Frequently Asked Questions

• Are you licensed service company ?
  Southcoast Air is a licensed company. We are member of Australian Refrigeration Council (ARCtick) See list of Southcoast Air licences shown below,

  PIC 43216
  REC 26099
  RTA AU35683
  RHL L109866.

• What areas you do service, maintain, repair, install ?
  All Bass Coast areas from Grantville, Bass, San Remo, Phillip Island, Wonthaggi, Leogatha, Cape Patterson, Inverloch and surrounds specialising quality air conditioning services.
• What type of equipment do you service, maintain, repair, install?
  All types and brands, of air condition from a wall split system to ducted splits and package units. Domestic and Small Commercial.
• Who can service or repair my air conditioning unit ?
  The individual is required by law to be “ARC Tick Approved” to carry out the works, this insures the technician/s are a qualified experienced tradesperson and hold the necessary licences, permits, insurances etc. otherwise your insurances or warranty may be invalid & your property not protected if there is subsequent damage.
• How far away from the wall should the outdoor unit be (from the front and back of it) ?
  At the front (fan side) of unit, no less than 1m is recommended for a small split AC and 2m for a large packacge AC. More would be preferable. At the back (no fan) of unit, no less than 100mm is needed for a small split AC and 200mm for a large package AC. More would be preferable. N.B. All outdoor units not only need a minimum distance around them, but also must be located so that the hot air they blow out can escape away from the unit, and new cooler air can be taken through the unit. Careful consideration regarding location is required by an experienced installer.
• Does Maintenance & Service assist in reducing energy consumption ?
  Absolutley, Regular maintenance ensures that your airconditioning will work when you need it most & keep on working throughout the years.
  Benefits of regular maintenance include:
  • Reduces breakdown costs.
  • Keeps unit running efficiently which inturn saves on energy consumption.
  • Maximises life cycle of air conditioning unit.
• The outside unit drips water. Is this normal ?
  It is completely normal for the outside unit to drip water, particularly when operating a window unit or in heating mode. The unit has a drain outlet and coupling supplied should you wish to connect a drain pipe to remove this water.
• How long does it take to install a new Air Conditioning Unit ?
  We can arrange the installation at a time convenient to you. Most residential installations of a split system generally takes from 3 hours upwards. An installation of a ducted system generally takes 2 to 3 days. If additional work is required the time frame may extend.
• At what temperature should we set the thermostat ?
  Thermostats should be set between 18 – 20 degrees for heating and 24–27°C for Cooling. Every 1°C lower can increase running costs by up to 10%. This is to ensure maximum energy effeciency from your unit as recommend by Energy Consumption Australia.

  If there is a hot day forecast, then pre-cool your house the night before. This is especially effective if your house has a high thermal mass such as solid brick. This will allow your air conditioner to work at its optimum during the cool evening, saving power and wear and tear on the unit. It also allows the unit to keep on top of the heat load as it begins to warm up during the heat of the day. 

• What is an Inverter ?
  An inverter is a type of power conversion circuit which provides optimum power control and extremely efficient operation by changing the frequency of the power supply. So even though you get speedy, flexible operation, you use less electricity than conventional units.