Most air conditioning controllers let you set the temperature anywhere between 16°C and 30°C. A lot of people think that if they want to cool a room quickly, they should drop it all the way to 16°C, or crank it up to 30°C when heating. But that’s actually not the case.
Modern air conditioning units use inverter technology, which is designed to be efficient and keep running costs low. Instead of constantly turning the compressor on and off which is the most energy consuming, an inverter gently speeds up or slows down to maintain the temperature you set.
So if you set your temperature to something realistic and comfortable, like 21°C, the unit will cool the room to that point and then slow itself down. Setting it lower won’t cool your room any faster; it just makes the system work harder for longer.
In short: choose the temperature you actually want, and let the inverter do the rest. Your AC will be more efficient, cheaper to run, and just as effective.
The only bit of Air Conditioning maintenance we really want customers to do themselves is cleaning the filters. Everything else is better left for a proper service visit.
Cleaning the filters might seem small, but it makes a huge difference. When they get blocked with dust, fluff, or grease, your AC has to work a lot harder just to move air. That means higher energy bills, poorer performance, and in some cases it can even lead to breakdowns.
Most filters are easy to take out and can simply be vacuumed or brushed off. If your unit is in a kitchen or somewhere dusty, they’ll get dirty faster, so they’ll need cleaning more often because kitchen grease sticks to everything, we do recommend more regular servicing also with this to maintain optimal performance.
The reason the filters matter so much is that they protect the indoor coil, the part with the copper pipes where the refrigerant does all the heating or cooling. All the return air in the room gets pulled through those filters before it reaches the coil, so they end up catching whatever’s floating around in your home.
In short: clean your filters. Good airflow means better performance, fewer problems, and lower running costs.
Installing air conditioning is always best left to a qualified professional. At Drayton Air Conditioning, we’re fully F-Gas registered, which means we’re certified to work safely with the refrigerants used in most air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
That said, we often see people try to install systems themselves and then call us when things go wrong. And unfortunately, by that point the damage is usually done. If you’re spending good money on a reliable, efficient AC unit for your temperature control, it really is worth getting it installed properly from the start.
Otherwise, you risk ending up with repeated breakdowns, higher costs, or even needing to replace the unit entirely and not every professional will be willing to take on a DIY job.
In short: investing in professional installation the first time saves you time, money, and stress in the long run.
This might sound obvious, but keeping your windows and doors closed is essential if you want your air conditioning to work efficiently. Every AC unit is sized to cool or heat a specific area for example, a bedroom.
If you leave the unit running overnight with the door open, the system that was designed to cool just your room is suddenly trying to maintain the temperature of a much larger space. This makes it difficult for the inverter technology to do its job properly (as mentioned earlier), because the AC can no longer reach and maintain the set temperature. Instead, it’s forced to run constantly, wasting energy and reducing efficiency.
Leaving windows open is even more problematic. It’s essentially the same as putting your air conditioner outside, all the cool air it produces escapes straight into the atmosphere, making the unit work harder for no benefit.
In short: Keeping doors and windows closed allows your AC system to perform the way it was designed to, saving energy, reducing running costs, and helping maintain a comfortable temperature.
The outdoor unit of your air conditioning system is the real workhorse, think of it like the engine of a car. When it’s looked after and running properly, it’s incredibly efficient and surprisingly cheap to run.
But the biggest issue we see, especially when people notice higher energy bills or poorer performance, is restricted airflow. Just like the indoor unit needs clean filters to work properly, the outdoor unit also needs plenty of space to breathe.
On the front of the outdoor unit is a fan that throws heat out of the system. This is a crucial part of the refrigeration cycle and helps stop the system from overheating. If the unit can’t get rid of that heat, it won’t cool properly, it’ll work much harder than it needs to, and over time it can even cause damage.
A lot of homeowners worry about having a “big, ugly box” outside the house, so they try to hide it behind bins, fences, plants, or other objects. The problem is, anything blocking that fan will reduce airflow and seriously affect performance.
If you want the outdoor unit to be less visible, the best approach is to put it somewhere naturally discreet or use a proper enclosure like a ventilated screen or cage. These still allow plenty of airflow and make sure the unit stays accessible for maintenance, while keeping it out of sight.
In short: keep your outdoor unit clear and well-ventilated keeping your AC running efficiently, saves energy, and avoids costly damage.
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your air conditioning unit running efficiently and ensuring your warranty remains valid. Most warranties (depending on the brand) cover parts for 3–5 years, protecting you in the event of a breakdown.
But the best way to avoid costly issues is to prevent them in the first place. Just like a car, your AC unit needs regular “health checks.” You wouldn’t drive a car every day for a year without servicing it and expect it to perform like new, the same goes for your air conditioner. Regular servicing keeps your system working at peak performance and prevents unnecessary strain from daily use.
During a service, we examine the working temperatures, check for potential leaks, inspect electrical connections, and monitor running amps. We also give the full system a thorough clean using antibacterial products specially formulated for AC systems that won’t cause damage. Checking the drains is another critical step, blockages can lead to internal leaks, which may damage your unit or even your property.
Neglecting regular servicing can reduce efficiency, increase running costs, and in some cases, lead to damage to your home. Staying on top of maintenance ensures your system performs reliably and lasts for years.
In short: servicing your AC regularly keeps it healthy, efficient, and protected just like your car, get it booked in for a service.
Looking for a quote, have a quick question, or want to discuss your air conditioning needs—we’d love to hear from you.
