Is it a legal requirement to service air conditioning in the UK?

Unless your air conditioner has an effective rated output of over 12kW, you don't legally have to get it serviced. However, larger air conditioning systems have to meet inspection requirements. Here’s the full lowdown.

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Unless your air conditioner has an effective rated output of over 12kW, you don't legally have to get it serviced – although doing so is still recommended to lower your energy bills and extend its lifespan.

That said, larger air conditioning systems do have to meet inspection requirements.

Air conditioning maintenance regulations

Most small air conditioning systems don’t legally need to be serviced or inspected.

However, if your air conditioner contains F-gases, there are some rules you’ll need to abide by:

• You must use qualified professionals to repair or maintain your air conditioner

• You should take the necessary precautions to prevent refrigerant leaks

• You must repair any refrigerant leaks as soon as they’re spotted

If your air conditioner is on the larger side, on the other hand, there are important inspection requirements.

Air conditioning inspection requirements

If your AC has an effective rated output of over 12 kW, you'll need to get it inspected by a certified energy assessor at least every five years.

After the inspection, you’ll receive a report that includes information such as:

• The efficiency of your system

• Any faults found

• The adequacy of equipment maintenance

• The adequacy of installed controls and control settings

• The current size of the system in relation to the cooling load

• Your system’s capabilities to optimise its performance

You’ll also receive suggestions for improvements in all these areas, along with key recommendations.

You don’t legally have to act on these recommendations. But doing so will help your air conditioning to run more efficiently, reducing your energy bills and carbon emissions.

Fluorinated greenhouse gas inspections

As well as getting an air conditioning inspection, if your air conditioner contains more than 3kg of F-gases, it’ll need a regular F-gas scheduled statutory inspection.

• >3kg of refrigerant: inspect every 12 months

• >30kg of refrigerant: inspect every 6 months

• >300kg of refrigerant: inspect every 3 months

This inspection must be carried out by an F-gas accredited engineer.

What happens if an air conditioner is not serviced?

Even if you’re not legally required to get your air conditioner inspected, it’s strongly recommended that you have it serviced at least once a year – regardless of its size.

If you don’t service your air conditioner, you might struggle to spot niggles before they become more expensive problems to fix. You’ll also find that your air conditioner works less efficiently.

Ultimately, this lack of regular maintenance can lead to:

• Higher energy bills

• Costly repairs

• Shorter lifespan

• Compromised air quality

Find an AC specialist for your air conditioning service

Getting your air conditioner serviced regularly is the best way to keep it in good condition so that you can enjoy it now and in the future.

Enter your postcode into the search box below to find a reliable specialist offering air conditioner servicing near you.

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