Contact us 📱0419 351 454 📧hamiltonrs.1@gmail.com
How to Prepare Your Air Conditioner for a Melbourne Summer
R & S Hamilton Heating and Air Conditioning
6 min read
Melbourne summers are unpredictable. One week it is mild and overcast, the next you are staring down a run of 38 degree days with no relief in sight. The last thing you want when the first real heatwave hits is to switch on your air conditioner and find it struggling, rattling, or not cooling at all.
After more than 50 years servicing air conditioning systems across Boronia and Melbourne's eastern suburbs, I can tell you that the calls we get on the hottest days of summer are almost always from homeowners who did not get their system checked beforehand. A little preparation in spring saves a lot of discomfort in January.
This guide covers everything you need to do to make sure your air conditioning system is ready before Melbourne summer arrives.
1. Clean or Replace the Filter
This is the single most important maintenance task and the one most homeowners skip.
Your air conditioner's filter traps dust, pollen, pet hair, and airborne particles every time the system runs. Over a full winter of heating use that filter builds up a significant layer of debris. A clogged filter restricts airflow, forces the system to work harder, drives up your electricity bill, and significantly reduces the cooling output on hot days.
Cleaning the filter takes about two minutes. For most split system units you simply open the front panel, slide out the filter, rinse it under warm water, let it dry completely, and slide it back in. Check your system's manual for the specific steps for your model.
If the filter looks damaged, discoloured, or has not been replaced in several years, replace it rather than cleaning it. A new filter costs very little and makes a noticeable difference to performance.
For more on why regular maintenance saves money over the long term, read our post on how regular servicing saves Melbourne homeowners money long term.
2. Check the Outdoor Unit
Your outdoor compressor unit does the heavy lifting of removing heat from your home. If it is obstructed, dirty, or damaged it will not do that job efficiently.
Before summer starts take a few minutes to check the outdoor unit:
Clear away any leaves, grass clippings, or debris that has accumulated around the base of the unit over winter
Make sure there is at least 50cm of clear space around all sides of the unit for adequate airflow
Check that no plants or shrubs have grown into or over the unit since last summer
Look for any visible damage to the fins or casing and note anything unusual
Do not pressure wash the outdoor unit or try to clean the internal fins yourself. If the unit looks heavily soiled or the fins appear bent or damaged, book a professional service.
3. Test the System Before You Need It
Do not wait for the first 35 degree day to find out your air conditioner is not working properly. Switch it on in cooling mode on a mild spring day and run it for 20 to 30 minutes.
What to check while it is running:
Is cool air coming out of the indoor unit within a few minutes of switching on?
Is the airflow strong and consistent from all vents?
Are there any unusual noises - rattling, grinding, clicking, or squealing?
Is there any unusual smell coming from the unit, particularly a musty or burning odour?
Does the remote control respond correctly and is the display working?
If anything seems off, do not ignore it hoping it will sort itself out. Book a service before the heat arrives. Technicians are significantly busier once summer starts and wait times blow out quickly.
4. Book a Professional Service
A clean filter and a tidy outdoor unit are things you can do yourself, but a proper pre-summer service covers things that require a licensed technician.
A professional air conditioning service typically includes:
Checking refrigerant levels and topping up if low
Cleaning the indoor coil and drain pan
Inspecting and cleaning the outdoor coil
Checking all electrical connections and components
Testing the system's cooling capacity and efficiency
Identifying any worn parts before they fail
Low refrigerant is one of the most common reasons air conditioners underperform on hot days. The system will still run but it simply cannot remove heat from the air effectively. This is something you cannot check or fix yourself - it requires a licensed technician with the appropriate equipment.
Our team at R & S Hamilton provides pre-summer air conditioning servicing across Boronia and Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Booking in September or October means you get seen before the rush and your system is ready well before the first heatwave.
5. Check Your Thermostat and Settings
Before the heat arrives make sure you know how to use your system effectively.
