Air Conditioning Systems

In hot, humid climates, air conditioning often runs for long hours. Keeping it clean helps maintain airflow, cooling performance and reliable drainage.

🧼 Air filters: about every two weeks

For a split system used daily, checking and cleaning the washable filters every two weeks is a good starting point. Dusty rooms, pets or heavy use may mean they need attention sooner.

Follow your unit’s instructions—some specialty filters aren’t washable.

🔧 Internal cleaning: depends on use and condition

Clean filters don’t necessarily mean a clean unit. Dirt can also build up on the indoor coil, blower wheel, drain tray and drain pipe.

I see this fault constantly on wall-mounted split systems, especially in hot and humid climates.

The indoor unit is cooling, but after a while water starts dripping from the front of the aircon, running down the wall, or leaking from one side of the unit.

What are the most common causes?

1. Blocked condensate drain

This is probably the first thing to check.

As the evaporator cools the room air, moisture condenses on the coil and runs into the drain tray.

Most air-conditioning repairs start with a call-out fee and a labour rate, which for many home HVAC technicians is around $80–$140 per hour. If it’s an after-hours or emergency call, expect to pay more.

For small, straightforward issues like a settings check, filter clean, or a basic electrical test, you might pay anywhere from $70 to $250+. For the everyday repairs most homeowners run into, the cost is usually between $150 and $1,000, depending on what’s actually wrong. A lot of common jobs land somewhere around the $300 to $600 mark.

If parts are needed, here are a few rough examples many people will recognise: cleaning or changing filters is often $70–$130+, replacing a faulty capacitor can be $95–$450+, fan motor repairs or replacement can sit around $200–$700+, fixing a refrigerant leak and regassing is commonly $160–$800+, and a compressor replacement is generally $800–$1,500+, sometimes more if the system is…

Hello everyone, I’m not an air-conditioning technician and was hoping someone could offer some advice. My air-conditioning system runs, but it doesn’t cool properly when the weather is very hot. Any ideas on what might cause this?

Poor airflow leads to hot and cold spots, energy waste, and system strain. Learn how to test and balance airflows for better comfort and efficiency.

Even the best-designed system can perform poorly if airflows aren’t balanced.

Use a digital anemometer to measure CFM at each diffuser and adjust balancing dampers until supply matches design airflow.

In VAV systems, check actuator calibration and minimum air settings.

Balanced airflow improves comfort, reduces energy consumption, and helps compressors and fans run at optimal load.

Always check filter condition and coil cleanliness before airflow testing to ensure accurate readings.