Climate control
Ducted and split systems brought into the same keypads, schedules and scenes as the rest of the house. Rooms are comfortable when you're in them and not heated or cooled when you're not.
What integration actually does
On its own, a ducted system is controlled from one wall controller in the hallway. Integrated, each zone can be scheduled, controlled from the room it serves and tied to what the rest of the house is doing.
- Zone schedules by room and time of day
- Setback when the house is empty, from the Leaving scene or the alarm
- Window interlocks that pause a zone when a door or window is open
- Blind coordination to cut solar gain before it reaches the room
- Control from the keypad in each room and from the app
How it connects. Most ducted and VRF systems connect to the control system through a manufacturer interface or gateway. We confirm compatibility with your mechanical contractor at design stage, before the unit is ordered, because not every model supports every function.
Further reading: how ducted air conditioning should work in a smart home.
Who we coordinate with
Climate control sits between two trades: the mechanical contractor supplies and commissions the air conditioning, and we bring it into the control system. We agree the interface, zone map and controller positions with them early so nothing is left to the last week of the job.
Problems we're asked to fix
Every zone runs all day
The system was installed with one schedule for the whole house. Zoning it by room and time usually pays for the integration.
Two controllers that disagree
A wall controller and an app fighting over the setpoint. We make one of them the master and the other a view of it.
Cooling a room with the doors open
No window or door interlocks. A contact on the door and a rule in the system fixes it.
The gateway was never commissioned
The interface is in the ceiling but was never programmed. Common, and often a short job.
What drives the cost of climate integration
We don't publish package prices, because two houses that sound the same can be very different on site. These are the things that move the number.
- The air conditioning brand, model and interface available
- Number of zones and indoor units
- Controls wanted in each room
- Door and window interlocks
- Coordination with blinds and occupancy
Where we work
Based on the Northern Beaches, we design and install across the Eastern Suburbs, the Lower and Upper North Shore and the harbour side of the Inner West: from Palm Beach, Clareville and Clontarf to Mosman, Hunters Hill, Wahroonga, Point Piper, Vaucluse, Bellevue Hill and Dover Heights, and further afield for larger projects.
Questions we get asked
Can my existing ducted air conditioning be integrated?
Many systems can, through a manufacturer interface or third-party gateway. It depends on the brand and model. Send us the model number and we'll confirm what's possible.
Will I lose the normal air conditioning controller?
No. The manufacturer's controller can stay, and the system can also be run from keypads, touch panels and the app.
Does integrating the air conditioning save energy?
Yes, mainly by not conditioning empty rooms. Zone scheduling, setback when the house is empty and pausing a zone when a door is open all reduce running time.
Can the air conditioning turn off when a window is opened?
Yes. With a contact on the door or window, the zone serving that room pauses until it's closed again.
Planning the mechanical services?
Tell us the system and the house. We'll confirm how it integrates and coordinate with your mechanical contractor.