Waterkloof takes its name from the farm that stood here when Pretoria was founded; the Afrikaans means "water ravine". Its jacaranda-lined streets, the hilltop homes on Edward and Victoria Streets and several ambassadorial residences make it one of the city's most sought-after suburbs. Larger homes with big windows and views need a different approach to air conditioning.
Big rooms and a lot of glass
Rule-of-thumb sizing by square metres falls short in homes like these. Large north- and west-facing windows, double-volume ceilings and open-plan living areas all add to the heat a unit has to remove. For rooms like this, ask the technician to work out the size on site, taking the glass, ceiling height and shading into account.
Shade first, then cool
Blinds or curtains closed on west-facing glass in the afternoon cut the heat entering a room noticeably, and outside shading such as awnings, deep eaves or a pergola works better still, because it stops the sun before it reaches the glass. Every bit of heat kept out is heat the aircon doesn't have to remove, which means a smaller unit or lower running costs.
Ducted air conditioning
A ducted system hides the indoor unit in the roof space and feeds cool or warm air to several rooms through ducts, so all you see are slim grilles in the ceiling. It suits homes with enough roof space and owners who don't want wall units in formal rooms. Many systems can be zoned, so you can cool the bedrooms at night without running the living areas. Ducted systems are easiest to install during a renovation, before ceilings are closed.
Keeping outdoor units out of sight
Outdoor units can usually go on a side wall, behind a garden wall or in a service yard. If you want them screened, leave enough open space around them for air to flow, or they'll work harder and wear out sooner. Where possible, pipes can run inside walls or through the roof space instead of across the facade.
Servicing several units
If the house has several splits, have them all serviced in one visit each year before summer. It's quicker, and it lets the technician compare the units and spot one that's falling behind. For faults, see aircon repairs.
Questions from Waterkloof
Ducted or wall units for a large home?
Ducted systems hide everything except ceiling grilles and can be zoned, but cost more and need roof space. Wall splits cost less per room and run independently. Many larger homes use both: splits in bedrooms and a ducted system for the living areas.
Can the outdoor unit be far from the indoor unit?
Within limits. Each manufacturer sets a maximum pipe length and height difference, and longer runs need extra refrigerant and cost more. The technician will check this when planning where the units go.
Services in Waterkloof
Aircon installations, aircon repairs and aircon servicing are all available in Waterkloof. The same services cover Waterkloof Ridge, Menlyn, Lynnwood and Erasmuskloof, and the rest of Pretoria East.