Evaporative Air Conditioning FAQs

National Heating & Cooling

Using my evaporative air conditioning

What should I do if my controller displays “SERVICE” & when I push ON/OFF button a number appears?

When SERVICE is displayed it may be necessary for you to phone the Service number located on the back of your owner’s manual. However, before doing so, turn the wall control OFF. You will notice a number flashing at the bottom of the screen. This number indicates the reason for requiring service. Please write this number down, then push the button to turn the cooler back on. If after a short time SERVICE is again shown on the display, turn the wall control OFF and check if the flashing number is the same. If it is the same, check the following possible problems..

If ‘02’ is displayed

1. Check that the water supply tap to the cooler is turned on.
2. Check that your local water authority haven’t temporarily disconnected the water in your area.

If ‘04’ is displayed

1. If your cooler is fitted with a drain valve, check that the drain is not blocked.

If this does not fix the problem then contact your Dealer or the Service number on the back of your owner’s manual (1300 650 644) or book a service request online at www.seeleyinternational.com under the ‘get support’ menu.

Please have the flashing number that you wrote down ready when organising a visit by an authorised Seeley service agent.

What should I do if my controller displays “SERVICE” & when the ON/OFF button is pushed “SERVICE” remains on the screen?

SERVICE is displayed on the wall control screen and the controller does not respond to the pushing of any buttons even though the backlighting responds. This is easily rectified and means that communication needs to be re-established between the wall control and the electronic controller inside the Cooler. To establish communications simply push and hold the “Down” arrow button until the word “SERVICE” disappears from the screen. This may take up to 15 to 20 seconds. Once communication has been established the word SERVICE will disappear and the unit can be operated.

Please be aware, if the condition persists, or there is any abnormal operation of the cooler we suggest that you have it checked by an authorised Seeley Service agent by booking a service request online or calling 1300 650 644.

How many windows and doors do I need to have open for my evaporative air conditioner to work effectively?

For an evaporative air conditioner to work effectively, some windows or outside doors must be open, or some other form of ventilation provided. This is to allow the hot air to escape outside of the building. The best approach is to open the windows or outside doors that are the furthest away from the air conditioning vents or ducts. In the rooms with air conditioning vents, try to have an exhaust area of open window (or door) that is about twice the size of the vent opening. Note: when it’s humid and the air is very moist, evaporation levels are lower. This means that the cooling effect is reduced. In some situations, it may help to switch the air conditioner to “ventilation” mode and run the fan on a high speed. If you have tried all of the above and still feel your air conditioner is not working effectively, your air conditioner may need to be serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

Can I pre-cool my house?

The Spectrolink controller has a time delay feature, that you can set to start before you come home, so you arrive home to a lovely cool house. Remember, though, that you must leave a window or outside door open if you are going to have the air conditioner on. If you don’t open a window or door, you may find the house quite humid when you get home. This humidity will clear once you open the windows. Alternatively, you can turn the air conditioner on as soon as you get home, and open outside windows and doors that are as far away as possible from the air conditioning vents. Make sure that the exhaust area of the open window (or door) is about twice the size of the vent opening.

Can I control the amount of cooling in different areas of the building?

Yes, you can change the cooling in different areas of the house by changing where you have open windows and outside doors. Evaporative air conditioning works because the cool air from the outlets takes the path of least resistance to the outside air (pushing the hot air out on the way). So, if you close a window in a room and open the internal door, the cool air will move into other areas, where there is an external opening. We recommend that you experiment so you can get the best out of your air conditioner – but remember that there has to be an exhaust opening to the outside of the house for the cooling to work properly.

Can I use my air conditioner to remove smells of cooking/ smoke/ unpleasant odours in my home?

Yes, you can use your air conditioner to remove unpleasant smells from your house. The best method to achieve this is to open the windows up a little more than usual and then start the air conditioner in “ventilation” mode on one of the higher fan speeds. This will exhaust the smells out of the building.

My remote control has suddenly stopped working, what should I do?

Change the batteries. All remote controls are fitted with batteries that must be changed every year. We recommend you change all three AAA 1.5 Volt Alkaline batteries (do not use rechargeable batteries). If your remote control has a display, we recommend replacing the batteries if they are more than 12 months old. If your remote control is still not working, your air conditioner may need to be serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

My remote controlled Breezair cooler always turns itself off after a period of time but the remote control screen indicates the cooler is still operating, what should I do?

Try changing the batteries. You may be losing communication between the remote control and the air conditioner’s control system. All remote controls are fitted with batteries that must be changed every year. We recommend you change all three AAA 1.5 Volt Alkaline batteries (do not use rechargeable batteries). If this has not fixed your problem, your air conditioner may need to be serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

Why does my new air conditioner smell when I turn it on?

