After a storm surge or flood
If storm tide or floodwater has reached the outdoor unit, or the unit or its cable is damaged, leave it switched off at the switchboard, and only go near it once the area is dry and safe. A licensed technician or electrician needs to check it before it runs again. Don't open the casing yourself.
Why Mackay systems fail when they do
December to March
Wikipedia describes Mackay's wet season as hot and highly humid, with intense rainfall. February afternoons at the Bureau of Meteorology's Mackay Aero station average 72% humidity, and that's when drains, seals and filters get tested.
Rain through the wall
Samsung lists rainwater entering through the wall hole, a drain hose that points up, is kinked or sits in water, and a unit that isn't level as causes of indoor leaks.
Cyclone outages
Cyclone Ului left about 60,000 homes without power between Mackay, Proserpine and Collinsville in March 2010. Cyclone Debbie's outages in 2017 hit at least 63,000 properties across Queensland.
The cyclone season
Get Ready Queensland says it officially runs from 1 November to 30 April, which takes in the whole wet season.
What to check before you call
Water dripping inside
Switch the unit off. Look at the drain hose outside: it should point down, run straight and not sit in water. Mitsubishi Electric says to stop using the unit and get help when water leaks from the indoor unit.
A musty smell
Clean the filters and run the fan on its own for a few hours to dry the unit out. If the smell keeps coming back, the coil and drain need a professional clean.
It won't start after an outage
Check the breaker and give it about 3 minutes: Mitsubishi Electric's units hold off after a restart to protect themselves.
It runs but won't cool
Close the windows and doors, set Cool, turn the fan up and check nothing is blocking the outdoor unit. If it still won't cool, a refrigerant leak is one possibility Mitsubishi Electric names, and that's licensed work.
What makes a Mackay repair bigger or smaller
A drain that's blocked or slipped, or a wall hole that's lost its seal, is usually quick to put right. Mould through the coil and fan takes a full clean; our mould cleaning page explains what's involved.
Storm damage varies. A tripped breaker may be all it was, or there may be electrical damage that needs parts. A unit that sat in storm tide water is the biggest job and may not be worth saving, so get the technician's findings in writing, and a report for your insurer if you're claiming. The main repairs page covers warranty claims and error codes.
Licences for repair work
Repairing air conditioning is mechanical services work under the QBCC's definition, so the person doing it needs a QBCC licence at any value. If the refrigerant has to be opened up, that's a full RAC01 job, and the ARC says topping up a system before its leaks are found and repaired is illegal.
In the Mackay area, licence-checked technicians who work on your type of system can see a repair job where we have them, and only the one who takes it gets your number and email. We'll say if we don't have anyone. Our Mackay page has more on the local weather.
Ask the technician
- Where's the water coming from: the drain, the seal or the coil?
- Is this a repair, or does it need a full clean?
- Is any of this covered by the brand's warranty?
- If the gas is low, have you found the leak, and what's the fix?
- What's your QBCC licence number?
Safe for you, and for them
You can
- Turn the unit off when water drips inside, and protect the floor.
- Clean the filters and check the drain hose outside.
- Photograph storm damage before anything is moved.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Clearing and regrading drains inside the unit.
- Resealing wall penetrations properly.
- Testing electrics after a storm, and any refrigerant work.
What we'd do
What we'd do first
Switch it off if it's dripping, check the drain hose and the filters, and give it a few minutes after any outage. If it's still under warranty, call the brand or the installer before anyone else. Otherwise, one repair specialist who works on your brand, with the fault and fix written down. For a unit that's been in storm tide water, we'd get a replacement quote alongside the repair.
