The Ultimate Guide to Air Conditioning Maintenance
Most people only think about their air conditioning when it stops working. But, a little regular attention is all that air conditioners need to keep them running for years. Poor air conditioning maintenance means that you have higher energy bills, poorer air quality, potential breakdowns and a shorter system life span.
With over 25 years of experience as a family-run air conditioning business, the team at D-Mec Services knows what it takes to keep a system running at its best. This AC maintenance guide will talk you through how to maintain air conditioning, when to consider air conditioning repair and everything else you need to know to keep your system performing at its best.
Why Does Air Conditioning Maintenance Matter?
Air conditioning maintenance isn’t optional if you want a well-run air conditioning unit. Firstly, a maintenance appointment usually costs around £80-£150, for a home system, which is significantly cheaper than an emergency air conditioning repair or a full replacement.
As well as this, well maintained units will use significantly less energy. When a system has a clogged filter or dirty coils it forces the unit to work harder. Dirty filters also become a source of dust, allergens or mould instead of protecting against them. For more information read our article on Why Air Conditioning Matters: Key Benefits for Home, Health and Work.
Air conditioning can be a big investment so you want to get the most for your money and ensure that it lasts the full lifetime. Well maintained air conditioning units should last for up to 10-15 years. By not carrying our air conditioning maintenance you are not only costing yourself money in repairs but also having to pay for a full new unit sooner.
If you have a commercial property, air conditioning maintenance isn’t just best practice, it’s a legal requirement. UK F-Gas Regulations require systems to be inspected by a certified engineer and service records should be kept for at least 5 years. At D-Mec Services, all our engineers are F-Gas Certified and provide full documentation with every visit.
What Air Conditioning Maintenance Can You Do Yourself?
Not every element of how to maintain air conditioning requires a professional. There are certain steps that you can do yourself. This section of our AC maintenance guide covers the key ones:
Cleaning or rinsing the filters
This is the most impactful thing that homeowners can do. You should do this every 4-6 weeks during heavy use. To clean or rinse the filters you must remove the filter, rinse it with lukewarm water and ensure it is fully dry before inserting it back into the air conditioning unit.
Please Note: Different systems have different filters so the process may change depending on this.
Keep the outdoor unit clear
Airflow around the condenser can be restricted by leaves, grass cuttings and debris. We recommend that you check it seasonally and ensure that there is a clear space around the unit. However, don’t hose it down without guidance.
Checking and cleaning the indoor unit
You should wipe down the casing, ensure that any vents aren’t blocked by furniture or curtains and ensure that the unit isn’t struggling to circulate air.
Check the condensate drain
If this drain is blocked water will back up which can lead to leaks and mould. To check the drain you should ensure that it is draining freely and that there aren’t any visible blockages.
Monitoring performance
We recommend that you keep an eye out for unusual noises, reduced cooling/heating effectiveness, strange smells or the unit cycling on and off more than usual. These can be early signs of issues that may require air conditioning repair if left unaddressed. Read our 10 Spring Aircon Maintenance Tips article for a great seasonal reference of keeping on top of these checks.
What Does a Professional Air Conditioning Service Include?
When you hire a professional for air conditioning maintenance, like D-Mec, we will conduct a filter inspection and deep clean. During this we will clean all the internal components that homeowners can’t easily access. We will then conduct coil cleaning where we will clean both the evaporator and condenser as they will gather grime over time leading to reduced efficiency.
Following this, we will check refrigerant levels as these must be correct to enable the system to cool effectively. In the UK, only F-Gas certified engineers can legally handle refrigerants. If you’re unsure what qualifications to look for when hiring an engineer, our article on What Certifications Should an Air Conditioning Engineer Have? is a useful guide. We will also conduct an electrical check where we will look at wiring, connection, capacitors and controls to identify any wear or safety issues.
Our experts will also flush and clear the drain as well as conducting performance tests. This is where we will check temperatures, airflow and the overall system operation to ensure that it is running correctly.
Finally, they will leave you with a service record. This is especially important for commercial properties, you must have this written service record.
How Often Should You Service Your Air Conditioning System?
A key part of any AC maintenance guide is understanding how often servicing should take place. As a general rule, we recommend at least one professional service per year for domestic systems and at least two for commercial units, where twice-yearly servicing is often a contractual or regulatory requirement. For more on what this looks like in practice for businesses, read our guide on The Fundamentals of Commercial Air Conditioning.
However, these guidelines are dependent on many factors such as usage. For a unit that is being used year-round, to cool in the summer and heat in the winter we would recommend a spring service before peak cooling season and an autumn check before heating season. Understanding how to maintain air conditioning across the seasons is one of the most effective ways to avoid unexpected problems.
If you are noticing unusual noises, reduced performance, water dripping from the indoor unit or increased energy bills it would be beneficial to move the service forward. This way we can check for any issues and resolve them before they worsen. Air conditioning maintenance can have a noticeable impact on your running costs. This is something we cover in more detail in our What Are The Average Air Conditioning Running Costs article.
Important Note: Many manufacturers require evidence of professional air conditioning maintenance to maintain warranty validity.
What Are the Warning Signs That Your Air Conditioning Needs Attention?
Understanding how to maintain air conditioning also means knowing when something isn’t right. The following warning signs suggest your system may need attention or air conditioner repair:
- Reduced cooling or heating output – If the system is running but the room isn’t reaching the desired temperature, this is a clear sign that there is an issue.
- Unusual noises – rattling could be a sign of loose components, grinding or squealing could suggest mechanical wear and hissing could indicate a refrigerant leak. These signs shouldn’t be ignored
- Unpleasant smells – musty odours could signal mould and burning smells can signal an electrical issue, if you smell this we recommend you immediately turn the unit off. For more on this specific issue, read our article Why Does My Aircon Smell?
- Water leaks or excessive condensation – some condensation from the outdoor unit is normal, however dripping from the indoor unit or pooling is a sign of a blocked drain or a refrigerant problem.
- Increased energy bills – if a system is having to work harder than usual this will show up in your energy bill.
- The system short-cycling – if the system is turning on and off rapidly this is a sign of stress on the system and something that needs investigation.
For a deeper dive into when an air conditioning unit can be repaired or need replacing, read our When to Repair vs Replace Your Air Conditioning article.
What Is The Best Way To Protect Your Air Conditioning System?
Consistent air conditioning maintenance is one of the simplest yet most cost-effective things you can do as an air conditioning owner. As this AC maintenance guide has shown, how to maintain air conditioning doesn’t always require a professional, there are tasks that the owner can carry out monthly or seasonally. However, we would always recommend a professional service at least annually, or twice yearly for commercial units.
We recognise that keeping on top of your AC maintenance and arranging a professional cleaning can feel like a hassle, but it is so important to protect your investment. At D-Mec we offer air conditioning installation, servicing, maintenance and repairs.
Don’t wait for a breakdown, contact D-Mec Services today to book your air conditioning service.