The Chillcel filter material works well and lasts longer than other types of filters… but it is a bit smelly when you first turn the air conditioner on! The good news is, the smell doesn’t last for long. The best way to get rid of it is to open the windows and run the cooler on one of its higher fan settings for the first day – the smell should soon disappear.

My portable cooler smells, what should I do?

Occasionally the “woodwool” filter pad, at the rear of the cooler will emit a smell if it has not dried out fully after use and put away for a few days. To help freshen the filter pad, add a few drops of an essential oil or vanilla essence into the water in the water tank, this will clean the filter pad, and get rid of the smell. To ensure the filter pad dries out fully after use, switch the control to fan only mode for about 10 – 15 minutes, this will cut off the water pump and help dry out the filter pad.

I’m concerned about the security of having my windows or outside doors open, what should I do?

If you are concerned about safety it may be a good idea to have security doors and windows installed. Security doors and windows that allow air to pass through, but prevent entry to the home are a great way to give you peace of mind and the best results from your air conditioner. An alternative to opening a window or outside door is to install security vents, or up ducts, that exhaust the air from the building. Contact your dealer or installer for information about security vents.

Can I have lots of doors and windows open or my whole back area open?

You can fully open windows, outside door and verandas, but you may experience a reduction in the cooling effect if too much hot air is let in. For best results, partially open windows or outside doors that are the furthest away from the air conditioning vents or ducts. In the rooms with air conditioning vents, try to have an exhaust area of open window (or door) that is about twice the size of the vent opening. If there are very hot winds, you can reduce openings on the windward side of the house (where the wind is coming from) and increase the openings on the lee (opposite) side of the house.

Why is hot air is coming out of the vents?

Check that the wall control is set to “cool”. Check that the water supply to the unit is turned on. Note: if it is very humid outside it may help to switch the air conditioner to “ventilation” mode and run the fan on a high speed. If you have checked these things and your problem is not fixed, your air conditioner may need to be serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

Why is there too much air coming through some grills and not enough through other grills?

You need to contact the company who installed the system and ask them to balance your airflow within the duct work. This cannot be achieved by any adjustment on the air conditioner. If you have moved into a house with a system already installed and you don’t know who installed it, you can get someone who is qualified in duct work design to balance the system. You can find a dealer closest to you by using our Dealer Fast Find, and they will be able to refer you. Please don’t worry – it’s not a fault with the air conditioner.

Water

Since installing my evaporative air-conditioner I notice my water bills are slightly higher, why is this?

An evaporative air conditioner uses water and the process of evaporation to produce a cooling effect. Plus, some water is replaced regularly to ensure that the water in the cooler stays clean. The amount of water used will vary depending on the site of the air conditioner, the climatic conditions and how often the cooler is used. For more information, download our brochure that explains energy and water use.

How much water will my air conditioner use and what will it cost?

Seeley International can not accurately calculate gas, water and or power consumption as any calculation must be based on individual requirements and conditions. The factors that determine the result include climatic conditions, installation specifications, product selection, service utility charges, expectations and requirements, where these factors continually change prevents a correct calculation being made and can not be measured at a fixed point.

Any comparisons Seeley International makes between systems are based on equivalent sized products at a pre determined requirement and operating conditions.

Why is there a constant stream of water coming out of the drainpipe from my air conditioner when it is running?

If you have a Constant Bleed system, you will see a constant flow while the air conditioner’s pump is operating. The amount of water flow will vary depending on the rate set by the installer – so, if you are in doubt of the setting of your bleed off, please contact your installer. If you are not sure who installed your air conditioner, you can call your local service company for a maintenance service. Please note that this type of adjustment is not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. If you have a Watermiser” water management system, the system is designed to monitor and control the quality of the water in the tank. So, it only drains water when the system really needs to. It does this by bleeding off water down through the drain, which is replaced with fresh water via water inlet float valve as the water level in the unit drops. The frequency at which the water manager bleeds off is determined by the quality of the water in the tank. A probe in the tank measures the water salinity (impurities) and, when this rises above a set level, the unit will drain some water. The frequency at which the water manager allows water to bleed off is dependent on: 1) The water supply quality; 2) The temperature of the day; 3) The humidity of the day; 4) The wind of the day; 5) The fan speed the unit is being run at; and 6) The size of the unit. In some circumstances, you may be able to use rain water, or even recycle the water used by the cooler

Can I use bore water in my evaporative air conditioner?

There are many thousands of evaporative coolers working on bore water in Australia. However, high calcium content bore water will affect the Service life of the filter pads and the unit will also need to be maintained more regularly than units operating on good quality water. We recommend speaking to your local specialist dealer who will be familiar with the conditions to discuss this further.

Why does my air conditioner drain some water every now and then?

