For an air conditioning system to provide maximum comfort all year round, you should have the size of unit suitable for your needs. If you are buying a new air conditioner, make sure that it's energy-efficient and certified under Australian standards. A refrigerated air conditioning system will cool a room more effectively than one using an air-cooled system.
Split Systems: A split-system unit consists of two parts - the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The outdoor unit is mounted on a wall and is connected to the power point by three cables - electricity, control wiring and refrigerant piping. The indoor unit usually sits near an external window or door. The outdoor unit contains the compressor, fan and condenser coil. It draws warm air from inside the room through a filter into the cooling coil where it's cooled by the refrigerant. Driven by the fan, this cooled air is distributed back into the room through a grille or ducts.
Ducted Systems: Ducted systems circulate cooled air throughout your home using ducts running through your ceiling. They're not suitable for installation in all rooms because of the high cost of an air-cooled unit of the same size. They're also not as convenient to install.
Air-Cooled Air Conditioners: These are the smallest, least expensive units available. They're permanently installed in a window or wall and cooled by extracting air from outside and circulating it through a built-in coil. Because they have no indoor unit, they can't be controlled independently of their surroundings. They are very energy efficient if they're used in a small room.