Air conditioning for the living room

Why a split-unit air conditioner in the living room?

A portable air conditioner seems cheaper, but it has a fundamental drawback: the exhaust hose has to go outside, which means an open window or door through which warm air flows straight back in. The result is a device that works harder than necessary and never really gets the room cool.

A split unit has no exhaust hose, cools more efficiently and is considerably quieter. For a living room where you spend hours and where the space is larger, that is the difference between cooling comfortably and a machine that runs at full load all the time. Models from Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric use inverter technology, so the system continuously adjusts its output to demand. That is more economical than a system that switches on and off, and it keeps the temperature more stable.

Where do you place the air conditioner in the living room?

The indoor unit is best hung high on the wall, preferably on the short side of the room. That way the airflow spreads over the full length of the living room. Placing it above a sofa or TV is not recommended because direct airflow on seating areas is uncomfortable and can cause health complaints over time.

The outdoor unit is preferably placed on the side or rear facade. Placement on the front facade requires a permit or is not allowed in many municipalities, and during the survey we assess the situation on site. The connecting pipe between the indoor and outdoor unit is kept as short as possible. Our engineers work with neat cable trunking or chase the pipe into the wall, depending on the structure of the building. If there is no earthed socket near the indoor unit, our engineers arrange the necessary electrics.

Not sure about the ideal position? Our advisers will help you think it through, free of charge, during the survey.

What capacity do I need in the living room?

As a rule of thumb, allow 0.03 to 0.04 kW per cubic metre of space. A living room of 35 m² with a ceiling height of 2.6 m then needs an air conditioner of around 2.7 to 3.6 kW. In practice most living room owners choose a model of 3.5 to 5 kW, because factors such as sun exposure, large windows and an open connection to the kitchen increase the capacity needed.

A model that is too small runs at full power all the time and never fully cools the room. A model that is too large switches on and off too quickly, which reduces comfort and shortens its lifespan. Our advisers calculate the exact capacity free of charge during the survey. Have a look at the available Daikin 3.5 kW air conditioners or 5.0 kW for an idea of the range.

What does air conditioning in the living room cost?

The price depends on the model, the capacity needed and the complexity of the installation. Aircobrabant always works with a fixed price including installation, pipework and commissioning, with no surprises afterwards.

Do you also want to cool or heat a bedroom or another room at the same time? A multi-split system is then more cost-efficient than two separate installations.