# Aerobreeze Airconditioning Perth-run air conditioning specialists with professional technicians. Supply, installation, servicing and fault finding on ducted reverse cycle, wall split and evaporative systems — domestic and commercial. Phone 0448 794 993. Email aerobreezeairconditioning@gmail.com. Perth, Western Australia. Owner: Maurice. ## About (https://aerobreeze.com.au/about) Aerobreeze is a Perth-run air conditioning business with 16 years of experience. Our professional technicians supply, install, service and repair ducted reverse cycle, wall split and evaporative systems for homes and businesses across the metro area — all major brands, and no job too small. ### How a job runs 1. **Call or send the form** Tell us the room, the house and what it is doing wrong. Most questions get answered on the phone. 2. **On-site quote** We look at the space, the switchboard and the run before quoting. No sight-unseen numbers that change on the day. 3. **The work** Install, service or repair — done by professional technicians, with the mess taken away afterwards. 4. **Handover** System tested in front of you, controller explained, warranty paperwork in your hand. ### Brands ActronAir, Daikin, Fujitsu, LG, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ### Service areas (https://aerobreeze.com.au/service-areas) Perth CBD, Northern suburbs, Southern suburbs, Eastern suburbs, Western suburbs, Joondalup, Wanneroo, Stirling, Bayswater, Bassendean, Belmont, Victoria Park, Canning, Melville, Fremantle, Cockburn, Armadale, Gosnells, Swan, Kalamunda ## Split system installation (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/split-system-installation) The fastest way to make one room genuinely liveable through a Perth summer. Sized to the room on site, installed and commissioned properly and running before we leave. ### What the job includes - On-site measure and sizing before anything is ordered - Supply of the unit, or installation of one you have bought - Core drilling, pipe run, drain and electrical connection - Outdoor unit on brackets or a slab, level and clear of the fence line - Vacuum tested, gas charged and commissioned - Controller walk-through and warranty paperwork on the day A wall split is an indoor head paired with an outdoor condenser, joined by a short run of insulated copper pipe. It is quiet, efficient and by far the most cost-effective way to cool and heat a single room. Bedrooms, living rooms, home offices, granny flats and small shops are where we fit most of them. The install itself is not complicated. What separates a good one from a bad one is the sizing, the pipe run, the vacuum before the gas goes in and whether anyone stayed long enough to test it. Those are the four things we do not cut short. ### Sizing comes first Every split we fit is sized on site. Room volume, window area and which way it faces, the ceiling height, insulation and how many people use the space all go into it. An undersized unit runs flat out on a 40-degree day and never gets there. An oversized one cools the air fast, switches off before it has pulled the moisture out and leaves the room cold and clammy while costing more to run. The right size is the one that matches the room and it is rarely the biggest one on the shelf. ### What happens on install day 1. **Positioning** The indoor head goes where it throws air across the room rather than at a bed or a desk and where the drain can fall away naturally. The outdoor unit goes where it can breathe, is level and sits clear of bedrooms and the neighbour’s windows. 2. **The run** A core hole through the wall, insulated pipe, a condensate drain and the interconnect cable. A back-to-back install has the two units either side of the same wall; longer runs are routine but priced at quote stage, not on the day. 3. **Electrical** A dedicated circuit and isolator where one is needed. The switchboard is checked at quote stage so there is no surprise about capacity. 4. **Vacuum and charge** The pipework is pulled into a deep vacuum to remove air and moisture before the refrigerant is released. Skipping this is the single most common cause of a split that under-performs from day one. 5. **Commissioning** Run in both modes, temperatures checked at the outlet, drain tested, controller explained, paperwork handed over. You see it working before we leave. ### Supplying your own unit If you have already bought a system, or a builder has supplied one, we will install it. It is worth checking who covers what under the manufacturer’s warranty before you buy, because some brands tie the warranty to the installer. Ask and we will tell you what applies. > **Perth note** Older brick-and-tile homes with limited wall space and strata rules about outdoor units are where a multi-split earns its keep: several indoor heads off one condenser. If that sounds like your place, the multi-split page covers it. ### Good for - One or two rooms that need to be comfortable - Bedrooms, living areas, home offices and granny flats - Rentals and strata units where ducted is not an option - Small shops, studios and consulting rooms ### Questions **Q: How long does a split system install take?** A straightforward back-to-back install is usually a few hours. A longer pipe run, a second storey or a multi-split takes most of a day. **Q: Where should the outdoor unit go?** Somewhere it can draw and discharge air freely, on a level base, out of direct sun where possible and away from bedrooms and the neighbour’s windows. We work that out on site with you. **Q: Can you install a split on a second storey?** Yes. The outdoor unit either sits on brackets on the wall or on the ground with a longer pipe run. Both are routine; the run is priced at quote stage. **Q: Do I need an electrician as well?