Capalaba's homes
A 1970s growth spurt
The Leslie Harrison Dam on Tingalpa Creek was finished in 1968, and the 1970s brought considerable residential, commercial and industrial growth. Some people had already moved here in the 1930s looking for cheaper housing.
Bushland all round
Wikipedia describes light industrial zones surrounded by bushland and residential streets. Leaves, bark and twigs end up in outdoor units as easily as in gutters.
Houses first, then townhouses
At the 2021 Census, 77.7% of homes were separate houses, 18.6% townhouses or semis, 2.5% flats and 1.1% other dwellings, averaging 3.3 bedrooms.
Mostly owner-occupied
42.4% of homes were mortgaged, 29.9% owned outright and 25.9% rented.
Redland City
Capalaba (postcode 4157) is in Redland City. Tingalpa Creek marks the border with the City of Brisbane, so check which council you deal with.
Keeping the outdoor unit breathing
Daikin says to keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves and debris, because they make it run less efficiently. Near bushland that's a regular job, not a yearly one. Check the fins after windy weather and keep the area around the unit raked, but never push a stick or hose into the fan.
When you're placing a new unit, the ACT Government's guide says to think about access for maintenance and fresh air reaching it, and never to enclose it. Under a big tree isn't ideal. A spot with open air and no overhanging branches will stay cleaner.
Is it time to replace?
By Solar Victoria's reckoning, a unit past 15 years typically draws over three times the energy a modern reverse cycle model would. If yours is that age and needs a major part, put a replacement quote next to the repair quote before deciding. Our repair or replace tool helps you weigh it up.
A replacement in an older house is a good time to check the switchboard. Mitsubishi Electric says an air conditioner needs a dedicated power supply, and an older board may not have room for a new circuit.
Yours, and the installer's
You can
- Rake leaves away from the outdoor unit and trim back plants.
- Clean the indoor filters as the manual says.
- Switch off at the isolator before you clear anything near the unit.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Cleaning the coil and the inside of the indoor unit.
- Anything involving refrigerant, which needs an ARC licence.
- A new circuit or switchboard work, which needs a licensed electrician.
What we'd do
What we'd do in Capalaba
If our system was well over 15 years old, we'd get a service first to see its real condition, then a replacement quote, and we'd put the new outdoor unit in open air away from overhanging trees. In a townhouse we'd get the body corporate's approval before anyone quotes. Let us know the job and your postcode. It goes in front of licence-checked installers who do replacements, and only the person who takes it gets your details. If no one near Capalaba takes it within 48 hours, installers elsewhere in Queensland may see it too.
