Aircon Maintenance Checklist: What to Do Every Month, Season, and Year
A well-maintained aircon will last 15 years or more. A neglected one will decline after 5–7: noisier, less efficient, more prone to faults, and more expensive to run. The difference between the two is almost entirely maintenance — and most of it takes less than 10 minutes a month.
This checklist sets out exactly what to do, how often, and whether it's a task you can handle yourself or one that needs a qualified technician. It applies to all wall-split inverter units commonly used in South African homes and offices — Samsung, LG, Midea, Daikin, Hisense, Alliance, and others.
These tasks require no tools and no technical knowledge. Do them once a month during periods of regular use.
This is the single most impactful maintenance task you can do yourself.
Frequency: Every 2 weeks in high-use periods (summer, daily cooling). Every 4–6 weeks in moderate use. Every 2–3 weeks in high-dust environments (near construction, unpaved roads, Highveld dry season).
What to look for: Visible grey or brown dust accumulation, unusual smell when first switching on, reduced airflow from the indoor unit.
Walk around the outdoor unit and check:
This check takes two minutes. Do it more frequently during autumn when leaves fall.
Do these at the start of each season when the unit's workload increases.
Once a year, a qualified technician should perform a full service. This covers tasks that are either unsafe or technically complex for a homeowner:
| Task | Why it needs a technician |
|---|---|
| Refrigerant check and top-up | Requires certified handling. Low refrigerant = reduced capacity and compressor damage. |
| Evaporator coil clean (indoor) | Requires the unit to be partially disassembled. Chemical coil cleaner used inside the casing. |
| Condenser coil deep clean | Professional low-pressure wash removes scale and biological build-up not removed by a garden hose. |
| Electrical connection check | Loose connections cause arcing, nuisance tripping, and compressor damage. |
| Fan motor and bearing inspection | Worn fan bearings increase noise, vibration, and eventually cause motor failure. |
| Drain pan and line flush | Biological growth in drain lines is common in humid climates (Durban, East London). |
| Thermostat and controls check | Sensor calibration drift causes incorrect temperature control. |
When to book: Before the summer cooling season (September–October) is the best time. Technician availability is highest, and the unit is serviced before it goes into peak load.
Book an annual service with AC Direct and keep your warranty valid.
| Task | Frequency | DIY or Technician? |
|---|---|---|
| Clean air filters | Every 2–6 weeks | DIY |
| Check outdoor unit clearance | Monthly | DIY |
| Rinse outdoor coil | Before summer | DIY (garden hose, low pressure) |
| Check condensate drain | Seasonally | DIY |
| Inspect pipe insulation | Annually | DIY (report damage to technician) |
| Refrigerant check | Annually | Technician only |
| Evaporator coil clean | Annually | Technician only |
| Electrical connections check | Annually | Technician only |
| Full professional service | Once a year | Technician — book September/October |
For brand-specific Samsung maintenance steps, read the Samsung Aircon Maintenance Guide.
Slug: /articles/how-to-clean-aircon-filters/ Title: How to Clean Your Aircon Filters (Step by Step) Category: Product Help / Maintenance Reading time: 2 min
Cleaning your aircon filters is the most effective maintenance task you can do yourself. It takes about 10 minutes and should be done every 2–6 weeks during regular use.
For the full seasonal and annual maintenance schedule, read the Aircon Maintenance Checklist.
A professional service once a year is the minimum recommendation. The best time is before the summer cooling season — September or October in South Africa. Between professional services, clean your air filters every 2–6 weeks depending on use and dust levels, and do a monthly visual check of the outdoor unit.
A full aircon service covers filter cleaning, evaporator and condenser coil cleaning, refrigerant level check, electrical connection inspection, condensate drain flush, fan motor and bearing inspection, and thermostat calibration check. DIY maintenance covers filter cleaning and outdoor unit checks. Everything else requires a qualified technician.
You can safely do filter cleaning, outdoor unit visual checks, and a low-pressure rinse of the condenser coil with a garden hose. Refrigerant handling, coil chemical cleaning, and electrical work require a qualified HVAC technician. Attempting refrigerant work yourself is illegal without certification and can cause serious damage to the unit.
Signs include: reduced cooling or heating output, longer time to reach set temperature, unusual sounds (rattling, vibrating, grinding), water dripping inside from the indoor unit, musty or mouldy smell, and higher electricity bills without a change in usage pattern. Any of these indicates a service is overdue.
Every 2–6 weeks during regular use. Clean every 2 weeks if the unit runs daily in a high-dust environment (near construction, high-traffic area, unpaved roads, or during Gauteng's dry winter season). Every 4–6 weeks is adequate for moderate use in a low-dust, air-conditioned home. Always clean before the start of summer if the unit has been off for winter.
Efficiency drops as coils become dirty and filters block, increasing electricity consumption. Refrigerant leaks go undetected, eventually damaging the compressor. Biological growth (mould, bacteria) builds up in the drain pan and on the evaporator coil, affecting air quality. Fan bearings wear out earlier, leading to motor failure. A unit that could last 15 years with maintenance may fail at 6–8 years without it.
A standard residential aircon service (one indoor unit, one outdoor unit) typically ranges from R600 to R1,200 depending on the unit size, location, and what the technician finds. Additional work such as refrigerant top-up, chemical coil clean, or drain line unblocking is charged separately. Contact AC Direct for a current quote specific to your unit and location.
Yes. AC Direct's accredited installation and service team covers major centres across South Africa. Annual servicing through AC Direct's accredited installers also qualifies for the extended warranty benefit — 10 years on the compressor and 3 years on all other parts. Book a service online.