** Our technicians handle the electrical connection as part of the install. If the switchboard needs upgrading to carry the circuit, we tell you at quote stage. ## Ducted reverse cycle installation (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/ducted-reverse-cycle-installation) One system, the whole house, controlled by zone. Designed around your floor plan and roof space, installed to run quietly for years and heating through winter as well as it cools. ### What the job includes - Roof space, ceiling structure and switchboard checked at quote - Zone layout designed around how the house is used - Indoor unit hung in the roof space, outdoor unit sited and set - Insulated ducting, outlets, return air grille and filter - Zone controller installed and programmed - Smart controller paired to your wi-fi and the app set up, where you have chosen one - Commissioned, balanced and explained on handover A ducted reverse cycle system puts one indoor unit in the roof space and runs insulated ducting from it to an outlet in each room. A single outdoor unit sits outside. Nothing shows on the walls but a vent and a controller and because it is reverse cycle, the same system heats the house through a Perth winter. Done well, it is the most comfortable system a house can have. Done badly, it is noisy, uneven and expensive to run. The difference is almost entirely in the design: the unit size, the zone layout, the duct sizing and where the return air sits. ### Zoning is what makes it affordable to run Zones let you cool the living areas during the day and the bedrooms at night without running the whole house. A typical family home is set up as living, bedrooms and a master zone and the controller lets you switch each on and off. Running two zones instead of the whole house is the difference between a system you use every day and one you avoid because of the bill. ### Smart controllers, if you want the system on your phone Most ducted systems will take a smart controller as well as the one on the wall. We fit the iZone Nexus, and other leading smart control options are available. Once it is on the home wi-fi you have the zones, the temperature and a timer on the touchscreen or on your phone: switch it on from the car, change a zone without getting up, or check from away that it is not still running. Some brands build it in and others take a module, so tell us at quote stage and it goes in with the install rather than meaning a second trip into the ceiling. ### New build, renovation or retrofit - New builds are the easiest: we work with your builder on the layout before the ceiling goes in. - Renovations are a good moment to add ducted, because the ceiling is open and the switchboard is often being upgraded anyway. - Retrofits into existing Perth homes are routine work for us. The roof space, the ceiling structure and the switchboard get checked at quote stage so there are no surprises on install day. ### What we check before we quote 1. **The roof space** Is there room for the indoor unit and the duct runs and how is it accessed? Low-pitch roofs and tight hip roofs need a different unit and a different plan. 2. **The ceiling** What is it made of, where are the joists and where can outlets and the return air go without cutting anything structural. 3. **The switchboard** Ducted systems draw more than a split. If the board needs a circuit or an upgrade to carry it, that goes in the quote, not in a phone call on install day. 4. **The outdoor position** The condenser needs airflow, a level base and a spot that keeps the noise away from bedrooms and neighbours. > **The return air matters** The return air grille is where the house breathes back into the system and its filter is the one part you will clean yourself. We put it somewhere central and reachable, not at the top of a stairwell where nobody will ever get to it. ### Handover Every ducted system we install is commissioned, the airflow balanced across the outlets and run in front of you in both modes. The controller is explained zone by zone and the warranty paperwork goes into your hand before we leave. ### Good for - Whole-home comfort in family homes - New builds and renovations with the ceiling open - Houses that need heating in winter as well as cooling - Anyone who does not want units on the walls ### Questions **Q: Can ducted be retrofitted into an existing house?** Usually. It depends on the roof space, the ceiling structure and whether the switchboard can carry it. All of that gets checked at quote stage. **Q: How many zones do I need?** Most family homes work well with three or four: living, bedrooms and a master zone is the common layout. More zones cost more but give finer control. We design it around how your house is actually used. **Q: How long does a ducted install take?** A retrofit through an existing roof space is typically a couple of days depending on the number of zones and the access. New builds are scheduled around the builder. **Q: Can I run it from my phone?** Yes, with a smart controller. It joins the home wi-fi and gives you the zones, the temperature and a timer from an app, alongside the wall controller. Some systems include one and others take a module, so ask when we quote and we will spec it in. **Q: Will it heat the house properly in winter?** Yes. Reverse cycle heating is efficient and even and it is the main reason people choose ducted over evaporative in Perth. ## Evaporative cooling installation and service (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/evaporative-cooling-installation) Perth’s dry summer heat is what evaporative cooling was made for. Cheap to run, constant fresh air through the whole house and a system we install, service and repair year in, year out. ### What the job includes - Unit sized to the house and sited on the roof - Dropper, ducting and ceiling outlets - Water connection, drain and electrical - Controller fitted and explained - Annual service: pads, pump, float, flush and function test - Pad replacement when they are past cleaning An evaporative cooler sits on the roof, draws outside air through wet filter pads and pushes the cooled air down through ducting into the house. It works by evaporation, so it needs a window or door open in each room to let the air out again. In Perth’s dry heat that simple idea works very well and it costs a fraction of refrigerated cooling to run. The trade-offs are real and we will tell you about them at quote stage. It does not heat. It loses ground on the handful of humid days each summer. And it needs an annual service more than any other type of system, because a unit full of stagnant water and dried-out pads is neither pleasant nor healthy. ### Installation - The unit is sized to the floor area and ceiling height of the house, not to the biggest box in the range. - It is positioned on the roof where the dropper can reach a central point in the ceiling and the unit is serviceable. - Ducting runs to outlets in the living areas and bedrooms, with the outlets placed so the air moves through the house rather than straight back out. - Water supply, overflow drain and power are connected and tested. - The controller is fitted and explained, including how to use the fan-only mode on humid days. ### Servicing: the part people skip An evaporative system has water sitting in it. Left alone over winter it grows what you would expect, the pads clog with minerals and dust, the pump strains and the float valve sticks. The annual service is a thorough component check plus a complete clean and flush of the unit and it is the difference between a system that runs for fifteen years and one that is replaced at eight. 