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So your air conditioner has stopped working or has started to work less efficiently. The question is: ‘should I repair or replace my air conditioner?’. Often you will find that your old air conditioner only needs a minor repair to get it back up and running. However, at some point it will no longer be worth pouring your money into an old AC that requires regular repairs.

Advanced Climate Solutions are your local air conditioning experts. We pride ourselves on the quality of service that we provide our customers with which means that we won’t just try to sell you a replacement air conditioner. If your air conditioner can be fixed (and it’s worth fixing) we’ll let you know. If you want personalised advice on whether your air conditioner should be repaired or replaced call us today on 07 3206 3542.

In the meantime, read on for general advice on when to repair, and when to replace, an air conditioner.

 
Should I Repair Or Replace My Air Conditioner?
If you’re not sure whether to repair or replace your air conditioner ask yourself the following questions:
1) How Old Is The Air Conditioner?
When deciding whether to repair or replace your air conditioner, consider the age of the unit. Air conditioners typically have a lifespan of 10 – 15 years. So if your air conditioner requires repairs, and is over 15 years old, in most cases it will be best to replace rather than repair. This is because an older unit will likely require repairs more often, so it’s better to replace the unit with a new, more efficient AC, than to pour more money into an old air conditioner that could be driving up your power bills.
2) Has Your Power […]

If you ask two different people what the optimal temperature is for an air conditioner you’ll probably get two completely different answers. What cool enough for one person could be too warm or too cold for another. However, if you’re looking for the optimal air conditioner temperature for energy efficiency or for an office, that’s a different question.

Advanced Climate Solutions are you local Brisbane air conditioning experts and we have answered the top three air conditioning questions on everyone’s lips this summer;

What is the best air conditioner temperature to save money?
What is the best air conditioner temperature for comfort?
What is the best air conditioner temperature for an office?

1) What Is The Best Air Conditioner Temperature To Save Money?
In hot climates such as Queensland, air conditioning has become a necessity in most homes. However, air conditioning can significantly increase your energy bill, particularly if you have an old or poorly maintained air conditioner. So, what is the ideal temperature to set your air conditioner at in order to save money this summer?

An important fact to remember when determining what temperature to set your air conditioner at is that every degree below 25 degrees can increase the cost of running your air conditioner by around 10%. That means that simply increasing the temperature on your thermostat from 24 to 25 you will significantly reduce the contribution of your air conditioner to your power bill.

Although increasing the temperature on your thermostat will mean that the room temperature is slightly less comfortable, using fans to circulate the cool air through the room can alleviate this.

Note: the size of your air conditioner will impact how much it costs to run. This is because if your air […]

Once you know what type of air conditioner you want, whether it be split system or ducted air conditioning, and have worked out what size air conditioner you will need, there are a few other factors to consider before making the purchase. These include the energy efficiency of the unit, included warranty, unit and installation cost, as well as the unit manufacturer.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing which unit to buy one of the most important factors to take into consideration is energy efficiency. This is because the energy efficiency of the unit will directly affect its running costs. And as most air conditioners have an expected lifetime of around 10 years, the unit running cost will likely be the biggest cost associated with owning an air conditioner.

To compare the energy efficiency of different models, check the energy rating label (this is the label that shows a star rating of the energy efficiency of an appliance). If an air conditioner doesn’t have an energy rating label, you can use the GEMS Registration Database to check the energy efficiency performance of any air conditioner.
Warranty Included
You should also consider the warranty included with any air conditioning units you are looking to purchase. Depending on the manufacturer, air conditioner warranties can range from 5 to 15 years. This can be a deciding factor when choosing which manufacturer to go with as it can mean the difference between free repairs under warranty for an additional 10 years.

Note: in order to claim under warranty the unit needs to be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and regularly maintained as outlined by the manufacturer.
Unit Cost
For most people, unit cost is one of the most important factors when choosing which air conditioner to buy. […]

How To Choose The Right Air Conditioner (Part 1)
If you’re looking to buy a new air conditioning unit then you will likely be choosing between the two main types of air conditioners; ducted air conditioning and split system air conditioning. So which type is best? The answer depends on your air conditioning needs as each type of air conditioner has its own strengths and weaknesses as listed below.
Benefits Of Ducted Air Conditioning

Central Cooling
One benefit of a ducted air conditioning system is that it is designed to cool the whole house using a single air conditioning unit as the air, once cooled, is circulated into each area of the house via air ducts. This means that if you are looking to cool an entire house, or even a number of rooms in a house, ducted air conditioning could be a cheaper option than buying individual split system units for each room.
Longer Life Expectancy
Another benefit of ducted air conditioning is its average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. This is significantly higher than that of a split system unit, with an average life expectancy of a mere 10 to 12 years.
Discreet Design
Ducted air conditioners also come with a discreet design as only the air vents (mounted in the floor, ceiling or walls) are visible in the room that is being cooled. This is because the bulk of the air conditioning unit is discreetly hidden behind walls and ceilings providing minimal disruptions to the decor of the house.
Considerations Of A Ducted Air Conditioner
Cost
One consideration when purchasing a ducted air conditioning unit is cost. Ducted air conditioning units are considerably more expensive than split system units. However, this is to be expected as they cool a whole […]

With an average lifetime of 15 to 20 years, there is a high chance that your air conditioner will require repairs due to natural wear and tear during its lifetime. However, when an air conditioner stops working as it should, it can be difficult to identify the problem and whether or not you should call in a professional to repair it. That’s why we have compiled a list of common air conditioning problems and how to fix them (or when to call in an expert).

Click here to read part 1 and part 2 of our common air conditioning problems series.
Air Conditioner Thermostat Is Not Working

One of the most common issues with an air conditioner is a miscalibrated or broken thermostat. If the thermostat for your air conditioner is not functioning as it should, it can result in an air conditioner that won’t turn on or off.

This is because the thermostat uses the temperature (measured by sensors) of the air in the room to tell the air conditioner when to turn on or off. For example, if the temperature on the thermostat is set to 20 degrees, once the room temperature reaches 20 degrees, the thermostat will tell the air conditioner to turn off.

However, if the sensor is damaged or knocked out of place, the measured temperature will be inaccurate, causing the air conditioner to turn off or on seemingly at random.

If your air conditioner won’t turn on it could be because the sensor is measuring the room temperature as lower than the temperature set on the thermostat. To test if this is the case, try setting the thermostat to the lowest temperature. If your air conditioner turns on, there is a problem with the […]