How to make your Canberra home more energy efficient.

Learn 5 easy tips to fix common ducted heater problems. Troubleshoot issues and keep your home warm this winter. Professional help available.

With utilities prices set to rise later this year, many Canberrans are researching what changes they can make to reduce their bills and carbon footprint. Changing over from evaporative cooling and ducted gas heating systems, as well as swapping to an induction cooktop can sometime cost a small fortune and take time for the average household to gather the necessary funds. Some homeowners even turn towards the banks to secure a loan for these additions, but with interest rates the way they are now, who knows how much that will cost in the long run. However, there is another way in the form of the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme supported by Brighte . The ACT sustainable household scheme is a government program designed to give Canberran residents access to 0% interest loans between $2,000-$15,000 on a range of products focussed on making homes more sustainable and less energy dependent. This can range from new reverse cycle heating/cooling systems , to the installation of new induction cooktops and electric ovens. The focus is that you are replacing older, inefficient technology with new more energy efficient systems that reduce will your carbon footprint and your energy bills. There are two ways to go about securing a loan under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme. You can either apply for a loan directly through their website, making sure to give all information requested from Brighte. From there, they will provide you with access to dozens of accredited vendors for the work you are looking to have done. There you can choose who you want to be quoted by and decide what is the best way forward for you and your household. Another way is to secure a quote from a company that is affiliated with Brighte without contacting the Brighte organisation yourself. Once you receive a quote and are happy with the service provided, your quote can be referred to Brighte by the company on your behalf. Brighte will then make contact and request from you the relevant information to complete the application process. Once approved, your installation can be booked in and installed, with no need to worry about paying deposits before work commences. Once both parties are satisfied with the installation, Brighte will then pay the vendor, and you can sit back and relax in the comfort of your new air conditioning system. Here at AirConditioning Canberra we are Brighte affiliated vendors. We strive to make sure the quoting and installation of your system is as quick and painless as possible. We send our qualified and experienced technicians to provide you with your quote, not salespeople. This is to ensure that the quote for your installation is properly engineered for its intended purpose, and so you can discuss all your technical questions with someone qualified to answer them. To see if your home is eligible under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme, click this link here . If you would like to organise for one of our qualified technicians to come and provide a free, no-obligation quote on your next air conditioning or electrical installation, contact our office on 02 6111 2914 or click on this link here .

With modern homes becoming increasingly more dependent on electricity, the way your electricity is delivered in your home is now more important than ever. The switchboard located in every house, apartment, or flat contains circuit that control the flow of power from the main line to every light switch and power outlet of your home. But with the reliance on electricity increasing, when is it time for your switchboard to be upgraded and what does that involve? Listed below are a few reasons why a switchboard upgrade is a worth while investment for your home. Safety: The main reason to have your switchboard upgraded is for the safety of you and the other members of your household. Older switchboards from twenty years old and older might not conform to today’s electrical standards. Nowadays, switchboards are fitted with circuit breakers that have inbuilt safety switches which not only keep your appliances safe but will also keep you and your family safe from any electrical incidents that may occur in your home. If your system is 20 years old or older, or if it has the older rewireable ceramic fuses, it might be time to organise for an electrician to inspect and provide a quote for a switch board upgrade for your home. AirConditioning Canberra has a team of qualified and experienced electricians who can provide a no-obligation, free quote on switchboard upgrades and other electrical work for your home. Better Performance: Older switchboards were designed to deal with the anticipated loads of the home at the time it was built. With more of our lives revolving around our appliances, these older switchboards might not be able to keep up with these new demands. Overloading and circuits constantly tripping are a sign that your switchboard might not be able to deal with the load that is being exerted upon them. If you’re finding that your circuits are constantly tripping, it might be time to call an electrician to investigate and upgrade your switchboard. Required for Certain Appliances: Certain appliances will also require the upgrade of your switchboard to accommodate them. Solar installations and larger ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning systems require new switchboards with modern circuits with inbuilt safety switches to be installed before the larger installation can occur. This is usually anticipated when the company quoting the work comes to inspect your property. Here at AirConditioning Canberra, our qualified refrigeration specialists and electricians will walk you through the process, telling you what is necessary for your installation and what the steps are to talking to your energy provider should they need to be involved in the upgrade process. To find out more, click here . If you have experienced any of the issues mentioned above, or if you think its time to update your switchboard, give AirConditioning Canberra a call. Contact our office on 02 6111 2914 or click here to contact us online. We’ll organise a time for one of our electricians to provide you with a no-obligation, free quote on your electrical work and have your switchboard upgraded in no time.

