AirTouch Controller: What It Is, How It Works, and Whether It's Worth It

What Is an AirTouch Controller?

An AirTouch controller is a smart control system for ducted air conditioning made by Australian company Polyaire. It replaces the basic wall controller that ships with most ducted systems, adding a large touchscreen console, a smartphone app and proper zone-by-zone control to your existing setup. The result is a ducted system that behaves more like a modern smart home device than a simple on/off appliance.

The problem AirTouch is designed to solve is one most ducted AC owners know well. You're cooling the whole house on a 35-degree afternoon, but three of the four bedrooms are empty. Or you've left for work and the system has been running all day because nobody remembered to switch it off. These are not small costs. A ducted system running unnecessarily can add hundreds of dollars to a quarterly electricity bill.

AirTouch gives you the tools to stop that waste. You control individual rooms, set schedules and let the system respond to where you actually are. It's a practical upgrade rather than a luxury add-on, and for households with larger ducted systems it often pays for itself in reduced running costs.

How Does an AirTouch Controller Work?

AirTouch connects to your ducted air conditioning unit using the system's existing control wiring, then adds WiFi connectivity on top. This means it works with the indoor and outdoor units you already have. The controller itself sits between the AC unit and the user, translating your instructions into signals the system understands. You don't need to replace your air conditioner to use it.

There are three ways to control an AirTouch system day to day.

• The wall console. AirTouch 5 uses an 8-inch HD touchscreen mounted on the wall in place of your old controller. It shows all zones, current temperatures and system status at a glance. The interface is straightforward enough that most people can use it without reading a manual.
• The AirTouch app. Available on iOS and Android, the app gives you full control from your phone. You can adjust zones, change the temperature, switch the system on or off and check what's running, all from anywhere with a mobile signal.
• Voice control. AirTouch integrates with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, so you can turn zones on or off or adjust the temperature with a voice command. Useful when your hands are full or you're already in bed.

Zone Control and Temperature Sensors

Zone control is the core feature that separates AirTouch from a standard ducted controller. Each zone in your home corresponds to a motorised damper inside the ductwork. When a zone is active, the damper opens and conditioned air flows into that room. When you turn a zone off, the damper closes and airflow is redirected to the zones that are still running.

By itself, zone control is useful. But AirTouch becomes significantly smarter when you add wireless temperature sensors to each zone. These small sensors sit in the room and report the actual temperature back to the controller. Without them, the system relies on a single return-air sensor near the indoor unit, which often reads quite differently to what's happening in individual rooms.

With sensors in place, AirTouch can automatically close a zone once it reaches the set temperature. So if the bedroom hits 22 degrees while the living room is still at 27, the system stops conditioning the bedroom and focuses capacity where it's needed. This is the primary energy-saving mechanism. The system stops running zones that don't need it, rather than blasting conditioned air through the entire house until the average temperature is acceptable.

Wireless temperature sensors are sold separately or as part of a kit, and the number you need depends on how many zones your ducted system has.

Geofencing and Smart Scheduling

AirTouch includes two features that save energy without requiring you to think about it. The first is geofencing. The AirTouch app uses your phone's GPS to track whether anyone is home. When the last household member leaves, the system can automatically switch off. Before someone arrives back, it can pre-cool or pre-heat the house so it's comfortable by the time you walk in the door. You set it up once and it runs in the background from then on.

The second is scheduling. You can programme the system to run only during specific hours, such as switching on 30 minutes before the family wakes up and turning off automatically once everyone has left for school and work. Scheduling works independently of geofencing, so you can use one, both or neither depending on how predictable your household routine is.

Together, these two features handle the most common source of wasted running time: forgetting to turn the system off. For households where the ducted system runs most of the day, the savings from geofencing alone can be meaningful across a full summer or winter season.

How Much Can an AirTouch Controller Save You on Energy Bills?

An AirTouch controller can realistically save 15–30% on your ducted air conditioning running costs, depending on how many zones you have and how the system was being used before. Polyaire claims up to 30% savings. The actual figure comes down to two things: how often you were conditioning empty rooms and how much wasted run time geofencing and scheduling can eliminate.

Australian electricity costs roughly 30–35 cents per kWh across most states in 2026, though rates vary by retailer and tariff. If you want the full breakdown of how much power a ducted air conditioner uses, our running cost guide covers it in detail. For a quick sense of the numbers, here is a worked example.

A 10kW ducted system running eight hours a day at 35 cents per kWh costs roughly $10 per day to operate. Over a 90-day summer season, that is $900. Cut that by 20% through smarter zoning and geofencing and you save $180 that season alone. Run the system through winter as well and the annual saving climbs to around $730 per year.

The honest caveat is that savings vary significantly. A household that already used their ducted system carefully, only running the zones they needed and switching it off when leaving, will see modest gains. A household that ran the whole house all day will see much larger ones. The AirTouch controller itself costs $1,500–$2,500 installed, which puts the typical payback period at two to four years for most Australian homes.

