Frequently Asked Questions and
Frequent Problem Answers:

Frequent Questions


• My unit is blowing cold air but it is in heat mode. Why?
• Do the feet on the outside unit have to be bolted to the floor?
• Does the outside unit sit directly on the ground?
• The fan keeps cutting in and out. Is there a problem?
• Whenever there is a power failure, and the power is restored, the split air conditioner switches itself on. How do I stop this from occurring?
• Do I have to change the filters? How often does this need to be done?
• Can I have plants on or around the air conditioner? If so, how close?
• How far away from the wall should the outdoor unit be (from the front and back of it)?
• My unit has been set to the heating mode. Suddenly it has stopped and the outdoor unit has ice on it. Is this a problem?
• How much distance do I have to allow on the left and right sides of my outdoor unit?


(The following are answers to frequent problems. These answers are not to be held as a end all solution! Do not attempt any of these solutions unless you are a fully qualified air conditioner service technician. If you believe that you have one of these problems please contact Pioneer International Pty. Ltd. for a Service Booking)



My unit is blowing cold air but it is in heat mode. Why? Top ^

If the desired temperature has been reached in the room space then the indoor unit will slow the fan but continue to circulate a small amount of air so as to measure room air temperature. This air is actually at room temperature but may feel "cooler" because the indoor unit has stopped heating the air until the room temp falls again.

Do the feet on the outside unit have to be bolted to the floor? Top ^

The unit should be placed on a firm level base of concrete. A qualified installer should be consulted to determine the need for securing bolts on a case by case basis.

Does the outside unit sit directly on the ground? Top ^

Some form of level concrete slab should be placed under the outdoor unit.

The fan keeps cutting in and out. Is there a problem? Top ^

Some air conditioning units are designed to sometimes switch the indoor and outdoor fans on and off automatically in order to provide the temperature conditions set by the user.

Whenever there is a power failure, and the power is restored, the split air conditioner switches itself on. How do I stop this from occurring? Top ^

Some air conditioners are have a auto-restart feature installed in the case of a power failure, when power resumes the unit will return to the setting that it was on prior to the power failure. A qualified technician at Pioneer International Pty. Ltd. can turn this feature off.

Do I have to change the filters? How often does this need to be done? Top ^

Air filters fitted to indoor units should be regularly inspected and cleaned. Initially check every 4 weeks, until some idea is gained as to how quickly dust is building-up. At the very least, air filters should be cleaned every 3 months. Some indoor units are fitted with Catechin and various Air Purifying Filters, which have specific maintenance instructions. therefore the individual instructions supplied with each unit should be carefully followed.

Can I have plants on or around the air conditioner? If so, how close? Top ^

The operation manual outlines the requirements when placing plants near a unit. Plants should generally be kept from direct exposure to warm or cold air being blown from the indoor unit. Try to place plants out of direct drafts from the indoor unit. The outdoor unit should never have plants or any other material obstructing airflow. At least 1m of space in front and 100mm behind the outdoor unit is required for trouble free operation.

How far away from the wall should the outdoor unit be (from the front and back of it)? Top ^

At the front (fan side) of unit, no less than 1m is recommended for a small split AC and 2m for a large package AC. More would be preferable. At the back (no fan) of unit, no less than 100mm is needed for a small split AC and 200mm for a large package AC. More would be preferable. N.B. All outdoor units not only need a minimum distance around them, but also must be located so that the hot air they blow out can escape away from the unit, and new cooler air can be taken through the unit. Careful consideration regarding location is required by an experienced installer.

My unit has been set to the heating mode. Suddenly it has stopped and the outdoor unit has ice on it. Is this a problem? Top ^

No, ice on the outdoor unit is not a problem. The unit has controls that allow it to monitor the ice build up on the outdoor unit and will occasionally go into a de-ice mode to clear the ice. The full de-icing mode can last up to 30 minutes.

How much distance do I have to allow on the left and right sides of my outdoor unit? Top ^

On the side of the outdoor unit where pipes enter, maximum space possible should be allowed so that the unit can be serviced more easily. The minimum distance at the piping end should be 300mm for a small split AC and 500mm for a large package AC. At the end opposite pipes the minimum recommended distance is 100mm but more is preferable.