Gold Coast homes and split systems
Units and townhouses
At the 2021 Census, 21.7% of occupied homes in the City of Gold Coast were flats or apartments and 20.6% townhouses, terraces or semi-detached. The Good Guys says body corp approval is required before any works in a multi-storey apartment block.
Balconies
The ACT Government's guide says an outdoor unit needs fresh air and access for maintenance, and warns against enclosed courtyards and slat fencing around it. A balcony screened in on every side has the same problem.
Shared walls
Queensland's default noise standard keeps air conditioners to 5 dB(A) above background from 7am to 10pm and 3 dB(A) above background from 10pm to 7am, at the neighbour's place. The energy label lists each unit's sound power level, and Mitsubishi Electric says lower numbers mean quieter running.
Salt in the air
Mitsubishi Electric Australia's warranty excludes salt damage to paintwork, metalwork and trims. Within a kilometre or so of the surf, read that clause on whichever model you're quoted.
Renting
A third of Gold Coast homes, 33.8%, were rented at the 2021 Census. If you rent, get the landlord's written okay before any holes go through a wall.
Sizing a split for a Gold Coast room
Rinnai's buyers guide puts medium rooms of 20 to 40 square metres at 3.5 kW and large rooms of 40 to 60 square metres at 5.0 to 6.0 kW. For a big open-plan living area, the ACT Government's guide says larger splits can service areas of up to 80m2.
Resist going a size up for luck. Rinnai's size guide lists less effective dehumidification among the problems of an oversized system, and on the coast that's the part you'll notice. Our size calculator gives you a starting figure.
Who can fit it
A single-head split under 18kW can be installed by a technician with the restricted RSS03 licence, though later refrigerant service work needs an RAC01 holder. The business also needs a QBCC licence, and the electrical connection, including the cable between the two units, needs a licensed electrician. The quote should carry the business's RTA number, which starts with AU.
Questions to ask a Gold Coast split installer
- Has the body corporate approved this outdoor unit position, or do we apply first?
- What are this model's indoor and outdoor sound power levels on the label?
- How will a technician reach the outdoor unit for servicing?
- What does the warranty say about salt, and how should I care for the unit?
- What's your QBCC licence number?
What we'd do
If it were our unit
We'd get the building's rules before the first quote, then ask an installer who does apartment and townhouse work every week to put the proposal in writing for the body corporate. We'd choose a quiet model if the outdoor unit sits near a neighbour's window, size it for the room rather than the biggest box, and wash the outdoor unit down as the manual says if the sea's close. Tell us the room and your postcode when you're ready.
