Aspley in five facts
A 1960s suburb
By the 1960s, housing around Aspley had grown enough to need extra schools and churches. So some homes and their wiring are around sixty years old, and the switchboard is worth a look before a bigger system goes in.
Flat land by Cabbage Tree Creek
The suburb sits on flat ground south of Cabbage Tree Creek, about 23 m above sea level. If your back fence is near the creek, check council's flood information before choosing how high the outdoor unit sits.
Townhouses and other homes
Separate houses were 72.1% of homes, townhouses and semis 23.8%, and flats only 0.4%. Another 3.4% were counted as other dwellings.
Long-time owners
36.4% of homes were owned outright and 23.9% rented. Long ownership can mean a system that's been running for many years.
Brisbane City Council
Aspley (postcode 4034) spans the Bracken Ridge, Marchant and McDowall wards of the City of Brisbane.
Getting the body corporate on side
Queensland Government guidance says a lot owner can make an improvement to common property only when the committee, or the body corporate at a general meeting, approves it. It lists installing air conditioning as an example. Once approved, you have to follow any conditions and keep the improvement maintained.
So before you ask for quotes, find out where the complex lets outdoor units go, whether there's a by-law about them, and how the drain water must be handled. A good installer will want that answer too, because it decides the pipe run.
How loud is too loud?
Queensland's default standard under the Environmental Protection Act says an air conditioner mustn't be more than 5 decibels (A) above background noise from 7am to 10pm, or more than 3 decibels (A) above it from 10pm to 7am, at the affected neighbour's place. Councils can set their own standard instead.
Shared walls make that easy to break. Compare the outdoor sound figures on the energy label (Mitsubishi Electric says lower numbers mean quieter running), and ask for the unit to face away from the neighbour's bedroom. Our noise and neighbours guide goes further.
Your part, and the installer's
You can
- Get the body corporate's answer in writing before booking.
- Clean the indoor filters as your manual says.
- Keep leaves and pot plants away from the outdoor unit.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Sizing the system for the rooms, not the box on special.
- All refrigerant work, which needs an ARC licence.
- Any new circuit or wiring, which needs a licensed electrician.
What we'd do
What we'd do in an Aspley townhouse
We'd sort the body corporate approval first, then pick a quiet inverter split sized for the living area, mounted where the noise goes away from the neighbours. If the old unit is well over 15 years old, Solar Victoria's point that older systems typically use more than three times the energy of a modern reverse cycle one is reason enough to replace rather than repair. Describe the job when you're ready. It's shown to licence-checked installers who do townhouse splits, and your contact details reach just the installer who accepts it. Should no installer near Aspley take it within 48 hours, it may be shown to installers elsewhere in Queensland.
