Aircon FAQs: Straight Answers

It starts with sizing the unit for the room and agreeing where the indoor and outdoor units will go. The units are then mounted, the copper pipes, drain and cable are run and insulated, and the pipework is pressure tested and vacuumed before the refrigerant is released. Finally the system is commissioned and checked. The electrical supply should be a dedicated circuit installed by a registered electrician.

The indoor unit works best high on a wall with nothing blocking the airflow, ideally not blowing straight onto a bed or desk, and close to an outside wall to keep the pipe run short. The outdoor unit needs space around it to breathe, a solid bracket or base, shade if possible, and safe access for servicing. It's also worth thinking about fan noise near bedroom windows, yours and your neighbours'.

In most sectional title complexes and estates, yes. Body corporates and HOAs commonly have rules about where outdoor units may be placed, how piping is routed and whether external walls may be drilled. Ask for written approval before booking the installation so you don't have to move the unit afterwards.

Split units should generally have a dedicated circuit with a correctly rated breaker and an isolator, rather than sharing a plug circuit with other appliances. This work must be done by a registered electrician, who should issue an electrical Certificate of Compliance for it.

The usual culprit is a blocked drain line, often from dust, mould or insects. Other causes include very dirty filters that let the coil freeze and then drip as it thaws, a unit that isn't level, or a cracked drain tray. Switch the unit off to protect your walls and floors, and book a repair.

Repeated tripping points to a fault, such as a failing compressor or capacitor, damaged wiring, moisture in the electrical connections, or a circuit that isn't suitable for the unit. Don't keep resetting it. Leave the unit off and have it checked, and involve a registered electrician if the problem turns out to be in the supply.

First check that the breaker and isolator haven't tripped, and give the unit a few minutes before switching it on again. If it stays dead or shows an error code, the control board may have been damaged by a surge when power returned. That's a common repair, and fitting surge protection afterwards is a sensible precaution.

Yes. ARS carries out aircon repairs on site at your home or business. If a part needs to be ordered, we explain what's required and come back to fit it.

A full service covers cleaning the filters and the indoor coil, cleaning the outdoor coil, flushing and checking the drain line, inspecting the fans, checking electrical connections, and confirming the unit is cooling or heating as it should. Any faults found along the way are explained before anything is repaired.

For a home unit used mainly in summer, one service a year is usually enough, best done before the hot season starts. Units in offices, restaurants, dusty industrial spaces or server rooms run longer and get dirtier, so every three to six months is more realistic.

Yes, and you should. Switch the unit off, lift the front panel, slide the filters out, then vacuum them or rinse them in lukewarm water. Let them dry completely in the shade before refitting. Every two to four weeks during heavy use is a good habit. Leave the coils, drain and electrics to a technician.

It's an arrangement for servicing your units on a regular schedule rather than booking each visit separately. It suits homes with several units, body corporates, and businesses that can't afford to have an aircon fail in the middle of summer.

Typical signs are weak cooling, ice forming on the pipes or indoor coil, a hissing sound, or the unit running for much longer than it used to. Several other faults cause the same symptoms, though, so the pressures should be measured before anyone adds refrigerant.

Because refrigerant circulates in a sealed loop and isn't consumed. If the level is low, it has leaked out, and topping up without repairing the leak means it will leak out again. The proper sequence is to find and fix the leak, pressure test, vacuum the system and then charge it with the correct refrigerant.

Often, yes, but it's worth weighing up. R22 is being phased out under the Montreal Protocol and new units no longer use it. For an older R22 unit with a major leak or a failed compressor, replacing it with a modern R410A or R32 system is frequently the more sensible long-term choice. Different refrigerants must never be mixed.

Let us know your trading or production hours when you book and we'll plan the visit with them in mind. For breakdowns that can't wait, emergency call-outs are available 24/7, including weekends and public holidays.

Yes. Offices, retail centres, warehouses and factories with multiple systems are usually best served by a maintenance plan, so every unit is serviced on schedule and problems are picked up early instead of during the hottest week of the year.

Server rooms produce heat around the clock, so the cooling has to be sized for the equipment's heat output, not just the floor area. Many businesses install two units so one can take over if the other fails, and a temperature alarm is a sensible addition. Regular servicing matters even more here than in an office.

It depends on the work. For installations, the main factors are the size and type of unit, the length of the pipe run, wall construction, access and height, and any electrical work needed. For repairs, it comes down to the fault and the parts. We don't quote blind over the phone: we assess the job first and then give you a quote.

Yes. Quotes from ARS are free and there's no obligation to go ahead. You'll know what the work involves before you decide.

Your suburb, the type of property, the brand and model of any existing units, how many units are involved, and a description of the problem or the room you want cooled. Error codes and photos of both units and the rating plate are very useful.

All makes and models. The brands we see most are Samsung, LG, Daikin, Midea and Carrier, but we also work on other and older makes. Wall splits, cassettes, ducted and floor-standing units are all covered.

Check your warranty terms before booking anyone. ARS is not a dealer or appointed agent for any brand, and in-warranty repairs may need to go through the manufacturer's appointed service agent to keep the warranty valid. Once the warranty has expired, we can repair or service the unit.

The whole province, including Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Soweto, Fourways, Midrand, Pretoria, Centurion, Kempton Park, Benoni, Boksburg, Germiston, Alberton, Edenvale, Bedfordview, Springs, Brakpan, Krugersdorp and Vereeniging.

Very likely, yes. The areas listed on our site are the ones with their own pages, not the limit of where we work. Call 0861 995 092 or send a quote request with your suburb and we'll confirm.