We Provide an emergency breakdown service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Our Design and Projects team is backed by our Service and Maintenance department, providing maintenance contracts and F Gas compliance along with reactive breakdown assistance
24h Breakdown
Nick Griffiths
A professionally installed and configured air conditioning system will provide reliable heating and cooling for many years. AC maintenance is essential to ensure that your system works efficiently and safely. This is an opportunity to identify any issues before they have the chance to develop into significant problems, and to ensure that it’s still energy efficient. This can reduce your operating costs and reduce the risk of an unexpected breakdown.
An air conditioning maintenance contract can ensure that your AC is kept in good working order, giving you valuable peace of mind.
How do you ensure that your air conditioning system can be relied upon to keep working and what does AC maintenance include?
What maintenance does an air conditioning system need?
Air conditioning systems consist of a range of key components, all of which are subject to wear and tear and may need attention over time. If maintenance is neglected, parts are liable to deteriorate or even fail, leading to a gradual loss of efficiency and higher energy usage. In some cases, the AC system may fail entirely.
Any list of what is included in AC maintenance should include these key elements:
The filters in air conditioning units fulfill a vital role in ensuring that indoor air quality is maintained. They do this by trapping dust, pollen and other pollutants and taking them out of circulation. Over time, filters get gradually clogged, resulting in reduced airflow and making the system work harder. When this happens the AC system will consume more energy, which over time can result in significantly higher bills. Filters should be either cleaned or replaced. Replacing a blocked filter with a clean one will save around 15% on energy consumption.
Heat from inside the building is absorbed via the evaporator coil, and the condenser coil then releases that heat outside to cool the building. This process leads to the accumulation of debris, dirt, and dust over time, all of which can gradually reduce the efficiency of the system. The coils will be cleaned as part of a routine maintenance check to ensure that they continue transferring heat efficiently.
Any AC maintenance should include a check of the refrigerant. This is the fluid that absorbs and releases heat to cool the air, and is essentially the lifeblood of an AC system. If the system runs low on refrigerant, perhaps due to leaks, it will eventually start to struggle to effectively cool the space. During a maintenance check by a professional technician, refrigerant level will be assessed, and any leaks will be repaired.
It is now a legal requirement of companies to test for leaks on air conditioning or refrigeration equipment.
The number of leak checks is determined by the CO2 equivalent weight:
5 to 50 tonnes of CO2 – Needs to be leak checked every 12 months
50 – 500 tonnes of CO2 – Needs to be leak checked every 6 months
Over 500 tonnes of CO2 – Needs to be leak checked every 3 months (and leak detection equipment needs to be installed)
AC systems depend on the efficient functioning of several electrical components, including motors, wiring, and capacitors. Each of these components will be inspected during a maintenance visit to ensure that there are no signs of wear and tear, or loose connections that could increase the risk of breakdowns or jeopardise safety.
The thermostat controls the AC system, allowing users to set it to operate at the desired temperature. If this isn’t calibrated correctly then the AC system can soon develop inefficiencies, either running too long or not long enough.
Ducted air conditioning systems can be prone to leaks or blockages in the ductwork. When these or other damage occurs it can significantly reduce the system’s overall performance. When ductwork is damaged it may allow cool air to escape before it reaches the intended rooms.
Air is circulated through an air conditioning system via fans and blowers. If they become unbalanced or dirty, it can lead to poor airflow and increased wear on the system. Compromised fans and blowers may also become noisier when operating.
What does air conditioning maintenance typically include?
Professional air conditioning maintenance is designed to address the critical areas of the systems. Following an initial inspection, the engineer will then clean filters, coils, and drains. Moving parts such as fans, belts, and motors will be tightened and lubricated.
The engineer will check the system’s refrigerant levels, and ensure that its pressure is within the recommended range. If necessary they will fix any leaks and top up the refrigerant. Electrical components, such as the capacitors, relays, and contactors will be tested to ensure they’re functioning correctly, with parts that are worn being replaced. The thermostat will be tested and recalibrated if necessary.
The system will be turned on and run through a performance test to ensure that it’s operating as expected.
After inspection and maintenance, the engineer will then provide a detailed report that outlines the condition of the system, along with any repairs that have been made, and recommendations for future action if required.
What’s included in AC maintenance contracts?
As well as regular scheduled servicing and maintenance, an AC maintenance contract can also contain a range of other benefits.
Customers who hold a maintenance contract receive priority on call outs and extended warranties on systems installed by ICE Ltd. They can also rely on around the clock, 365 days per year emergency call out with a 4-hour response time, on some of our maintenance plans.
All systems under a maintenance contract with ICE Ltd include our F Gas Compliance Package, which ensures total compliance with all F Gas regulations. On the first maintenance visit each piece of equipment receives an ICE asset tag, with a unique asset code. Our engineers then create a full equipment asset list for your site, detailing refrigerant type, quantity, and calculate the CO2 equivalent weight. Following the visit, you will receive a digital pack containing a report for each asset detailing any work carried out, any work or repairs recommended, a leak check certificate and full refrigerant asset list.
Flexible air conditioning maintenance from Industrial Cooling Equipment
At ICE, we understand just how important air conditioning is for maintaining comfort and operational efficiency. That’s why we’ve tailored a range of AC maintenance plans that meets the varying needs of our clients.
Our flexible air conditioning maintenance plans have a fixed monthly cost to suit your budget. Whether your AC system is installed in a small office, or a large pharmaceutical plant, our maintenance plans reflect your actual needs. You don’t pay for anything that your system doesn’t require, making it a highly cost-effective way to keep your AC system running efficiently and effectively for longer.
Our expert team can ensure that your AC system is running at optimum efficiency, giving you valuable peace of mind, and saving you money.
We’d love to tell you more about what is included in AC maintenance from ICE.
Contact our friendly team for further information.