What a Toowoomba winter asks of a system
Months of heating
Toowoomba Airport averages a July low of 6.6 degrees, and light frosts come several nights each winter, more often in the western suburbs. In climate zone 5, the heating side of a reverse cycle system does most of the year's work.
Defrost water
Water dripping from the outdoor unit while it heats is often normal: Mitsubishi Electric says the defrost cycle melts ice that then runs off. A service should check that water drains away freely rather than pooling around the base.
Hail and wind
Wikipedia says Toowoomba gets more high winds and hail than many Queensland towns. Mitsubishi Electric's warranty card doesn't cover damage to paintwork, metalwork or trims caused by hail, so ask for the fins and casing to be checked after a storm.
Gas heaters are a separate job
Allgas Energy supplies natural gas to Toowoomba, and a gas heater needs a gasfitter, not an air conditioning technician. Energy Safe Victoria's advice is a service at least once every two years by a qualified gasfitter, and in Queensland the gasfitter needs a gas work licence.
What the service should cover
Indoor unit
Filters out and cleaned, then the coil, fan and drain tray behind them. Mitsubishi Electric says that after several seasons this needs someone with specialised skills.
Refrigerant
A pressure check by a technician with an RAC01 licence. Low refrigerant means a leak to be found and repaired, never just topped up.
Outdoor unit
Fins and casing checked for hail damage, leaves and grass cleared, and the base checked so defrost water can drain.
A proper heating run
The system should run on heat long enough to show it reaches temperature, as well as a short test on cool.
Your part, and the technician's
You can
- Clean the filters on the schedule in your manual. Daikin's general rule is every two weeks, while Solar Victoria's 2021 guide suggests about twice a year, so follow the manual for your model.
- Keep leaves and grass away from the outdoor unit through autumn and winter.
- After hail, look at the outdoor unit from the ground and photograph any damage.
- Book the service before the first cold snap, not during it.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Cleaning inside the indoor unit.
- Refrigerant checks and leak repairs.
- Electrical testing.
- Straightening or replacing damaged fins and panels.
Who can service it
In Queensland, servicing an air conditioner counts as mechanical services work, so the business needs a QBCC licence for it whatever the size of the job, and the technician needs an RAC01 licence for any refrigerant work. Ask for both numbers when you book.
What we'd do
What we'd do
We'd book the service in autumn, ask for a proper run on heating while the technician is there, and have the outdoor unit checked for hail damage and drainage. If the house also has a gas heater, we'd book its service with a licensed gasfitter at the same time of year. And we'd use someone who services reverse cycle systems every week, because a problem found in April is far easier to deal with than one found on a frosty July night.
