Heating and cooling in LismoreBuilt for sticky summers, and for the river.

Why humidity changes the job here

Cooling in Lismore is as much about drying the air as chilling it. A refrigerated system pulls moisture out while it cools, but only when it runs steadily. Rinnai says an oversized system short cycles (switches on and off too often) and dehumidifies less effectively, so a unit sized properly for the room tends to feel better on a muggy afternoon than one a size up.

That also rules out evaporative cooling for most homes. Seeley, which makes evaporative coolers, says it doesn't recommend them in humid climates, because the air already holds too much moisture for evaporation to work.

Damp air is hard on the inside of a unit too. Mitsubishi Electric says dirty filters cause condensation in the air conditioner, which helps fungi such as mould grow. Our Lismore service page covers what a technician should check.

Where should the outdoor unit go in a flood town?

If your home has flooded before, or sits where water can reach, plan for the outdoor unit to go above the flood level rather than on a slab in the yard. Get Ready Queensland's flood resilience advice, written for flood-prone homes over the border, includes raising services such as air conditioner units and switchboards above the flood level.

High set houses raise their own question. The understorey can look like a tidy spot for an outdoor unit, but it's where floodwater arrives first, and a walled-in space starves the unit of air: the ACT Government's guide says to avoid enclosed courtyards. A high bracket on an outside wall, still reachable for servicing, is often the better answer.

After any flood, leave the unit off, stay away from a wet switchboard, and have a licensed electrician and an air conditioning technician check it before it runs.

The jobs that come up most in Lismore

With so many separate houses, the simplest set-up is a reverse cycle split in the living area and one or two in the bedrooms, each switched on only when that room's in use.

After a flood, the job may be a replacement. If a unit has been under water, ask whether the new one can go higher, and whether its power can be brought up with it. Our repair or replace tool helps when the old unit survived but struggles.

NSW rules and discounts

Lismore households may be eligible for the NSW Energy Savings Scheme's upfront discount on a new energy efficient air conditioner. It comes through an Accredited Certificate Provider that works independently of the NSW Government, and the nomination form must be signed before installation begins. Our ESS guide has the detail, and Service NSW's licence check shows whether an installer holds the NSW licence that air conditioning work needs.