The Top 6 Causes of a Ducted Air Conditioner Breakdown

Phill Crawley

Smarter Air & Electrical

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Whether you depend on your ducted air conditioner to keep you warm on a chilly winter’s night or keep you cool at the peak of a brutally sizzling summer, one factor’s certain. Air conditioners are a blessing. Although, when facing a potential ducted air conditioner breakdown, they can become much less pleasant! Some of the telltale signs your aircon is at risk include leaking gas, inability to heat or cool, unpleasant odours, or excessive amount of noise.

Preventative Maintenance

Sadly, like all home appliances, your air conditioner has a finite lifespan. So, keeping your ducted system well maintained and getting it serviced annually are the best things you can do to extend the lifespan of your air conditioner!

Causes and Prevention of a Ducted Air Conditioner Breakdown

ducted-air-conditioner-breakdown-causes

You may have noticed something isn’t quite right with your system, but at which point do you have a problem that requires the attention of a ducted air conditioning expert? Here are our top six causes of ducted air conditioning breakdowns and the steps you can take to solve them.

 

1. Your Air Conditioner Unit is Cutting In and Out

These days, ducted air conditioners speed up and slow down thanks to modern inverter technology. However, if your outdoor ducted air-con unit is cutting in and out this could mean something is wrong, such as a shortage of gas or an airflow restriction which will eventually lead to a breakdown.

As a first step, clean your filters! If that doesn’t help, turn off the air conditioner immediately. Running your system when it’s short of gas may potentially harm your ducted system.

 

2. Your Zones Are Too Cold or Too Warm

Zoning systems are a crucial part of a ducted air conditioner. Their functionality should be checked over each time you have a service carried out on your system. Something as simple as a failed zone damper motor could result in conditioned air being constantly dumped into one particular room. This results in that zone getting way too hot or cold.

If you have a temperature-controlled system such as Advantage Air GENIII or MyAir, this problem could be as simple as the temperature sensor being placed in the wrong position in your room! We recommend seeking a professional’s advice before trying to relocate any temperature sensors yourself. Our staff would be happy to provide you with some guidance on this.

 

3. Your Electricity Bills Have Increased Significantly!

If your electricity bills are higher than normal first check how the air conditioner is being used.

  • Setting lower temperatures than normal? If so, try setting the air con to 24 in winter and 21 in summer.
  • Running too many rooms? Close some zones off & shut the doors.
  • Is there a window left open? Leaving an external window open means, you are trying to cool Brisbane; ensure all outside windows are closed.
  • Do you have more people in the home than normal? More people in the home means your air conditioner needs to work harder.
  • Are the kids running the aircon while you are out? Consider upgrading to MyAir so you can see when the system is being used remotely.

Here are3 Simple Tips to Improve Air Conditioner Efficiency.

If you have checked the above and adjusted accordingly, there may be a problem with your air conditioner but first, check that the return air filter is clean! Once you have confirmed the filter is clean, then it might be time to call in the ducted air conditioning repair experts.

 

4. Your Ducted Unit is Leaking Water

In summer when your ducted air conditioner is cooling, there should be water coming out of the main drain, which normally goes straight into your gutters (where you can’t see it). However, you should also have an emergency drain, which is visible somewhere normally located underneath the gutter coming out of the fascia.

If you see water coming out of the emergency drain, stop using your system immediately as this indicates the main drain is blocked and you’re at risk of the drain pan in the roof overflowing onto your gyprock ceilings!

 

5. Foul Smells or Odours Coming From the Vents

When your ducted air conditioner is running, the cooling coils are covered with water almost constantly; if you are a heavy user they may never get time to dry out which can result in mould, fungi and other microbes to start growing on the coils. This can lead to off-putting odours being distributed throughout your home via the air conditioner.

If you have noticed this at your home, first clean your ducted air conditioner filters. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, it may be time to book a deep clean of your indoor unit.

Another possible cause of odours is vermin, rats, possums, geckos, mice and even snakes that may have found their way into your air conditioner from the roof. Rats and mice in the roof can do extensive damage to your ducts and wiring, which can be costly to repair. So, if you hear scratching, thumping or little feet running around in your roof, it’s best to get on top of it straight away before they do too much damage!

 

6. Constant Air Conditioner Breakdowns and Costly Repair Bills

If you have had multiple ducted air conditioner breakdowns, it may be time to consider replacing your air conditioner!

The expected lifespan of a ducted air conditioner is around 10-15 years from our experience. After 10-15 years, repairs start to become costly. Making the switch from an older, less efficient system to a newer, more energy-efficient inverter system that runs the latest R32 gas (with global warming potential GWP (675) Zero ozone-depleting potential (ODP)), will make a world of difference!

Time for a New Ducted Air Conditioner System?

ducted heating gold coast

Newer systems such as MyAir provide greater control over your zones and also provide additional benefits such as smartphone apps that allow you to control the system while you are away from home. One advantage to this is to ensure your home is nice and cool when you arrive home from work!

If you believe you’re at risk of a ducted air conditioner breakdown, get in touch with Smarter Air & Electrical for honest advice!