Is your system leaking a fair bit of water outside? Is it periodically not blowing warm air? Don’t worry, your system might just be performing a “defrost” cycle. For those with new reverse cycle systems who aren’t used to this function, sit back and relax, and let us explain why there is nothing to worry about. When in heating mode, your air conditioning system extracts heat from the air outside and transfers it to the interior of your home. The defrost cycle will start as the temperature of the exterior heat exchange becomes too cool (0 o C and below), causing moisture in the outside air to freeze on the surface. Your outdoor unit sensors will detect this this build-up and will initiate a “defrost” cycle, causing the indoor and outdoor fans to stop whilst keeping the compressor running to melt away the ice to prevent build up. This cycle will continue until the outdoor heat exchange temperature rises and the ice melts away. This is why it can appear like large amounts of water are leaking from your system and why warm air can stop blowing from your system inside. Its just the system doing its job to maintain peak efficiency. Many factors can contribute to how often your system will go into “defrost” mode. This can include the outdoor temperature and humidity, how high you have your system’s temperature set to, the cleanliness and condition of your system, and if your system is the correct size for the area. If you find your system going into “defrost” mode more than before, there are steps to reduce this: · Ensure there are no physical barriers around your outdoor unit that will block the airflow to the unit. · Keep the temperature of the unit set at a reasonable level. Higher temperatures will cause the system to defrost more frequently and will use more energy to reach these higher temperatures. · Make sure your system is regularly maintained and serviced every 12 to 18 months. A system that is regularly serviced will operate at peak efficiency, prolong the life of your system and reduce running costs. · Have a system that is correctly sized for the space its placed in. A smaller system will struggle in the cooler months to heat a space too large for its capacity. This in turn will make the system go into “defrost” mode more frequently and will be more prone to breakdowns and service calls. When researching systems, ensure the company you employ have experienced technicians to provide your quote . If you’re worried that there may be an issue with your system or its performance is not what it used to be, it may be time to have one of our qualified technicians come and have a look at your system. Our technicians can provide a service to check over all components of your system, cleaning your interior system as well as checking your outdoor unit to ensure peak efficiency. If you’re worried your system may be too small for the area its placed, our technicians can provide a quote to install a system that is up to the task. Whether it be a reverse-cycle ducted or wall mounted system, our technicians will measure up the area and make sure your system is correctly sized to heat and cool your home, especially during our cold Canberra winters. For any questions about your system or to book in a quote or service, call AirConditioning Canberra .

