How Often Should an Air Conditioner Be Serviced?
Servicing keeps an air conditioner running efficiently and extends its life. The right service interval depends on usage, environment, and the type of system.
Published 2026-06-01 · Van Biljoens Appliance Services & Air Conditioning
What happens during a service?
A standard aircon service covers: cleaning or replacing the air filter, cleaning the evaporator coil (indoor), cleaning the condenser coil (outdoor), checking and flushing the condensate drain, checking refrigerant pressures, inspecting electrical connections, and testing operation.
Some services also include checking fan blades and bearings, inspecting the expansion valve, and checking pipe insulation.
Residential units
For a residential split unit used seasonally (e.g. mainly in summer), an annual service before the cooling season is a reasonable minimum. Units used year-round for both heating and cooling benefit from two services per year — once before summer and once before winter.
At a minimum, the filter should be cleaned or replaced monthly. A blocked filter is the single most common cause of reduced efficiency and water leaks.
- ✓ Monthly: clean or replace the filter
- ✓ Annually: professional service minimum
- ✓ Every 6 months: recommended for year-round units
Commercial and high-usage units
Commercial units — in offices, retail, restaurants, or industrial spaces — operate for far more hours than residential units and often in environments with more dust, grease, or pollutants. Quarterly servicing is common for these applications.
A maintenance contract provides scheduled visits, priority response, and a service record. This is particularly important for businesses where equipment downtime has a direct cost.
Signs your unit needs a service sooner
- ✓ Airflow is noticeably weaker than before
- ✓ Unit takes longer to reach the set temperature
- ✓ Ice forming on the indoor or outdoor unit
- ✓ Water dripping from the indoor unit
- ✓ Unusual noise or vibration
- ✓ Unpleasant smell when the unit starts
What you can do yourself
Filter cleaning is a simple task most users can handle. Turn the unit off, remove the front cover, slide out the filter, rinse under running water, dry thoroughly, and reinstall. Never run the unit with a wet filter.
Beyond filter cleaning, the coils and drain should be cleaned by a qualified technician with the right tools and chemicals to avoid damaging the coil fins or introducing moisture into the wrong places.
Ready to take the next step?
Van Biljoens has been supplying and servicing Pretoria since 1956. We are here to help.