Brisbane Air, Author at Brisbane Air

Top 10 Tips For Electrical Safety In The Home

September 16, 2013 by Brisbane Air

At Brisbane Air, our air conditioning and electrical services experts have drawn up this list of 10 tips for electrical safety in the home.

1. Look after your electrical appliances

Always follow instructions, and hold a plug to connect and disconnect from the socket. Ensure your appliances are in good order, and pay special attention to cords: worn electric cords should be replaced by a licensed electrician.

2. Safeguard from children

Make your electric outlets childproof.

3. Teach children about the dangers of electricity

Children love copying, it’s how they learn. When using electricity, set a good example and talk to your children about how to use the electric appliances safely.

4. Protect against power surges

A power surge is unpredictable, and can damage computers, televisions, air conditioners, and other expensive devices. Always unplug appliances when not in use.

5. Use safety devices

Surge protectors will help protect appliances whilst in use, and safety switches – a legal requirement in new homes – cut the power within 0.03 seconds of a problem occurring. A licenced electrician will be happy to advice on the most appropriate safety devices to use.

6. Beware of overhead and underground power lines

Keep clear of power lines when working on electrics, particularly when repairing a roof, pruning trees, or working on a swimming pool. If work is needed underground, always make certain it’s safe to do so and check with the Dial Before You Dig service on 1100.

7. Water and electricity don’t mix

Remove electric appliances from bathrooms, near sinks, or by the pool, always drying hands before touching electrical appliances. When using appliances near water only ever use electric cords designed for use in wet areas.

8. Feel a tingle, call an expert

If you feel tingling when using an electric appliance, turn off the electric at the mains and call a licenced electrician. You should keep abreast of emergency procedures, too.

9. Report faults immediately

Any electrical accident which requires medical treatment should be reviewed and the source of the problem resolved, to precent recurrence. Also, as a tenant, if you notice a potential electrical hazard, you should report this to your landlord or property manager and request immediate rectification.

10. Call the experts

Never attempt electrical work yourself: always use the services of a licenced electrician. They know what they’re doing, they’ll have all the right equipment, and their work will be guaranteed.

A little expense will save a lot of heartache.

How Ducted Air Conditioners Work

August 22, 2013 by Brisbane Air

When you’re suffering in heat waves, the last thing you want to do is sit in front of a wall air conditioner and wait for your room to cool. It’s much better to come home from work and be greeted with a uniformly cooled and dehumidified house. Ducted air conditioners generate cool air from a compressor/ condensing unit that sits outside of your home, connected to an indoor fan coil unit, located within the roof cavity of the house. Ductwork runs through the house and outputs the cool air via a series of vents (diffuser outlets) in each room. Nowadays, most ducted air conditioners, called reverse-cycled ducted units, also heat your home during the winter months.

If you feel that centralised ducted air conditioners are not as efficient as other cooling options, you can opt for a zoned ducted air conditioning system that allows you to control the amount of cooling in each zone of the house. You can keep the areas you’re using cool, while keeping the cooling system off in other areas of the home. Another advantage of this air conditioning system is the sound output is low. You certainly don’t have to worry about the overpowering sound of the old style box air conditioners or “window rattlers”.

You need professional installation for this type of air conditioning system. Not many houses have pre-installed duct work necessary to connect into the ducted system, so the installers put the duct work in and the compressor/ condensing unit/ indoor fan coil unit and test that everything is working. They design the system to work perfectly with your house setup, so you can designate zoned cooling around the house. Professional installers also choose a ducted system that’s powerful enough to cool your home, with zoning often a main consideration. It is a customised ducted system that takes many factors into consideration, with the experienced staff providing you a detailed written recommendation and quotation after they’ve assessed your house setup.

Should you want to find out more information about our ducted air conditioning installation please email or contact us today at (07) 3269 8450.

The Benefits Of Using Ducted Air Conditioning In Your Office

August 15, 2013 by Brisbane Air

Having a climate-controlled office is a must, especially during Brisbane’s humid, hot months. Employees and clients will appreciate the comfort of a reasonable temperature and the quality of air provided by a sufficient air conditioning system in an office. Many options exist to provide an office building with appropriate climate control. One system to strongly consider, especially for large spaces such as commercial office buildings, is a ducted air conditioning system.

A ducted system is usually comprised of an outdoor compressor and an indoor air handling unit. These components work together, utilising an infrastructure of ducts to circulate filtered, conditioned air throughout a building. Though the initial cost of a ducted system is comparatively higher than other options, there are a number of benefits to a ducted air conditioning solution that you should consider.

There are two key reasons to choose a ducted air conditioning solution: value and aesthetics. These systems will always pay back on the initial investment, and they are much more aesthetically pleasing than the alternative.