1. **Pads** Inspected, cleaned and replaced when they are past cleaning. 2. **Water system** Tank drained and flushed, pump and float valve checked, drain valve tested. 3. **Fan and motor** Bearings, belt where fitted and the motor checked under load. 4. **Electrical and controls** Wiring, controller and sensors tested. 5. **Function test** Run up to full cooling, water distribution across the pads checked and the unit left clean. > **Book it in spring** A unit that has sat idle all winter is the one that fails in the first 40-degree week and that is the week every technician in Perth is booked out. ### Repairs Pumps, float valves, fan motors, control boards and water distribution problems are the usual faults and most are quick to fix if they are caught early. If your unit is running but the air is not cool, or it is dripping onto the roof, ring us before summer sets in. ### Good for - Houses in Perth’s dry inland and northern suburbs - Larger homes where running cost matters - Households that like fresh air moving through the house - Sheds, workshops and warehouses ### Questions **Q: Does evaporative cooling still make sense in Perth?** For a lot of houses, yes. Perth summers are dry and evaporative costs very little to run and brings in constant fresh air. It does not heat and it struggles on humid days, so it depends on the house and the household. **Q: How often should the pads be replaced?** It depends on the water quality and how much the unit runs. They are inspected at every annual service and replaced when cleaning no longer brings them back. **Q: Why is my evaporative cooler not cooling?** Usually the pads are dry because the pump or float has failed, the pads are clogged, or the house is shut up so the air cannot move through. All three are checked in a service call. **Q: Do I need to leave windows open?** Yes. The system pushes air in, so it has to get out somewhere. A window or door open a little in each room you want cooled is enough. ## Multi-split systems (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/multi-split-systems) Several rooms, one outdoor unit. The answer when wall space, strata rules or the look of the place mean you cannot have a condenser for every room and ducted is not on the table. ### What the job includes - Room-by-room sizing so the outdoor unit matches the load - One outdoor condenser sited and set - Pipe runs and drains to each indoor head - Dedicated electrical circuit and isolator - Every head vacuum tested, charged and commissioned - Controllers explained and warranty paperwork handed over A multi-split runs two or more indoor heads off a single outdoor unit. Each room gets its own controller and its own temperature, but there is only one condenser outside. It costs more than a single split and less than going ducted and it is the right answer for a lot of Perth apartments, townhouses and older homes. ### When a multi-split is the right call - Strata or council rules limit how many outdoor units you can have, or where they can go. - There is nowhere on the outside walls for three condensers, or you do not want to look at them. - The roof space cannot take ducted, or the house is on a concrete slab with no ceiling access. - You want independent control of each room rather than one setting for a zone. ### Getting the design right The outdoor unit has to be sized for the rooms it serves and the pipe runs to each head have length and height limits set by the manufacturer. We size every room on site, choose the outdoor unit to match the total load and plan the runs so each head gets what it needs. A multi-split designed from a catalogue rather than from the house is the one that struggles in the room furthest from the condenser. > **One thing to know** Because the heads share a condenser, if the outdoor unit ever fails, every room goes down together. It is rare and it is one more reason to keep the annual service up, but it is worth knowing before you choose. ### Adding to an existing system If you already have a multi-split with spare capacity on the outdoor unit, another head can often be added. We check the model, the remaining capacity and the run before quoting. ### Good for - Apartments and strata units - Townhouses and narrow blocks - Extensions and second storeys - Homes that want room-by-room control without ducting ### Questions **Q: How many indoor units can run off one outdoor unit?** It depends on the outdoor unit. Two to five heads is the common range for domestic systems. We size the outdoor unit to the rooms it has to serve. **Q: Can every room run at a different temperature?** Yes. Each head has its own controller and setting. The one limit is that all heads run in the same mode, heating or cooling, at the same time. **Q: Is a multi-split cheaper than ducted?