Frequently Asked Questions

When considering Residential, commercial and industrial air conditioning there are many aspects which need to be taken into consideration which affect;

• Type of system
• Size of system
• Size of area
• Budget
• Number of zones
• The specific Heating/Cooling requirements
• The density and amount of windows including coverings, directions the windows face etc
• The total amount of people in the rooms being conditions
• The cost of running and the expected amount of hours per week the system shall operate on
• The usability and control requirements

An inverter model means that the compressor is powered by a variable speed drive or ’inverter‘, which enables the compressor to run at a range of speeds from slow to fast, to match the output required.

Most conventional compressors run at a constant speed and these types of units vary their capacity by switching on and off at different intervals. Inverters are a sophisticated piece of technology which improve the performance and energy efficiency of air conditioners under normal use.

Air conditioning installation time can vary. A split system can take between 2-5 hours. Ducted systems are usually a full day, and can sometimes extend to 2 days, dependant on the system design, and installation complexity.

Hills Air Conditioning service and maintain all makes and models, regardless of size.

Operating costs vary and are determined by how long the air conditioning system is running and the size of the area to be cooled or heated, the ambient temperature.

It is absolute essential that the correct size unit is installed. An undersized unit will be significantly more expensive to run taking longer to heat and cool the area effectively resulting in high running cost and unnecessary over working.

Visit www.energyrating.gov.au for more information.

Legionnaire’s disease has been overblown by the media and is not something you can contract from domestic air conditioning systems. The majority of cases are caused by incorrect cooling tower maintenance. Cooling towers are primarily used in commercial and industrial air conditioning to cool water cooled condensers and industry to cool recirculated water. They provide an ideal place for Legionella bacteria to grow (Temps 28 – 40c) and the operation of cooling towers causes drift which aerosols the bacteria allowing people to breathe it in. Evaporative coolers have been suggested but not verified as a potential disease transmitter.

A standard back to back split system installation including covers, wiring, pipes & insulation will normally be up to 4 meters between the indoor and outdoor unit and cost between $600 and up subject to adequate power supply. You may find cheaper but you get what you pay for. The potential exists for a poor installation to cause expensive repair cost in the future that must be considered. A non standard wall mount split system installation with brackets, long pipe and electrical runs may cost more. All Split installers in Australia must be licensed by the Australian Refrigeration Council and fully licensed and insured.

For residential you will have filters and air intake that must be cleaned, we recommend every three months but this may vary depending on the amount of use. We highly recommend that you have a full service check every 12 – 24 months for residential units.

For commercial and industrial see service and maintenance.