1. Value and Efficiency

The initial cost of having a ducted system installed into your office building is not just an expense: it’s an investment. Ducted air conditioning systems are highly efficient, very reliable, and are cost-effective to operate. With such options as zoning control, you can choose to heat or cool only rooms and work areas currently occupied, thus saving energy. These climate control systems effectively and evenly distribute air throughout a building, eliminating annoying hot and cold spots. Making the investment of having a quality ducted system installed will boost the value of your building and lower annual energy consumption, both of which provide a notable return on investment.

2. Silent and Concealed

Ducted air conditioning operates in virtual silence from room to room. By centralising the compressor and air handling units, air enters each room through a concealed duct void of any noise-making machinery. Thus, a ducted system provides for peaceful work areas, waiting rooms, meeting rooms and common areas. The tranquillity of a silently operating climate control system, free also of any eye sores such as box air conditioners hanging from every window, creates a peaceful, comfortable office environment.

Weighing the features and cost of a ducted air conditioning climate control system against alternative systems, you should consider having such a system installed into your office building. The value, key benefits, and simplicity of use that a ducted system brings will more than pay back the initial investment.

Contact Brisbane Air today to discover which commercial air conditioning unit is the right one for your business!

Energy Saving Tips For Commercial Air Conditioning Systems

July 19, 2013 by Brisbane Air

When running a business in a subtropical climate, having adequate commercial air conditioning is a must. However, you need to find a balance between cost and comfort.

In order to keep cooling costs down, while maximising the benefits of your commercial air conditioning, you should have a specialist, work out the cooling load for your business so you are able to purchase the most energy efficient system for your needs.

Having a qualified technician do the installation is a must. A qualified technician will make sure that all wiring is done safely and correctly and will also assess the areas that need to be cooled. They will find the most energy efficient space in which to install the air conditioning system as well as to direct air flow away from obstructions for the most economical cooling possible.

For every 1°C of cooling that you don’t use, you save money. Instead of setting the air conditioner for 23°C set it for 24°C or higher. The most energy efficient temperature setting for your air conditioning is generally considered to be around 24 – 25°C in summer and 19 – 21°C in winter.

If your commercial air conditioning has a recycle function, you should use it, since recycling and cooling indoor air takes much less electricity than pulling hot air from outside to cool. Every fortnight, clean the air filter on your air conditioner and schedule required maintenance with a qualified technician to keep your commercial air conditioner running efficiently, see our article on how to clean your filter.

Program the commercial air conditioning system to cool the building, only when it is going to be occupied so you’re not cooling empty space. However, if you’re in the middle of a heat wave you might consider keeping the building at a moderate temperature when unoccupied in order to protect delicate electronics or materials. Never exceed the manufacturers’ recommended settings for your air conditioning unit.

Shade your windows by adding outdoor awnings as well as indoor curtains or shutters. If possible upgrade to double paned, energy efficient windows to reduce heat absorption by 80% or more in summer as well as retain heat better in winter.

Monitor all sources of heat, making sure lights and appliances are turned off when not needed and any storage rooms that don’t need cooling are kept shut. You may want to install self closing doors. These steps will ensure you business receives maximum cooling for minimal cost.

Contact Brisbane Air today to discover which commercial air conditioning unit is the right one for your business!

Information About Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioners

May 24, 2013 by Brisbane Air

Mitsubishi Electric manufactures some of the best air conditioning units that you can find anywhere. From reverse cycle split system air conditioners, to ducted air conditioning systems, you are sure to be happy with your Mitsubishi Electric air con.

Superior Technology

Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning units include eco-comfort technology, allergen filtration and are amazingly quiet. This eco-comfort technology helps these units provide you with nice cool air, without sacrificing efficiency.

Mitsubishi Electric air conditioners are also known to be some of the best when it comes to filtering out pollutants and other harmful substances. And you’ll never need to worry about a loud air conditioning unit, since the indoor models make a sound that is quieter than the human whisper!

A Wide Variety of Options

Mitsubishi Electric has had a reputation for manufacturing reliable and high quality air conditioning units for many years now. Contact one of our sales representatives to learn more about:

Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners
Split System Air Conditioners
Inverter Air Conditioners
Commercial Units
Residential Units

One of the most popular units on the market today is the Mitsubishi Electric 2.5kw reverse cycle, DC inverter Air Conditioner (Model MSZ- GE25VA).

This air conditioner is perfect for a standard sized bedroom, with an advanced DC Inverter System that gently adjusts itself to rising and falling temperatures in your home. While traditional (fixed speed) air conditioning units will simply power on or off depending on the room temperature, this machine will increase or decrease power until it has reached the right temperature. This means a much more energy efficient unit that is extremely quiet, with the indoor unit sound pressure level as low as 19dB(A) – perfect for sleeping!

