When should you service your air conditioner?
Ok you have decided that your air conditioner unit is not working as well as it did last season or maybe you are just meticulous with keeping your equipment in tip top shape… So when should you get your air conditioner serviced? There are a few things to keep in mind before you decide to pick up the phone and call a specialist.
What brand air conditioner do you have?
I know we talk about this a lot but it is really important to ensure you get the best ‘bang for your buck’! Getting the right company out will help ensure the technician looking at your airconditioner ACTUALLY knows common problems and faults with your particular brand. If you are unsure who the best company to use is, contact the manufacturer of your air conditioner and ask for the Authorised Service Provider in your local area.
What type of air conditioner do you have?
There are 2 main types of air conditioning units used in Australia; refrigerated and evaporative. These types of air conditioning units are VERY different in design and operation. We will go deeper into how these types of units differentiate in future posts but very briefly…
Refrigerated
- Heating and cooling cycles (reverse cycle)
- De-humidifies on cooling cycle
- Cost more to install
- Cost more to run
- Operates better in extreme temperatures than evapoative systems
- Requires regular filter cleans 3-6 monthly and in depth servicing every 12 – 24 months depending on the type and age of the refrigerated unit. Rule of thumb (AS A MINIMUM)….every 12 – 18 months you should get a ducted unit serviced and every 2 years for a hi-wall system
Evaporative
- Cooling only
- works very well in dry climates
- affected badly by humidity
- cheaper to install and run.
- Evaporative units should be cleaned 6 monthly with water usage, water dumping, water bleed, pump operation and fan operation checked thoroughly every year prior to Summer
When was your air conditioner serviced last?
Keeping record of your servicing schedule will help ensure you know what is being repaired on your air conditioning unit. This is particularly handy when you have similar issues arising on a regular basis. For example; if you are replacing a part for $180 each year…..why?? A good air conditioning repair company should be able to look deeper at the issue and find the root cause.
Is it low or high season?
The air conditioning industry is extremely seasonal. When the day’s temperature is above 35deg C or the nights are 10deg C or less, any good air conditioning company will be extremely busy. The best time to arrange a general health check service on your air conditioner is NOT this time! Waiting until Spring or Autumn will ensure your air conditioning service technician has the time to properly check over everything and you will not be waiting for weeks.
What can you do to increase the period between service visits?
There are many things you can do, without a certificate in refrigeration and air conditioning, to ensure your air conditioning unit is kept in good condition between services.
Refrigerated systems:
- Keep your return air filter clean
- Keep your outdoor unit clear of dust, dirt and debris including leaf matter
- Check your zone/room switches are working (ducted refrigerated systems)
- Check water is draining from your unit (indoor unit on cooling and outdoor unit on heating)
Evaporative systems:
- Check pads are not deteriorating
- Clean the basin within the unit
- Check the fan and pump operate
- Cover the unit in winter to prevent premature damage to components
So when is the best time to get your air conditioner serviced?
- Spring and Autumn will ensure you get the right technicians without the lengthy waiting period
- If your evaporative unit has not been looked at or cleaned in the last 6 months
- If your refrigerated unit hasn’t been serviced in 12 months or more
- If you don’t have the time to complete basic checks mentioned above