Reverse-cycle split systems have become one of the go-to heating and cooling solutions in the Canberra region. Their ability to heat and cool a space efficiently and quietly have made them one of the most popular installations for apartments and small homes. As amazing as wall-hung split system can be, sometimes issues can arise, such as water leaking out of the internal unit. Why is this happening you ask? Here are a few reasons that can lead to your split system leaking water: Blocked Condensate Drain: When your air conditioner is set to cooling mode, your system will create condensation by removing moisture from the air as it travels over the internal heat exchange. This condensation is then captured and funnelled into a drain which leads away from the interior of your home to the outside unit of your system. When the air circulates through your system, small particles can become trapped in the condensation and can settle in this drain, causing build-up and blockages. These blockages then cause the drain in your system to back up and water to drip from the internal unit. When this occurs, a technician is needed to come and assess the blockage and clear it for you. Higher Humidity: As explained above, your split system will remove moisture from the air when in cooling mode; as warm, moist air passes over the internal heat exchange. During times of high humidity, some systems can struggle with the added condensation leading the system to drip water. A small amount of water is nothing to worry about, but if there is anything more than a few drips here and there you should involve a technician . Dirty Filters: Every split system has filters that are serviceable by their owners or operators. These filters trap fine particles such as dirt and dust in the air to keep these particles from adhering to the internal coil. When the filters are dirty and blocked, the coil receives far less airflow which can cause the moisture in the air to freeze onto the coil. This ice will then melt, causing your system to leak. We recommend cleaning these filters at least every 3 months to limit the likelihood of this happening. Poor Installation: A system is only as good as its manufacturing and installation allows. If your system is of lower quality or if it has been installed incorrectly, issues like those mentioned above can occur. When your split system is installed, it is paramount that a trained and experienced technician is there to ensure that the drain is run correctly so that the condensation flows down and away from your system. In more complicated installations, sometimes a condensate pump is needed to help with this process. When looking at installing a new split system, ensure an experienced and trusted air conditioning company is employed to provide you with a quote to ensure any difficulties with your future installation can be identified and accounted for. We hope this has shed some light on this issue, but for any further questions, please contact AirConditioning Canberra.

Why AirConditioning Canberra do not install ducted system in the height of summer? It may not be common knowledge to all, but let’s get something out on the table. Any reputable air conditioning company that looks after its employees would avoid installing ducted air conditioning systems in the height of summer. This may sound like an unusual thing to hang your hat on, but let’s consider what is involved when it comes to installed ducted systems into your homes in Canberra. How are ducted systems installed? The way that majority of ducted air conditioning systems are installed is by placing the indoor units into the ceiling note: ducted systems are also installed under the floor, but for an existing home, it is more common to install into the ceiling. The installation process involves a lot of duct work that is required in the ceiling, and this is long and grueling work which really should be avoided during the hotter months. Our qualified experts can spend anywhere between 1 to 2 days in the roof installing your ducted systems, with anywhere between 1-4 people in the roof at any one time. When would this be? In Canberra, the peak hottest times are obviously in Summer. Canberra certainly turns up the heat in January and February. Last year, Canberra recorded a record high of 44 degrees Celsius in January. In fact, generally January is Canberra’s hottest month each year, so this is certainly the month that would be avoided when installing ducted air conditioning. Overall, it would be unlikely that AirConditioning Canberra will accept bookings for duct work during any of Canberra’s super-hot periods, pending the weather forecast. Best to organise duct work in the other months of the year. We care about our staff. So, the real and simple answer to the question Why AirConditioning Canberra do not install ducted system in the height of summer? AirConditioning Canberra first and foremost care about the safety of our workers. It is simply too hot for the roof work, and way too hot to expect workers to get up in the roof cavity. All of AirConditioning Canberra’s workers are either qualified electricians, qualified air conditioning mechanics, or working towards getting qualified under an apprenticeship program. AirConditioning Canberra knows it is important that their health and safety is considered for all work that they are requested to do. Make sure you book in your ducted system work for our upcoming cooler months to ensure you are ready for all that Canberra throws at you weather-wise in this new year of 2022. Contact Us now for a fast quote!

