Faerie Glen borders the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve, 128 hectares at the western end of the Bronberg, where the quartzite ridge rises to Renosterkop at 1,468 m. With the reserve and its trails on the doorstep, evenings here are quiet, and that's worth planning for when you add an aircon.
Keeping the outdoor unit quiet
- Choose inverter. Once the room reaches temperature, an inverter outdoor unit slows down and runs softly instead of starting and stopping at full power.
- Mind the position. Keep the outdoor unit away from your own bedroom windows and the neighbour's boundary wall. A narrow passage between two walls bounces sound back, so an open spot is quieter.
- Use rubber mounts. Anti-vibration pads on the bracket or stand stop the hum travelling through the wall into the house.
- Compare the numbers. Spec sheets list sound levels in decibels for the indoor and outdoor units. A few decibels make a noticeable difference at night.
Gardens, leaves and summer storms
Leafy gardens are part of the appeal of the suburb, but leaves and grass cuttings clog an outdoor unit's coil and cut its cooling. Keep at least 30 cm clear around the unit, don't plant shrubs tight against it, and check it after a summer thunderstorm. A blocked coil is one of the most common reasons a unit runs all afternoon and still doesn't cool the room.
Warm mornings in winter
Pretoria's July nights average around 3°C. A reverse-cycle split heats a bedroom or lounge quickly in the morning, and the same unit cools it in summer, so one installation covers the whole year.
If a unit has stood unused since autumn, switch it to heat mode for ten minutes before the first cold front arrives. If it blows cold air, smells musty or shows an error code, you'll know in time to have it looked at before you need it every morning.
Repairs and servicing in Faerie Glen
If your unit has become louder than it used to be, that's worth a look: a loose panel, a worn fan bearing or a damaged fan blade are common causes, and all are cheaper to fix early. See aircon repairs for other faults, or book a yearly service before the heat arrives.
Questions from Faerie Glen
Should I cover the outdoor unit in winter?
Not if you use the aircon for heating: a reverse-cycle unit needs its outdoor unit in winter, and a cover blocks the airflow. A breathable cover over the top only makes sense if the unit won't be used for months.
Can the outdoor unit go under a tree?
Shade is fine, but falling leaves, pods and sap clog the coil. If there's no other spot, leave generous clearance, keep it clear through the year, and expect to have the coil cleaned at every service.
Services in Faerie Glen
Aircon installations, aircon repairs and aircon servicing are all available in Faerie Glen. The same services cover Garsfontein, Moreleta Park, Lynnwood and Silver Lakes, and the rest of Pretoria East.