientation when making a decision.

Here’s what to look for: 

• Size – Understand the height and width of your home. Is it huge? If so, you’ll need to get more AC units. 
• Orientation – Look at the sun’s orientation and the greenery around your home. Does the sun shine into most of your rooms? Is your home shaded by tall trees? 
• Location – Figure out the climate around your property. Is it hot? You’ll need more tonnage. But if it’s milder, you might not. 

2. Cooling Capacity

After you’ve looked at your property’s features, figure out how much energy it will take to heat or cool your property. You can do that by using these cooling and heating calculators. 

If that sounds like too much, you can also check out this table to get an idea of your cooling capacity needs: 

3. Energy Efficiency Ratio 

Efficiency should be the first thing on your mind when searching for the right AC unit for your property. To understand a climate control system’s efficiency, check out its energy efficiency ratio (EER). 

The higher the EER, the more efficient your AC system is. For instance, an 8.5 rating means your AC is barely efficient. But if the rating is above 12, you’ve got a highly efficient climate control system, which can reduce your energy consumption by 20 to 40%. 

4. AC Cost 

Here’s the thing: the more square footage you have, the more you’ll have to spend on air conditioning your home. For instance, you need around 1 to 1.5 kilowatts of cooling capacity per 10 sq. meters of space or a one-ton AC for every 55 meters. 

If you have a 200-square-meter property, you‘ll need approximately four one-ton units or 150 kW of cooling capacity to make your space cooler. This means you’ll have to spend upwards of $9,000 to install the AC system. 

And while $9,000 isn’t much when you’re renovating your home, it does mess up the balance between the design and budget you should be shooting for. 

5. Operating Costs

While the upfront cost of your air conditioning system is the deciding factor behind your purchase, you should also consider the operating cost. You can easily find it by looking at the efficiency of your AC system. 

If your AC has a high EER, such as 12.5, it’ll consume less energy, which means your bills won’t break the bank. 

Which AC System Is Best for Your Property?

The best AC system is going to be the one that’ll efficiently heat and cool your property. And while you can go with higher tonnage or a zoned AC system, don’t get these if you don’t need to because they don’t give enough return on investment. 

Also, make sure you understand your property’s features and your cooling capacity needs before you start your hunt for an AC system.