The Mackay calendar, for your aircon
June to October: the dry season
Cooler and less humid, according to Wikipedia's description of Mackay's seasons. That's the window to book a service, with time to fix anything it finds.
December to March: the wet
Hot, humid and wet, with February afternoons at the Bureau of Meteorology's Mackay Aero station averaging 72% humidity and a dew point of 22.9 degrees. A unit that runs through that needs clean filters, a clear drain and a clean coil.
1 November: cyclone season
Get Ready Queensland says the season runs from 1 November to 30 April. A service in September or October gets the outdoor unit's fixings looked at before it starts.
By the beaches
Coastal communities from Midge Point to Armstrong Beach appear on council's storm surge maps. The QRA says salty, moist coastal air corrodes metal connections, and that homes close to the ocean need more frequent inspection and maintenance.
Why a Mackay service is about moisture
Mitsubishi Electric's instructions link dirty filters to condensation inside the air conditioner, and condensation to mould. Daikin recommends cleaning or changing filters at least once a month throughout summer, which in Mackay means right through the wet.
Inside the unit, the coil and fan collect what the filter misses. Mitsubishi Electric says dirt or dust inside can cause odours, grow mould or clog the drain, and that owners shouldn't wash the inside themselves. That's what the yearly professional service is for, and our main air conditioning service page lists what it should include.
After long humid days, Samsung's tip of running Fan mode for 3 to 4 hours helps dry an indoor unit out, and Mitsubishi Electric recommends Fan mode after Cool or Dry for the same reason.
What the technician should cover
Filters, coil and fan
Cleaned, with any mould on the coil or fan noted and dealt with.
The drain, end to end
Flushed, with the hose outside checked for kinks and a downhill run.
The wall seal
Checked, so wet-season rain can't track in around the pipes.
Refrigerant charge
Checked by an RAC01 licence holder, with any leak found rather than topped up.
Outdoor unit
Cleared of debris, washed down if you're near the coast and the brand allows it, and its fixings checked.
Both modes
Cooling and heating, since dry-season nights at Mackay Aero average a minimum of 11.4 degrees in July.
Questions to ask when you book
- Will you check and flush the drain, not just the filters?
- Do you hold an RAC01 licence and a QBCC licence?
- Can you wash down the outdoor unit, and is it showing any corrosion?
- How do the bracket and fixings look before cyclone season?
Your share of the work
You can
- Clean the filters about every two weeks, and at least monthly through the wet.
- Turn the power off before you take them out, and dry them in the shade.
- Run Fan mode after a long day on Cool to dry the unit.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Cleaning the coil, fan and drain tray.
- Refrigerant checks and leak finding.
- Electrical connections, and outdoor units above ladder height.
Who can service it
Servicing counts as mechanical services work in Queensland, so it needs a QBCC licence, and the refrigerant check needs an ARC RAC01 holder. Where we have them near Mackay, licence-checked local technicians who service split and ducted systems all year can see your service job, and the one who takes it is the only one who gets your contact details. If we don't, we'll tell you. Our Mackay page covers the region more broadly.
What we'd do
When we'd book, and what we'd ask for
We'd book for September or October, ask for the drain and wall seal to be checked along with the coil and filters, and have the outdoor unit washed down if we lived near the beaches. Then we'd keep the filters clean right through the wet and run Fan mode at the end of long, humid days.
