Split Air con

RJC · 12 Aug 2020 at 18:14

bazzabear said:
A question from someone who knows no more than I have read in this thread!

I have been thinking about what set-up would work in our house - and for the bedrooms (well 2x bedrooms, 1x home office) where I would want the aircon, the external walls are difficult because of either being very visible from outside, or having built in stuff in the way.

Does such a product exist as an aircon system where the internal end is in the loft, with ducting to take the air into the rooms via the ceiling? I was thinking this would avoid having to have pumped condensate, as the piping would only have to go down from that main unit.

If such a thing does exist, does it limit the individual control between those three rooms? And is is significantly more expensive?

You have ceiling concealed units which as you mentioned can be ducted to the rooms, but you (sorry to state the obvious) need return air grills in the in the room.

You can have them for individual rooms and install would be more expensive.

https://www.saturnsales.co.uk/Slim-Duct-Range.html

bazzabear · 12 Aug 2020 at 18:38

Cheers, that's interesting.

MikeB · 12 Aug 2020 at 19:33

If these are covered by the energy grant then I assume the quote I got for ac at 1500 would work out 500 cost to me 1k to government..right?, Obviously might have to factor in additional cost to get the right one to qualify

robj20 · 12 Aug 2020 at 19:43

So tempted I think from using a quick calculator I'd need a 2x 3kw for doing the living room and bedroom.

Anyone know a good installer Manchester area.

HungryHippos · 12 Aug 2020 at 19:43

MikeB said:
If these are covered by the energy grant then I assume the quote I got for ac at 1500 would work out 500 cost to me 1k to government..right?, Obviously might have to factor in additional cost to get the right one to qualify

Upon a bit of further checking the energy grant may only cover heat pumps connected to the central heating system.

It's possible this is covered but the more I think about it, the more I think this may also not be the case.

Good news is that we've possibly more or less had the heat wave for this year now, so you've got time to get that figured out.

YoungBlood · 12 Aug 2020 at 20:18

Has anyone put a temp probe on the cold air outtake and checked the temperature?
Wondering what temp the cold air should be....

Mine has been really struggling today, and the cold air don't feel all that cold

still pulling 800 Watts though.

RJC · 12 Aug 2020 at 20:30

YoungBlood said:
Has anyone put a temp probe on the cold air outtake and checked the temperature?
Wondering what temp the cold air should be....

Mine has been really struggling today, and the cold air don't feel all that cold still pulling 800 Watts though.

You should have approx 12c delta T across the coil.

Is it posiible to feel the suction line?

YoungBlood · 12 Aug 2020 at 20:34

RJC said:
You should have approx 12c delta T across the coil.

Is it posiible to feel the suction line?

Whats the suction line? is it inside or out?

RJC · 12 Aug 2020 at 20:58

YoungBlood said:
Whats the suction line? is it inside or out?

it will be the larger line out of the two connected to the unit, this should be cool to touch / damp.

YoungBlood · 12 Aug 2020 at 21:10

Ah yes, it's very cold and damp.
Guess it's just at the limit of cooling, now the suns set it's not so bad, 21c indoors.

RJC · 12 Aug 2020 at 21:30

Have you had all 3 units on today?

fobose · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:11

I think YoungBlood only has the one unit in his hall way. I have 3 units and mine were not struggling as far as I can tell. I generally aim to keep the temps at 22-23c otherwise it feels chilly dare I say it

YoungBlood · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:12

I only have the one.
Should have gone for a higher BTU but was advised not needed.

fobose · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:17

Is your external unit in direct sunlight or in the shade (or a bit of both throughout the day)?

YoungBlood · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:23

Bit of both, but I have shielded it with a wheelie bin

It's fine 99% of the year, awesome in fact.

Cheap to run, just anything 30c+ outside, and it's at it's max for making the upstairs bearable.
Luckily that 30c is a rare occurrence.

Probably would have been best to leave it on low/silent throughout the day whilst out, so it doesn't have such a mountain of heat to overcome at the evening.

HungryHippos · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:42

YoungBlood said:
Bit of both, but I have shielded it with a wheelie bin
It's fine 99% of the year, awesome in fact.

Cheap to run, just anything 30c+ outside, and it's at it's max for making the upstairs bearable.
Luckily that 30c is a rare occurrence.

Probably would have been best to leave it on low/silent throughout the day whilst out, so it doesn't have such a mountain of heat to overcome at the evening.

Day like today honestly I'd just whack it on on medium in the morning and leave it there all day, as you say no mountain of heat to overcome!

fobose said:
I think YoungBlood only has the one unit in his hall way. I have 3 units and mine were not struggling as far as I can tell. I generally aim to keep the temps at 22-23c otherwise it feels chilly dare I say it

Yep I actually feel the same, I don't need 20 degrees inside, just enough to take the edge off and not be too hot all the time!

andy_mk3 · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:43

HungryHippos said:
Yep I actually feel the same, I don't need 20 degrees inside, just enough to take the edge off and not be too hot all the time!

My portable AC keeps the bedroom at around 22c on really hot nights like this, and it's the difference between a restless, horrible night to a good night's sleep

Rotty · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:44

fobose said:
I think YoungBlood only has the one unit in his hall way. I have 3 units and mine were not struggling as far as I can tell. I generally aim to keep the temps at 22-23c otherwise it feels chilly dare I say it

I have mine at 19C :eek:

HungryHippos · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:47

Rotty said:
I have mine at 19C

That would be like the arctic!

My house is pretty warm generally as it's a new build, it heats up pretty easily. I have been having mine set to 23-24 mostly and it's able to keep on top of it nicely so far!

RJC · 12 Aug 2020 at 22:55

Doh - I was getting the two confused.
With the single unit it probably would struggle - what KW rating did you have?

What can help is isolating certain rooms, I.e cool the hallway for a while then open up one room at a time.