Jason Gent
These guys were amazing to deal with, I can see why they have all 5 star reviews. Great communication, value, price and service. Every team member ...
Jason Gent
These guys were amazing to deal with, I can see why they have all 5 star reviews. Great communication, value, price and service. Every team member from sales to admin/ scheduling and installers were prompt, courteous and a pleasure to deal with. The whole process from start to finish was flawless, thanks again!
Jason Gent
Jason Gent
Aftaar Atik
A well deserved 5 🌟 rating to Smarter AIR & Electrical for a Samsung Ducted Systems. From initiation to completion everything was a breeze...
Aftaar Atik
A well deserved 5🌟 rating to Smarter AIR & Electrical for a Samsung Ducted Systems. From initiation to completion everything was a breeze. These guys are the best in Brisbane and I highly recommend them for all your air-conditioning requirements. Benji and team showed up on time and did a amazing job,also cleaned up the site.
Aftaar Atik
Aftaar Atik
D Llyd
Clean looking finish. Quick install. Professional from start to finish! Highly recommended if you're considering ducted air-conditioning.
D Llyd
Clean looking finish. Quick install. Professional from start to finish! Highly recommended if you're considering ducted air-conditioning.
D Llyd
D Llyd
Nicole & Brindley Rouse
Huge thanks to Benji and the team at Smarter Air Electrical for an awesome job installing our new aircon! From start to finish, they...
Nicole & Brindley Rouse
Huge thanks to Benji and the team at Smarter Air Electrical for an awesome job installing our new aircon! From start to finish, they were professional, efficient, and really took care in everything they did. Even the apprentices were fantastic—you could see how well they worked together, and the whole team just got stuck in and got the job done. They were careful around the house, cleaned up after themselves, and made the whole process super easy for us. A special thanks to Amanda in the office for always keeping us informed. We are very happy! Thanks for making our days a lot cooler 🙂
Nicole & Brindley Rouse
Nicole & Brindley Rouse
Philip Elisara
Excellent service from Alex and Amanda in the office communication was on point always kept us up to date with what was going on and ...
Philip Elisara
Excellent service from Alex and Amanda in the office communication was on point always kept us up to date with what was going on and talking us through products etc. To the install team Led by Benji and his team the boys were respectful cleaned up and did an excellent job. Also a mention to Jake the electrician as well thanks guys the best experience with any company hands down. We will be recommending the team to anyone after ducted aircon.
Philip Elisara
Philip Elisara
Kayley Parkinson
We couldn't be happier with our new ducted air conditioning system. Alex, Louie and the team at Smarter Air and Electrical were amazing to deal ...
Kayley Parkinson
We couldn't be happier with our new ducted air conditioning system. Alex, Louie and the team at Smarter Air and Electrical were amazing to deal with throughout the entire process. The team were polite, friendly, punctual and their workmanship is excellent. Highly recommend!
Kayley Parkinson
Kayley Parkinson
Sean & Katrina Yacoubian
The installers were excellent. Arrived on time and we did a preliminary walk around to check positioning of everything was correct. Very stress...
Sean & Katrina Yacoubian
The installers were excellent. Arrived on time and we did a preliminary walk around to check positioning of everything was correct. Very stress free install. Price was extremely good. Would highly recommend giving Smarter Air & Electrical a call if you’re thinking about air conditioning.
Sean & Katrina Yacoubian
Sean & Katrina Yacoubian
Jason Trembath
A big thank you to Benji who was very friendly and professional. He provided a great service and ran through questions we had. He fixed ...
Jason Trembath
A big thank you to Benji who was very friendly and professional. He provided a great service and ran through questions we had. He fixed up a few items which was greatly appreciated to ensure we have our system running well. I highly recommend Benji from Smarter Air. Thanks as well go Amanda and Andrea as well for being warm, friendly and professional to deal with when booking everything in, and getting our service and repairs in straight away.
Jason Trembath
Jason Trembath
Greg Chijoff
Not Happy Jan. Despite the company being told in advance of my unique situation - a 3 storey townhouse with limited roof void space, necessitating the ...
Greg Chijoff
Not Happy Jan. Despite the company being told in advance of my unique situation - a 3 storey townhouse with limited roof void space, necessitating the probable use of a scissor-lift and access through the steel roof, Smarter Air accepted the job for ducted air installation and took a deposit. Deposit transferred November 29. First site inspection January 10. Project declined January 13. Not only has this set back other activity such as the installation of roof top Solar panels, but I had declined two other reasonably priced proposals [also Black Friday deals]. Now I have to go back to scratch and restart with new Project quoting from competitors. I have elevated the star rating by '1' as I did eventually get the refund back, after a reminder two days later.
Greg Chijoff
Greg Chijoff
James Herbert
We couldn't be happier with the fantastic service provided by Smarter Electrical! They recently upgraded our air conditioning system, and the entire process was seamless ...
James Herbert
We couldn't be happier with the fantastic service provided by Smarter Electrical! They recently upgraded our air conditioning system, and the entire process was seamless from start to finish. The team was professional, punctual, and incredibly knowledgeable. They took the time to explain all the options available and made sure we chose the right system for our home. The installation was done efficiently and with great attention to detail, leaving everything clean and tidy afterward. Our new air con system works perfectly, and we can already feel the difference in comfort and efficiency. We would highly recommend Smarter Electrical to anyone looking for a great service and expert advice. A big thank you to the team, especially Tom, Hayden and Chris for their excellent work!
James Herbert
James Herbert

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