THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
The following notes have been compiled from the original instructions provided by the installation contractor, in 1983. This information is provided as an initial guide only. Since the building was first commissioned it may well be that previous owners have installed new systems or altered the system in your apartment such that the following information is no longer accurate. Therefore, individual owners/occupiers should make their own inquiries about the operation of their system with suitably qualified air conditioning mechanic .
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
An air conditioning unit in each apartment provides conditioned air to the living room and bedrooms via ductwork running above the ceilings.
This system is designed to condition either the living room (day time operation), or the bedrooms (night time operation). A thermostat in the living room controls the temperature of the living room (day time operation) and a thermostat in the main bedroom controls the temperature of this bedroom (night time operation).
The original system is not reverse cycle. For the cooling cycle, cool water is provided from a central plant room in the basement which is used to dissipate the heat from an exchange system within the apartments internal air conditioning unit. For the heating cycle there are electric heating elements within the apartments internal air conditioning unit.
SYSTEM OPERATION
1. Switching on
a) Switch on at the on/off switch (beneath the day/night switch) next to the thermostat in the living room.
b) The internal air conditioning unit starts. If the internal air conditioning unit does not start see fault finding section.
Note: Do no switch the internal air conditioning unit on, then off, and back on again without waiting 3 minutes.
2. Switching off
a) Switch off on/off switch next to the thermostat in the living room.
b) Internal air conditioning unit stops.
Note: Use only the on/off switch to turn the internal air conditioning unit on and off.
The power supply to the internal air conditioning unit should be left on (ie., Main switch on fuse board in kitchen and service switch located beside internal air conditioning unit). If the power is switched off to the air conditioning unit for extended periods of time, it will be necessary to leave the air conditioning unit with power on for 4 hours before demanding air conditioning (switching on at the on/off switch). This is to allow adequate time for sump heating of the compressor. If this is not done serious damage can occur to the compressor.
3. Selection of Day or Night Zones
a) Decide on which area requires air conditioning
b) The day/night switch is the one above the on/off switch next to the living room thermostat.
c) To select day zone, push the top of the switch in.
d) To select night zone, push the bottom of the switch in.
Note: Do not switch from Day to Night and back to Day without waiting 3 minutes.
4. Selection of Temperature
a) Decide on required room temperature (21ºC is regarded as a comfortable by most people).
b) Set the thermostat to the desired temperature by rotating the knob up or down.
c) The thermostat, once set at the desired room temperature, can be left completely alone as it will automatically bring in heating or cooling to maintain a constant room temperature.
Note: Do not switch from a high temperature to a low temperature and back to a high temperature without waiting 3 minutes.
5. Cooling Tower shut down
a) Periodically the cooling towers are shut down for maintenance. (When this is being done our maintenance contractor will be asked to leave a note advising this on the notice board.)
Note: If there is demand for cool water while the system is shut down the high pressure cut out button(s) will operate and will require resetting once the system has been restarted.
MAINTENANCE
1. Air Filter
a) The air filter is located on the front or the side of the air conditioning unit.
b) The filter can be removed, if required, by turning off the air conditioning unit and sliding the filter completely out.
c) Clean the air filter every one to two months (dependent on use). It can be cleaned by vacuuming or if extremely dirty, washing in soapy water.
d) Once dry, replace the filter and switch the air conditioning unit back on.
Note: It is important that the air filter is kept clean. A blocked filter will cause liquid refrigerant to ‘slug’ back to the compressor and cause major mechanical damage to valves, connecting rods etc. If this happens a new compressor will have to be fitted which can be expensive.
2. Annually
The air conditioning system should be completely checked for correct operation by a qualified refrigeration mechanic.
Please note that the Owners Corporation is only responsible for the provision of cooling water to the individual units at the same rate as originally designed and constructed. Individual owners are responsible for maintaining all other aspects of their system.
FAULT FINDING
I. Problem: Internal air conditioning unit does NOT SWITCH ON at on/off switch next to thermostat in living room.
Solution:
Check if main switch on fuse board in kitchen cupboard is switched on.
Switch off main switch on fuse board in kitchen cupboard and check the fuse on the right hand side of the grey stove fuse. If this fuse is blown or tripped rectify accordingly. Switch on main switch on fuse board.
Check if service switch (white on/off switch located beside air conditioning unit) is switched on.
Check 1, 2 and 3 again.
Phone A/C contractor for service.
Comment: Was thermostat set on heating, cooling, and then heating again without waiting 3 minutes; or day/night change over set from day to night and back again without waiting 3 minutes?
II. Problem: Air Conditioning unit is NOT HEATING.
Solution:
Is air conditioning unit switched on? If not, check 1 – 5.
Is the thermostat in the area being conditioned set on a high enough room temperature to call for heating (see section under selection of temperature)?
Phone A/C contractor for service.
Comment: On heating, the temperature of the air delivered to the room is only a few degrees higher than the room temperature, and a reasonable heat-up period for the area being conditioned must be allowed for. A noticeable increase in room temperature should be experienced in approximately one hour from the time the unit was switched on.
III. Problem: Air Conditioning unit is NOT COOLING.
Solution:
Is air conditioning unit switched on? If not, check 1 – 5.
Is the thermostat in the area being conditioned, set on a low enough room temperature to call for cooling (see section under selection of temperature)?
Reset the high pressure cut out button(s). If the button clicks and the compressor starts, the problem is solved.
If the compressor does not start at all, phone A/C contractor for service.
Comment: If the compressor stops again after a short period of time this can be caused by a lack of cooling water from the cooling tower in the plant room or faulty valves within the internal air conditioning unit.
IV. Problem: Reduction in the amount of air being delivered from the grills.
Solution:
Is the air conditioning unit switched on? If not, check 1 – 5.
Check if the filter is clean.
Check day/night change over is functioning correctly.
Phone A/C contractor for service.
V. Problem: Water leaking from air conditioning unit.
Solution:
For a minor leak, or drip, phone A/C contractor for service.
For a major leak turn off the two valves connecting the copper pipe (by the side of air conditioning unit) to the rubber hoses going into the internal air conditioning unit. To turn these valves, place a screwdriver in the slot and turn.
Phone A/C contractor for service.
Comment: When the valves are fully open, the slot is in line with the valve. When the valves are fully shut, the slot faces across the valve.
If you are in doubt of any aspects of these instructions it is recommended that you seek help from the Building Manager or your air conditioning technician.
Wimbledon Apartments
4 New McLean Street
Edgecliff NSW 2027
SP19963