Air conditioning servicing in Harlow

What happens on a service visit?

Indoors, we clean the filters, the coil and the fan, then clear the condensate drain and make sure it still falls properly. Outdoors, we take out leaves and grime and look over the fins and the base. After that come the electrical connections, the controls and the isolator, followed by a measure of air temperatures and overall performance. We finish by checking for refrigerant loss and completing whatever paperwork the law asks for.

How often should it be serviced, and when?

Start with the maker's handbook, since a warranty can hang on it. Once a year suits most homes. Average highs at the Writtle climate station pass 20°C in June, so book in spring, before the unit has real work to do. Salons, kitchens and server rooms can need visits more often. Between visits, you can usually wash or vacuum the filters yourself.

When is a leak check a legal duty?

When the system holds 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a check is due at least every 12 months, and at 50 tonnes at least every six. In practice that means about 7.4kg of R32, which has a global warming potential of 675, or only about 2.4kg of the older R410A, at 2,088. So some older systems are caught, while most single home units are nowhere near. Read the label on your outdoor unit for the figure. Operators over the threshold keep records for at least five years.

What are the signs it cannot wait?

Water running from the indoor unit, frost on the pipes, a musty smell, feeble airflow, or a room that cools more slowly than last summer. Book a repair, and if water is coming out, turn the unit off in the meantime.