Heating and Cooling

In order to maximize the energy efficient benefits of evaporative cooling technologies it is imperative that regular maintenance is done on the systems. This regular maintenance ensures optimal operating efficiencies and increases the life span of the equipment. One area of maintenance that is important to remember is the evaporative cooling media itself.  Be sure to follow our ten recommendations:

1. Reduce the total number of on and off cycles. By keeping the media from drying out too often the lifespan of the cooling pad is increased.

2. Shade the pads and sump. This prevents the sun from causing pre-mature damage to the media and increases the length of time between change outs.

3. Make sure that the pads are completely dried out once every 24 hours unless of course the building is a 24/7 operation.

4. Optimize the water bleed off of the system

5. If possible completely drain and cleanse the entire water distribution system once every three months.

6. DO NOT use abrasive cleansers or water treatment chemicals. Make sure the media is free from other harmful contaminants as well such as toxic fumes and dust.

7. Double check to make sure that the amount of water being run over the pad is in accordance with the manufacturers recommendation.

8. DO NOT allow dry spots on the evaporative cooling media.

9. Regularly check for and fix any leaks in the water distribution system.

10. Have a regularly scheduled maintenance routine where the water filters are cleansed

The system you choose should depend on the size of the area you are looking to heat. This can be broken down into person, room, space and entire home. If the area you want to heat is small or you will use the heater rarely, you will want a cheap heater – even if it’s a bit more expensive to run, you will still save money in the long run. If you need to heat a large area for long periods, you are better off investing in an efficient heater with low running costs.

Gas ducted heating

Ducted heating distributes fan forced warm air via ducts to each room. Ducts can be installed either under floors or in the roof cavity, with the heating unit positioned outside, under the floor or in the roof.

Outlay cost: high – the heater itself is expensive and you will need to pay for it to be installed. This heating is more suitable if you building a new house rather than retrofitting
Energy efficiency: high
Running cost: low

This consists of a single fan coil under the floor or in the ceiling and an outside condensing unit. In most installations add-on refrigerated cooling will be incorporated with gas ducted heater to make up a dual cycle airconditioning system.

A common question frequently asked is can you put an add-on cooling unit with the heating unit already in my home? The answer in most cases is no! Firstly, the ductwork is not fire rated, not R.1 certified and not large enough to cope with the air volume required for cooling and secondly, in a lot of cases the heating unit itself does not have enough air volume for add-on cooling. It needs either a fan upgrade and in most cases it is better to replace the old system with a new more efficient unit which has variable speed, especially beneficial for zoning.

Add-on cooling it a good alternative due to the fact that you are still using gas ducted heating. However, it is imperative that the set up is done correctly to avoid poor performance, especially on the cooling side. In many cases 3 phase power may be required for mid to large size homes.

Ducted evaporative cooling comprises a central cooling unit, which is connected to a series of outlets. Positioned strategically throughout the house, these outlets, or ducts, are installed in the ceiling while the cooling unit is installed on top of the roof. Cool fresh air flows through these outlets into every room of your home that you want cooled. The cooling unit fan draws in fresh air from outside your house. (The hotter the air is to begin with, the better the cooling effect.) As it passes through moistened pads, the air is cooled and filtered before flowing through the ductwork and into your rooms – just like a cool, refreshing sea breeze.