Another popular model is the Mitsubishi Electric, 7.1kw reverse cycle, DC inverter Air Conditioner (Model MSZ-GE71VA).

This is another DC inverter model that is appropriate for commercial and residential use, especially for large open planned spaces. When you want a high-quality product that is guaranteed to keep you cool during the Brisbane summers, you should consider this unit.

Announcing a Limited-Time Promotion at Brisbane Air!

We’re pleased to announce a special promotion on all Mitsubishi electric inverter, reverse cycle, and split system air conditioners. For example, if you’re looking for a great deal on an outstanding unit, then you may want to consider the Mitsubishi MSZ-GE25VA.

This limited time deal (expires 31 August 2013) comes with a 2.5kw inverter /reverse cycle split system air conditioner and standard back-to-back installation for only $1,490 (inc. GST). All new installations from Brisbane Air come with a full 5-year warranty on BOTH the unit and our installation services!

Brisbane residents have been relying on the experts of Brisbane Air for maintenance and installation services since 1982. Our service technicians are the best in the business, and we guarantee that we’ll be able to help you find the right unit for your needs.

Contact Brisbane Air today to discover which air conditioning unit is the right one for your home or office!

How Should I Clean My Air Conditioning Filter?

May 17, 2013 by Brisbane Air

This is a very common question that we receive from our customers here at Brisbane Air. Your air conditioning filter keeps your air from circulating dust particles and other contaminants. If you want to extend the life of your air conditioner and ensure that your home or office stays cool, then you’ll want to be sure to clean your filter regularly.

Air Conditioning Filter Cleaning Instructions

Cleaning your air conditioning filter is usually a pretty straightforward process. Follow these steps and you’ll be able to keep your filter in good shape.

First, remove your filter from its housing. This may take a screwdriver, depending on the particular unit that you own. In some cases, all it takes is rotating a fastening clamp or two until you can pop the filter out.

Next, manually remove excess dust and grime that’s built up over time. The best way to take care of this is to use a vacuum cleaner for this process. After you’ve thoroughly removed all the large pieces of debris with a vacuum cleaner, you’ll want to wash your filter with water.

Many people prefer to take the air filter outside and simply spray it down with the garden hose. You can also use a large tube or basin full of water for this purpose.

If you want to be sure that there aren’t any harmful bacteria built up in your filter, you can soak it in a basin that has a combination of water and vinegar. It’s usually best to allow the filter to soak for about an hour.

After you’ve finished washing your air conditioning filter, you’ll want to let it dry thoroughly. Make sure that you place the filter in an area where it will dry completely, as you don’t want any mildew to accumulate.

It’s always important to clean your air conditioning filter regularly, but eventually there comes a time when you may need to replace it.

When you need your air conditioning unit serviced, make sure you contact a qualified air conditioning company. The experts at Brisbane Air have been providing air conditioning services to Brisbane residents since 1982. We have the experience and the knowledge to take care of your maintenance and installation needs.

Our service technicians are friendly and fast and our customer service is second to none. Contact us today and discover why we’re Brisbane’s #1 air conditioning company!

Can You Use Your Air Conditioner As A Heating System?

May 9, 2013 by Brisbane Air

Many people don’t realise that it IS possible to use an air conditioner as a heating system…if you have a reverse cycle system. A reverse cycle air conditioner works by transferring heat from the outside air and then passing it over a coil that is filled with a refrigerant.

Once the liquid is heated, the refrigerant goes through a compressor and into a condenser and the hot air is released into your home or office. These systems are much more energy efficient than traditional heaters and can use up to 2/3 less energy!

To cool your home with these air conditioning units, all you need to do is change the settings to the reverse cycle and the refrigerant will cool the air rather than heating it.

Advantages to Reverse Cycle Systems

There are a number of considerable advantages to using these air conditioning units. First, this is an extremely efficient way of heating your home. Secondly, there are no open flames, so your risk of fire is much, much lower. With reverse cycle air conditioning units you can have access to BOTH heat and cool cycles with the same unit!

There are several different types of reverse cycle air conditioning units, including:

Split System Air Conditioners
Multi-Split Air Conditioners
Ducted Air Conditioners
Inverter Air Conditioners

Split system AC units have a compressor that is located out of your building, while the internal fan unit is located inside. One advantage to these particular units is that they are very quiet.

Multi-split systems are split system air conditioners that have multiple internal units. These are excellent choices for larger buildings with lots of space.

Ducted systems are used for heating or cooling several rooms at once. These systems usually work best for people who like to have all of the rooms of their home or office at the same temperature.

Inverter reverse cycle systems are air conditioners that have a variable speed compressor. These systems are very energy efficient and usually take much less time to heat up. Since these systems adjust gradually to maintain the temperature of the room, you likely won’t be bothered by the noise.

