Servicing and maintenance
Air conditioning servicing and maintenance in London
An air conditioning service cleans the filters and coils, clears the condensate drain, checks the refrigerant system and electrics, and tests that the unit cools and heats properly. Most London homes book one a year, ideally in spring before the first hot spell. Bigger office systems may also need legal F-gas leak checks.
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You need this when
- The unit smells musty when it starts
- Cooling feels weaker than last summer
- Water drips from the indoor unit or runs down the wall
- The outdoor unit is clogged with leaves or London grime
- It has not been serviced for more than a year
Why servicing matters more in London
City air carries more dust, soot and pollen than the countryside, and indoor units recirculate room air all summer. Filters and coils clog, airflow drops and the unit works harder for less cooling. A dirty coil and a blocked drain tray are also where musty smells and leaks start. Outdoor units on London walls and flat roofs collect leaves, pigeon mess and grime that block airflow. A yearly clean in spring, before the first warm spell, means the system is ready for the weeks when you need it most.
What a service includes
A proper service is more than a filter rinse. It normally covers:
- cleaning or replacing filters
- cleaning the indoor coil and fan with suitable cleaner
- clearing the drain tray, pipe and any condensate pump
- cleaning the outdoor coil and checking its fixings
- checking electrical connections and controls
- measuring temperatures and pressures to spot refrigerant problems
- running the system in cooling and heating
You can rinse the filters yourself every few weeks in summer. Anything involving the refrigerant must be done by an F-gas qualified engineer.
Legal leak checks and records
Under the F-gas rules, equipment that holds refrigerant equal to 5 tonnes of CO2 or more must be leak checked at set intervals by a certified engineer, and the operator must keep records. The thresholds and frequencies are on gov.uk. Most single room home systems hold much less than this, so for them a yearly service is good practice rather than a legal duty. Larger multi zone office systems often do pass the threshold. Offices with systems over 12kW also need a TM44 energy inspection every five years.
Keeping your warranty valid
Many manufacturers ask for a yearly service by a qualified engineer to keep an extended warranty valid. Keep the service note each year. If you have just moved into a London flat with existing air conditioning, ask the seller or landlord for the service history and the installer's details, and book a service before relying on it.
Booking around access
Many London outdoor units are in places that need planning to reach: a flat roof over a rear extension, a lightwell below a mansion block, a shared roof with a locked hatch, or a high wall bracket. Tell us where the unit is when you book, and whether keys, a managing agent or a neighbour are involved. If the only access is through someone else's property, arrange it in advance. For units on high brackets with no safe access, the engineer may need a tower or ladder system, which changes the time needed. Ducted and cassette units also need clear access to their hatches or grilles.
If you manage several units, for example across a converted house of flats or a small office, servicing them on the same visit saves time and keeps the records in one place. Keep each year's service note with the installation paperwork.
What affects the price
Servicing is priced by the number of indoor units, the type of system and how easy the outdoor unit is to reach. A unit on a high wall or a roof with no safe access takes longer. You get the price before we book.
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Single split system service | price confirmed when booking |
| Each extra indoor unit | price confirmed when booking |
| Ducted or ceiling cassette units | price confirmed when booking |
| Roof or high level access | quote on survey |
No prices are shown on this site. Every job is priced after a look at it, by photo or a visit.
How the job runs
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Tell us the make, number of indoor units and where the outdoor unit is, so we bring the right access kit.
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Filters, the indoor coil, the fan and the drain tray are cleaned, and the outdoor coil is cleared of debris.
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We check pressures and temperatures, electrical connections, the condensate drain and pump, and run the unit in cooling and heating.
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You get a short note of what was done and anything that needs attention, plus leak check records where the law requires them.
Every price is agreed in writing before work starts.
Send the detailsHow often should air conditioning be serviced?
For most homes, once a year, ideally in spring. Busy offices, dusty spaces and systems that run all year may need servicing more often.
Is air conditioning servicing a legal requirement?
Not for most home systems. Leak checks become a legal duty once the refrigerant charge reaches 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which mostly affects larger commercial systems.
Can I clean my air conditioner myself?
You can rinse the filters and wipe the casing. Deeper cleaning of the coil and anything to do with refrigerant should be left to a qualified engineer.
How long does a service take?
A single wall unit is usually a short visit. Several units, ducted systems or awkward outdoor unit access take longer.
Where
Servicing and maintenance across London
Servicing and maintenance
Send it through and get a reply
Describe the rooms or the problem in a sentence. Photos of the wall and the outside space help if you can text them later.