Air conditioning repairs
Air conditioning repair that finds the fault first
Not cooling, not heating, leaking water, flashing an error code or making a racket? We repair air conditioning and air-to-air heat pumps for homes and businesses across Dartford, Kent and south-east London, on most makes. We find the actual fault, then fix it once.
Quickest way: WhatsApp a photo of the unit, its label and any error code.
Common faults
What's wrong with your air conditioning?
The faults we're called out to most, and what usually causes them.
Air con not cooling
Often a blocked filter or coil, a sensor or a fan fault. Sometimes refrigerant has leaked out. We find out which before anything is replaced.
Not heating in winter
A sensor, a valve that switches the unit between heating and cooling, or low refrigerant. A short pause while the outdoor unit defrosts is normal.
Leaking water indoors
Usually a blocked or kinked condensate drain, a full tray or a failed pump. Common after a unit has gone without a service.
Flashing lights or an error code
Send us a photo of the code and the unit label on WhatsApp. It tells us a lot before we arrive and saves a wasted trip.
Won't switch on
Check the remote batteries, the isolator switch by the outdoor unit and the breaker in your fuse box. If those are fine, it is a fault for us.
Noisy, rattling or buzzing
Loose panels, a worn fan or motor bearing, or vibration on the outdoor unit's mounts. Caught early, it is usually a small repair.
Ice on the pipes or outdoor unit
Ice in cooling mode often means low refrigerant or poor airflow. In winter, outdoor units ice up and defrost themselves, which is normal.
Musty or damp smell
Mould on the coil or fan inside the indoor unit. A deep clean, with the unit stripped down and disinfected, fixes it.
Before you call
Air con not cooling? Five checks to try first
Some "faults" are settings. These take five minutes and might save you a call-out. If none of them helps, switch it off and message us.
- Check the mode. It should be on cool (a snowflake), not heat, dry, fan or auto. Set the temperature a few degrees below the room.
- Clean the filters. Blocked filters starve the unit of air, so it cools poorly and can ice up. Rinse them, let them dry and refit.
- Check the power. Fresh batteries in the remote, the isolator switch by the outdoor unit on, and the breaker in your fuse box not tripped.
- Look at the outdoor unit. Is the fan turning? Is it blocked by leaves, a cover or garden furniture? It needs space to get rid of heat.
- Give it time after a power cut. Many units wait a few minutes before the compressor starts again. That is a protection, not a fault.
Water leaks
Air conditioner leaking water: what it means
Water in the right place is normal. Water in the wrong place needs fixing.
When it cools, your unit pulls moisture out of the air. On a humid day, that can be litres of water. It should run out through the drain pipe, usually outside. So water dripping from the drain pipe in summer is normal, and so is water from the outdoor unit in winter, when it defrosts itself.
Water dripping from the indoor unit is not normal. The usual causes are:
- a drain blocked by dust, slime or mould, often in a unit that has gone without a service;
- a drain pipe that has sagged, kinked or lost its fall;
- a condensate pump that has failed or is full of sludge;
- dirty filters or low refrigerant making the coil freeze, then thaw and overflow the tray.
Switch it off, put a towel down and send us a photo. Most indoor leaks turn out to be a drain fault, which we clear and test. A clean every year stops most of them coming back: see air conditioning servicing.
Air con regas
Air conditioning regas: why we find the leak first
If your air conditioning has lost its "gas" (refrigerant), it has a leak. Refrigerant runs round a sealed circuit and is not used up like fuel. So a regas on its own is a short-term fix you pay for twice. A proper repair finds the leak, fixes it and then recharges the system.
Confirm it is low
We measure pressures and temperatures against the maker's figures. A unit that is not cooling can also have a dirty coil, a fan fault or a bad sensor.
Find the leak
Electronic leak detector and leak-detection fluid on the joints, valves and coils. If needed, we pressure-test the circuit with nitrogen to track it down.
