Refrigeration and air conditioning technician in Alstonville, NSW
Fridges and air conditioning on the Alstonville plateau
Alstonville sits on a high, rolling plateau with red volcanic soil, and the work here splits into two kinds. In the village there are houses, a main street of small shops and cafes, and community buildings. Around it are macadamia orchards, small farms and acreage homes, some with sheds that hold a spare fridge, a chest freezer or a small cool room. Many properties are spread out, so the unit you need fixed may be a good walk from the road.
Access varies a lot. Village shops have loading at the front or a lane at the back, and kerb space is shared. On acreage you may have a long gravel or dirt drive and a locked gate, and the sheds can be well away from the house. Tell us about the gate, the surface of the drive and where the unit is. If you are away at work, tell us who holds the key.
The plateau is cooler and wetter than the coast, with mist and rain that hang around. Damp gets into older timber houses and sheds, and mould grows on seals and indoor coils. Winter mornings can be cold enough that people want reverse cycle heating, and summer days still get warm. Out of the village, many homes run on tank water, which matters for any unit that drains condensate.
What we do here most
What Alstonville cafes, farms and homes keep needing
Cool damp weather, spread-out properties and busy village food businesses shape the jobs we see. These are the four that come up most.
Ice Machine Repair
Ice machine stops making ice at a village cafe
An ice machine that stops making ice, or makes cloudy, small pieces, can leave a cafe struggling through a warm weekend. The usual causes are a scaled water line, a failed inlet valve or a dirty condenser. We clean and test the machine and check the water supply. Then we explain the repair options before any parts go in.
Heating Repair
Reverse cycle heater not warming on cold mornings
Winter on the plateau can be sharp, and a reverse cycle split system that blows cool air is a real nuisance. The cause may be a blocked filter, a fault in the reversing valve or a low gas charge. We check the indoor and outdoor units and the controls. If it is a ducted system, we also look at the fan and the ducting.
Appliance Installation
Installing a second fridge in an acreage shed
Properties here often keep a spare fridge or freezer in a shed or a back room. A shed gets hot, dusty and sometimes damp, so the unit needs ventilation and a safe power supply. We set it level, check the power point and make sure it has room to breathe. We also explain how to keep the coil clear and the door seals clean.
Machine Maintenance
Seasonal checks on a farm shed cool room
A cool room in a farm shed works through dust, heat and long gaps between visits. Dirty coils, worn fan motors and perished door seals build up quietly. We clean the coils, test the controls and check the refrigerant circuit and the door fit. Then we tell you what is wearing out so you can plan around it.
If it is urgent
If the fridge or freezer stops out on the Alstonville plateau
- 1Check the power point and the safety switch, and keep the doors shut so the cold stays in.
- 2Leave the back covers, the gas pipework and the wiring alone, and do not move a unit that is still frosted or leaking.
- 3When you call, tell us the make and model, where the unit sits, and how we get to it, including any gate or long drive.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which refrigeration and air conditioning jobs do you take on?
We install, repair and maintain air conditioners, fridges, freezers, ice machines and walk-in freezers, and we repair heating on ducted, split system and reverse cycle units. The service pages list what each job involves.
Do you work on both homes and businesses?
Yes. The work ranges from household fridges and split systems to cool rooms, display fridges, ice machines and walk-in freezers in cafes, restaurants and shops. The faults are often similar, but a commercial unit has stock inside it, so we plan around that.
What types of air conditioner do you install?
We install split, multi-split and ducted systems. Where the right choice is not clear, we look at the room or building, how it is used and where the outdoor unit can sit, and explain the options.
Can you look at a walk-in freezer or cool room?
Yes. We repair walk-in freezers and cool rooms, including temperature that will not hold, compressor and fan motor faults, defrost problems and worn door seals. We also install new commercial refrigeration.
What should I have ready when I call?
The make and model of the unit if you can read it off the rating plate, and a short description of the problem. Not cooling, making a loud noise and leaking water are all useful starting points.
When is the phone answered?
The phone on 0415 245 105 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a freezer or cool room has stopped out of hours, call and describe what it is doing.
Which towns do you cover?
We work in Goonellabah, Lismore, Alstonville, Wollongbar, Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Suffolk Park, Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby and Ocean Shores. If you are close to those, call and ask.
Do you offer regular maintenance?
Yes, for air conditioners, refrigeration units and cool rooms. Cleaning filters, coils and drain lines before they cause a fault is the main reason a unit runs well for longer. Tell us what you have and how hard it works and we will talk through how often it needs a visit.
Is it worth repairing an old fridge or should I replace it?
It depends on what has failed. A worn door seal, a faulty thermostat or a dead fan motor is usually a straightforward repair. A fault in the sealed system on an old unit is a different question. We explain what we found and the options before any work starts.
My fridge is running but not cold. What can I check first?
Check the door is closing fully and the seal is not torn or dirty. Make sure nothing is blocking the vents inside and that there is some space behind and above the fridge for air to move. If it still will not cool, switch it off, keep the door shut and call.
Why is my air conditioner blowing warm air or leaking water?
Common causes include a clogged filter, a dirty coil, a blocked drain line and a low refrigerant charge. Some of those are quick to put right and some need a technician to find. Switch it off if water is running onto a wall or floor, and call us.
What should I do if a freezer or cool room stops working out of hours?
Keep the door shut so the cold stays in, and note what the temperature display is reading. Do not try to chip ice or open the unit up. Call and tell us the make and model and what you have seen, and we will talk through what to do next.
Everything we do here
Services in Alstonville, NSW
Cool damp weather and spread-out properties mean equipment is easy to forget, so here is everything we can repair, install and maintain around Alstonville.
Also nearby
We work in these towns too
Local, and on the phone
Tell us about your Alstonville job
Have a photo of the rating plate ready, or of the outdoor unit and the spot where it sits. If the unit is in a shed or down a long drive, tell us how to get to it. That is all we need to start the conversation.
0415 245 10524 hours a day, 7 days a week
Not urgent? Send us the job instead