The most common mistake homeowners make is setting the temperature too low. Setting your thermostat to 18 degrees on a 40 degree day does not cool your home faster - it just makes the system run flat out continuously, driving up your energy bill without meaningfully improving comfort. The recommended setting for cooling is 24 to 26 degrees, which balances comfort and running cost effectively.
Also check:
That your remote control has fresh batteries
That the timer settings from winter have been cleared so the system does not switch to heating unexpectedly
That all vents in the rooms you want to cool are open and unobstructed by furniture
For ducted systems, check that all zone controllers are working correctly and that the zones you want to use are set up properly.
6. Consider Whether Your System Is Still Up to the Job
If your air conditioner is more than 10 to 12 years old it is worth thinking honestly about whether it will cope with another Melbourne summer.
Older systems lose efficiency over time even with regular servicing. A system that was adequate for your home a decade ago may now be undersized if you have added rooms, removed insulation, or changed the layout of your living space. It will also cost more to run than a modern inverter system of equivalent capacity.
If your system struggled last summer, required multiple service calls, or is simply very old, it may be more cost effective to replace it now rather than paying for repairs on a system that has limited life left.
Our team can assess your existing system and give you an honest recommendation. If replacement makes sense we will tell you - and if your current system has more life in it we will tell you that too.
For a full overview of the air conditioning installation options available across Boronia and Melbourne's eastern suburbs, including split systems and ducted refrigerated cooling, our complete installation guide covers everything you need to know.
7. Make Sure Your Home Is Working With Your System
Even a perfectly maintained air conditioner will struggle if your home is letting hot air in faster than the system can remove it.
A few simple steps make a significant difference:
Close blinds and curtains on north and west facing windows before the heat of the day builds up, not after
Seal any obvious gaps under doors or around windows where hot air can enter
Use ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner - running a fan allows you to raise the thermostat by 2 to 3 degrees without losing comfort, which reduces running costs noticeably
Avoid using the oven or other heat generating appliances during the hottest part of the day
For homes without adequate insulation, improving ceiling insulation is one of the highest return investments you can make for summer comfort - though that is a project in its own right.
Which Type of System Handles Melbourne Summers Best?
If you are thinking about installing a new system before summer, the type of cooling you choose matters significantly for Melbourne's climate.
Refrigerated cooling - whether a split system or ducted - outperforms evaporative cooling on Melbourne's worst days. When the humidity is high and temperatures are extreme, refrigerated systems continue to cool your home to the set temperature regardless of outside conditions. Evaporative systems struggle in these conditions precisely because Melbourne's worst heatwaves often come with elevated humidity.
For a detailed comparison of the two technologies and why refrigerated cooling suits Melbourne's eastern suburbs best, read our post on refrigerated cooling vs evaporative cooling for Melbourne homes.
If a split system is what you are looking for, our guide to split system air conditioning in Boronia covers sizing, brands, installation costs, and what to expect on the day.
Do Not Wait Until Summer to Sort This Out
The pattern we see every year is the same. Phones start ringing the moment Melbourne hits its first 35 degree day. Homeowners who ignored their system all winter suddenly need it urgently and find themselves waiting a week or more for a technician to become available.
Booking a pre-summer service in September or October means you get priority access, your system is checked and ready well before you need it, and if anything does need attention there is time to sort it without the pressure of a heatwave.
R & S Hamilton has been keeping homes across Boronia, Bayswater, Knox, Wantirna, Ferntree Gully, Ringwood, Watsonia, Boronia Heights, and Heathmont comfortable through Melbourne summers since 1975.
Contact our team today to book your pre-summer air conditioning service or to discuss a new installation before the rush begins.
📱 0419 351 454
📧 hamiltonrs.1@gmail.com
Contact Us
Reach out for heating and cooling help.
Phone
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Building and Plumbing Commission
Accreditation Number: 38105