(Based on UK market averages)

The regular servicing of your air conditioning system will increase its efficiency and lifespan, reduce running costs, and help to keep your energy bills low.

There are several different types of installation, ranging from single split systems to complex VRF or VRV, and each have their individual service requirements. If you have searched this subject on the internet, you may well have been left very confused!

Here we discuss the different service costs attributed to each type of installation and attempt to answer the most asked frequently questions on air conditioning service and maintenance …

Domestic air conditioners service costs…

These are commonly split or multi-split type systems. Most air conditioning companies will charge the same for all varieties of units. As a rule of thumb, a domestic air conditioner should be serviced once a year and will cost anywhere between £70-£120 per indoor unit. There will usually be a reduction in the price per unit if you have multiple units being serviced during one visit.

The cost will also depend on your location; you might pay more for a service in central London as opposed to other locations as the engineer will have to factor in the cost of travel and parking. If access equipment is required to reach the units, this is also likely to be chargeable.

Commercial air conditioners call-out costs …

These are commonly VRV or VRF type systems. You will typically pay a fixed call out fee which will normally include the first hour. Market averages indicate that you will pay somewhere between £130 – £180 during core working hours. Rates can vary anywhere between £170 – £220 for attendance out of normal working hours and on the weekend.

Planned maintenance for commercial buildings costs …

Most air conditioning contractors will offer planned maintenance contracts. This means your air conditioner service will be scheduled and rates agreed via a quote or signed contract in advance. Planned maintenance packages should be tailored to your specific requirements and reduce the risk of breakdowns occurring. Depending on individual requirements, you can expect to pay between £40 – £100 per unit for multiple units as part of a planned maintenance agreement.

What is factored into the cost of my air conditioning service and maintenance?

When requesting a quotation for air conditioning service it may be helpful to bear in mind that the following factors must be allowed for in the calculations:

Labour costs
Travel costs
Refrigerant costs for re-gassing
Replacement parts
OFN (used to pressure test systems)
Reclaim Cylinders (used for reclaiming and disposing of refrigerant no longer required)

How much does it cost to repair an air conditioning unit?

These are indicative figures. Fixed costs can be provided by your local air conditioning contractor subject to the cost of replacement parts and the labour required to carry out the repair.

(Inclusive of parts and labour)

Indoor PCB between £300-£1000

Solenoid valves between £200-£800

Thermostat between £100-£250

Outdoor PCB between £300-£2000 dependant on the size of the system and manufacturer.

Fan motor between £200-£500

Leaks between £300-£2000 The system may require a repair, re-gas and pressure test. Dependant on where the leak is and the size of the system. You need new reirrigation gas and to pressure test, bigger systems need more.

Compressor between £1000-5000 For commercial building systems, this will usually include replacement of all the existing refrigerant gas, a local pressure test and usually would require master PCB board to be changed. For domestic systems you may be looking at between £1-2k, in this case it may be more cost effective to replace the system

Air conditioning servicing and maintenance FAQ’s …

Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions, however if you have any additional questions or concerns your expert AC installer should be happy to help you.

How often should I have my air conditioner serviced?

Domestic: at least once annually

Commercial: at least twice, annually

F-Gas legislation states that if a building has over 500 tonnes of gas, then you must have a professional service carried out at least four times a year. For anything under that, most contractors would recommend a routine service at least twice a year.

How do I clean my air conditioner?

You may be able to carry out a basic clean yourself and can follow these steps https://www.doityourself.com/stry/do-it-yourself-air-conditioner-service. However, we would recommend a thorough service by a qualified AC engineer to prevent any future costly defects.

How can I reduce energy consumption?

Make sure your systems are regularly maintained and ensure windows are closed whilst your systems are running.

What does an air conditioning service include?

Thorough clean of the systems components such as the filters, coil, fan and drain pan.

Can I service my air conditioner myself?

You may be able to give your air conditioner a basic service inclusive of cleaning fans and filters. However, you should enlist an expert for to ensure a thorough service at least once a year, an expert will be able to pick up on minor issues and prevent them from worsening.

Should I repair or replace my air conditioner?

Dependant on how well a system has been maintained and how much it has been used; you should look to replace it around the 10-year mark. If you book a survey with a qualified engineer, they will be able to advise whether the system needs replacing or not.

How do I know if my air conditioner needs to be serviced?

You may experience odours from your air conditioner that indicate it needs a service. You may experience insufficient airflow, leaks noises or humidity. All are tell-tale signs that you need a professional to get it back to working order again.

How long should my air conditioner last?

This depends on the following

How well a system has been installed
How well a system has been maintained
The location of units (e.g., is the outdoor exposed to harsher elements for example by the coast and subject to salt erosion).
How often the units have been in use

A well looked after air conditioning system can last anywhere from 10 – 15 years if it has been properly maintained and cared for.

What does a commercial planned maintenance visit include?

The types of things a commercial maintenance visit will includes are as follows:

Hoovering out of fan coil units internally and externally.
Chemical clean of all indoor unit coils using anti-bacterial coil cleaner which kills Covid 19
Washing of fan coil unit casing.
Cleaning of indoor fan coil unit filters.
Qualified visual inspection of internal components for indoor and outdoor units.
Tightening of accessible electrical connections.
System functional checks.
Brushing out of outdoor unit condensers clear from dirt and debris.
F Gas checks.
Updating of F Gas records.
Full System Reporting.
Hoovering off surface dust on the ceiling mounted supply and extract grills.

