Questions we get asked a lot.

It depends on more than floor area: ceiling height, insulation, window size and which way the room faces all matter. As a rough guide, a bedroom usually needs 2.5–3.5 kW and an open-plan living area 6–9 kW. An undersized unit runs flat out and never gets comfortable, while an oversized one cycles on and off and wastes power. We do a proper load calculation on site before we quote, so you get the right size, not just the biggest one.

Once a year for most homes, ideally in spring before the summer rush. If you run it heavily, have pets, or live near a main road, every six months is better. Clean the filters yourself every 4–8 weeks in between; it takes five minutes and makes a real difference to efficiency. Regular servicing also keeps most manufacturer warranties valid.

A split system has one indoor unit on the wall for each room, connected to an outdoor unit. It's cheaper to install and ideal for cooling a few specific rooms. Ducted air conditioning hides one larger indoor unit in the roof and sends air to every room through ceiling vents, controlled from one panel. It costs more up front but gives whole-home comfort, looks cleaner, and zoning means you only pay to cool the rooms you're using.

Start with the easy checks: make sure it's set to Cool (not Fan or Dry), the temperature is set below room temperature, and the filters aren't clogged. Check the outdoor unit isn't blocked by leaves or plants. If it's still blowing warm air, the most common causes are low refrigerant from a leak, a failed capacitor or fan motor, or iced-up coils. Those need a licensed technician, so turn it off to avoid further damage and give us a call.

In most Brisbane homes, yes. A modern reverse-cycle heat pump produces three to four units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses, so it typically costs less to run than gas or electric bar heaters. It also cools in summer, so one system does both jobs. If you have solar panels, running it during the day costs even less.

A single back-to-back split system usually takes half a day. Multiple splits take a full day, and a ducted system for an existing home typically takes two to three days depending on roof access and the number of zones. We'll give you a timeframe with your quote and clean up fully at the end of each day.