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Hinterland summers are hot. Air conditioning in Palmwoods has to cope with warm, humid days that often run hotter than the beaches, then cooler winter nights than most of the Sunshine Coast. Homes range from older timber houses on acreage to newer homes in the estates, and each needs a different approach.
What air conditioning suits a Palmwoods home?
Most Palmwoods family homes suit ducted reverse cycle air conditioning, which cools and heats every room from hidden ceiling outlets with zones for each part of the house. Split systems suit smaller homes, single rooms, granny flats and older homes where roof space is too tight for ductwork. Both run in reverse cycle for winter heating.
Reverse cycle matters more in Palmwoods than on the coast. The hinterland sits further from the moderating effect of the ocean, so winter mornings are noticeably colder. A reverse cycle system heats efficiently from the same unit that cools you in February, so there is no second appliance to buy or run.
Older timber homes and Queenslanders bring their own questions. Some have generous roof space and suit ducted well, while others have low pitched roofs or ceilings that make duct runs difficult. In those homes, a few well placed split systems, or a multi head system with one outdoor unit, can be the neater answer. Our split system page explains the options.
How is air conditioning installed in a Palmwoods home?
Installation starts with a free site inspection, where we measure the rooms, check the roof space and switchboard, and look at where the outdoor unit can go. We then quote a fixed price. Most split systems are installed in a day, and most ducted systems in one to two days.
On a ducted job, the indoor unit goes in the roof space and insulated ductwork runs to a round outlet in each room. A return air grille draws air back to the unit, and a wall controller splits the house into zones, so the bedrooms can run at night without cooling the living areas. The outdoor unit sits on a slab or brackets, positioned for airflow and away from bedroom windows.
On acreage, outdoor unit placement deserves some thought. The unit needs clear space around it, a solid base and a position that keeps it out of garden beds and sprinkler spray. Leaves and debris from surrounding trees can build up on the coil, so a spot that is easy to keep clear pays off at servicing time. Our ducted air conditioning page covers how a system is designed and zoned.
How do you size air conditioning for the hinterland?
Air conditioning in Palmwoods is sized room by room for both the hottest summer afternoon and the coldest winter morning. Room size, ceiling height, insulation, window area and which way the glass faces all change the load. A correctly sized system holds temperature without running flat out, and it removes humidity properly.
High ceilings are common in older Palmwoods homes, and they add volume that a system has to cool and heat. West facing glass and verandahs that do not shade the afternoon sun change the numbers again. An oversized system is not the safe choice either, because it switches off before it has dried the air, and the house ends up cool but clammy.
Running costs are part of sizing too. A modern inverter system ramps up and down to hold the set temperature rather than cycling on and off, which uses less power over a long hot day. Many Palmwoods homes have solar panels, or room on the roof for them, and running the air conditioning through the middle of the day lines up well with what the panels produce. We install solar as well, so both can be planned together.
If you are comparing system types, our guide to ducted vs split system air conditioning goes through the trade offs. For homes closer to town, our ducted air conditioning in Nambour page covers similar hinterland conditions.
Why choose Delta Temp for air conditioning in Palmwoods?
Delta Temp is a Sunshine Coast business based in Baringa, and our own licensed and insured team does the work. We hold QBCC licence 15415739, ARCtick authorisation AU 59733 and electrical contractor licence 1505107. We are a Fujitsu Dealer and a Hisense Pro Dealer, and we have installed more than 1,000 systems across the Sunshine Coast.
Every installation carries our 10 year installation warranty, on top of the manufacturer warranty on the equipment. The same company handles the site inspection, the install and the servicing years later. Our licences and details are listed on our business facts page. Delta Temp Climate Solutions is at 2/11 Abeles Street, Baringa QLD 4551, phone 1800 335 828.