We at Air Conditioning Canberra emphasis this a lot, but it is to ensure the health and safety of our customers, ensure your air conditioning units are serviced regularly to avoid unnecessary costs, health problems, disasters, or periods of time where you family is not being kept warm or cold. 1 - Loss of gas / refrigerant Loss of gas or refrigerant in an air conditioning unit can be due to a number of factors, but the most common factor is wear and tear over time. You do not want a refrigerant leak in your unit as it will affect the systems overall performance, and it can also create negative effects on your health. It is important to get your air conditioning unit serviced to avoid any refrigerant leaks. If you air conditioning system is well maintained, you will not lose any refrigerant gas, saving you any unnecessarily headaches in the future. In the event that you have a refrigerant leak, ensure you get this looked at as quickly as you possibly can. 2 - Compressor / Motor Failure Compressor / motor failure in your air conditioning unit can be caused from a number of factors, all of which can be prevented with regular services. Some of the causes of compressor / motor failure include: if there is not enough oil lubricant in your system, if there is not enough the system cannot work properly. If there are contaminants in the system like moisture, dirt, leaves or acid. If there is too much refrigerant, it can cause problems. There can be electrical failure, caused my numerous things. Blocked suction lines, which you will notice if the system is not cooling adequately and lastly another problem that can occur is dirty coils, when dust and other things build up on your condenser coil. You are not expected to remember, or know these potential issues, this is the job of the team at AirConditioning Canberra. Each of these things and more will be checked as part of a regular service and clean of your system, so please ensure you book your next service. 3 - Vermin Vermin and pests can cause problems in all parts of your dwelling, but specifically we have found that they can be a real issue for your air conditioning units. Mice, rats, etc. are common terrors for your air conditioning units. Mainly, they like to get into your unit and chew the electronics, this is not ideal and will not benefit you. Be sure to stay on top of your vermin problem in Canberra and call A1 Professional Pest Control for all of your pest removal needs. 4 - Electrical Failure / Power Surge If there is a storm, and lightening decides to strike this could cause a power surge in your house which can damage your air conditioning unit, among other electrical items in your house. We highly recommended that you have proper circuit protection to avoid this from happening as the cost of ensuring it does not happen is much less than replacing all of your electrical items in the house. A clean, regularly serviced air conditioner not only is less likely to break down but is also more efficient. At the end of the day this saves money and helps reduce power use which is obviously a good thing for our environment.

It doesn't matter what time of year it is in Canberra, being comfortable at home is important! This means all Canberrans need to be well informed and well equipped to stay warm during the winter chill or nice and cool in our dry summer heat. This brings to mind the topic of split system heating and cooling units. These systems have many untruths circulated about them and we intend to debunk some of the more widely known myths right here.

Our reminder that winter is coming in Canberra is when we step into our first autumn month, March. Though, March traditionally is not too bad with the cold days, and the warmth stays around for a little bit. As we enter into April, the cold is already starting to sting. Similarly, to our Christmas tradition of not putting the tree up until the 1st of December (or playing Christmas carols), Canberrans have their own tradition. Do not turn your heater on before Anzac Day (25 April). Personally, I have no qualms with putting the heater on in March as, my comfort is much more important than keeping up with an old Canberra tradition. This tradition may also be news to some of you, but figures don’t lie. Did you know that gas use can increase anywhere between 25-35% the week after Anzac Day? These figures come from a well-known Canberra energy provider. Evidence could also suggest this old Canberra folklore has some science behind it. On average our lowest temperatures drop approximately 35% between March and April but drop a whopping 43% from April to May! Lines up perfectly with Anzac Day. Probably an important time to note, currently it is the middle of March, which means we are close to testing out this theory, which reminds us of another old Canberra wives tales, heaters usually turn on when the Raiders start playing in Canberra and they are playing so…. Get your heater serviced so it does not breakdown when you need it most It is always more cost effective to pay for a small service than have to pay for a major repair or replacement If you feel your ducted heating doesn’t work like it used to, it probably needs a service and the duct work may need to be checked for leaks As technology and building standards improve, heating an entire home doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg Are you thinking about removing your wood heater and replacing it with a more efficient form of heating? There are many different options when it comes to heating , and the solution for your house can be individualised to suit your home, lifestyle and budget. Before making any large decisions for your home, call our team . We are the experts when it comes to heating and cooling in Canberra homes.