Air conditioning servicing: what it involves and why it matters

An air conditioning system doesn’t need much, but the little it does need, it needs every year. Skip servicing for a few years and you’ll usually notice it first as reduced cooling (or heating) performance, then as a bigger repair bill later.

What’s actually checked

A standard domestic service covers:

• Cleaning or replacing the indoor unit’s air filters, which build up with dust and reduce airflow over time.
• Checking the condensate drain isn’t blocked: a common cause of dripping or leaking indoor units.
• Inspecting the outdoor unit’s coil and fan for debris, leaves, and general obstruction.
• Checking refrigerant pressure and looking for any signs of a slow leak.
• Testing the controls and confirming both cooling and heating modes are working as expected.

Most of this takes 45–60 minutes per system for a straightforward single or multi-split setup.

Is it legally required?

Not usually, for a typical home. The F-Gas regulations that mandate regular leak-checking apply to systems holding a larger refrigerant charge than most domestic split systems carry, so the legal obligation mostly falls on commercial and larger installations, not a bedroom or lounge unit. That said, manufacturers generally make an annual service a condition of keeping your warranty valid, which is a good practical reason to book one even where the law doesn’t require it.

What happens if you don’t

The most common outcome isn’t a dramatic failure: it’s a slow decline. A dirty filter makes the unit work harder to move the same amount of air, which uses more electricity and puts more strain on the compressor. Over a few years, that’s the difference between a system that lasts well past its warranty and one that needs an expensive repair inside it.

Booking a service

We offer servicing on any system we’ve installed, and on most existing systems fitted by other installers, provided we can access the make and model’s service requirements. It’s worth booking before the start of summer, when demand (and wait times) are highest.