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Maintenance and problems

Looking after your system, and what to do when something seems wrong.

11 guides · about 36 minutes of reading

  1. 01How to clean the filtersSwitch the unit off, lift the front panel and take out the mesh filters, then vacuum or rinse them in lukewarm water and let them dry fully before refitting. In regular use, this usually needs doing every few weeks.3 min read
  2. 02What a service involvesA service is a clean and check of the whole system, indoors and out, plus tests of how it runs and a look for leaks and wear. Manufacturers typically recommend one regularly, often once a year.4 min read
  3. 03Looking after the outdoor unitKeep the space around it clear so air flows freely, brush off leaves and snow with the system switched off, and leave cleaning the coil and anything inside the casing to an engineer. Otherwise it needs little beyond its regular service.4 min read
  4. 04Water dripping from the indoor unitWater in the room usually means the moisture the unit collects isn't draining away, often because of a blocked drain or dirty filters. Clean the filters and check the drain outlet, and call an engineer if it carries on.3 min read
  5. 05Ice on the pipes or outdoor unitA thin layer of frost on the outdoor unit while it heats in cold, damp weather is normal and clears when it defrosts. Ice that stays or keeps building, or that appears while cooling or on the pipes, points to a fault.3 min read
  6. 06Musty or unusual smellsA musty smell usually comes from damp dirt on the coil, drain tray or fan, and a dusty smell when heating first starts usually fades. A burning or electrical smell means switching the system off straight away.3 min read
  7. 07Noises: what's normal and what isn'tSoft airflow, light clicks as plastic warms and cools, and hisses or gurgles as refrigerant and water move are all normal, as is a whoosh during defrost. Rattling, grinding, squealing, scraping, banging or loud buzzing usually mean something is loose, worn or failing.3 min read
  8. 08Not cooling or heating properlyStart with the simple causes: the mode and setting on the remote, timers, dirty filters, open windows and a blocked outdoor unit. If those are fine and it still struggles, it may have a fault or leak that needs an engineer.4 min read
  9. 09Error codes and flashing lightsError codes and flashing lights usually show that the system has detected a problem, but they mean different things on different makes and models. Look the code up using your model number, and give it to the engineer if you need one.3 min read
  10. 10How long air conditioning lastsA well-installed, regularly serviced wall-mounted system typically lasts around 10 to 15 years, and some keep going longer. How long yours lasts depends on installation quality, how hard it works, where the outdoor unit sits and how it's looked after.3 min read
  11. 11When to call an engineerCall an engineer when simple checks don't fix a problem, and switch off straight away for burning smells, smoke, a circuit breaker that keeps tripping or signs of a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant, electrics and anything inside the casing are work for a qualified engineer.3 min read