A Highveld summer afternoon is a bad time for the aircon to give up, and so is a cold winter night if yours heats as well as cools. Most aircon trouble comes down to a short list of causes: a clogged filter, a blocked drain, a failed fan or capacitor, a sensor, the control board or a gas leak. The job is finding which one.
We repair wall-mounted split aircons and portable aircons at homes across Johannesburg. The technician checks the indoor unit, the outdoor unit and the connections between them, finds the fault, and tells you what the repair involves and what it costs before any work starts. If you have a heat pump for your hot water or your pool, that's a different machine: see heat pump repairs.
Common aircon faults we fix
Not cooling, or blowing warm air
First make sure it's set to cool, not fan or dry, and below the room temperature. After that, a clogged filter, a dirty outdoor coil, a failed capacitor or fan motor in the outdoor unit, or low gas from a leak are the usual causes.
Water dripping from the indoor unit
The water an aircon takes out of the air should run away down a drain pipe. A blocked drain line, a dirty filter that lets the coil ice up and then thaw, or a unit that isn't level sends it down the wall instead.
Won't switch on or ignores the remote
Start with the remote's batteries and the aircon's breaker or isolator. If the display stays dark, or the unit beeps but does nothing, the receiver, a fuse or the control board is usually at fault.
Outdoor unit not running
The indoor fan blows but the outdoor unit stays silent, so nothing cools. A failed capacitor, a fault on the outdoor control board, the compressor, or a communication fault between the two units is the usual cause.
Ice on the pipes or the indoor coil
Ice where the pipes join the units, or across the coil behind the filter, usually means a dirty filter, a fan that isn't moving enough air, or low gas. Switch it to fan only, let it thaw, and don't chip at the ice.
Musty or burning smell
Damp and dust in the filters, the coil and the drain tray grow mould, and the smell comes out every time the fan starts. A burning smell is different: switch the aircon off at the isolator and leave it off until it's been checked.
Error code or flashing lights
Each make uses its own codes, for faults such as a sensor, the outdoor unit, the fan or the communication between the units. Note the exact code and the brand before you book.
Split and portable aircons
A split aircon has two halves. The indoor unit on the wall holds the filters, a fan and the coil that cools the room. The outdoor unit holds the compressor and a second fan. Copper pipes carrying the refrigerant, a cable and a drain pipe run between them. A fault can sit in either half, so the technician checks both.
A portable aircon does the same job in one box on wheels, with a hose that carries the hot air out through a window. The hose has to vent outside, or the room won't cool. Many portable models also collect water in an internal tank and stop when it's full, so check your manual for how to empty it before you book.
Before you book: five safe checks
None of these needs a tool or opens anything live. Try them before you book:
- The remote: fresh batteries, the mode set to cool (not fan, dry or auto), and the temperature set below the room's.
- The power: the aircon's breaker at the DB board, and the isolator switch next to the outdoor unit.
- The filters: slide them out from behind the front cover, rinse them in lukewarm water, let them dry fully and put them back.
- The outdoor unit: clear leaves, plants and anything stored against it, so air can move through the coil.
- A little patience after a restart: many aircons wait a few minutes before the outdoor unit starts, to protect the compressor.
Aircons and load shedding
Switch the aircon off with the remote before the power goes, and at its isolator if it has one, then on again a few minutes after the power is steady. The surge when the power returns can damage the control boards in modern inverter aircons, and a unit left running is the one that takes it.
If yours is dead or flashing an error after a power cut, give it a few minutes, check the breaker, then book a technician.
Is an aircon worth repairing?
Usually, yes. The common faults, such as a blocked drain, a capacitor, a fan motor, a sensor or a control board, cost a fraction of a new unit. Replacing a split aircon also means paying for the installation, which puts a repair further ahead. A failed compressor or a gas leak on an older unit is the case to weigh up, and the technician gives you the price first so you can. Our repair or replace check helps with the sum.
No call-out fee when we repair it. If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. If your aircon is new and still under the manufacturer's warranty, contact the manufacturer or your installer first.
No call-out fee when we repair it.If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. The technician finds the fault and explains the repair before any work starts, so you decide whether to go ahead.
Book a repairAircon repair questions
Why is my aircon not cooling?
Check the remote first: the mode should be cool, not fan, dry or auto, and the temperature set below the room's. Then clean the filters and make sure the outdoor unit is running and clear of leaves. If it still blows warm air, a capacitor, a fan motor or a gas leak is the likely cause: book a technician.
Why won't my aircon turn on?
Put fresh batteries in the remote, then check the aircon's breaker at the DB board and the isolator next to the outdoor unit. Many units also have a small button under the front cover that starts them without the remote. If nothing happens, the receiver, a fuse or the control board has usually failed: book a technician.
Why is my aircon leaking water inside?
Usually the drain pipe that carries water away from the indoor unit is blocked with dust or slime, so the tray overflows down the wall. A dirty filter can also let the coil ice up and drip as it thaws, and a unit that isn't level drains the wrong way. Switch it off, clean the filters, and if it still drips, book a technician.
Why does my aircon smell musty?
Damp and dust in the filters, the coil and the drain tray grow mould, and the smell comes out each time the fan starts. Clean the filters and run the aircon on fan only for a while to dry it out. If the smell stays, the coil and the drain tray need attention. A burning smell is different: switch it off at the isolator and book a technician.
Does my aircon need regassing?
Only if there's a leak. An aircon is a sealed system that doesn't use up its gas, so if it's low, the leak has to be found and fixed first, or the new gas escapes too. Weak cooling, ice on the pipes and an outdoor unit that runs without cooling are the signs. The technician finds the cause and gives you the price first: book a technician.
Is it worth repairing an aircon?
Usually. A capacitor, a fan motor, a sensor, a drain or a control board costs far less than a new aircon, and replacing a split unit means paying for installation too. A failed compressor or a gas leak on an older unit is the case to weigh up, and you'll have the price before any work starts. Try our repair or replace check.
How often should I clean my aircon filters?
Every few weeks while the aircon is working hard in summer, or as often as your manual says. Slide the filters out from behind the front cover, rinse them in lukewarm water and let them dry completely before you put them back. Clean filters keep it cooling well and help stop the coil icing up. If it still struggles, book a technician.
Why is my aircon not working after load shedding?
Give it a few minutes first: many aircons wait before restarting the outdoor unit, to protect the compressor. Then check the breaker at the DB board and the isolator, and switch the aircon off at the isolator for a few minutes and on again. If it's still dead or flashing an error, the surge may have damaged a board: book a technician.