** Usually, for two to four rooms. For a whole house with many rooms, ducted often works out better value and gives a cleaner result. ## Air conditioning servicing and maintenance (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/air-conditioning-servicing) Preventative servicing before the first hot week, not after it. Coils cleaned, filters cleared, gas checked, electricals tested. Cheaper than the breakdown it prevents and better air to breathe in the meantime. ### What the job includes - Filters cleaned or replaced - Indoor and condenser coils cleaned - Refrigerant level and pressures checked - Condensate drain cleared and tested - Electrical connections, capacitors and controls tested - All functions run and temperatures checked Regular servicing is what keeps an air conditioner running smoothly and issue-free through the year and it is what keeps the air it blows at you clean. Dust, pollen and mould build up on the filters and coils of every system and once they do the unit works harder, cools less, costs more to run and breathes all of it back into the room. Aerobreeze provides comprehensive preventative servicing and maintenance on all types of system, on any brand, whoever installed it. The list below is what we actually do, by system type, so you can compare it with whatever else you have been quoted. ### Split system service - Filters removed, cleaned and refitted - Indoor coil and outdoor condenser coil cleaned - Refrigerant level checked; a low reading means a leak, which we tell you about rather than top up blind - Condensate drain flushed and tested - Electrical wiring, capacitor and connections tested - All functions run in both modes and outlet temperatures checked ### Ducted system service - Full component and electrical check of the indoor unit in the roof space - Return air filter cleaned and the grille checked - Refrigerant levels checked - Condenser coils cleaned - Zone motors and the controller tested - Any minor issue addressed on the spot to prevent a larger one later ### Evaporative system service - Thorough component check of the pump, float, fan and controls, which is what keeps the water and electricity bills down - Complete clean and flush of the unit to remove mould and mineral build-up - Pads inspected and replaced when they are past cleaning - Water distribution checked across the pads under full cooling > **When to book** Spring. A system that has sat idle all winter is the one that fails in the first 40-degree week and that is the week every technician in Perth is already booked out. Ducted and split systems are best serviced once a year; evaporative needs it every year without fail. ### Between services Clean the filters yourself, monthly through summer. Slide them out, rinse under a tap, let them dry completely, slide them back. Ten minutes, no tools and it is the single biggest thing you can do for airflow and running cost. Keep the outdoor unit clear of plants, boxes and bins so it can breathe. ### Commercial maintenance Offices, shops and small commercial premises across the metro area are serviced on a schedule that suits the business, with the work done around opening hours where it can be. If you manage a site with several units, ask about putting them on one visit. ### Good for - Any system more than a year old - Rentals, where a service record matters - Households with allergies, asthma or young children - Businesses that cannot afford a mid-summer breakdown ### Questions **Q: How often should an air conditioner be serviced?** Once a year for a split or ducted system, ideally in spring. Evaporative systems need it every year without fail, because they hold water. **Q: Do you service systems you did not install?** Yes. Any make, any model, whoever fitted it. **Q: What if you find a fault during the service?** Minor things are fixed on the spot. Anything bigger is explained and quoted before any parts are replaced, so there are no surprises on the invoice. **Q: Is a service worth it if the system seems fine?** That is exactly when to do it. A service is cheaper than the breakdown it prevents and a clean system uses less power every day it runs. ## Air conditioning repairs and fault finding (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/air-conditioning-repairs) Not cooling, tripping the breaker, leaking, icing up or throwing an error code. Diagnosed properly first, then repaired. Any brand, whoever fitted it, including gas leaks and compressor changes. ### What the job includes - Fault diagnosed before anything is quoted or replaced - Refrigerant leak detection and repair - Compressor, fan motor and capacitor replacement - Control board, sensor and controller faults - Blocked or fallen condensate drains - Iced coils, airflow problems and noisy units If your air conditioning system is not working, no need to worry. Aerobreeze’s qualified and certified technicians fault find the problem and repair it: faulty units, compressor changes, gas leaks, whatever it takes to get the system back up and running. We diagnose before we quote a repair, so you are not paying for parts on a guess. If a unit is genuinely past economical repair we will say so and talk you through replacing it, rather than sell you a fix that will not last the summer. ### The faults we see most often 1. **Running but not cooling** Usually low refrigerant, a blocked coil or filter, or a failed capacitor. The first is a leak that needs finding; the others are quick once identified. 2. **Tripping the breaker or not starting** A failed capacitor, a shorted compressor or fan motor, or a wiring fault. Tested rather than guessed at. 3. **Water dripping inside** Almost always a blocked or fallen condensate drain. Cheap to fix at the first drip, expensive once the plaster behind the unit has soaked. 4. **Ice on the coil or pipework** Low refrigerant or poor airflow. Switch it off and ring: running it iced up damages the compressor. 5. **Sudden noise or vibration** A fan bearing, a loose panel, or debris in the outdoor unit. Usually straightforward once opened up. 6. **Error codes** Every brand codes its faults differently. We read the code, confirm it against the actual fault and fix the cause rather than clearing the display. ### Gas leaks Refrigerant is a sealed system. If it is low, it has leaked and topping it up without finding the leak means paying for the same gas twice and losing it again. We find the leak first, repair it, pull a vacuum and recharge to the manufacturer’s specification. Our technicians are ARCtick certified, which is the licence that work with refrigerant legally requires. ### Before you ring - Check the filters. A choked filter mimics half the faults on this page. - Check the outdoor unit is running and is not buried under plants, boxes or bins. - Note the error code on the controller, if there is one and the brand and model on the indoor unit. - If the coil is iced, switch the system off and leave it off until we arrive. > **February in Perth** The first week of a heatwave is when every system that was going to fail does and every technician in the city is booked. Ring at the first sign something is off, not on the day it stops. ### Good for - Any system that has stopped, is under-performing or is making a new noise - Systems installed by someone else, including builders’ standard fit-outs - Older systems worth keeping running for a few more years - Rental properties that need a fault report as well as a fix ### Questions **Q: Do you charge a call-out fee for breakdowns?