How often should air conditioning be serviced?
Once a year for most homes. Twice a year for LG systems, for homes that heat with it all winter, and for most businesses. Below is what each manufacturer asks for to keep the warranty, the legal F-Gas leak-check intervals for larger systems, and what you can do yourself between visits.
- Daikin and Panasonic warranty terms
- Every 12 months
- LG's UK warranty condition
- Biannually
- where legal leak checks start
- 5 tCO2e
- annual service, inc. VAT
- £119
What the manufacturers ask for
Skipping a service can cost you the manufacturer warranty just when you need it. These are the conditions each brand publishes in the UK.
| Brand | Servicing condition | Where it's stated |
|---|---|---|
| Daikin | Annual maintenance. The warranty is only valid if it's carried out, and Daikin can ask for proof | Daikin UK warranty page |
| Panasonic | Maintenance every year by someone with the relevant qualifications, with records kept | Panasonic UK warranty key facts |
| LG | Single split and multi-split systems must be serviced biannually | LG UK business warranty page |
| Mitsubishi Electric | Not set out on its UK partner programme page | Check the warranty document from your installer |
Checked October 2026. Your installer's paperwork for your exact model is what counts, so keep it with your service records.
What LG means by biannually
Biannually normally means twice a year, so plan on a service every six months for an LG system. The word is sometimes used loosely, so if you're unsure, ask LG or your installer to confirm in writing. Servicing twice a year is never the wrong side to be on.
Our Twice-yearly plan covers two services a year and keeps the records for you, which suits LG systems and homes that run their air conditioning for heating all winter.
A sensible schedule
Our recommendation by how the system is used. The manufacturer's condition comes first if it asks for more.
| How the system is used | How often | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Home, cooling in summer only | Once a year | Spring, before the hot weather |
| Home, heating and cooling all year | Twice a year | Spring and autumn, before each season |
| Any LG system | Twice a year | Every six months |
| Offices, shops and salons | At least twice a year | Spring and autumn |
| Server and comms rooms | More often, agreed for the site | Spread across the year |
F-Gas leak checks: the legal part
Servicing is about performance and warranty. Leak checks are a legal duty, set by the F-Gas Regulation that still applies in Great Britain. The operator of any equipment holding 5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) of fluorinated gas or more must make sure it's checked for leaks by a certified engineer. For a home, the operator is usually you. For a business, it's the business.
The duty depends on how much refrigerant the system holds and its global warming potential (GWP), not on its kW size. Multiply the charge in kg by the GWP. R32 has a GWP of 675 and R410A 2,088, so 5 tCO2e is about 7.4 kg of R32 or about 2.4 kg of R410A.
Legal leak-check intervals
| Refrigerant in the system | Without leak detection | With leak detection |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 tCO2e | No legal leak check | No legal leak check |
| 5 to under 50 tCO2e | At least every 12 months | At least every 24 months |
| 50 to under 500 tCO2e | At least every 6 months | At least every 12 months |
| 500 tCO2e or more | At least every 3 months | At least every 6 months |
Source: Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 as it applies in Great Britain, on legislation.gov.uk. After a leak is repaired, gov.uk says to check again within a month. Records must be kept for 5 years.
Does a home system need a legal leak check?
Most single-room systems don't. Daikin's outdoor unit for the 2.5 kW Perfera holds 0.95 kg of R32, which is 0.65 tCO2e. Mitsubishi Electric's MUZ-LN25VG3 holds 0.8 kg, or 0.54 tCO2e. Both are far below the 5 tonne line.
Older R410A systems and large multi-splits are different. With R410A, anything over about 2.4 kg crosses the line, and multi-split outdoor units hold more refrigerant than single splits. The charge and the CO2 equivalent are on the label of the outdoor unit. We check the joints at every service anyway, and for systems over the threshold we carry out and record the legal check.
Between services
A few minutes now and then keeps the system efficient until its next service.
- Wash the filters every few weeks while the system is in heavy use
- Keep plants, bins and furniture clear of the outdoor unit so air can flow
- Brush leaves off the outdoor unit in autumn
- Watch for water dripping indoors, new noises, smells or error codes, and book a visit if you see them
- Keep every service record with your warranty paperwork
Service and plan prices
One price for a single split, and a set price for each extra indoor unit on the same visit. Plans include the yearly service and keep your records.
- from£119inc. VAT
An annual service
Keeps the manufacturer warranty valid
- from£59inc. VAT
Each extra indoor unit
Same visit
- from£119inc. VAT
Essential plan
Annual service, records, priority booking
- from£219inc. VAT
Twice-yearly plan
Two services a year, plus Plus benefits
Servicing frequency questions
How often should home air conditioning be serviced?
Once a year for most homes, ideally in spring. Twice a year if you heat with it all winter, or if it's an LG system, because LG's warranty says it must be serviced biannually.
Will skipping a service void my warranty?
It can. Daikin's UK warranty page says the warranty is only valid if annual maintenance is carried out, and Panasonic's terms ask for yearly maintenance with records. Keep a written record of every service.
How often should commercial air conditioning be serviced?
At least twice a year for most offices and shops, and more often for server rooms or dusty sites. Larger systems may also need legal F-Gas leak checks every 12, 6 or 3 months depending on how much refrigerant they hold.
Is an F-Gas leak check the same as a service?
No. A leak check is a legal inspection of the refrigerant circuit for systems at or over 5 tCO2e, with a record kept for 5 years. A service also cleans and tests the filters, coils, drain, fans and controls. They're often done on the same visit.
How often should I clean the filters?
Every few weeks while the system is in heavy use. Clogged filters make the unit work harder, cost more to run and can lead to smells and water leaks. Your user manual shows how to take them out.
Do I need a service if I hardly use it?
Yes, if you want to keep the manufacturer warranty, because the conditions are time-based, not usage-based. A system that sits unused can also gather dust and mould in the coil and drain.