Lesson 1Estimating repair time and labour tasks for common AC fixesFigure out realistic times and labour for usual inverter AC repairs. Break down checks, taking apart, swapping parts, testing, and cleaning to quote labour right and plan your day's jobs without hassle in Zimbabwean homes.
Time estimates for standard diagnosticsTypical durations for common repairsAllowances for access and site conditionsPlanning visits and daily job schedulingLesson 2Parts priority and vehicle stocking: high-priority spares to carry vs order-only itemsDecide which AC spare parts to keep in your bakkie for quick fixes. Sort high-priority, medium-priority, and order-only items by how often they fail, cost, space in the vehicle, and how soon clients want the job done in local setups.
Classifying high-priority fast-moving sparesMedium-priority and brand-specific partsOrder-only, bulky, or rare componentsOrganising and labelling van inventoryReviewing stock based on past repairsLesson 3Safety, refrigerant regulations, and documentation practices for field repairsStick to safety rules and refrigerant laws during on-site repairs. Learn about protective gear, handling leaks, recovery and charging guidelines, labelling, and proper records to comply with rules and safeguard clients and the environment in Zimbabwe.
Personal protective equipment for AC workSafe handling of refrigerant cylindersLeak response and environmental dutiesRecovery, recycling, and charging rulesService reports and job documentationLesson 4Typical replacement parts and failure likelihoods for inverter ACs and fast diagnosticsSpot common failing parts in inverter ACs and test them swiftly. Learn quick diagnostic tips for circuit boards, sensors, fans, and compressors to focus checks and cut time on each service visit in busy Zimbabwean schedules.
High-failure electronic and sensor componentsCommon fan motor and bearing problemsTypical compressor and start failuresQuick tests to confirm suspect partsUsing patterns from brand service historyLesson 5Common fault patterns: weak cooling, gurgling sounds, unit stopping after runtimeIdentify usual inverter AC fault signs and match them to causes. Study weak cooling, gurgling or hissing noises, and units that halt after running, linking each to electrical, refrigerant, or airflow problems for efficient fixes.
Weak cooling with normal power consumptionGurgling or hissing sounds in pipingUnit stopping after short or long runtimeIntermittent cooling and random restartsPatterns linked to sensor or PCB issuesLesson 6Refrigeration checks with gauges and thermometer: static pressure, superheat/subcooling, refrigerant level diagnosisUse refrigeration gauges and thermometers to assess system condition. Learn static and running pressure tests, superheat and subcooling calculations, and how to check refrigerant levels and blockages without overfilling the system in field work.
Safe connection of gauges to service portsStatic pressure checks and what they showMeasuring running pressures correctlyCalculating superheat and subcoolingDiagnosing charge level and restrictionsLesson 7Preventive maintenance upsells specific to ACs: filter care, coil cleaning, refrigerant checks, and service contractsBuild profitable and honest preventive maintenance for split inverter ACs. Cover filter and coil care, drain cleaning, basic refrigerant checks, and how to offer and explain service contracts that benefit clients in Zimbabwe's climate.
Filter inspection, cleaning, and replacementIndoor and outdoor coil cleaning proceduresDrain pan and condensate line maintenanceBasic refrigerant health checks during serviceDesigning and pricing AC service contractsExplaining maintenance plans to customersLesson 8Presenting AC repair options and pricing to customers clearly and respectfullyLearn to share repair findings, choices, and costs in a clear, honest, and polite manner. Practice explaining faults, suggesting repair levels, dealing with concerns, and recording approvals to foster lasting client trust in local interactions.
Explaining diagnosis in simple languageOffering good, better, best repair optionsDiscussing parts, labour, and warranty termsHandling price objections professionallyDocumenting approvals and declined workLesson 9Understanding inverter AC systems: compressor types, PCB/inverter board, variable speed operationGrasp how inverter split AC systems function to make diagnostics logical. Examine inverter compressor types, PCB and power modules, variable speed running, sensors, and how the system adjusts capacity and power use under varying loads in Zimbabwean conditions.
Fixed-speed vs inverter compressor basicsRole of the main PCB and inverter moduleHow variable speed controls capacityKey sensors and their functionsImpact of load and ambient on operationLesson 10Electrical tests with multimeter and clamp meter: supply checks, capacitor/function of fans, compressor current and run analysisLearn safe use of multimeter and clamp meter on inverter ACs. Check supply voltage, capacitors, fan motors, compressor current, and read results to find overloads, imbalances, or failing electrical parts during on-site service.
Safety checks before live electrical testingMeasuring supply voltage and phase balanceTesting capacitors and fan motor windingsMeasuring compressor starting and running currentInterpreting abnormal current and voltage readingsLesson 11On-site visual checks and safety: leaks, frost, wiring, drainage, airflow, accessible componentsDo thorough on-site visual inspections before detailed tests. Check for leaks, frost, wiring damage, drainage problems, airflow blocks, and access issues while keeping safe around live gear and ladders in typical Zimbabwean installations.
Exterior inspection of indoor and outdoor unitsChecking for oil stains and refrigerant leaksIdentifying frost, ice, and airflow blockagesInspecting wiring, terminals, and insulationDrainage, levelling, and mounting checksSafe ladder and work area practicesLesson 12Confirming faults: isolating PCB vs sensor vs mechanical issues using step-by-step testsUse organised tests to pinpoint if faults are from PCB, sensors, or mechanical parts. Follow step-by-step isolation, cross-check measurements, and skip needless board or compressor swaps to save time and costs.
Reading and interpreting error codesTesting thermistors and pressure sensorsIsolating indoor vs outdoor PCB faultsDistinguishing electrical vs mechanical issuesAvoiding unnecessary board replacement