** Breakdown work is quoted before anything is replaced. Ring and describe the fault and we will tell you on the phone how the visit is charged before you commit to it. **Q: Do you repair systems you did not install?** Yes. We fault find and repair all major brands regardless of who put them in, including gas leaks, compressor changes, faulty boards and control problems. **Q: My system just needs a gas top-up, right?** Refrigerant does not get used up. If it is low, it has leaked. We find the leak first, then quote the repair, so you are not paying for the same gas twice. **Q: When is a system not worth repairing?** When the repair costs a large share of a new unit, the system is old and inefficient, or the refrigerant it uses is being phased out. We tell you straight and give you the numbers to decide with. ## Commercial air conditioning (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/commercial-air-conditioning) Offices, shops, clinics, cafés and small commercial premises across the Perth metro area. New installs, scheduled maintenance and breakdown repairs, done around your trading hours where it can be. ### What the job includes - Site assessment with load, layout and switchboard checked - Installation of split, multi-split, ducted and ceiling cassette systems - Scheduled servicing on all units at the premises in one visit - Breakdown diagnosis and repair on any brand - Work timed around trading hours where possible - Service records for the site A shop that is hot loses customers; an office that is hot loses the afternoon. Commercial air conditioning is less about comfort and more about keeping the business running, which is why the two things that matter most are a system sized for the real load and a maintenance schedule that stops it failing in February. ### Installation Commercial spaces carry a different load to a house: more people, more equipment, glass shopfronts, doors opening all day. We assess the space, the occupancy and the switchboard before recommending a system. Ceiling cassettes suit open offices and shops with suspended ceilings; ducted suits larger fit-outs; wall splits and multi-splits cover consulting rooms, back offices and small tenancies. ### Scheduled maintenance - All units on the site serviced in one visit, on a schedule agreed with you - Filters, coils, drains, refrigerant and electricals covered on every unit - Minor faults addressed on the spot, larger ones reported and quoted - A service record kept for the site, useful for leases and for handovers ### Breakdowns When a unit stops in a shop or a clinic the problem is the customers in the room, not the unit. We fault find and repair all major brands, whoever installed them and we tell you on the phone how the visit is charged before you commit. > **Fit-outs and landlords** If you are fitting out a tenancy, involve us before the ceiling grid goes in. It is far cheaper to place cassettes and runs while it is open than to cut it afterwards. Landlords with several tenancies can put them on one maintenance schedule. ### Good for - Offices and co-working spaces - Retail shops and showrooms - Cafés, restaurants and hospitality - Medical, dental and allied health clinics - Small warehouses and workshops ### Questions **Q: Can you work outside trading hours?** Where the job allows, yes. Servicing and many installs can be timed around when the premises are quiet. Ask when you book and we will work it out. **Q: Do you service several units at one site?** Yes and it is the efficient way to do it. All units at the premises are done in one scheduled visit with a service record kept for the site. **Q: What is a ceiling cassette?** An indoor unit that sits flush in a suspended ceiling and blows air out in four directions. They suit open offices and shops because nothing hangs on the walls. ## System replacement and upgrades (https://aerobreeze.com.au/our-services/system-replacement-and-upgrades) When the old system is costing more to keep than to replace. Straight advice on whether it is worth repairing, then the old unit removed and degassed properly and the new one sized, installed and running. ### What the job includes - Assessment of the existing system and an honest repair-or-replace call - Old unit decommissioned, refrigerant recovered and removed - Existing pipework, ducting and wiring assessed for reuse - New system sized to the space as it is used now - Installed, vacuum tested, charged and commissioned - Controller explained and warranty paperwork handed over Air conditioners do not last forever. Somewhere past ten or twelve years the repairs get more frequent, the running cost creeps up and the refrigerant in the older ones is being phased out and getting expensive. At that point a replacement often pays for itself in power bills and avoided call-outs. ### Repair or replace? We are asked this on most breakdown calls and we answer it with the numbers rather than a sales pitch. It usually comes down to four things: - The age of the system and how many repairs it has already had - What the repair costs against what a new unit costs installed - How efficient the old unit is compared to what is available now - Whether the refrigerant it runs on is still readily available If a repair will give you several more good years, we say so. If it will not, we say that too and you get the choice with the figures in front of you. ### What a replacement involves 1. **Decommissioning** The refrigerant is recovered from the old system rather than vented, which is both the law and the right thing to do. The old unit is disconnected and removed. 