What a Gladstone service has to deal with
Moisture in the air
Bureau of Meteorology averages for Gladstone Radar put February's afternoon humidity at 65%, with a dew point of 21.5 degrees. Mitsubishi Electric says dirty filters cause condensation inside the unit, which contributes to mould.
Rain that finds the gaps
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald dropped 819.8 mm of rain on Gladstone in four days in January 2013. Samsung lists rainwater coming in through the wall hole as a cause of indoor unit leaks, and suggests sealing it with putty or silicone.
Corrosive air
Some warranty cards treat sea air and industrial pollution alike. Daikin's makes extra corrosion protection the owner's job in either, and ActronAir describes that protection as regularly washing down the outdoor unit, panels and coils with a mild detergent.
Cyclone season
Get Ready Queensland says the season officially runs from 1 November to 30 April. Gladstone is in Wind Region C, so a loose or rusting bracket is worth finding before then.
Why Gladstone systems need more than a filter clean
Filters are your job, and they matter: Daikin says swapping a blocked filter for a clean one can lower energy use by 5% to 15%. But the trouble here tends to sit further in. Mitsubishi Electric says dirt inside the unit can grow mould or clog the drain, and in a humid summer a sluggish drain soon becomes a drip.
Mitsubishi Electric also says owners should never wash the inside of the indoor unit, and that after several seasons it needs maintenance that takes specialised knowledge. That's the technician's half. Our main air conditioning service page covers the standard checklist.
What to expect on the visit
Filters out, coil and fan checked
Cleaned where they need it, with any mould behind the filter noted and dealt with.
Drain flushed and tested
Water in the tray should run freely to the outside, with no kinks or dips in the hose.
Wall hole and pipe cover looked at
Gaps resealed, so wet-season rain can't track in around the pipes.
Outdoor unit inspected
Coil, casing, brackets and bolts checked for corrosion, and the unit washed down if the brand recommends it.
Refrigerant checked by an RAC01 holder
A low charge means a leak to find, never a top-up.
Ask the technician
- Do you hold a full RAC01 licence and a QBCC licence?
- Will you wash down the outdoor unit, and with what?
- How do the brackets and fixings look, and what are they made of?
- Is the seal around the wall hole holding?
- Given where I live, how often should this unit be serviced?
Between services
You can
- Clean the filters often in the humid months. Daikin suggests at least monthly through summer.
- After heavy rain, look for damp around the indoor unit or the wall hole.
- Rinse the outdoor unit from the ground, power off first, if the manual allows.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Opening and cleaning the indoor unit.
- Flushing drains and resealing wall penetrations.
- Checking the refrigerant and tightening electrical connections.
Licences for a service in Queensland
The QBCC's definition of mechanical services work covers maintenance and testing as well as installs, so a service technician needs a QBCC licence whatever the job's size. Anything touching the refrigerant needs a full ARC RAC01 licence.
When we have them near you, Gladstone service jobs are seen by licence-checked local technicians who do this work week in, week out, and only whichever one takes yours gets your details. We'll tell you if we don't. For more on the town, see our Gladstone page.
What we'd do
If it were our system
We'd book in September or October, ahead of cyclone season, and ask for the outdoor unit, its fixings and the wall seal to be checked along with the usual clean. Near the water or industry, we'd add regular wash-downs in between, on the brand's advice, and keep each invoice for the warranty.