The savings also compound over time. As electricity prices rise, the value of running your system more efficiently increases alongside them. For a large home with six or more zones, the case for an AirTouch controller is straightforward. For a smaller home with three or four zones and disciplined usage habits, the payback period stretches out and the decision becomes more about convenience than pure economics.

AirTouch 2 vs AirTouch 5: Which Version Should You Choose?

There are two current AirTouch controller models available in Australia: the AirTouch 2+ and the AirTouch 5. The AirTouch 2+ suits most single-system homes with up to eight zones, while the AirTouch 5 is built for larger properties, multi-storey homes or anyone who wants voice control and a more capable interface. Here is how they compare side by side.

For most Australian homes with a single ducted system and up to eight zones, the AirTouch 2+ does everything you need at a lower price point. The AirTouch 5 is worth the extra spend if you have a larger home, a two-storey layout with separate systems upstairs and downstairs, or you simply want voice control and the sharper interface. Both versions use the same AirTouch app and support the same geofencing and scheduling features, so the core airtouch controller experience is consistent across both models.

Whichever version you choose, make sure your installer confirms compatibility with your existing ducted unit before purchase. AirTouch works with most major brands, but it is always worth checking. If you are still deciding on the ducted system itself, browse our range of ducted air conditioners to compare brands and capacities before committing to a controller.

AirTouch vs Other Smart Controllers: What Else Is Available?

AirTouch is not the only smart ducted controller on the Australian market. iZone is the main alternative, and it is worth knowing about before you commit. Like AirTouch, iZone is Australian-made, designed specifically for ducted systems and offers zone control, app control and scheduling. The two products solve the same problem in broadly similar ways, so the choice often comes down to compatibility with your specific AC brand and which interface you prefer.

AusAir Conditioners stocks two iZone kits. The iZone Ducted Zone Smart Controller 425 Nano Kit + WiFi starts from $1,275 and is the entry-level option, covering the core features most households need. The iZone Ducted Zone Smart Controller 435 Nexus Kit + WiFi steps up to $1,465 and adds more advanced functionality for those who want a higher-spec setup. Both kits are available in variants compatible with Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Panasonic and Toshiba ducted systems.

Here is a quick comparison of the two brands at a glance.

Neither brand is a clear winner for every home. AirTouch has a strong reputation for its touchscreen interface and geofencing capability. iZone is well regarded for its compatibility breadth and competitive kit pricing. For more details on the iZone range, browse our iZone smart ducted air conditioning controllers to compare models and check compatibility with your system.

Is an AirTouch Controller Worth It for Your Home?

An AirTouch controller is worth it for homeowners with a ducted system who want zone-level control, app convenience and lower running costs. If you regularly condition rooms that are empty, forget to switch the system off when you leave, or simply want more control over where your conditioned air goes, AirTouch delivers genuine, measurable value. For most larger homes, the payback period sits at two to four years.

It is not the right fit for everyone. Split system owners get no benefit from zone control because each unit already serves a single room. Very small homes where the entire floor plan is conditioned at once will also see limited gains. In those cases, the investment is harder to justify on energy savings alone.

One practical tip: if you are buying a new ducted system, ask your installer about adding an AirTouch or iZone controller at the same time. Bundling the controller with a new installation is almost always cheaper than retrofitting it later, since the wiring and commissioning work is done in a single visit.

Ready to explore your options? Browse our full range of iZone smart ducted air conditioning controllers at AusAir Conditioners, or check out our ducted air conditioner range if you are still deciding on the system itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AirTouch controller?

An AirTouch controller is a smart air conditioning controller made by Polyaire that replaces the standard wall controller on a ducted reverse cycle system. It combines a touchscreen wall console with a smartphone app, giving you full control from anywhere. Key features include individual zone control, scheduling, energy monitoring and compatibility with most major ducted AC brands.

How much does AirTouch cost?

AirTouch costs vary by model and installer, but as a general guide the AirTouch 2+ runs $1,500 to $1,800 fully installed, while the AirTouch 5 typically costs $2,000 to $2,500 installed depending on the number of zones and your location. The controller hardware alone is generally $800 to $1,200 before installation labour. Prices can differ between installers and regions, so it pays to get a few quotes.

Is AirTouch worth it?

AirTouch is worth it for most homeowners with a ducted system and multiple zones, where the energy savings from only conditioning occupied rooms can recover the cost over two to four years. It is less worthwhile for smaller homes where the entire house is conditioned at once, or for households running split systems rather than ducted. For larger homes with four or more zones, the convenience and efficiency gains are hard to argue with.

What is the difference between AirTouch 2 and AirTouch 5?

The difference between AirTouch 2 and AirTouch 5 comes down to screen size, zone capacity and smart home integration. The AirTouch 5 features a larger 8-inch HD touchscreen compared to the 7-inch display on the AirTouch 2+, supports up to 16 zones and two AC units versus 8 zones and one unit, and adds voice control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The AirTouch 2+ suits most standard Australian homes, while the AirTouch 5 is the better fit for larger or multi-storey properties.