Repair it
Remake a flare joint, replace a valve or a section of pipe, or replace a leaking coil. If the repair is not worth it, we tell you before we start.
Test and recharge
Pressure-test with nitrogen, pull a deep vacuum, then weigh in the exact charge on the unit's label. The refrigerant added is recorded.
Older systems: R22 can no longer be used to service systems in the UK, so an R22 system with a leak usually needs replacing. R410A is still allowed, but supplies are being cut back in stages, so it keeps getting dearer. If yours is an older R410A system with a big leak, we price the repair and a new system side by side.
How we repair
Air conditioning repair: test, explain, then fix it once
It's easy to swap parts until something works. We'd rather test, find the cause and tell you what it is before we spend your money.
How much an air conditioning repair costs depends on the fault: a blocked drain is quick, a refrigerant leak or a failed compressor is not. We tell you the cost before any repair work starts, so you can decide.
- Diagnose. Error codes read, electrics and sensors tested, pressures and temperatures measured.
- Explain. What's wrong, what it costs to fix, and whether repair or replacement makes more sense. Our guide on whether to repair or replace explains how we weigh it up.
- Repair. Parts from the manufacturer or an equal, leaks found and fixed, pressure-tested before recharging.
- Test. Heating and cooling run and checked, the unit cleaned, and a record left with you.
Reviews
“Olly did magic and it's now up and running like a new”
Wonderful Service, Our Air Conditioner was leaking in winter and since then left in very bad condition. Then, Olly did magic and it's now up and running like a new. He did cleaned it thoroughly through low pressure jet and liquid detergent. Tested whole system to identify other faults. He was reasonable in price compared to other service provider. Highly Recommend him for right service and right guidance.
Extremely pleased. Very efficient.
Olly was very helpful and did a wonderful job. I would recommend him to anyone.
Running a business with a cooling problem? See commercial air conditioning or, for pubs, cellar cooler repairs. Heat pump not heating the radiators? See heat pump servicing.
Questions
Air conditioning repair FAQs
Can you just top up the gas?
We won't top up without looking for the leak. Refrigerant does not get used up, so if it is low, it has leaked. Topping up without a repair means paying again in a few months, and the gas ends up in the atmosphere. We find the leak, repair it, pressure-test and recharge. It is also F-gas work, which only a certified company can do.
Is it worth repairing an old air conditioning system?
Often, yes. But if the system is on R22 or an older R410A system that needs a big repair, such as a compressor, replacing it can make more sense, especially as R410A gets scarcer and dearer. We give you both options with the costs, and you decide. Our guide on repairing or replacing air conditioning explains how we weigh it up.
Do you repair air conditioning you did not fit?
Yes. We repair most makes, including Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Panasonic, Samsung and Fujitsu, and larger Daikin VRV systems for businesses. Send us a photo of the unit's label on WhatsApp so we know the model, and a photo of any error code. It helps us bring the right parts.
How quickly can you come out?
Message or call and we will tell you honestly when we can get there. We would rather give you a real time than promise one we cannot keep. A photo of the unit, its label and any error code on WhatsApp helps us bring the right parts first time, so the first visit is not wasted.
Can I still use my air con if it is leaking water?
Switch it off if water is running down the wall or dripping near sockets or electrics. Water near electrics is a risk, and it can stain walls and ceilings. A slow drip into a towel is less urgent, but the drain still needs clearing. Water dripping from the outdoor unit or the drain pipe outside is normal.
Why is my air con blowing warm air?
First check the mode. If it is on heat, auto or fan, it will not cool. Check the set temperature is below the room temperature, and that the filters are clean. If it is still blowing warm air in cool mode, the cause is usually low refrigerant from a leak, a failed outdoor fan or a compressor fault. That needs an engineer.
Report a fault
Tell us the make, what it's doing and any error code.
Quickest way to a price: send on WhatsApp
- A photo of the room and the outside wall
- Your town and what you need
- For a repair, the unit's label and any error code
Free survey and a fixed written quote for new systems. No obligation.