2. **Reuse or renew** Existing pipework, ducting, outlets and wiring are assessed. Some can be reused; some cannot, particularly when the new refrigerant needs different pipe sizing. You are told which before the quote. 3. **Sizing again** Houses change. Rooms get extended, insulation gets added, families grow. The new system is sized to the space as it is now, not copied from the label on the old one. 4. **Install and commission** The same install as any new system: vacuum tested, charged, run in front of you, controller explained, paperwork handed over. > **Like-for-like is not always the answer** Replacing an old evaporative unit with a new evaporative unit is sensible for some houses. For others, the household has changed and a ducted reverse cycle system that heats in winter is the better spend. We will tell you which. ### Good for - Systems past ten to twelve years old with rising repair bills - Units running on refrigerants that are being phased out - Homes that have been extended or renovated since the system went in - Anyone whose power bills have crept up with no change in use ### Questions **Q: How long does an air conditioner last?** Well-serviced splits and ducted systems commonly run ten to fifteen years or more. Evaporative units that are cleaned every year last a similar span. Servicing is what makes the difference. **Q: Can you reuse the existing pipework?** Sometimes. It depends on its condition, its size and the refrigerant the new system uses. We check it before quoting and tell you either way. **Q: What happens to the old unit?** The refrigerant is recovered properly, the unit is disconnected and it is taken away with the rest of the packaging and offcuts. ## Ducted reverse cycle (https://aerobreeze.com.au/systems/ducted) One system, whole house, zoned. Ducting runs through the roof space and feeds outlets in each room, so you control temperature by zone rather than by door. Reverse cycle means the same system heats through a Perth winter. Best fitted at build or renovation, but retrofits are routine. ### How it works A ducted reverse cycle system has one indoor unit in the roof space and one outdoor unit beside the house. Insulated ducting runs from the indoor unit to an outlet in the ceiling of each room, and a return air grille somewhere central draws the house’s air back through a filter to be cooled or heated again. The system is refrigerated, the same principle as a wall split, which is why it can heat as well as cool: in winter the cycle reverses and the outdoor unit pulls warmth out of the outside air and moves it in. That is what “reverse cycle” means, and it is the reason ducted systems suit Perth so well: dry heat in summer, cold mornings in winter, one system for both. #### Zoning Motorised dampers in the ducting split the house into zones, typically living, bedrooms and a master zone. The controller lets you run any combination. Running the living zone during the day and the bedrooms at night keeps the running cost close to a couple of splits, with the whole house available when you want it. _An iZone Nexus controller going on the wall — the zones, the temperature and a timer, on the screen or on your phone._ #### Smart Controllers Take complete control of your ducted air conditioning with an iZone Nexus Smart Controller — with other leading smart control options also available. Smart controllers give you convenient control over your ducted air conditioning, allowing you to manage temperature, zones and airflow from an easy-to-use touchscreen controller or compatible smart device. With smart zoning, you can choose which areas of your home receive heating or cooling, helping improve comfort and potentially reduce energy use by only conditioning the areas you need. ### For - One system covers every room, heating and cooling - Nothing on the walls but a vent and the controller - Zoning keeps running costs in check - A smart controller puts the whole system on your phone - Quiet inside, because the machinery is in the roof - Adds real value at resale ### Against - The highest install cost of the three types - Needs usable roof space and a switchboard that can carry it - Over-sized or badly zoned systems are noisy and expensive to run - The return air filter must be cleaned, and most people forget where it is ### The Perth homes it suits - Family homes with three or more bedrooms - New builds, where the layout is designed before the ceiling goes in - Renovations with the ceiling open and the switchboard being upgraded - Older brick-and-tile homes with a decent roof cavity, as a retrofit - Homes that need proper heating in winter ### Looking after it - Clean the return air filter monthly through summer. It slides out of the grille, rinses under a tap and goes back once dry. - Run the zones you are using, not the whole house. It is the biggest single saving. - Set a sensible temperature and leave it; every degree lower costs noticeably more. - Keep the outdoor unit clear so it can breathe, and out of full afternoon sun where you can. - Book an annual service in spring: coils, refrigerant, electricals, zone motors and the indoor unit in the roof. ### Questions **Q: Is ducted expensive to run?** Run as a whole house on a hot day, it draws more than a single split, because it is doing far more. Zoned sensibly it costs about what two or three splits would, and it heats efficiently in winter. **Q: Can ducted be retrofitted into an existing house?** Usually. It depends on the roof space, the ceiling structure and whether the switchboard can carry it, all of which we check at quote stage. **Q: How many zones should I have?** Three or four suits most family homes. More zones give finer control and cost more. We design it around how your house is actually used. **Q: Can I control ducted air conditioning from my phone?** Yes, with a smart controller. It joins the home wi-fi and gives you the zones, the temperature and a timer from an app, alongside the wall controller. Some systems include one and others take a module, so ask at quote stage and we will spec it in. **Q: Does ducted heat as well as it cools?