Aircon and refrigeration

Choosing an aircon or refrigeration company

Air-conditioning is a big purchase that lasts years, so the installer matters as much as the unit. A badly sized or badly installed aircon runs constantly, costs more in electricity and fails sooner. The same goes for cold rooms, display fridges and ice machines in a business, where a breakdown can mean lost stock.

Registered to handle refrigerant

In South Africa, anyone who installs or services equipment that contains refrigerant gas must be registered as an authorised gas practitioner with SAQCC Gas. For refrigeration and air-conditioning, registration goes through SARACCA, the industry association, and technicians must complete safe-handling training. Ask the technician for their registration card. It protects you, and some manufacturers won’t honour a warranty without it.

Getting the size right

Aircon capacity is usually given in BTU, with common home sizes from 9,000 BTU for a small bedroom to 24,000 BTU or more for a large living area. The right size depends on the room’s floor area, ceiling height, how much sun it gets and how many people use it. A good installer looks at the room before quoting, rather than guessing from the phone.

Inverter units adjust their speed instead of switching on and off. They usually cost more to buy, but use less electricity and run more quietly.

What to ask for in the quote

• The make, model and capacity of the unit.
• Installation details: where the indoor and outdoor units go, the length of piping, wall brackets and the drainage.
• Electrical work, and whether a dedicated circuit is needed.
• The warranty on the unit and on the installation, and what servicing it requires.

Servicing

An aircon should be serviced regularly, usually once or twice a year, to clean filters and coils and check the gas. For commercial refrigeration, ask about a service plan and how quickly they respond to a breakdown.

See aircon and refrigeration in Pretoria for companies working in Gauteng, or all home services.

Written by the Find4U team at QX Software in Pretoria. We read every website before its ad runs.