Ducting for Evaporative Cooling

ra3m3 on 05/02/2018 - 10:38

Hi everyone,

We are planning on building a single storey home with a major builder. They quoted us approximately $7.2k for ducted evaporative cooling with Brivis Promina. Not the best on market but that is what they provide. The price put us off a bit but my partner insists that we move into the home with some sort of cooling. I am planning to test the interiors out for a month or two, see how a 6 star rated home insulates/retains heat/cold and then install the best-suited system (ducted/standalone evaporative/refrigerative). I have some quotes in the range of $4k - $5k for Braemar or Breezair Evap cooling systems with the same number of vents.

In theory, I know my approach is cost-effective and better but it is the installation after finishing construction an issue? I am second guessing myself, especially as I know ducting is in place for heating (provided as a standard inclusion). Does the new ducting get in the way? Can coolers from a 3rd party use the same ducts? And, is ducting on an already built roof hard to install and/or time-consuming?

Any suggestion/help will be appreciated.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • mahazza on 05/02/2018 - 10:53

    Should be fine to install after build as the ducting can be flexible. At least then you can bargain the price down.

    Not too advanced to install ducting yourself with a mate if you're keen.

  • chumlee on 05/02/2018 - 11:30
    +1

    Easier to get it done all out once rather than having tradies come in and make a mess in your new house

    Bargain down your builder

  • Euphemistic on 05/02/2018 - 11:38

    Will the roof have a cavity you can access?

  • JimB on 05/02/2018 - 11:45
    +5

    Unless you live in a super dry place, forgot evaporative and go ducted refrigerated after handover.

    Refrigerated is so much better in Melbourne where it can get humid.

    • boomramada on 05/02/2018 - 13:06

      Reverse cycle air-conditioner way better, not just the comfort level;
      -don't need separate system for heating ??.
      -don't need to service every 2-5years
      -no water leak or fire risk
      -no Mould and damp
      -no need to leave window open (security issue)

      • 0FoxGiven on 05/02/2018 - 22:42

        Correct me if m wrong but isn't a ducted Reverse cycle system and refrigerated cooling the same thing?

        • boomramada on 06/02/2018 - 07:36

          A refrigerated cooling system can have a reverse cycle where it circulates warm rather than cool air. Have year round comfort with the versatile technology of a refrigerated cooling system.

    • mad__llama on 05/02/2018 - 13:55

      100% agree, evap in Melbourne is not a great idea in my experience.
      It's ok for most of the time, except for the days when you really need it the most! (i.e. the very hot and humid summer days).

  • pjetson on 05/02/2018 - 12:03

    Evaporative cooling ducts are installed in the roof space. If you're building on a slab, the heating ducts will also be in the roof. It may be more difficult to run the cooling ducts afterwards.

  • akoli on 05/02/2018 - 12:30
    +2

    Cooling was an easy install for my mate (pro installer) after the building was finished single story and easy access to the roof…there was zero mess. they put some drop sheets .. one goes up the roof and the one dowstairs prods the ceiling with a rubber tipped broom to find the hole location cut a whole… pull the duct through attach to the vent plate and push the locking pins… the hardest thing is the catches that lock the ducts to the splitter in the roof before you tape over it… sure it's easy if you do them all day for your job but I found that painful.

    But in theory the install should be easier if done at lockup stage, do all the ducting and hoses and they leave the unit install till after you move in for security sake.

  • ra3m3 on 05/02/2018 - 13:56

    Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

    If I may ask, how do you guys rate cooling-only aircon with a split for a large living/open plan kitchen area (approx 50sq.m in size)? A 7kW system would do the job? Any experiences here? Advantages - disadvantages?

    Reverse cycle is most effective but I do not know if the builder will provide credit for not choosing to install heating, hence cooling only.

    • boomramada on 06/02/2018 - 08:35

      cooling-only aircon? seriously? Even Aldi brand air conditioners are reverse cycle these days. Builder should credit for your evaporation cooling system for reverse cycle system. It just a upgrade. Just ask builder for quotation for reverse cycle ducted system and also get a quotation from similar third party provider and compare.

  • vinni9284 on 05/02/2018 - 14:14
    +2

    I have built a few years ago with a large builder and also have a Brivis Evap cooler. It wont be the same model as yours however it has 7 outlets.

    It works well when the temp is around or below 32Degs however the other day @ Melbourne where it was 40Degs, it struggled due to high humidity.

    I am now contemplating on purchasing a split system 9KW unit for the main living area on occasions like last week.
    Considering the cost will be around $3K, I am not sure if it is justified (at this stage) considering it may be used for a few days a year and can live with Evap for now.

    However the weather in Melbourne has changed over the years and it's more humid and the sun really hits. I can remember back in the 90's I can drive a car @ 30Degs with the window closed with no A/C running. That's the thing of the past.

    I would have the best of both worlds.

    • Evap on most occasions when the temp is not too high (saving cost on Electricity)
    • Split system of those high 40Deg days which the Evap struggles.

    Sooner or later, Melbourne will be like QLD (weather and humidity) and A/C will be more effective/desired rather than Evap.

    Cheers

  • Chris Topher on 06/02/2018 - 10:29

    The recent bushfire at Carrum Downs where one house burnt down… watch the footage and the evaporative system on the roof caught fire from the heat from the flames in the backyard, etc. It caught fire and burnt the house down once the fire was in the ceiling space.

    The CFA could have saved the house if it wasn't for that unit on the roof.

    Other than being crap and fire prone they just don't work on humid days, they only add to the humidity, but in say… Broken Hill or Alice Springs… yeah, maybe, but not Melbourne.

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