What's actually included in an annual air conditioning service
A proper service is around 45–90 minutes per indoor head plus 30 minutes at the outdoor unit. We strip the indoor unit casing, remove and wash filters, deep-clean the evaporator coil with manufacturer-approved cleaner (not bleach, which corrodes the aluminium fins), clean the fan barrel — this is the bit that 90% of 'cheap services' skip — flush the drain pan, vacuum the condensate line, and reassemble. At the outdoor unit we clean the condenser coil (essential within 5 miles of the coast — Dorset salt corrodes fin edges fast), check fan motor bearings, open the electrical compartment, torque-check terminals, log capacitor microfarad readings, and run a full F-Gas pressure and superheat test. You get a written report, photos of before/after, and warranty service-log entry.
Why coastal Dorset systems need different attention
Salt-laden air from Poole Bay corrodes aluminium condenser fins faster than inland units — a system in central Bournemouth, Sandbanks or Mudeford typically loses 8–12% of its heat-rejection capability per year if the outdoor coil isn't cleaned and treated. We use a manufacturer-approved foaming coil cleaner and, on coastal installs, a fin-protection coating that extends outdoor unit life by 3–5 years. Owners 2+ miles inland (Wimborne, Ferndown, Ringwood) typically don't need the coating, but the coil clean is still essential.
Domestic service plans vs commercial PPM contracts
For most domestic single-unit homes, one annual service in spring is enough. Multi-split homes with 3+ heads typically benefit from a single comprehensive annual visit. Light commercial (offices, salons, small clinics) running 8–10 hours a day usually needs one full service plus one mid-season check. Heavy commercial — restaurants, gyms, server rooms — runs to quarterly PPM with weekly filter checks delegated to on-site staff. We tailor the contract to actual run-hours; we don't sell quarterly visits where they're not needed.
F-Gas record-keeping and what you actually need on file
If you own commercial air conditioning with a refrigerant charge over 5 tonnes CO₂ equivalent (roughly 1.4 kg of R32 or 1.5 kg of R410A), F-Gas regulations require an annual leak check by a certified company and a permanent log of all servicing, refrigerant additions and removals. We maintain that log for every commercial client and provide it on demand for HSE audits, lease renewals or property sales. Domestic installations under that threshold still benefit from the same record-keeping — it's exactly what makes a manufacturer warranty claim straightforward.
Brands and refrigerants we service
We service Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Panasonic, Fujitsu, LG, Toshiba, Samsung, Hitachi, Sanyo, Sharp and Airwell. We hold the calibration and adapters for R32, R410A, R407C and R134a refrigerants. If you've got a 15-year-old R22 legacy system, we'll service it where safe, but recommend planned replacement — R22 is banned for top-up and any leak repair triggers a full system replacement decision.
What you can do between services
Wipe out the front intake grille monthly with a dry cloth. Pull the filters out and rinse under a tap every 6–8 weeks during heavy-use months. Keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves, garden debris and trellis growth — it needs at least 30 cm of clear air all around. Don't pressure-wash the outdoor unit (bends fins, drives water into the electrics). Don't spray air-freshener into the indoor head. Anything that needs more than that is a service-visit job.
