How to prepare your home for an aircon servicing visit

Why a little preparation helps

An aircon servicing visit usually goes faster and more smoothly when the technician can walk in, reach each unit and start work straight away. Time spent moving a wardrobe, hunting for a ladder spot or waiting for a lift is time that is not spent on cleaning coils and checking drainage.

This article covers what to do before the technician arrives, what to tell them on the day and what to check once they have left. It does not explain the different service types. For that, the aircon servicing guide compares general servicing, chemical washes and overhauls, and the article on how often to service an aircon helps you decide on a schedule.

Before the visit: clear access to each unit

The technician needs to stand under each indoor unit, usually on a ladder, and may need to lay out a drip tray or a canvas bag below it. Look at each room with that in mind.

• Clear the space below each unit: move beds, desks, sofas and shelves away from the wall so there is room for a ladder and someone to stand beside it.
• Take items off the top of furniture: anything sitting on a wardrobe or shelf near the unit can be knocked or splashed.
• Move electronics and documents: computers, televisions and paperwork near the unit are better moved to another room or covered.
• Unplug or switch off at the isolator if asked: some companies prefer you leave the power on so they can test the unit, so follow what they tell you.
• Clear a path through the home: technicians carry ladders, pumps and buckets, so remove clutter from corridors and doorways.

Protect your surfaces and belongings

Most technicians bring covers and drip trays, but it is still sensible to protect what matters to you. Lay old bedsheets or plastic sheeting over beds and carpets below the units. Roll up rugs if they sit directly underneath. Close wardrobe doors and drawers nearby.

Chemical washes and overhauls involve more water and cleaning solution than a general service. If you have booked one of those, give the technician more space and expect them to use a bathroom or the service yard to rinse parts. Clear the bathroom floor and the area around the floor trap so they can work without moving your things.

Pets, children and people at home

Keep pets in a closed room away from the work area, or with a neighbour or family member for the visit. Ladders, open front doors and loud equipment can unsettle animals, and an escaped pet is the last thing anyone wants. Keep young children away from ladders and cleaning solutions as well.

If someone at home is sensitive to strong smells, open windows during and after the visit. Ask the company which products it uses if this matters to you.

Outdoor unit, parking and lift access

The outdoor unit, also called the condenser or compressor, is often on a ledge, in the service yard or on a bracket outside a window. Check that the technician can reach it. Clear laundry poles, plants and stored items from the service yard, and make sure any window that opens onto the unit can be opened fully.

Do not climb out to the outdoor unit yourself, even to check it. Leave anything outside the window to the technician, who should have the right equipment for working at height.

Tell the company about practical details when you book:

• Where visitors can park and whether there is a parking charge.
• Whether the lift stops on your floor, and whether there is a service lift.
• Any security or visitor registration needed at a condominium.
• The time window that suits you, if your estate restricts noisy work.

Make a list of symptoms for each unit

A short note for each unit helps the technician spend time where it is needed. Walk around the home a day or two before the visit and write down what you notice.

• Cooling: whether the room cools slowly, unevenly or not at all.
• Water: any dripping from the indoor unit, stains on the wall or water pooling below. The leaking water guide explains common causes.
• Noise: rattling, buzzing, clicking or a hiss, and whether it happens at start-up or all the time.
• Smell: a musty or sour smell when the unit starts.
• Remote and display: error codes, blinking lights or a unit that switches itself off.

Label each unit by room, such as master bedroom or living room, so you and the technician refer to the same one. Mention when you last had the units serviced, if you know.

After the visit: what to check

Before the technician leaves, ask them to switch on each unit and let it run for a few minutes while you are both present. Then check the following.

• Each unit starts, blows cool air and responds to the remote.
• There is no dripping from the indoor unit or the trunking.
• The filters and covers are back in place and clipped shut.
• The floor and surfaces below each unit are dry and clean.
• Any parts replaced or extra work done matches what you agreed.

Ask the technician what they found. If they suggest a repair, gas top-up or chemical wash, ask them to explain why and to give you the price before they start. Keep the receipt and any warranty note the company gives you.

Run the units as normal over the next day or two. If a unit starts leaking, makes a new noise or cools less than before, contact the company promptly.

Questions

Do I need to move furniture before an aircon servicing visit?

It helps to clear the space directly below each indoor unit so the technician can set up a ladder and drip tray. If a heavy item cannot be moved, tell the company when you book so it can plan around it.

Should I check the outdoor unit myself before the visit?

No. Clear the service yard and make sure windows open fully, but do not climb out to the outdoor unit. Leave work outside the window to the technician, who should have the right equipment.

What should I check after the technician leaves?

Ask them to run each unit while you are present, then check that it cools, responds to the remote and does not drip. Make sure filters and covers are back in place and any extra work matches what you agreed.