Air conditioning service cost in Ireland (2026): what's included and what's fair

Published: 22 July 2026 7 minute read

Air conditioning is a low-maintenance technology, but low is not zero. This guide covers what servicing costs in Ireland, what a proper service actually includes, which jobs are safely yours, and the common faults with their realistic repair costs, so you know what's fair before anyone quotes you.

What servicing costs

Many installers offer service plans if they installed the unit, and it's worth asking for a multi-unit or annual-contract rate. If you're getting a new system installed, ask what the annual service will cost before you sign; it's a fair comparison point between quotes, and our cost guide covers what else belongs in one.

What a proper annual service includes

• Clean or replace the indoor unit filters and check the indoor coil for mould and dust build-up
• Clean the outdoor unit coil and clear debris from around it
• Check refrigerant pressures and look for any sign of leaks
• Clear and test the condensate drain (the usual culprit when a unit drips indoors)
• Check electrical connections, terminals, and running current
• Test operation in cooling and heating modes and verify temperatures at the vents

A service that's just a filter rinse and a wipe-down isn't a service. If the engineer doesn't go near the outdoor unit or the refrigerant pressures, you didn't get what you paid for.

What you can safely do yourself

Two jobs are genuinely yours, and doing them makes a real difference:

• Clean the filters monthly during the season. Pop the indoor unit cover, slide the mesh filters out, rinse under a tap, dry, refit. Five minutes, and it's the single biggest factor in day-to-day performance. Dirty filters are behind most "it's not cooling like it used to" complaints.
• Keep the outdoor unit clear. Leaves, grass cuttings, and hedge growth around the outdoor unit choke airflow. Keep half a metre clear around it.

Common faults and what they cost

Not cooling properly

In order of likelihood: dirty filters (free, clean them), dirty outdoor coil (covered by a service), or a slow refrigerant leak (€150 to €300+ to find, fix, and regas). If clean filters don't restore performance, book the call-out.

Water dripping from the indoor unit

Almost always a blocked condensate drain. Cheap fix on a call-out, usually cleared in minutes. Left alone, it stains walls and can trip the unit.

Musty smell when the unit starts

Mould on the indoor coil, common in units run in cooling mode and switched straight off. A deep clean sorts it. Prevention: run the fan-only mode for a few minutes after cooling to dry the coil, and some units have an automatic drying function worth enabling.

Unit louder than it used to be

Debris in the outdoor fan, loose panels, or a failing fan-motor bearing. Worth a call-out before it becomes a compressor problem; compressors are the expensive part.

The warranty angle most people miss

Manufacturer warranties on split systems typically run 3 to 5 years on parts and 5 or more on the compressor, but most require the system to be serviced annually by a qualified engineer, with records kept. Skip two years of servicing and a compressor claim in year four can be refused. If you paid €2,500+ for an installed system, the €100 annual service is partly an insurance premium on that warranty.

Registering the warranty with the manufacturer after installation matters for the same reason. Your installer should do it or tell you how; if they didn't mention it, ask.

Service or replace?

A well-serviced split system lasts 10 to 15 years in Irish conditions. Signs it's worth replacing rather than repairing: the unit uses R22 or another phased-out refrigerant (repairs become expensive or impossible), repeated refrigerant leaks, a failed compressor outside warranty, or simply that it's 12+ years old and efficiency has moved on. A new unit is €2,000 to €3,500 installed and will run meaningfully cheaper than a tired one.

Common questions