Air Conditioning Services

Servicing & Maintenance

Keeping an existing system running well

If you already have air conditioning installed and need someone to service it, maintain it, or take on an ongoing contract, we match your enquiry with independent local installers who cover servicing and maintenance in your area. This page is about looking after a system you already have — if you’re after a new installation, see our installation page instead.

Why servicing matters

Air conditioning systems lose efficiency gradually rather than all at once. Filters clog, coils pick up dust, and refrigerant can leak slowly over time — none of which is usually obvious day to day, but all of which make the system work harder to do the same job. Regular servicing catches this early, which generally means lower running costs, a longer working life for the unit, and fewer unexpected breakdowns.

Maintenance contracts

Beyond a one-off annual service, many installers offer maintenance contracts that book servicing in automatically, sometimes alongside priority attention if something goes wrong between visits. This suits businesses in particular, where a system running continuously through opening hours makes an unplanned breakdown more disruptive, but it’s also available for homes. What’s included, and how it’s priced, varies by installer, so it’s worth comparing more than one before committing.

Refrigerant, regassing and F-Gas rules

UK air conditioning systems use a refrigerant gas that’s regulated under F-Gas rules — only an engineer holding the right F-Gas qualification is legally allowed to work on the refrigerant circuit, including topping it up (a “regas”) or checking it for leaks. That qualification, and any F-Gas compliance paperwork the job needs, sits with the installer who carries out the work, not with us. It’s a reasonable question to ask any installer you’re comparing.

Getting matched with a servicing installer

Tell us a little about your system and what you need — a one-off service, a repair-linked service, or an ongoing contract — using the form below, and we’ll pass your enquiry to independent installers covering your area. get in touch if you’d rather talk it through first.

Frequently asked questions

What is air conditioning servicing and why does it matter?
Servicing is a routine check and clean of an existing system — filters, coils, drainage and refrigerant levels are inspected and any faults are picked up early. Because a dirty or poorly maintained system has to work harder to cool the same space, regular servicing generally helps a system run efficiently and reduces the chance of a breakdown.
How often should air conditioning be serviced?
Most manufacturers and installers recommend at least one service a year for a domestic system, with busier commercial systems sometimes serviced more often. The right interval for your system depends on how much it's used and the manufacturer's own guidance, which an installer can confirm when they look at your unit.
What does an air conditioning service actually include?
A typical service covers cleaning or replacing filters, checking the condensate drain isn't blocked, inspecting the indoor and outdoor units for wear, and checking refrigerant levels and pipework for leaks. The exact checklist varies by installer and by system, so it's worth asking what's included when you compare quotes.
What happens if an air conditioning unit isn't serviced?
An unserviced system tends to lose efficiency over time as filters clog and coils get dirty, which can mean higher running costs and more strain on the components. Left long enough, small issues that a service would have caught early — a slow refrigerant leak, for example — can develop into a bigger fault or a full breakdown.
Does air conditioning need regassing?
Not every system does, and not every year — but if a system is losing refrigerant through a small leak, or its performance is dropping, a regas (topping up or replacing the refrigerant charge) may be needed. Only a suitably qualified engineer can handle refrigerant, so this is checked and carried out by the installer, not diagnosed reliably from home.
Is a maintenance contract worth having, rather than one-off servicing?
A maintenance contract books in regular servicing automatically and can suit anyone who'd rather not have to remember to arrange it each year, particularly businesses running a system continuously. Whether it's worth it compared with one-off servicing depends on the system, how it's used, and what an installer includes in the contract — worth asking about when you compare options.