Evergreen Air Conditioning have a dedicated in-house service and maintenance team. We offer emergency call outs, domestic and commercial servicing, and planned maintenance. Call 08081781678 or email enquiries@evergreenac.co.uk for free quotations and advice.

In this article we discuss how room temperature in the bedroom is an important consideration and how your air conditioner can play a key role in helping you sleep well.

Why is a good night’s sleep important?

Most people welcome their comfortable bed after a long day. But apart from the delicious feeling of waking up fully rejuvenated after a restful night, did you know that sleep is vital for survival and health?

We should never underestimate the importance of sleeping well, it is essential to your overall wellbeing, it protects you physically and mentally, as well as boosting your quality of life and improving your performance.

Sleep deprivation is linked to a large range of health conditions including diabetes, depression, obesity, heart attacks and cancer. Lack of sleep suppresses your immune system which leaves you vulnerable to infections and metabolic and hormone changes.

Research suggests that “four in ten people aren’t getting enough sleep, while one in five sleep poorly most nights, representing the second most common health complaint after pain.”

How can we sleep better?

Although sleep is a natural process that our body does involuntarily, our busy lifestyles, and bad habits, often prevent us from getting the good nights sleep that we need. Poor sleep hygiene leads to poor quality sleep, so it is important to create the perfect environment to promote a restful night.

There is a wealth of information available about this subject, in fact hours spent reading the research on this could actually send you to sleep!!! Try cutting out stimulants such as coffee after midday, reducing alcohol consumption and turning off your mobile phone half an hour before you climb under the sheets….. these are simple steps you can take to help you drop off quickly. Excess heat, light and noise can also prevent us from falling asleep and could also be the reason we wake during the night too.

Can an Air Conditioner Help Sleep?

An air conditioner will regulate your bedroom temperature and is a godsend on a sultry summer’s night, but did you know there are other benefits that an air conditioner can provide to help you get off to, and stay, asleep.

Air Conditioners Reduce Humidity

A humid, damp environment can be very detrimental to our health. In fact, enclosed areas where humidity is high, can cause wakefulness and prevent us from sleeping deeply but more concerning is that high humidity is strongly linked to an increase in mould, dust mites, dehydration and heatstroke all of which are harmful to health.

Air Conditioners Reduce Allergens

Air conditioners contain air filtration systems that can reduce dust mites, allergens and pollutants, which can lead to, or exacerbate, respiratory illness.

Air Conditioners Improve Air Quality

Air conditioners can help us to breathe easier, by assisting in the removal of dust and bacteria from the environment.

Air Conditioners Reduce the Risk of Dehydration

Keeping the air at the optimum temperature reduces the amount of water we lose from our body through sweating. When temperatures in the summer months soar, dehydration can be an unpleasant side effect causing headaches, dry mouth and nose, snoring and cramps all of which can be very disruptive and uncomfortable.

Air Conditioners Keep Unwanted Pests at Bay

An invasion of unwanted flying or crawling pests into your bedroom could be very frustrating when you are trying to rest. No one wants to be bitten in their sleep or worst still wants to be chasing an annoying insect around their room in the middle of the night. The installation of an air conditioning system will put a stop to any unwanted visitors of this kind, by being able to maintain a comfortable temperature with windows and doors closed.

Air Conditioners Eliminate Odours and Fumes

If you live in an area that is highly polluted because of traffic volumes, or industrial buildings you can keep your windows and doors shut, whilst still maintaining a comfortable room temperature The air filtration system in your air conditioner can enable you to breathe easier and help to provide cleaner air that is free from odours and fumes.

Air Conditioners Reduce Noise

If your bedroom faces a busy road or you live in a built up area it can be difficult to fall asleep, and stay asleep. The luxury of being able to keep windows and doors firmly closed especially during the hotter months, means that any distraction from outside noise is kept to the minimum.

Is it Better to Sleep in Cooler Temperatures?

During a 24 hour period your body’s internal temperature fluctuates, this fluctuation is all part a natural cycle that we refer to as our body clock. In technical terms this is called your circadian rhythm which regulates your biological and physiological processes. From late afternoon your body decreases in temperature in preparation for the nocturnal sleep phase. With this in mind it makes good sense to be mindful of your bedroom temperature, keeping the temperature cooler rather than hotter.

What is the Perfect Air Conditioner Temperature for Sleeping?

Most people will agree that a comfortable bedroom temperature is key to achieving a good quality night’s sleep in fact a National Sleep Foundation Poll concluded that “two-thirds or more rated the following elements as important in getting a good night’s sleep: Cool room temperature (79%) Fresh air, free of allergens (75%)”.

Adjusting or programming your air conditioner to maintain the best room temperature to sleep in is key to improving your sleep quality, of course this varies from person to person, but it is recommended that you set your thermostat somewhere between 20 and 24°C. In the industry any temperature within this range is classed as comfort cooling, which of course is self explanatory. There will be other variables that affect your decision though, for example, you may prefer thicker bedding or nightwear and a lower temperature or vice versa.

What is sleep mode in my air conditioner?

If you air conditioner comes equipped with this function, your room temperature will automatically be regulated to keep you comfortable through the different stages of sleep, decreasing or increasing room temperature in line with your body’s natural sleep cycle.

This also ensures that your AC system is working economically, so you can rest assured that you are helping to keep your energy bills low.

Evergreen Air Conditioning Limited provide air conditioning services to suit all budgets and applications. For expert advice on installation, maintenance, or emergency repair of an AC system in your home or workplace, please contact our specialist team.

Month: February 2022

How Much Does an Air Conditioning Service Cost?