** Yes. Reverse cycle heating is even, efficient and quiet, and it is the main reason people choose ducted over evaporative in Perth. ## Wall mounted split system (https://aerobreeze.com.au/systems/split) The workhorse. One room, done properly. An indoor head paired with an outdoor condenser. Quiet, efficient, and by far the cheapest way to make one room genuinely liveable in summer. Multi-split setups run several indoor heads off a single outdoor unit where wall space or council rules are tight. ### How it works A wall split is two boxes: an indoor head high on the wall and an outdoor condenser outside, joined by insulated copper pipe and a cable. Refrigerant carries heat from the room to the outdoor unit in summer, and from the outside air into the room in winter. A fan in the head pushes air across a cold coil and out through the louvre at you. It is the workhorse of Perth air conditioning: quiet, efficient, quick to install and by far the cheapest way to make a room genuinely liveable through summer. Most homes in the metro area have at least one. #### Multi-split Where you want several rooms done and cannot have several outdoor units, a multi-split runs two to five indoor heads off one condenser. It costs more than a single split, less than ducted, and it is the answer for a lot of apartments, townhouses and strata units. ### For - The lowest install cost of any system - Room-by-room control, each with its own remote - Heats and cools - Quick to install, often in a few hours - Efficient when sized to the room ### Against - One room per head, so a whole house needs several - The indoor unit is on the wall, and the outdoor unit needs a spot - Filters need cleaning monthly through summer - Over-sizing leaves the room cold and clammy ### The Perth homes it suits - Bedrooms, living rooms and home offices - Apartments, units and rentals - Granny flats, studios and extensions - Small shops, consulting rooms and offices - Any home adding one room at a time ### Looking after it - Clean the filters monthly through summer. Front cover off, filters out, rinse, dry, back in. Ten minutes and no tools. - Keep the outdoor unit clear of plants, bins and boxes, and out of full sun where possible. - If water ever drips from the indoor unit, ring at the first drip. It is a blocked drain and it is cheap to fix early. - If ice forms on the pipes or coil, switch the system off and ring. Running it iced up damages the compressor. - Book an annual service in spring: coils cleaned, refrigerant checked, drain flushed, electricals tested. ### Questions **Q: What size split do I need?** It depends on the room volume, window area and orientation, insulation and how many people use the space. Undersized units run flat out; oversized ones short-cycle and leave the room clammy. We measure before we recommend. **Q: Can one outdoor unit run several rooms?** Yes, that is a multi-split. Two to five indoor heads off one condenser is the common domestic range. **Q: How long does a split system last?** Well-serviced splits commonly run ten to fifteen years or more. The annual service is what makes the difference. **Q: Why is my split system not cooling?** The usual suspects are a blocked filter, a dirty coil, low refrigerant, a failed capacitor or a fan fault. Some are a ten-minute fix, some are not, which is why it is worth having it looked at rather than guessed at. ## Evaporative cooling (https://aerobreeze.com.au/systems/evaporative) Built for a dry Perth heat. Draws outside air through wet pads and pushes it through the house with the windows open. It suits Perth’s dry summer heat and costs very little to run, but it loses ground on humid days and it does not heat. Needs an annual service more than any other system. ### How it works An evaporative cooler sits on the roof. A fan draws hot outside air through filter pads kept wet by a pump, the water evaporates and takes heat out of the air, and the cooled air is pushed down through ducting into the house. Because it is pushing air in, a window or door has to be open a little in each room to let it out again. There is no refrigerant and no compressor, which is why it costs so little to run: a fan and a small pump. It also means the air is fresh rather than recirculated, which some households strongly prefer. #### Why Perth Evaporation cools best when the air is dry, and Perth summers are dry most of the time. That is why the system is so common here and so rare on the east coast. On the handful of humid days each summer it loses ground, and the fan-only mode is what you use until the air dries out again. ### For - The cheapest of the three to run, by a wide margin - Whole-house coverage from one unit - Constant fresh air rather than recirculated air - Simple mechanically, so repairs are usually straightforward - Suits Perth’s dry heat ### Against - Does not heat - Loses ground on humid days - Windows must be open, which is a security and noise trade-off for some - Needs an annual clean and flush without fail - Uses water ### The Perth homes it suits - Homes in the drier inland, northern and eastern suburbs - Larger houses where refrigerated running costs would bite - Households that like the windows open and the air moving - Sheds, workshops and warehouses - Homes with a separate heating solution for winter ### Looking after it - Open a window or door a little in each room you want cooled. Shut up tight, the system cannot work. - Use fan-only on humid days rather than fighting it. - Drain and dry the unit at the end of summer if it has a winter mode, so it is not sitting in stagnant water. - Book the annual service every spring: pads, pump, float, a full clean and flush, and a function test. - Ring at the first sign the air is not as cool as it was; dry pads and a tired pump are quick fixes caught early. ### Questions **Q: Does evaporative cooling still make sense in Perth?** For a lot of houses, yes. It is cheap to run and suits the dry heat. It does not heat and it struggles on humid days, so it depends on the house and the household. **Q: How much water does it use?** It varies with the unit, the heat and how hard it is running. It is a real cost but a small one next to the electricity saved over a refrigerated system. **Q: Why is my evaporative cooler blowing warm air?