If you live in the Brisbane area and are in need of air conditioner installation or repair, you should contact us today. The experts at Brisbane Air have been providing air conditioning services in the area since 1982 and have a reputation for outstanding service and value.

3 Quick Ways To Improve Your Air Conditioning Efficiency

May 2, 2013 by Brisbane Air

Cooling your home during the hot Australian summertime can be quite expensive, but essential! However, many people don’t realise that it is possible to improve the efficiency of your air conditioning. Follow these key tips and you’ll save money on your next utility bill!

Search for Blockages

If there are any objects blocking the path of air in your air conditioning unit, then it can cause your air conditioning to run much less efficiently. Also, be sure to trim back any vegetation that is growing around your air conditioning unit to prevent future obstructions.

Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced by a Professional

This is probably the most effective way to ensure that your air conditioner runs smoothly. Professional air-conditioning service technicians are able to perform a thorough check of your refrigerants, proper flow of air, cleanliness of your air conditioner coils and more. Remember, it’s always best to enlist the services of a qualified technician, so that you can be absolutely sure that your air conditioner will run efficiently and effectively.

Clean Your Air Filter

When your air filter becomes clogged with debris and dust, it forces your air conditioner to work harder. This means that your unit will require more energy to function properly.

We advise our customers to clean their filters every month or two during summer. Doing so will help keep your air conditioner from using too much energy.

There is no reason to spend more money on your energy costs then necessary. Many times all it takes is a few adjustments and your air con will be running smoothly again.

If you live in the Brisbane area and your air conditioner has not been operating as efficiently as it should, then you should call Brisbane Air today. Our service technicians are some of the best in the business and we take pride in our reputation for having top-notch customer service.

Whether you have a commercial air-conditioner, or a residential ducted air conditioner, or a split system air conditioner or a multi head reverse cycle air conditioner, you can be sure that our service techs will be able to help.
Our experts have been providing excellent AC maintenance and installation services for Brisbane residents since 1982. If you want superior service at an outstanding price, then Brisbane Air is the best choice. We guarantee our installation work 100% and can offer payment plans to qualifying customers! Call us at 3269 8450 or contact us online for more information.

WARNING: Your Air Conditioner May Be The Reason Why You Are Sick!

April 8, 2013 by Brisbane Air

Have you been ill lately and unsure of the cause? If so, you may want to take a close look at your air conditioner. Without the proper maintenance, air conditioners can trap and circulate allergens, fungi, bacteria and other contaminates throughout your home or office!

Hazardous Particles

The bacteria in your air conditioner can spread several types of harmful contaminates throughout your living space. These can result in pneumonia, the common cold, sinus infections and many more unpleasant illnesses. Needless to say, this can be a serious health concern for you and your family.

This is a particularly serious concern for Brisbane residents during the hot summer months, when air conditioners may be running more often. You and your family may spend more time indoors, and if your air conditioner is not properly maintained this increases your risk of exposure to illness-causing contaminants.

Here are just a few of the signs that your air conditioner may be putting you at risk:

Allergic reactions when you are indoors
Stale air that does not seem to circulate well
Mildew or mold smell throughout the building
Visible mold throughout the building
Air conditioner not operating correctly

Whilst we are on the topic of faulty air conditioners, I’ll let you in on a simple guide: Five Ways to Tell if your Air Conditioner Needs Repair

A properly functioning air conditioner is quite important during the warmer seasons here in Brisbane. To ensure that the air quality is clean and pure, you should schedule regular service maintenance. If you really want to know how important maintenance is, check out our latest blog post: How Important Is Air Conditioning Maintenance. Our technicians will be able to repair and replace any faulty components of your air conditioning units and clean or replace existing filters.

Additional Steps to Keep Your Air Clean

To help make sure the quality of air in your home or office is maintained, you may want to consider a few additional steps:

Keep surfaces dust-free by dusting at least once per week.
Vacuum the floors regularly and make sure that your vacuum filter is working properly.
Use a mop on tile surfaces.
Avoid smoking indoors.
Consider installing an air purifier.
Clean your bedding regularly.

Our company, Brisbane Air, is a locally owned business that specializes in excellent air conditioning and refrigeration services. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, we take pride in our top-notch service and competitive prices.

Based at Bridgeman Downs, our company was originally founded by the Lindner family in 1982 and Barney Lindner currently serves as part owner and chief technical services provider. We have a long-standing tradition of providing superior A/C service solutions for the local community.

If you suspect that your air conditioning unit has been making you or your family ill lately, contact us at 3269 8450. We are happy to provide affordable service solutions and can even provide you with an interest free payment plan for up to 2.5 years!