I'm Steve. I've spent over 15 years fixing air conditioners along the Cassowary Coast, and this article is the honest version — not a sales pitch. Here's what actually breaks on our units up here, what it costs to fix, and when it's smarter to put your money into a new install.
Why did my aircon die right after that storm?
Nine out of ten times, it's the run capacitor on the outdoor unit. When the grid flickers during a wet-season storm, the voltage spike or the momentary blackout is enough to cook the capacitor.
Symptoms are usually clear: the outdoor fan won't spin, or the compressor tries to start with a hum and then shuts down after 30 seconds. Nothing else is wrong with the unit — but if you keep trying to run it, you can take the compressor out too. A capacitor swap is quick and inexpensive if we catch it early.
Why does the outdoor board keep failing on units near the beach?
Salt corrosion. The outdoor PCB sits in an enclosure that's meant to keep water out, but salt-laden air still gets in and lands on the copper tracks. Over time it eats them.
I've pulled boards out of units in Mission Beach and Kurrimine Beach with green corrosion visible across the traces. Sometimes I can clean and re-solder the damage. Sometimes the board's finished and the fix is a replacement — which on an older unit often pushes the maths towards a full swap.
Book same-week aircon repairs
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Why won't my outdoor fan spin, or why is it so noisy?
The outdoor fan motor is one of the parts most exposed to the weather. Salt spray, rain and cyclone debris all shorten its life. If the bearings dry out or seize, you get a grinding sound before it stops altogether.
A seized fan puts the whole system into shutdown because the compressor has nowhere to dump heat. New motor, clean the housing, check the capacitor while I'm there, and it's running again.
Why is the aircon running but the room isn't getting cold?
If the unit is on, the fan's blowing, but the air isn't cold, there are two likely culprits — a slow refrigerant leak, or a dirty coil.
Slow leaks usually come from a fatigued flare joint at the outdoor unit, or a corroded copper line. I pressure test to confirm, find the leak, repair or replace the joint, then vacuum and recharge to the right weight. Topping up gas without finding the leak is a waste of your money — it'll just leak again.
If the coil is choked with dust, mould and biofilm, no amount of gas will make it cold. That's a clean, not a repair. Full detail here: aircon not blowing cold air.
Should I repair or replace an older unit?
My honest rule of thumb:
- Under 8 years old, single-component fault — repair.
- 8–10 years old — do the maths on the repair cost. Anything over about 40% of a new install's price and I'd lean towards replacement.
- Over 10 years old, or running R22 gas — replace. R22 has been phased out; the gas itself is expensive and the units it ran in are past their efficient life.
- Compressor failure at any age on a mid-range unit — usually replace. Compressor swaps are labour-heavy and often not worth it.
More detail on the decision in our decision guide or head to split system packages for replacement pricing.
Why does same-week service matter in the wet season?
Because tropical humidity doesn't wait for you. A dead aircon in February in Mission Beach isn't a comfort issue — it's a mould-in-the-mattress issue.
The other reason: a limping unit costs you money every day it runs. Once a fault starts, the compressor works harder and other components take strain. Getting on top of it in the same week is almost always cheaper than putting it off.
Get comfort back this week
Book online in under a minute, or call your local ARC-licensed team for a straight answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my aircon needs a repair, a clean or a replacement?
As a rough rule: if it's under about 8 years old and the fault is a single component (capacitor, fan motor, board), repair. If it's over 10 years old, running R22 gas, or the compressor's gone, replace. If it's just weak and smelly, a proper clean often solves it without any repair at all.
What's the most common fault after a Cassowary Coast storm?
Failed capacitors. When the power flickers or spikes during a storm, the run capacitor on the outdoor unit is usually the first thing to give up. The fan won't spin, or the compressor hums and shuts down. It's a cheap fix if you get to it early.
Can you get to me this week?
In most cases, yes. Same-week service is our standard for Mission Beach, Tully, Innisfail, Kurrimine Beach and the surrounding areas. During the wet season peak we book out faster, so ring early if the unit's down.
Is it worth replacing an aircon that still works but is old?
If it's over 10 years old and running hot, yes. Modern inverter splits use roughly half the power of a 2010-era fixed-speed unit for the same cooling. If you're running the aircon a lot, the difference on the power bill pays for the new unit sooner than most people expect.
Do you replace units you didn't originally install?
Yes. Doesn't matter who put it in — if it's failed and you'd rather replace than repair, we handle the removal, the new install and the wall patch. See our installation page for how the quote works.
See where we service in the Cassowary Coast or ask for a full installation quote.
ARC Licensed – Lic. L194280