** Usually the pads are dry because the pump or float has failed, the pads are clogged, or the house is shut up so the air cannot move through. All three are checked in a service call. **Q: Can I add heating to an evaporative house?** Not through the same ducting. Households that need heating usually add a split to the main living area, or replace the evaporative unit with ducted reverse cycle when it is due. ## FAQs ### Quotes and cost What it costs, how it is priced, and what the quote covers. **Q: How much does air conditioning installation cost in Perth?** It depends on the system, the size of the space and how hard the run is. A single back-to-back split is the cheapest install; a zoned ducted system through an existing roof space is the most involved. We quote on site, so the number you get is the number you pay. **Q: Do you charge a call-out fee for breakdowns?** Breakdown work is quoted before anything is replaced. Ring and describe the fault and we will tell you on the phone how the visit is charged before you commit to it. **Q: Can I supply my own unit?** Yes. If you have already bought a system, or your builder has supplied one, we are happy to install it. Manufacturer warranty conditions still apply, so it is worth checking who covers what before you buy. ### Choosing a system Ducted, split or evaporative, and what size you actually need. **Q: What size air conditioner do I need?** Sizing comes down to room volume, window area and orientation, insulation and how many people use the space. Undersized units run flat out and never get there; oversized units short-cycle, cost more to run and leave the room clammy. We measure before we recommend. **Q: Ducted, split or evaporative — which is right for my house?** Split systems are best when one or two rooms need to be comfortable and the budget is tight. Ducted reverse cycle suits whole-home comfort and heats in winter. Evaporative is the cheapest to run and works well in Perth’s dry heat, but it does not heat and it struggles on humid days. We will tell you which one your house actually wants. **Q: Does evaporative cooling still make sense in Perth?** For a lot of houses, yes. Perth summers are dry, and evaporative costs very little to run and brings in constant fresh air. The trade-offs are real though: it does not heat, it loses ground on humid days, and it needs the windows open and an annual service without fail. **Q: Can I run several rooms off one outdoor unit?** That is a multi-split, and it is a good answer where wall space, council rules or the look of the place means you cannot have several condensers. It costs more than a single split but less than going ducted. ### Installation What happens on the day, and how long it takes. **Q: How long does an installation take?** A straightforward back-to-back split is usually a few hours. A longer pipe run, a second storey or a multi-split takes most of a day. A ducted retrofit through an existing roof space is typically a couple of days depending on the number of zones. **Q: Can ducted be retrofitted into an existing house?** Usually. It depends on the roof space, the ceiling structure and whether the switchboard can carry it — all of which get checked at quote stage so there are no surprises on install day. **Q: Will you clean up afterwards?** Drop sheets go down, the offcuts and packaging leave with us, and the site is left the way it was found. The system is tested in front of you, the controller explained, and the warranty paperwork handed over on the day. ### Servicing How often, what is included, and what you can do yourself. **Q: How often should an air conditioner be serviced?** Once a year for a split or ducted system, ideally in spring before the first hot week. Evaporative systems need it more than any other type — the pads and water system should be checked and flushed every year without fail. **Q: What is actually included in a service?** For a split: filters and condenser coils cleaned, refrigerant level checked, all functions and electrical wiring tested. Ducted adds a full component and electrical check and the return air filter. Evaporative is a component check plus a complete clean and flush of the system. **Q: Can I clean the filters myself?** Yes, and you should — monthly through summer. Slide them out, rinse them under a tap, let them dry completely, slide them back. Ten minutes, no tools, and it is the single biggest thing you can do for airflow and running cost. **Q: When is the best time to book?** Spring. A system that has sat idle all winter is the one that fails in the first 40-degree week, and that is the week every technician in Perth is already booked out. ### Repairs and breakdowns When it stops working, leaks, ices up or trips the breaker. **Q: Why is my split system not cooling?** The usual suspects are a blocked filter, a dirty coil, low refrigerant, a failed capacitor or a fan fault. Some of those are a ten-minute fix, some are not — which is why it is worth having it looked at rather than guessed at. **Q: Do you repair systems you did not install?** Yes. We fault find and repair all major brands regardless of who put them in, including gas leaks, compressor changes, faulty boards and control problems. **Q: Water is dripping inside from the unit — is that serious?** It is almost always a blocked or fallen condensate drain, and it is cheap to fix if you call at the first drip. Left alone it soaks the wall behind the unit and the plaster goes. **Q: My system just needs a gas top-up, right?** Refrigerant is a sealed system — if it is low, it has leaked. Topping it up without finding the leak means paying for the same gas twice. We find the leak first, then quote the repair. ### About Aerobreeze Who turns up, where we work, and what we cover. **Q: Who will actually turn up?** One of our professional technicians. Aerobreeze is a Perth-run business, so the people who quote and install your system are the people you ring afterwards. **Q: Do you do commercial work?** Yes. Offices, shops and small commercial premises across the Perth metro area, on both new installs and ongoing servicing. **Q: Which areas do you cover?** The Perth metropolitan area, from the northern suburbs down through the south east. If you are unsure whether you are in range, call and ask.