This is normal and means your water management or Watermiser system is working correctly. These systems are designed to monitor and control the quality of the water in the tank. So, it only drains water when the system really needs to. It does this by bleeding off water down through the drain, which is replaced with fresh water via water inlet float valve as the water level in the unit drops. The frequency at which the water manager bleeds off is determined by the quality of the water in the tank. A probe in the tank measures the water salinity (impurities) and, when this rises above a set level, the unit will drain some water. The frequency at which the water manager allows water to bleed off is dependent on: 1) The water supply quality; 2) The temperature of the day; 3) The humidity of the day; 4) The wind of the day; 5) The fan speed the unit is being run at; and 6) The size of the unit.

My Breezair Model EM with remote control drains water too often, what should I do?

Check that your salinity level setting is at ‘high’. Every time you replace the batteries in your remote controller, you need to reset the salinity level setting to high. This is done by turning the controller “ON”, and selecting “MANUAL COOL” operation. When the cooler is running, hold down the “ECON” button and whilst holding down the “ECON” button press the “UP” button until the letters “HI” are displayed, and then release both buttons. Your controls are now set to the high salinity level for the life of the batteries and the drain rate should reduce within one hour. If this does not solve your problem, your air conditioner may need to be serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

Why does water flow from my drainpipe when the cooler is turned off?

If your cooler has the “no seasonal maintenance” feature, “Watermiser” system or drain system fitted, then it will drain all the water out of the unit after a preset period of time (refer to your Owner’s Manual for details – link to manual download).If your air conditioner does not have the “no seasonal maintenance” feature you may need to have your air conditioner serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

Why does my cooler drain the water when it has not been used?

If your cooler has the “no seasonal maintenance” feature / “Watermiser” / drain system fitted, then it will drain all the water out of the unit after a preset period of time (refer to your Owner’s Manual for details – link to manual download). If your air conditioner does not have the “no seasonal maintenance” feature you may need to have your air conditioner serviced. Contact one of our service agents or your installer.

I use a rain water supply to my cooler, so do I need so much water being drained out with the water management system?

If you have a constant bleed system, you can reduce the flow rate – refer to your Owner’s Manual for information – link to manual download. With water management or Watermiser systems, the controls constantly monitor the water quality. So, with better quality water, less water will be drained away.

Can I use the discharge water for my garden?

The discharge water will contain high levels of mineral salts and you should check with a garden centre before you put this water on your plants. Water from constant bleed systems can be run onto lawns. Please note that all drainage must meet local, State and Australian regulations and standards.

Cleaning and maintaining my air conditioner

When and how should I clean my cooler?

We recommend that cleaning be carried out at the end of the summer season and at least once per year. The recommended process is set out in the Owner’s Manual. Remember to only use clean water, as it does not leave a residue or odour. If the cooler is operating under harsh conditions, it may require a maintenance check more frequently.

For Seeley International units with the “no seasonal maintenance” feature, you do not need annual or end of season cleaning. However, the air conditioner will still require routine maintenance checks on an every other year basis. If the cooler is operating under harsh conditions, it may require a maintenance check more frequently. Always use clean water when cleaning the cooler, to avoid odours.

WARNING: As your cooler is mounted on the roof, we suggest that any maintenance or checks be carried out by appropriately trained and qualified personnel. Climbing onto the roof can be hazardous and could result in injury to you and damage to your property.

When should I replace the Chillcel pads (the ones that look like honeycomb) on my air conditioner?

With ChillCel Pads, you should expect to change these every seven to eight years. This can vary with water quality and local conditions. WARNING With any filter pad, failure to replace filter pads when they are past their useful life may result in reduced efficiency/performance of the air conditioner. Water may carry over into the ductwork and/or electrics, which may result in expensive damage and repairs.

When should I replace the Aspen or Woodwool pads (the ones that look like wood shavings) on my air conditioner?

With Aspen or Woodwool pads, you should expect to change these every three or four years. This can vary with water quality and local conditions.

WARNING With any filter pad, failure to replace filter pads when they are past their useful life may result in reduced efficiency/performance of the air conditioner. Water may carry over into the duct work and/or electrics, which may result in expensive damage and repairs.

I bought the “no seasonal maintenance” feature, so does this mean I do not have to do any maintenance checks at all?

Your pre and post season clean is not necessary, but your routine maintenance checks are still necessary on an every other year basis. If the cooler is operating under harsh conditions, it may require a maintenance check more frequently. Check your Owner’s Manual – link to manual download – for more details.

WARNING: As your cooler is mounted on the roof, we suggest that any maintenance or checks be carried out by appropriately trained and qualified personnel. Climbing onto the roof can be hazardous and could result in injury to you and damage to your property.

Have other questions?

If we have not answered your question well enough on this page or if you have a question which is not covered please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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